Lake Cumberland sits at approximately 723 feet above sea level with a shoreline stretching 1,255 miles across south-central Kentucky. The lake reaches depths of 200 feet in some areas, creating diverse fishing and camping environments with significant seasonal water level fluctuations. Most tent camping sites around Lake Cumberland remain open from April through October, with midsummer highs frequently exceeding 90°F.
What to do
Mountain biking at Pulaski County Park: The park features multiple mountain biking trails of varying difficulty levels across its hills and knolls. "There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp... The trails twist and turn and cross creeks and hill tops. I won't say they're easy to navigate but it's doable if you pay attention to the names and direction you're going," notes reviewer Shelly S.
Disc golf course exploration: The disc golf course at Pulaski County Park offers an extensive layout across varied terrain. "The disc golf will take you on quite a hike and to another parking lot and trailhead totally outside the park," according to reviews, making it a full day activity with considerable elevation changes.
Stargazing at dark sky locations: Tuscarora Glade in nearby Pickett County offers exceptional night sky viewing. "Pickett County Tennessee is one of the few places in the world with a Dark Sky rating, meaning there is little to no light pollution. Tuscarora Glade is so dark at night and the stars are just so brilliant looking up through the opening in the Glade," explains camper Ralph M.
Boat-in camping adventures: Grove Boat-In Campground provides a unique tent camping experience accessible only by water. "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," shares Emilee B.
What campers like
Well-maintained recreation areas: The area offers several maintained public spaces with picnic facilities. At Halcombs Landing, visitors appreciate the layout: "A nice, picturesque stop off on your travels through the area. Halcombs Landing is across from Kendall Recreation Area. Above the dam this Boatramp has a pavilion area and single picnic tables out along a break wall that offer some nice scenery with your picnic lunch," notes Shelly S.
Tent-only camping sections: Some campgrounds designate areas specifically for tent campers. At Clifty Campground, Mike S. highlights, "Stayed in the Clifty Campground. All sites with electric/water and NO RV's. 2 sites at either end totally primitive."
Beach access at multiple locations: Many Lake Cumberland tent camping areas include swimming areas. "Great beach access. Quite and very clean," reports Lee-Ann R. about Pulaski County Park, which offers a designated swimming beach along with camping facilities.
Free pool access for campers: Some state park campgrounds include pool privileges. According to reviews, "The perk about the Clifty campsites is that they are close to the pool. You can easily walk to the pool with your family when it opens. The pool is free for campers."
What you should know
Sites vary significantly in size and privacy: Campsite dimensions and isolation differ greatly throughout Lake Cumberland. At Clifty Campground, one camper advises, "The sites are inconsistent between their sizes on the Clifty campground. We had two small tents and one car. If we had any more gear or people it would have been uncomfortable."
Cell service is spotty and carrier-dependent: Coverage varies by location and provider. "We did have cell phone service (Verizon) at the campground. My friend that was T-Mobile did not have cell service. There are areas in the park where I did not have a signal such as when we went hiking or exploring," reports a Clifty Campground visitor.
Maintenance issues at some facilities: Shower and bathroom quality varies between campgrounds. At Pulaski County Park, a recent visitor reported: "Bathhouse; showers are so outdated and barely cleaned and just gross, water source is old and campground manager didn't follow up with me. Only one bathhouse open and I don't think they cleaned it once all week."
Backcountry permits required: For wilderness tent camping at Lake Cumberland, permits are mandatory. In the Big South Fork area, a camper advises, "Make sure you have your permit with you while camping and have a wonderful time in this beautiful valley."
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playground areas: Pulaski County Park offers several play areas for children. "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," mentions Katie M.
Know crowd expectations: Some Lake Cumberland campgrounds become busy and noisy, especially on weekends and holidays. According to Anna C., Pulaski County Park is "in a great location. Only a 10 minute drive from Somerset, the 'big' city, for supplies & food... Despite the no alcohol rule, there's still a lot of partying at night. No one really enforces that. It can get loud."
Check bathroom accessibility: Not all facilities accommodate mobility challenges. One camper notes, "The Clifty bathroom was not ADA accessible as no wheelchair bathroom stall. Shower wasn't accessible either if you have any mobility challenges."
Reserve best tent sites early: The most desirable tent sites at Lake Cumberland fill quickly, especially during summer. "I loved site 48 at Clifty Campground. It was the most secluded spot we could find. Definitely book ahead of time if you can," recommends Hannah L.
Tips from RVers
RV site limitations: Many Lake Cumberland campgrounds have limited space for larger recreational vehicles. At Pulaski County Park, Terry S. observes, "It has been improved over the years and still needs work. More RV sites have been added. More are needed."
Terrain challenges: The mountainous setting creates parking difficulties at some campgrounds. One camper explains, "I had to be careful when parking as I had to avoid the water supply, 2 trees, a safety pole for the water supply (painted brown), electricity box, and then the drop off on the other side of the road."
Electric car charging available: Some Lake Cumberland tent camping locations offer electrical hookups useful for electric vehicles. A camper mentions, "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."
