Camping spots near Carrollton, Kentucky center around the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, with sites resting at elevations between 450-500 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s and winter lows in the 20s. Nearby camping areas range from riverfront locations with concrete pads to more secluded woodland settings offering varied terrain.
What to do
Hiking opportunities: Clifty Falls State Park Campground offers multiple trails with varied difficulty ratings. "Trail 6 to 5, then down to 2, and back up to 5, finishing on Trail 4 at Hoffman Falls... Lots to see on that hike and not very crowded," notes camper Kaley A. The park features several waterfalls and scenic overlooks.
Wildlife viewing: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground provides educational opportunities with live bison viewing areas. "REAL LIVE BISON. Pretty sweet experience!" shares Zoe S. The park also contains a museum with exhibits about prehistoric animals and salt springs.
Water activities: Follow The River RV Resort sits directly on the Ohio River with water access. A camper describes, "We absolutely love this campground, very friendly staff and well kept and clean!! They are pet friendly and allow portable fences." The resort offers direct river views and fishing opportunities.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Two Rivers Campground receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "The bathhouse was really, really nice. Very clean and spacious," notes one visitor. Another adds, "Two Rivers is a fairly new, city run campground close to I-71 and adjacent to the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers. All sites are FHU, about half of them are pull-through and all are on level pads."
River access: Madison City Park provides direct Ohio River frontage. "This is a wonderful campground with beautiful views of the picturesque Ohio River. Relax at your campsite and watch the barges and boats go by," shares Paula C. The park allows for easy access to downtown Madison with its historic architecture and dining options.
Level concrete pads: Many campers appreciate the level sites at Follow The River RV Resort. "We live only 35 minutes from here but we'll be back if we just need to get away!" says Alan B., who specifically praised the "level concrete pads, nice picnic table & fire ring." The concrete pads make setup easier in variable weather conditions.
What you should know
Additional fees: Clifty Falls State Park Campground charges entrance fees beyond camping costs. "If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget," explains Jessica O.
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entrance roads. Swiss Haven RV Resort is located directly on the Ohio River but requires careful navigation. Hones Pointe Campground has a "Very narrow paved road going back to the campground. Great for tents, pop-up campers and smaller RV's," according to John S.
Seasonal closures: While some campgrounds operate year-round, others have limited seasons. Madison City Park operates from April 1 to October 31. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground also has a defined season running "April 1 to October 31," requiring advance planning for visitors.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: General Butler State Resort Park offers dedicated play areas for children. "Lots of green space, playground area for kids and putt putt. The lodge lets campers use the pool 4-7 pm for free which is nice," shares Liz S. The playground equipment is well-maintained and regularly updated.
Educational opportunities: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground provides learning experiences about natural history. "The museum and gift shop have a lot of educational stuff which would be excellent for a home schooling trip. A good interactive grade school age children campground," explains Shelly S. The museum features exhibits on prehistoric animals and fossil discoveries.
Site selection: When booking, carefully research individual sites as they vary significantly within the same campground. "Heads up to check the map and Google Earth when booking. Some sites have a lot of room and others are super close to neighboring sites," advises Rebecca F. regarding General Butler State Resort Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Watch for slope issues at certain sites. At Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, one camper noted, "Our site (49) was very un-level, and worst of all had no shade at all. Even with our awning out it was scorching until 730pm." General Butler also has some challenging sites: "At site 11 and a few others, they had no backstops at the back of the blacktop pad. If the site was level, it wouldn't have been as bad."
Hookup configurations: Charlestown State Park Campground offers some full-hookup sites among mostly electric-only options. "Most are electric only but we got one of the handful of full hookup sites," reports Greg S. The park features concrete pads that accommodate larger RVs, though shade is limited throughout the campground.
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. At Clifty Falls, a camper noted, "Zero cellular or wifi service so that could be good or bad. The Inn does have WiFi if you have to have it but seems to be more for guests than general park population." Two Rivers Campground offers free WiFi, while other nearby campgrounds report 2-3 bars for major carriers.
