Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area spans 170,000 acres between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The region features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 350 to 580 feet and experiences humid summers with temperatures often reaching the 90s. Most cabin camping options maintain air conditioning to combat summer heat, which campers consistently rate as essential during peak season visits from June through August.
What to do
Kayaking on Energy Lake: Energy Lake Campground offers non-motorized water activities with canoe and kayak rentals available for $10/hour. The protected wildlife area provides calm waters ideal for beginners. "The lake was gorgeous and perfect for kayaking though, with lots of nice coves to explore and wildlife to see. I saw a doe with a spotted fawn nursing on my first trip onto the water," shares a visitor at Energy Lake Campground.
Wildlife viewing at Elk and Bison Prairie: Located a short drive from most campgrounds, this drive-through observation area costs $5 per vehicle. "We visited the Elk and Bison Prairie near Golden Pond Visitors Center. A drive through observation area. The visitor center also offers planetarium shows and nature programs," notes a camper from Redd Hollow.
Horseback riding: Wranglers Campground maintains extensive equestrian trails suitable for riders of all experience levels. "Fun experience staying with all the horses! I didn't really know it was a thing to bring horses to camp and ride them on the trails! Loved it," reports a visitor who stayed at Wranglers.
What campers like
Private waterfront sites: Many basic camping areas offer direct water access and privacy. "We chose site D3 over Memorial Day weekend. The D loop was nice and quiet with very little traffic. We were very close to the lake to drop our kayaks in the water or fish without going far, always a plus!" shares a camper at Energy Lake Campground.
Varied accommodation options: The region offers everything from primitive tent sites to full luxury cabins. At Lake Barkley State Resort Park, visitors appreciate the flexibility: "We camped and stayed in the lodge and both are not horrible... The room is late 60s decor, and kinda funky, but a little worn."
Abundance of wildlife: The natural setting attracts wildlife enthusiasts. "Saw a lot of wildlife for such a big campground with lots of people traffic," mentions a visitor at Piney Campground, while another camper noted the area is "home to many bald eagle."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake depths change significantly throughout the year, affecting shoreline sites. "When they start pulling the lake down what were water access sites become gravel and mud bar access sites. In the dead middle of the summer the back end of the cove is probably full of water. Early spring and late summer early fall it is not," warns a visitor to Redd Hollow.
Site levelness varies: Many campsites require significant leveling equipment. "Pads are not level. Saw a class A that had front wheels 10" off the ground and a TT with the hitch on the ground. Many sites had drop offs on the door side of the pad," reports a camper at Lake Barkley State Resort Park.
Bathroom quality inconsistency: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. "The bathrooms were clean, but are in bad need of updates, as are the shower facilities. Showers were luke warm, some had non-functioning heaters in them, and a lot of rust and broken shelving," notes a visitor to Piney Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with amenities: Look for sites with playgrounds and swimming areas. "Energy Lake has the most amenities of all the campgrounds – including ice and firewood to buy and some additional common areas like a designated swim area (no lifeguard, but I imagine this makes it easier to keep an eye on kids) and basketball and volleyball courts," recommends a visitor at Canal Campground.
Consider cabins during extreme heat: Air conditioned accommodations provide relief during summer. "We stayed in a camper cabin here in September. We normally tent camp but it was a weekend with record heat. The cabins were clean and comfortable with cold AC," shares an Energy Lake visitor.
Plan for mud at beaches: Most lake swimming areas have natural shorelines. "The beach was far from impressive with basically gravel as half of the beach. I wasn't expecting Florida beaches in Kentucky, but in Indiana we have nice sandy beaches at lakes so I was disappointed," notes a family at Energy Lake.
Tips from RVers
Bring extension cords: Hookups at many sites require longer connections than standard. "The staff was helpful and friendly... make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites," advises an RVer who stayed at Ginger Bay Basic Camping Area.
Select sites carefully: Many RV sites have challenging access or setup conditions. "Bring quite a bit of leveling materials as the sites are very unlevel. 1 dump station and an older but usable bath house. The road to come in was narrow but well marked," reports a visitor to Lake Barkley.
Check site dimensions before booking: Some campgrounds have limited larger RV capacity. "You will want to call before you haul though, because a few of those walk ups are less than 20 feet in length," warns a camper about Energy Lake Campground, noting that "this campground attracts a lot of tent & car campers as well as small RV's."
