Kingdom Come State Park offers traditional primitive tent camping sites with essential amenities in a compact campground setting. The park maintains seven dedicated tent sites, each with a gravel drive, mulch tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table. Sites are equipped with bear-safe food poles. Rangers provide firewood at no additional cost and offer assistance with drinking water needs. Located at higher elevations in eastern Kentucky's mountains near Hindman, the campground sits adjacent to a small fishing lake stocked with trout, bass, and sunfish. The camping area provides access to several interconnected hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.
What to do
Hike distinctive rock formations: Kingdom Come State Park features several unique geological formations accessible via relatively short trails. The Raven Rock trail leads to "a 450 foot 40 degree angle granite rock facing that you can climb to get an amazing view of the surrounding mountains," according to Brian B. at Kingdom Come State Park Campground. Another natural feature called Log Rock provides a natural rock bridge near the campsites.
Explore The Little Shepard Trail: This scenic mountain road runs along ridgelines with significant drops on both sides. "A one lane road that runs along the ridge of the mountain. No guard rails! With 300 foot cliffs to either side," notes Brian B. The drive offers dramatic views but requires careful navigation, especially in larger vehicles.
Fish stocked waters: Multiple camping areas offer fishing opportunities in maintained lakes and rivers. At Buckhorn Dam Campground, "you could go up back the park and fish right at the spillway from Buckhorn Lake Dam. Really fun experience," according to Marissa G. The small lake at Kingdom Come is "regularly stocked with Trout. Bass, Blue Gill, Sunfish, and a few others."
Kayak and boat: Water activities are popular in the warmer months at several locations. Trace Branch on Buckhorn Lake provides sites "right on the water" with boat access. "This is a great spot if you don't mind not having a network connection or Wi-Fi," reports Maze M. Many campgrounds provide designated boat ramps and water access points for personal watercraft.
What campers like
Digital disconnection: The limited connectivity throughout the region provides a genuine opportunity to unplug. At Trace Branch - Buckhorn Lake, Damon O. notes "there is no cell service here, so be prepared to unplug and unwind." Similarly, at Kingdom Come, campers appreciate that the park has "no service or wifi" according to wyman M., making it ideal for those seeking a technology break.
Wildlife viewing: Bear sightings occur throughout the region but typically at safe distances. "We saw a bear across the valley, so take the warnings seriously and follow the instructions," advises Grant M. at Kingdom Come State Park. The park provides specific bear-safety infrastructure including designated food storage options at each site. Multiple campers report observing wildlife from their campsites or along trails.
Secluded sites: Several campgrounds offer more private camping options for those seeking solitude. At Kingdom Come, "of the 7 sites 6 are close together. The 7th is of by itself and about 100 feet from the lake in a more secluded area," writes Brian B. This arrangement allows campers to choose their preferred level of privacy while maintaining access to facilities.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained restrooms and common areas. "The campground was very easy to get to. We were on site 13 and it was nearly perfectly level from left to right," reports Marissa G. at Buckhorn Dam Campground. "The bathrooms and showers was clean. They have a place to do laundry," adds Martha at the same location.
What you should know
Narrow mountain roads: Access to many campgrounds requires navigating steep, winding roads that can challenge larger vehicles. Grant M. warns about Kingdom Come: "The road in from Cumberland is STEEP! We made it in a mini van pulling a scamp, so you'll probably be fine." Similarly, at Breaks Interstate Park Campground, Robert L. cautions: "The roads to this amazing State Park are two lane and twisting. We have a 38' 5er and a CrewCab Dually tow vehicle."
Limited services: Most campgrounds are situated in remote areas with minimal nearby amenities. "Be sure to bring all necessary supplies BEFORE you get here, nearest stores are a 20 minute drive away on crooked mountain roads," advises Robert L. at Breaks Interstate Park. Stock up on groceries and essentials before arrival, as options for resupply may be limited.
Seasonal weather considerations: Weather patterns impact campground conditions significantly. At Trace Branch, Damon O. notes: "This area looks to be prone to flooding in the spring months when the snows thaw so time your visit accordingly." Spring rains can make roads impassable and affect site conditions throughout the region.
Variable facilities: Campgrounds range from primitive to moderately developed. Paul H. describes Kingdom Come as having "about 6 or 7 sites, and they are primitive with no running water, but good pads, picnic tables, food hangers, shade from trees, and fire rings. There are men's and women's bathrooms, with running water in the sinks, but no water faucets as in other camps, and no showers."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. At Buckhorn Dam Campground, Martha enthuses it's "Perfect for families with kids!" noting the "Very nice playground, basketball court, swing, and volleyball court." Marissa G. agrees, calling it "Hands down the best playground for kids we have seen in a campground."
Kid-friendly campground layout: Some locations offer safer environments for children to explore. "A ton of kiddos for kids to play with and a great area for their bikes, etc.," mentions Marissa G. about Buckhorn Dam. The layout allows for supervised freedom while maintaining proximity to camping sites.
Bear safety education: The region's bear population provides an opportunity to teach wildlife safety. Several campgrounds post specific guidelines and provide infrastructure like food poles. Follow all posted guidelines and store food properly. As Jess B. recalls at Kingdom Come: "We were really careful to keep our campsite very clean as to not attract the bears closer."
Swimming options: During summer months, several campgrounds provide designated swimming areas. At Jenny Wiley State Park Campground, the community pool is included in camping fees according to some reviewers. Leeman Field Park in nearby Virginia includes pool access with camping fees, with Julie noting, "Admission to the pool is included in campground fees."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds require effort to level RVs due to mountain terrain. At Breaks Interstate Park, Bob M. advises to "prepare for some levelling" while noting that despite this challenge, the scenic views make it worthwhile.
Limited site options for larger rigs: Size restrictions affect availability at most campgrounds. "Be careful when choosing a site as some are challenging to get into with larger units," warns Robert L. at Breaks Interstate Park. Even at more developed sites, the mountain terrain creates limitations.
Water hookup positioning: At some campgrounds, utilities are positioned unconventionally. At Jenny Wiley State Park, Frances F. notes "Campsites are set up where the water hookups are in front of your camper. Bring long water hose." This unusual arrangement requires advance planning and extra equipment.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds with RV sites offer dump stations, and those that do may have limited capacity. John D. reports an occasion at Jenny Wiley where the "Dump station overflowed and closed," creating challenges for departing RVers. Consider alternatives in nearby towns if primary facilities are unavailable.
