The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Lake Cumberland. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Lake Cumberland, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Kendall Campground is located at 80 Kendall Road, south of Jamestown, Kentucky, just below Wolf Creek Dam, which forms beautiful Lake Cumberland. Click here for the Lake Cumberland virtual tour.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. Kendall Campground offers visitors convenient access to a cold water trout stream, making it a popular fishing destination. The stream is well-stocked with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Whispering Pines Trail, located within the campground, is a non-strenuous trail approximately half a mile long.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. Kendall Campground offers visitors convenient access to a cold water trout stream, making it a popular fishing destination. The stream is well-stocked with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Whispering Pines Trail, located within the campground, is a non-strenuous trail approximately half a mile long.
The campground overlooks the river, offering sweeping scenic views. Dense stands of mature hardwoods forest the site, offering scenic views, pleasant shade and wildlife habitat. Because of the temperate climate and relatively long recreation season, the lake provides varied outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year.
Wolf Creek Dam National Fish Hatchery is within walking distance of the campground. It is open year-round and offers free tours to the public and an excellent Environmental Education Center. Click here for more information. Lake Cumberland State Park is just 6.5 miles from the campground. This beautiful park offers fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mini golf, disc golf and boat rentals. Birders enjoy the park for its exceptional viewing prospects of raptors, songbirds and waterfowl. Grider Hill Marina and Resort is 25 minutes away, with boat rentals, a restaurant and general store. Jamestown Marina & Resort is 25 minutes away, with boat rentals, a restaurant and general store. State Dock Marina is 8 miles away, with boat rentals, snack bar and general store.
$60 / night
Blue Heron Campground is a rustic and spacious campground, situated on the Kentucky side of The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres of both rocky gorges and forested plateaus. Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, this ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys that are found throughout the park.
Just a few miles from the campground is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot is located about 9 miles away in the town of Stearns, which offers train rides and other educational opportunities for campers. More information can be found online at https://bsfsry.com. Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.
$35 / night
This recreation area is part of Lake Cumberland
Waitsboro Campground is at 500 Waitsboro Road and is situated on beautiful Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky.Click here for the Lake Cumberland virtual tour.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. The lake has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, crappie, rockfish and walleye, making it a favorite among anglers. The Black Walnut Nature Trail, located near the lake office, is a self-guided educational trail. The trail is open Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4pm EST.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. The lake has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, crappie, rockfish and walleye, making it a favorite among anglers. The Black Walnut Nature Trail, located near the lake office, is a self-guided educational trail. The trail is open Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4pm EST.
The campground overlooks the main body of the lake, offering sweeping scenic views. Dense stands of mature hardwoods forest the site, offering scenic views, pleasant shade and wildlife habitat. Because of the temperate climate and relatively long recreation season, the lake provides varied outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year.
General Burnside Island State Park is nearby. It was named after Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, who led patrols along the Cumberland River, circling this 400-acre island to keep watch for Confederate soldiers. Visitors come today to enjoy boating, fishing, golfing and picnicking on Kentucky's only island state park. Burnside Marina is 10 minutes away, with boat rentals, a restaurant and general store.
$35 / night
This recreation area is part of Lake Cumberland
The Great Meadows Campground, located on Stearns District of the Daniel Boone National Forest, is developed on both sides of the road. Deer Loop is on the right; Raccoon Loop is on the left. Deer Loop is open year round; but the water is shut off during the winter season. Raccoon Loop is April 1 - November 15. Make this page look nicer by submitting photos of your visit to Great Meadows Campground. Learn more... View Great Meadows Guide and Map Rock Creek, a designated Kentucky Wild River, runs along the Raccoon Loop. Rock Creek is stocked with rainbow trout March - June and September - December.. Campsite availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Trails nearby: Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail - Section 37 and Section 38; Mark Branch Trail # 635 and Gobblers Arch Trail # 636.
$10 - $15 / night
Fall Creek Campground is located at 1144 New Fall Creek Road, Monticello and is situated along the shores of the vast Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky.Click here for the Lake Cumberland virtual tour.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. The lake has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, crappie, rockfish and walleye, making it a favorite among anglers.
Lake Cumberland is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. Its large surface acreage and over 1,200 miles of shoreline provide a myriad of recreational activities. The lake has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, crappie, rockfish and walleye, making it a favorite among anglers.
The campground overlooks the main body of the lake, offering sweeping scenic views. Dense stands of mature hardwoods forest the area, offering pleasant shade and wildlife habitat. Due to the temperate climate and relatively long recreation season, the lake provides varied outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year.
The Mill Springs Mill Park is just a 15-minute drive from the campground. This historic mill site offers interpretive tours and grinding on the weekends and holidays, picnic sites and a gift shop. Grinding is at 2:00pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. Interpretive tours of the mill are given Saturday, Sunday and Holidays during the recreation season.
$35 / night
Immerse yourself in Lake Cumberland's natural beauty and enjoy life's simple pleasures from 53 acres of wooded land near Conley Bottom Resort. Tent camp, glamp, tuck away in an RV site, rent our lodge or just come for live music! Trails throughout the property lead you on adventures to a waterfall, the lake and a stocked fishing pond. Escape the world for a while at Hidden Ridge.
Looking for a place to park your home-away-from-home? Maybe tent camping is more your thing? Perhaps you like the idea of camping, but not roughing it? Or you just need a big house for an event or lake weekend (or week!)? We’ve got you covered! We have a limited number of sites dispersed throughout our 53 acres, ensuring you are immersed in nature - not neighbors!
Named for a favorite Willy Porter song, "Moonbeam" is a 12'x14' safari tent on a wooden platform with a roof. Listen to tree frogs while drifting off to sleep on a queen size memory foam bed with soft, dreamy linens. The tent features power, lamps, chairs, and a desk. Outside, enjoy a private fire pit or sit a spell on rocking chairs on the back deck. Our Community Shelter, with a fridge, sink, and coffee maker, and our Bath House with flush toilets and hot showers are a short walk away.
Moonbeam is secluded, yet close to amenities like the Community Shelter, which provides a a sink, mirror and outdoor shower, as well as useful cooking items: charcoal grill, refrigerator, electric burner, coffee maker, toaster, pots, pans and tongs. We also have a grate system that allows you to cook over the open fire (grates are hanging from a tree near the community fire pit).
Parking is approximately 200 feet from the tent.
The main trail to the lake begins right past the shelter, and there are other trails located throughout the property that take you to a natural spring and along the multiple creeks that flow down into Lake Cumberland.
Guests have the entire tent to themselves, as well as access to our Community Shelter, hiking trails and stocked fishing pond.
Other things to note
OUR LAKE ACCESS
We have one main hiking trail to the lake that starts at the back of the property near the Community Shelter. It will take about 15 minutes to get to the water, where there is a rocky beach to hang out and swim from. Because you are descending (or ascending) a ridge, it is steep in places and may be challenging for small kids and elderly adults.
Things that will make your experience most enjoyable: Water shoes (not flip flops), floats/lifejackets.
PLEASE NOTE: During spring and early summer, the water levels are higher and there may be limited beach area.
NEARBY ACCESS POINTS
[~ 1.5 miles] A public launch at the end of Highway 2393 (go out of the property and turn left. You will see signs for the ramp about a mile down the road. There is a small parking lot and rocky beach, as well as a ramp into the water.
[~ 2 miles] Fall Creek Recreation Area. 874 New Fall Creek Rd. There are picnic tables, a playground and a ramp into the water.
[~ 4 miles] Conley Bottom Marina, 270 Conley Bottom Road. You can rent kayaks, canoes, pontoons and ski boats. There is a store on-site that also sells bait.
[~5 miles] Old Fall Creek (this is the cove in the back of the main Fall Creek Recreation Area, and there is a different road to access it). Take a right out of the property, right onto 1275, right onto Pete Upchurch Rd, right onto Old Fall Creek Rd. Follow it until it dead ends into the water.
[~ 30 miles] Pulaski County Park. The park offers a beachy area and various spots for fishing and paddling around. Also great for picnics!
1200 Highway 3189
Nancy, KY
$75 - $95 / night
Situated along Kentucky's Highland Rim, Smith Ridge Campground is surrounded by forested tracks, rolling meadows and the pristine banks of Green River Lake. Click here for the Green River Lake Virtual Tour.
With 8,000 surface acres of water, the lake is an ideal place for boating. With ten boat ramps located around the shoreline, guests have plenty of room for fishing, jet skiing, wake boarding and more. Three full-service marinas are also located around the lake. Fishing is a popular activity at Green River Lake. Walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are all found in abundance. Hunters enjoy the surrounding land, with various habitats supporting deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. There are also miles of trails that wind around the lake and along the shore, affording some of the most scenic views in the region.
With 8,000 surface acres of water, the lake is an ideal place for boating. With ten boat ramps located around the shoreline, guests have plenty of room for fishing, jet skiing, wake boarding and more. Three full-service marinas are also located around the lake. Fishing is a popular activity at Green River Lake. Walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are all found in abundance. Hunters enjoy the surrounding land, with various habitats supporting deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. There are also miles of trails that wind around the lake and along the shore, affording some of the most scenic views in the region.
Green River Lake encompasses a total of some 32,000 acres in the central portion of Kentucky, creating countless recreational activities for visitors.
The Corps of Engineers Visitor Center and the Historical Civil War Atkinson-Griffin Log Cabin are located only a short 13.5 miles from Smith Ridge near the Green River Lake Dam .__ Several historical attractions and National Parks are located within an hour of Green River Lake, including the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and Mammoth Cave National Park.
Between 05/12/2023 and 09/10/2023 this location is staffed. Please call (270) 789-2743 to speak with local staff. From 12/15/2022 to 05/11/2023 this location is unstaffed. Please call (270) 465-4463 for general information.
Customers who change their dates outside the original reservation date (i.e., different week or month) will incur a $10 change fee. No-Shows are charged a $20.00 plus the first nights use fee.
$32 - $36 / night
Loud Carson road and kids playing basketball til 11:00 pm. They were very loud and vulgar.
Site had lots of room though. We left after the first nite. Lost our next 2 nites fee but worth the loss not having to stay any longer.
Staff somewhat indifferent.
Campsites are spacious with gravel campsites and paved rv parking at campsites. Water and electric at each site. Clean bathrooms with showers.
Did a drive around of the campground. Spacing looks great between sites. Sites look clean and level. Some sites are next to the Obey River. Will be camping here in the near future.
This campground is clean and the campsites are decent. However, our campsite had two stumps there were hard to work around when backing up the camper in the dark. If you need to use the showers or bathroom, they never fix anything. One bathroom hasn’t had electric in two years and another women’s bathroom only has hot water in one shower and the hand dryers don’t work.
We stayed on the island (walk in spot) and it was quiet and had beautiful views right on the water. There are also toilets and water available on the island if needed.
Easy to find, well marked. It’s has many (12) trails and many falls. Would definitely recommend shopping before camping, it’s several miles, and mountains, to get to stores. There are several lodging options…cottages, The Lodge, (which is beautiful) tent and RV camping. There are 2 small campgrounds ~ 1) Ridgeline which accommodates RVs up to 26”, water and 10/30/50 amp hook ups. Sites have a fire ring and picnic table. WiFi is available, and there is a dump station. A small playground, office/campstore, and a bathhouse and laundry next to it. 3 sites are walk-in. Big rigs would have to stay elsewhere. 2) Clifty Campground is tent camping only 7 sites offer electric and water. WiFi is also offered. There is a bathhouse and a playground, and these CG’s are pet friendly. (Falls Creek is a few miles up the road…they have pull through and back ins. For bigger Rvs. They also have tents, wagons, cabin rentals, and primitive sites) We had no T-Mobile service, or satellite service in our vehicle. The trails and Cumberland falls were awesome. The horse rides looked amazing, and the Pool was big, with a diving board, and a small fee for campers to use it.
Location was excellent, close to the water. They have a known power issue, 30amp service went out several times at the pole. Their solution was to use less appliances. There are other campgrounds on the lake that I would choose instead of this one for that reason. The site itself was fine, and if not for the power issues we would come back.
Sites are level and pretty spacious, if not some a little tight together. My only complaint was that the restroom wasn’t marked on the map that I could see so I ended up being very far away from it. So more of an issue with recreation.gov than the campground itself. The restroom was nice and clean.
After spending a week or so at a commercial campground, it is such a Blessing to be back at a COE campground again! Nestled in the trees near the Cumberland Lake, and dam, this is a beautiful place to relax. We are in spot #71, adjacent to a small field where I saw 7 deer grazing, multiple squirrels near our spot, and beautiful cardinals feeding nearby. This campground provides electric and water at most sites, has two dump stations, level sites with gravel. and the Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery is adjacent to the campground. A great place to visit!
This review is just about the campground not the lake or area surrounding it. The campground sites are ample but nothing special. I'd call them small to medium. Very few trees. Probably not a place I will visit a second time
Overall it’s a very nice, clean campground. We were in A2 and it was a little closer to the road than we expected, and the picnic tables were secured to the ground taking up a good bit of the site for our rug and chairs. The dump stations are a little tricky I felt like but overall a good campground and would go back. Practically no cell service with Verizon or AT&T
Stayed at site 5. We really liked The campground. The old part had plenty of shade the newer part not so much. The new bathhouse was nice. The old bathhouse needs some updating. They were both clean. Hosts were nice and helpful. We will be back.
This is a scam do NOT book with them. Tried to go on a Cumberland River Boat Cruise. Directions given were in accurate, no address was given to use GPS. Google Link given inaccurate Directions. Called several times and even talked to the manager asking for help none was given. River Boat was Gone When we Finally Found the Boat Ramp. Drove to the Office to request a voucher or refund. Would NOT give either one. People were not helpful at all DO NOT waste your money. We lost$120 to them due to the businesses own fault. They did NOT offer options for people with disabilities, We even asked for a 1/2 of a refund and they would NOT even do that as they said we made lunch for you. How much can a sandwich and chips cost. If they were kind people and did what Jesus would do they would have gladly refunded even 1/2 of the money paid Do NOT support a company that doesn’t support people with disabilities nor are they Christian at all. What happened to having manners. If they would refund our money we would delete this entire post.
We had a great time there. Some sites can be small so do your research. It was nice and quiet in the area we were in. The bathhouse was nice and clean and all the workers were very friendly.
We stayed for 6 nights on 2 sites, right next to the bath house. Laundry was free and on the back of the bath house (2 washers, 2 dryers). Bath house was clean. Showers were on a timer (60 seconds at a time, two levels/ pressures, one temperature, you get what you get and don’t pitch a fit). Lots of ticks but that was expected. Sites are good sized.
Other reviewers will do this place more justice than I can. It’s already been said. I’ll just say that a 45 minute horse ride for $25 is an absolute steal. Seeing the falls is free. There is a small on-site store and a playground for the kids.
The campsites are off to thereselfs and make for great camping with privacy. The drive there is a little long and no cell service for the most part but isn't that what camping is about anyway.
I had the only tent site. It was adequate but many stares up and down. No water no electricity. Bathrooms were clean, campground was clean and quite. There is a snack shack outside the gate and they have bait. Good fishing lake and river.
Review from the perspective of a motorcycle traveler tent camping. Tent sites are along a stream on Racoon side. Got surprised by a bear while gathering firewood nearby. Clean and well maintained although it was a sleepless night because of a group of drunk locals.
Site 22 was perfect, and the host was very nice and helpful.
Quiet, clean place to rest Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints
The location of this campground in the app is way off!
Friends I want to ask you do not use or refer family and friends to Laurel Lake Camping Resort in Corbin.We booked a reservation before their system upgrade per the management we just spoke to. We booked two camp sites for July. At the time of booking my daughter was told she could cancel outside 30 days. I never received an email confirmation and we called back asking for confirmation email. They sent an email with Zero information included. There is a PDF attached which has no information in it. Now that we did not secure a camper for our dates and went to cancel, they referenced a cancellation policy we never saw nor was made aware if through their email process when we made the phone booking. I replied to the email multiple times. My daughter talked to them multiple times, My wife talked to them and I also did trying to find out details of the site, which I never received, only verbally over the phone. They behaved as a small operation, which is fine when you conduct yourself with integrity and provide good customer service. Neither of which they did. Now that we cancelled they informed us they will keep 100% of the deposit and we are more than 60 days before our reservation. Again, The management on the phone admitted their system has been upgraded 5 times by that we just talked to and made the comment of people don't receive or they do not receive emails all the time. Well, I received theirs with no info, so seems like they have practiced their blame of technology on others besides me. While I overpaid for a lesson learned I ask you to avoid them. My large family will for sure. If they miss out only only a couple of bookings because of my experience during their slow season then karma has worked. Stay away from Laurel Lake Camping Resort!!!
Sites are big but not level. We put one side of the RV on the pad and the other in the gravel just to be level. Sites are also awkwardly diagonal in places so the back ends get pretty close. (Pic for example)
The bathrooms are clean and laundry is nice. Showers are free and hot.
There are some awesome hikes nearby in Daniel Boone National Forest. Natural Arch, Yazoo Arch and Yazoo Falls are all worth the drive.
Lastly, there’s a racetrack across the highway (Lake Cumberland Raceway) and it is LOUD. The race continued from 6pm-1am. Highly recommend you check their schedule before booking here.
The facilities are fine. I was in the primitive area and they are OK. But don't come here expecting peace and quiet. There is constant traffic to the water area some blasting music and at night kids are running around on golf carts non-stop. I left a day earlier than planned because I couldn't even here my little radio over the bass blasting from someone several hundred yards away.
Stayed in site 8. Nice site. Fishing was good. Nice hiking trails.
This was my first time to the Niagara of the South. My husband and I left our dog back in Louisville for this trip which was originally an attempt to see the moon bow at Cumberland Falls.
We looked at the tent site map on the state resort park map and nothing looked GREAT except for Clifty Campground spots 050, 048, and 049 they all look isolated from any of the other sites with 050 being a site that you have to traverse a grassy/rocky area from your car to set up.
We opted for spot 047 because, on the map, it looked set back from the campground road… and it was… sorta. Nothing at this campsite is going to be private. The majority of the sites do not have so much as a weed between them although the sites themselves are very roomy for car camping. Your vehicle will be a presence at the site, which have electric hookups so if, like me, you have an electric car… it's nice to be able to simply plug the car in. This site did not get a lot of shade except for where we had the tent set up, and still… that would've received sun had it not been raining.
Our site had a good picnic bench, a sturdy wooden post for hanging trash etc and the fire pit seemed pretty new. The grill wasn't bent at all, which was a 1st in my years of camping. The view from this site was pretty cool… we set out tent up at the furthest out spot on the small cliff as we could before it turned to mostly rock and faced the door out over the trails. We hung our rain tarp because, instead of a moon bow, we endured a nearly 24 hour torrential downpour. The tarp, which is small, and having the tent faced appropriately gave us a semblance of privacy although we had a camper van family next to us. Site has a lot of gravel so it was reasonably muddy but not dried out quick.
There are a lot of raccoons that visit the dumpster area so expect it to be a little messy if your fellow campers aren't shutting the dumpster lids. Shower facilities reminded me of middle school camp… kind of mildewed… and well… rustic. Everything functioned and it wasn't "gross" just old. Water was hot. Toilet stalls (ladies) were small. I weight 130 and at 5 foot 2 it was a tight squeeze for me.
We hiked the WIldflower Loop Trail (1.5 miles) in a drizzle and although wet it was safe. When the rain stopped we hiked Eagle Falls Trail and it was very muddy but the views were worth it.
Would love to go back but if camping in a tent it's a must to get one of the two more private spots, or at the very least
Camping near Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the water, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, is a fantastic way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories with family and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Lake Cumberland?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Lake Cumberland is Cumberland Falls State Resort Park with a 4.3-star rating from 46 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Lake Cumberland?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 glamping camping locations near Lake Cumberland, with real photos and reviews from campers.
