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Best Tent Camping near Keavy, KY

515 Reviews

Tent campsites near Keavy, Kentucky include several established options in the surrounding Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Grove Boat-In Campground offers tent sites accessible by kayak or small watercraft, while Clifty Campground provides dedicated tent camping areas with varying levels of privacy. White Oak Boat-In Campground on Laurel River Lake provides primitive tent sites that can only be reached by boat or mountain bike on a dirt service road.

Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Clifty Campground includes electric hookups at sites 40-47, while sites 48-50 are more primitive but offer greater privacy. According to one visitor, "Site 49 was worth the lack of electricity and water" due to its seclusion from other campers. Vault toilets are common at primitive locations like White Oak and Grove Boat-In campgrounds, but shower facilities are limited to developed areas. Seasonal closures affect many campgrounds, with Grove Boat-In operating from April 11 to October 15 and Craigs Creek Group Area available May through October.

The terrain throughout Keavy area tent campgrounds ranges from wooded sites with partial shade to waterfront locations with lake views. Tent campers at Rockcastle can find well-spread-out sites, some with water views, though a review mentioned that "vault bathrooms were pretty rough." For those seeking backcountry experiences, Tranquility Creek offers 15 primitive tent sites with drinking water available but no electric hookups or shower facilities. Walk-in tent sites at several locations provide more seclusion than drive-in options, with many campers noting the peaceful atmosphere despite occasional weekend crowds. Tent-specific sites at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offer access to hiking trails including the Wildflower Loop Trail and Eagle Falls Trail, providing opportunities for day hikes directly from camp.

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Best Tent Sites Near Keavy, Kentucky (22)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Keavy, KY

26 Photos of 22 Keavy Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Keavy, KY

515 Reviews of 22 Keavy Campgrounds

  • Rebecca J.
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Pure gold for such an inexpensive price

    I think lots number 712 and 13 are the best because they are situated right around a beautiful pond with massive lily pads and dragonflies. It is about a 20 minute drive to a local store or a save a lot when we forgot some groceries. The trees are mature so there is plenty of shade and lofty space between each lot. We are on a paved site surrounded by gravel picnic table light post and fire ring also with a food storage bin to keep out the bears! It gets quiet! It gets dark! For $20, it is unbeatable. :-)

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Daniel Boone National Forest Little Lick Horse Camp

    Listen for banjos

    You will drive and drive and drive...and drive on the gravel road. However the road is good and the signage will get you there! Follow the little tent signs to Little Lick Horse Camp in the woods of Daniel Boone NF. The Nathan McClure trailhead is in the campground so there will be other traffic coming in. There are a few good size sites, with picnic table, fire ring and not much else. This is primitive, to include no toilet so bring your bucket or whatever you use.....remember Leave No Trace ;) Dark and starry skies, quiet and woodsy....try not to think about any scary wood based movies. Horses, llamas, trail bikes and dogs would be perfect for this campground. The sites are big enough for more then one tent or hammock. There are several other nice/challenging trails nearby and the Rattlesnake Motorcycle route in the area.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2018

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    What are you here for?

    Alum Ford Big South Fork Recreation Area is in my top 10 favorite areas.

    I try to participate in the Yamacraw Trail Run every year because it is just AWESOME, and this area is part of their route due to the excellent scenery of the area.

    If you like trees, hills, streams, falls, historical markers, old cabins and history , plus not much use of modern technology when you camp then you will thoroughly enjoy Big South Bend! If you are a bring the kitchen sink kinda camper you might wanna find a nearby KOA or other type campground.

    The campground has no signal, no electricity, no showers, no host. Just you, a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring. Oh, and there is one pit toilet. Bring 5$ cash for the honor pay station and your hiking shoes and watercraft. There is a Trailhead at the back of the 6 site campground and a boat ramp down the hill.

    The sites are well maintained and old , probably CCC built with wood steps leading up or down to your site. There is no direct access to the boatramp but there is a short trail that connects the sites to the boatramp that runs along the cliff face down to the ramp.

    The trailhead is part of the Sheltowee Trace Trail and connects to the Yamacraw Bridge. You could easily stage a multi day backpacking trip from Alum Ford to take in the local sights.

    Not far up the road is the Yahoo Picnic Area. I think it used to be a campground just by the way it’s set up. Picnic tables on pads and a nice old pavilion for groups with a grill. Past that Yahoo Falls. This is a technical, moderate trail down to the tallest falls in Kentucky. Also a very old area but maintained with newer restroom facilities. The loop trail was approximately 1.5 miles long with a metal staircase on one side and trail on the far side. This is also part of a thru trail. Get you an old fashion paper map before coming cause your fancy electronic gear may or may not work here.

    This is one of many areas through the Kentucky/Tennessee Big South Fork if you are able plan for an extended stay to check the whole place out;)

  • I
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Barren Fork Horse Camp

    Litter Ruins Great Spot

    We needed a spot for Labor Day weekend and discovered Barren Fork Horse Camp in Daniel Boone National Forest near Whitley, KY. There are lots of great hikes and natural bridges in the area to check out. We had no problem finding a site. The biggest negative is the amount of trash that was left in the fire rings and the litter strewn throughout the woods. This is a beautiful campground, but the litter was the worst we’ve ever seen. There is potable water available near the vault toilet buildings, but no electricity or dump station. There are no rules on generator use, so beware that your neighbor may run the generator all day and night. The price of the campground was $8 for one night/$12 for two nights. With just a little TLC, this could be a great place to camp.

  • Lori H.
    Aug. 4, 2019

    Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Campground

    Beautiful Night Sky, Quiet Camping

    Pickett State Park is a great spot to camp if you like peace and quiet, but don’t want to have to backpack in to a spot. Despite the small campground, it was pretty much empty on the first weekend in August when we stayed. It is near the Big South Fork, and Scott State Forest, so there’s lots of great hiking, horseback riding, river recreation, etc. nearby. From other reviews on The Dyrt, I learned the park is excellent for stargazing, and it is true, you will have amazing views at night, we slept in a tent without a rain fly, just so we could see the stars!

    The campground has several sites with electric and some without. We stayed in B1, which did not have electric. All the sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and the ones on the outside of the loops back up to the woods and trails. All the sites are spacious.

    The restrooms were clean, but they must be pretty old. There were some areas in need of tile repair, but it was just a cosmetic issue, so it didn’t bother me. The showers were nice, and everything was clean.

    The campground also has cabins, and those seemed to have more guests than the campground. They have a set of cabins that were connected, like apartments, and they have some larger, freestanding cabins too. They had a group site as well, but I did not go to it.

    The park has a lake with swimming area, and canoe/kayak/paddle board rentals, a swinging bridge, playground, tennis courts, a gigantic picnic area, and several great trails.

    This was a very pleasant find, and we will definitely return!

  • T
    Aug. 25, 2020

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Very Nice Campground

    We camped two nights last week in Loop A, the tent only, nonelectric section. Being mid-week, there were not many people, meaning it was also nice and quiet. The sites are roomy, with a large tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, lantern hook, and a food storage locker. Yes, this is bear country, but we didn't see any during our visit. The bath houses are as nice as you're likely to find in a national park, with flush toilets, hot showers, and an outside sink for dish washing, etc. There is also a large, wheelchair accessible bathroom with roll-in shower. A water hydrant is available to fill jugs and tanks.

    We drove through the other loops to see what they look like, because Loop A isn't open in winter. Should we decide to camp here in winter, Loop B is the only section open. But, that will let us use an electric heater. 

    Be aware that some things are not open in 2020 due to Covid-19. The park visitors centers are still closed, the swimming pool wasn't open mid-week, and the check-in building was unstaffed when we arrived. There was a sign at the check-in point telling us to reserve and pay for our site using Recreation.gov. We had cell service there, so no problem. It you don't have service, drive across the road to the Camp Store (which is not always open) to use WiFi there. There is a note on the front door with the password. 

    There are so many things to do in Big South Fork and surrounding areas that you really need to just visit the park website and make a list of things to do. Some are easy and roadside, others not so much. For example, to hike the Twin Arches Loop Trail, you'll drive several miles of dirt roads to reach the trailhead and end up hiking about 6 - 6.5 miles. The description says the loop is 4.6 miles, which is true, but you have to add another 1.4 miles for the out-and-back from the parking lot to the start of the loop. The loop trail isn't bad, but the access trail has steep stairs. Anyway, find something you like and enjoy the Cumberland Plateau.

  • Lori H.
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Ranger Review: GCI Freestyle Rocker Pro at Bandy Creek Campground

    Bandy Creek Campground is located in The Big South Fork National River and Recreation area on The Cumberland Plateau. Big South Fork is a great place for outdoor adventure. Some activities include hiking, horseback riding, rick climbing, tubing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, and just about anything else! The area is never overcrowded, even in the middle of summer. There are many scenic views throughout the area, so bring a camera!

    Campground review: Bandy Creek Campground is a great place! The sites are all spacious, and wooded for the most part, so you have plenty of space and some privacy. The campground seemed quite large, and was fairly empty for a Weekend in August. Some sites have food storage lockers (not sure if all do) as the area is a bear habitat. We saw some deer and turkeys, so there’s wildlife around for sure!

    There is tent loop, and a group camp area, and I believe the campground hosts several retreats.

    There’s riding stables at the camp store too. The campground also has a large swimming pool, with lifeguards.

    The restrooms were immaculate! Seriously the cleanest campground restrooms I believe I’ve seen. Ours had a filtered water bottle fill up fountain too.

    This campground is really nice, and quiet, but also has so much to do, I highly recommend it!

    Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to try out products sometimes, and today I’m trying out the GCI Freestyle Rocket Pro! https://www.gcioutdoor.com/camping-chairs/freestyle-rocker-pro/

    The Freestyle Rocker Pro is one of the best chairs I’ve used! It is actually much lighter than I expected, and is still extremely sturdy. Lightweight gear is a must when camping, or attending events!
    It has a carry handle so you don’t need to try to fit it in a case to have a strap like other chairs I’ve used. The Rocker was smooth on natural surface, pea gravel, and concrete. It is very comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. It folds up super easy with just a pull of the handle. One feature that I especially love is the cup holder and side pocket. It will actually hold a drink without spilling, and you can fit a phone, keys or other small items in the pocket. This chair is awesome! Two thumbs up!!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Alum Ford Campground — Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

    Put it on the Pad

    Ranger Review: Mountain House Meals at Alum Ford Campground ,Big South Fork, Ky

    Campground Review: Near Yahoo Falls Alum Ford this small (6 sites) primitive campground is a good place to set up base camp for activities your planning in the area. 

    Not much to the actual campground: 

    • Picnic table, bear box, tent pad ,fire ring

    • Pit toilets

    • Co-located with a boat-ramp (Cumberland River)

    • A trail that meanders along the cliff face behind the campsites that takes you down to the boat-ramp

    • Trailhead in the very back to Yamacraw Bridge and the Sheltowee Trace

    The campground is quiet aside from loading and unloading boats (which went on until after midnight) There were only two occupied sites when we arrived on a Saturday. No reservations and $5 per site. There is credit card information on the pay envelope but I prefer to use cash and not have my info floating around. 

    The campground was clean and well maintained but obviously old and in need of some restoration, no surprise with all the cuts in Park positions. I like this type of campground but not so much the noise from the boat-ramp. There is no direct put in from the sites. I doubt I would leave my watercraft tied off overnight either.

     This would be an excellent and cheap spot to do some extensive hiking from or even backpacking/dispersed camping from. Due to there being no through traffic you could leave your vehicle and odds and ends and not have to worry about anything wandering off while your gone. We camped here after hiking some of the Tennessee end of the Sheltowee Trace. Sunday we hiked some more and visited Yahoo Falls. 

    Product Review: Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals are surprisingly very good....https://www.mountainhouse.com/m/abus.html

    Now I say this from a background of years of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat....in someone’s opinion) and T-rations. So it should only be improvement, BUT some of the other products I’ve tried were not that great. 

    I first tried Mountain House a few years ago on a backpacking trip and thought it was okay, but not great. I tried Mountain House again last year and enjoyed it a lot more. I don’t know if they changed anything or maybe I read and followed the directions ;)

    So when given the opportunity as a Dyrt Ranger to review Mountain House I was like absolutely!

    I selected breakfast items, Granola and Egg mixtures( not together;) because that’s the time of day I like quick and easy so we can get on the move.

    I read the directions and boiled my water, poured a cup in, waited 3 minutes and Had Some Scrumptious Eggs and Bacon! Just that easy, quick AND filled me up. 

    I’m trying to think of any cons but right off hand the only problem I ever had was not reconstituting it correctly. Eggs needed some salt and pepper but that would go back to preference. 

    Mountain House comes in pro-paks for backpackers and high altitudes, which are packed to save space. They have cans for crowds and kits for preppers or just emergency preparedness.

    Definitely good for at the house, in the camper and the car just in case.

Guide to Keavy

Tent camping near Keavy, Kentucky offers access to some of the 708,000 acres of Daniel Boone National Forest's rugged terrain, with elevations ranging from 750 to 1,000 feet throughout the region. The area experiences approximately 47 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest conditions and occasional muddy campsites during spring months. Most primitive sites in this region have limited cell service, with Verizon carriers typically having better coverage than other providers.

What to do

Horseback riding trails: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers guided trail rides for ages 6 and up, costing $20 per person for a 45-minute ride. According to Mike S., who stayed at Clifty Campground, "Hiking trails nearby are nice and there's actually strong WiFi at campsites should you need it."

Mountain biking access: White Oak Boat-In Campground can be reached by mountain bike via a dirt service road for those without boats. One local camper explains, "You can XC ski or snowshoe to the site (3+ miles) in the winter. Great wildlife all year. People go scuba diving in this lake but we haven't ever tried it."

Multi-activity parks: Pulaski County Park offers diverse recreation opportunities beyond just camping. "There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins. There are several play ground areas close by for the kids to play. You can bring your boats along and put them in right there they have 2 different ramps on either side of the camp ground," notes Katie M.

What campers like

Privacy at select sites: Tent campers specifically recommend certain site numbers for seclusion. Hannah L. notes about Clifty Campground, "I loved site 48 at Clifty Campground. It was the most secluded spot we could find. Definitely book ahead of time if you can."

Boat-in adventure: Grove Boat-In Campground provides a unique tent camping experience accessible by water. Emilee B. shares, "My first experience to a boat in and did it all on my own! My boat was my kayak. I parked at the Grove marina and packed all I could on my kayak and headed to the sites. This was a pretty decent paddle away."

Waterfront options: Many tent sites offer lake or water views. Eric B. says about Rockcastle campground, "The site are well spread out for the most part, the view is very nice if you get to camp on the water, and we were able to find space on a major holiday which was very welcome."

What you should know

Site amenities vary widely: Some tent-specific sites have electricity while others are completely primitive. At Clifty Campground, lydia notes, "Sites 40-47 have electric and water. Sites 48-50 do not but all sites are close to the bath house. In my opinion, the privacy of site 49 was worth the lack of electricity and water."

Bathroom facilities: Quality and accessibility of restrooms can be inconsistent at tent camping areas around Keavy. About Pulaski County Park, one camper cautions, "Bathhouse; showers are so outdated and barley cleaned and just gross, water source is old and campground manager didn't follow up with me."

Holiday crowds: Tranquility Creek offers a quieter alternative with 15 primitive tent sites when other locations fill up. A visitor describes it simply as a "Quiet, clean place to rest. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."

Tips for camping with families

Boat access camping with kids: For families with water equipment, Grove Boat-In Campground offers memorable experiences. Marsha K. states, "This is a great place for the family. The hike have great views, the facilities are clean and well kept. The personal there is wonderful."

Playgrounds and swimming: Pulaski County Park provides multiple kid-friendly amenities. Anna C. notes, "There's a very large walking trail, and archery area. You can put a boat right in at their little dock as well. The lake view is gorgeous. There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area."

Site selection for families: When tent camping with children, choosing the right campground section makes a difference. At Clifty Campground, Kenpocentaur K. advises, "I actually preferred Clifty over the main campground (Ridgeline). Ridgeline was down a long winding road. It had way more folks. Ridgeline is better suited for the RV and large tent crowds."

Tips from RVers

Site sizing considerations: Even for tent campers, understanding site dimensions helps with setup planning. One RV visitor to Pulaski County Park observed, "The campground is spread across the hills and 'bays' of the park. Not crowded right now and the water is WAY down. There is the hilltop 'parking lot' pull throughs, the largest part of the campground spread across the knoll."

Seasonal water levels: Lake campgrounds near Keavy experience significant water level changes throughout the year. Tombo T. warns about Rockcastle, "Campground is closed, but the boat launch is open. Might be able to park in boat launch parking. Clean pit toilets."

Evening atmosphere: While tent camping Keavy, Kentucky areas are family-friendly during daytime, some transform at night. Anna C. shares about Pulaski County Park, "Despite the no alcohol rule, there's still a lot of partying at night. No one really enforces that. It can get loud and I have heard from friends incidences of theft and cars getting scratched up at night."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Keavy, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Keavy, KY is Grove Boat-In Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Keavy, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Keavy, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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