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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

638 Reviews

Forest Service Rd 343 provides free dispersed camping where pets are welcome on the shores of Land Between the Lakes. Most sites feature established fire rings and direct lake access, with multiple camping spots located along the gravel road. Redd Hollow Campground offers additional pet-friendly options with gravel pads, concrete picnic tables, and fire rings with adjustable cooking grates. The sites at both locations accommodate tents, while Redd Hollow can also handle small campers and RVs. Some sites sit directly on the water, while others are positioned higher up with lake views. The road to Forest Service Rd 343 requires careful navigation, with visitors recommending AWD/4WD vehicles with at least 8 inches of clearance, especially after rain as the road can be steep and rutted in sections.

Dog owners frequently enjoy swimming with their pets in the lake, with numerous shoreline access points ideal for pets who love water. Trails throughout the area welcome leashed dogs, including those near the Turkey Bay OHV Area where pets can join their owners for outdoor adventures. When camping with dogs at Forest Service Rd 343, visitors should bring their own waste bags and water, as no facilities are provided at this primitive site. A camping permit costs $10 for dispersed camping, though National Park Pass holders can access self-check-in campgrounds for $5. The nearby Golden Pond Visitor Center provides potable water and a dump station for those needing to refill supplies during longer stays with pets.

Map showing campgrounds near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KentuckyExplore the Map

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (98)

    1. Hillman Ferry Campground

    38 Reviews
    Grand Rivers, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-2000

    "Hillman Ferry is the northernmost full service campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is an excellent base camp for exploring the LBL and other recreation opportunities in"

    "This campsite is located in beautiful Land Between the Lakes. Many sites are by reservation, but many more are first come first serve. Sites are big and open and some provide views of Kentucky Lake."

    2. Energy Lake Campground

    19 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-2270

    "Campsite Review I wound up staying at five different campsites within the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, and this was my favorite."

    "We have two small kids and were with family (in adjacent D4) so we really hoped for a site with flat space for the kids to play in, but there was absolutely no grassy area."

    3. Kenlake State Resort Park

    13 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 474-2211

    $18 - $35 / night

    "First be aware there are several seasonal campers who pretty much feel like they own the place, so their children's running around on golf carts, bicycles and walking through your camp to get to the "trail"

    "The sites with the decks have amazing views of Kentucky Lake, and there is a trail just south east of the camping area that leads down to the water for easy access for canoes or kayaks."

    4. Lake Barkley State Resort Park

    19 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-1131

    $17 - $25 / night

    "the staff was helpful and friendly. the park had a great beach area. make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites. i only gave it 4 stars because of"

    "Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."

    5. Redd Hollow

    10 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    3 miles
    Website

    $10 / night

    "There are several sites water level where you can put in to the lake and there are some very picturesque sites that overlook the lake. First come first get."

    "All you need to camp here is a camping permit from Land Between the Lakes which is 30 dollars online. If you have a Kentucky resident sportsmans licence this permit is included in that!"

    6. Hurricane Creek

    19 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 522-8821

    $16 - $32 / night

    "Hurricane Creek is off of Rt 274 in Kentucky on the east side of Land Between The Lakes."

    "Quiet and well shaded, we had a spot close to the water and absolutely loved it.  Everyone was friendly and it was very relaxing. "

    7. Sugar Bay Campground

    9 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    8 miles
    Website

    "There is a porta-john near the lake level sites and a pit toilet near the hill side sites."

    "I had a site on the lower side near the lake, I knew there was some rain forecast, but there was a ditch next to my site that I assumed would handle any runoff from the hill above. I was wrong."

    8. KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point

    14 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 522-3762

    "Love that it’s dog friendly. Very clean and updated with more improvements in the works. Looking forward to visiting again this summer!"

    "You can't beat having a lake next to you while you are camping. This is something my family and I always look for when we are camping. Water is always a great place to entertain the kids and family."

    9. Forest Service Rd 343

    8 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    1 mile

    "A secluded lakeside spot with a fire pit. We saw three other spots on the way in which looked nice as well. The road coming in is a little washed out but not too pitted."

    "Seems it's a popular road for other people looking for an off-the-beaten-path place. The site is right on the lake an doesn't get any curious cars just driving by."

    10. Ginger Bay Basic Camping Area

    8 Reviews
    Barkley Lake, KY
    9 miles
    Website

    "Ranger Review: Matador Droplet at Ginger Bay Land Between the Lakes, Ky. Campground Review:We visited Ginger Bay boat ramp and dispersed camping area while at Land Between the Lakes(LBL) , Ky."

    "We were looking for a place to park our van with a view where our dog could run and we could spend a few days acclimating to Van life and this was perfect."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

78 Photos of 98 Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

638 Reviews of 98 Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Campgrounds

  • A
    Mar. 25, 2021

    Eagles Nest RV Park

    The nicest RV Park near Kentucky Lake

    Eagle’s Nest RV Park is a little slice of heaven located just 1500 feet from Kentucky Lake and 10 minutes from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The park is clean and well maintained and offers free boat parking. It has a picnic pavilion, laundry room, bath house and is has a convenience store and great restaurants nearby. We stay here each year that we come to Paris, TN for the annual catfish fry and to enjoy the area attractions. It’s a nice, quiet campground with plenty of space between RV’s. Each pad is concrete and has its own patio and plenty of shade trees. Highly recommended.

  • Melissa C.
    Jun. 28, 2024

    Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area Piney Campground

    Beautiful Modern Campground with lots of activities

    Piney Campground is part of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It is wildly popular among locals and travelers alike. Lots to do for kids - bike paths, basketball court, multiple playgrounds, etc. Beautiful views of Kentucky Lake/Tennessee River, nice campground store.

  • Staci R.
    Sep. 30, 2017

    Nickell Branch Campground

    Penny for your thoughts

    Nickell branch is a Backcountry area in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky. This is a very primitive camping that is first come first serve. It requires a Backcountry or dispersed camping permit which is available at any of the visitor centers.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2021

    Hillman Ferry Campground

    Perfect Location

    Hillman Ferry is the northernmost full service campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is an excellent base camp for exploring the LBL and other recreation opportunities in the area. And are there ever choices! To start, Hillman Ferry sits on Kentucky Lake and has many sites right on the water and it’s own boat ramp for those with boats. Lake Barkley is about 5 miles to the east and offers just as much water recreation - both lakes are massive impoundments and f the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The campground has sites ranging from primitive to full hookup and offers a camp store, lots of space for kids to play and enjoy the water and is relatively close to town for fuel, Highway access and other activities in the LBL like the bison and elk prairie, nature center, planetarium 1850’s farm and hiking and OHV trails. The LBL is HUGE and we loved our stay and can’t wait to come again to explore more of the region. Hillman Ferry is highly recommended!

  • Daniel B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2017

    Energy Lake Campground

    Ranger Review: Showers Pass Waterproof Socks at Energy Lakes Campground

    Campsite Review

    I wound up staying at five different campsites within the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, and this was my favorite. That largely is due to them having showers and canoe and kayak rentals, but hey – when you’re here in the summer, that’s what you want! Actually, Energy Lakes 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. The only downside to this place is the lack of boat ramps, which is also surprising considering more primitive sites in the area offer those. I guess that’s the trade off – showers for no boat ramp. Luckily there are ample spots around the rec area in the park if you need to launch your boat. I would highly recommend a reservation here given it’s the most popular campsite in the park and only a few spots will get you truly “lakeside”. It is $10/hr for the boat rentals.

    Product Review

    As a Ranger for TheDyrt, I am given products to test from time to time. Today I was testing out the Showers Pass Waterproof Socks. You can watch the video review here. I didn't think there was any way someone could make a sock waterproof. I thought it would be more like a dry sack shrunk to mini proportions with some fitting elastic and it would be called a 'sock'. But here's Showers Pass, this Pacific Northwest-based company (I heard it rains there a lot) making this coolmax inner lined comfortable foot shield. Like, how?

    I did a few bike rides in these, and the coolmax liner is definitely necessary since the socks are thicker to give you that water protection and in summer heat (it was about 90 degrees most of the days I was in this campground park) I was sweating everywhere. Energy Lakes has canoe rentals so I left my shoes in my car and dragged out a boat into the water and went for a paddle around the lake. It's a super cool feeling to walk into water just wearing socks and not get wet. It's like a wet-suit for your feet.

    I did try to soak my feet, see if there was a "breaking point" for these guys. No surprise really, but if you walk into water that goes above the sock line on your leg, water is going to seep in since you've now completely submerged your sock and the elastic holding them against your leg really shouldn't be designed to be airtight, since then you'd have all kinds of other issues going on with the comfort and breathability of this sock. I imagine the majority of people using these aren't canoeing, they're bike riding and so unless you're trying to pedal through a waist deep puddle, I think you're going to be ok.

    I do canoe a lot and these are my new favorite accessory. What I think is really promising about their performance too is since these socks were designed for activity, portages would still be enough for these socks to handle. Seriously Showers Pass how did you make these so freaking comfy and waterproof!?

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2017

    Prizer Point Marina & Resort

    No Yogi

    Prizer Point KOA and Marina is your basic camp away from home with all those modern conveniences.

    Water all around (peninsula) so water sports of course. A swimming pool, playground, bouncy/jumpy thing, pedal car area, dog park, the list goes on.

    The Rv style sites were very well situated on the water side loop, realize there is not much privacy. The primitive camp area looked a little frolorn and long in the grass, plus it is a walk to entertainment and the water. There is new construction going on, so reservation maybe easier to get. And there you are , Reserve ahead for prime locations, they are booked through August on the weekends.

  • D
    Jul. 31, 2018

    RJourney Clarksville RV Resort

    Clean and nice

    Lady running the place was friendly and helpful. Park was very very clean. Bathrooms were very clean and showers had locking stall doors. Play area, pool and dog park. Site pretty level. Quiet

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 9, 2019

    Paducah-Kentucky Lake KOA

    Not a typical KOA

    As KOAs go, this is one of The nicer ones! There is actually grass, not gravel, around the sites. There are trees and flowers and it is quite pleasant. With KOA you expect water, electric and sewer hookups. Clean shower/bathroom facilities and usually a pool. This place has that. Along with a small store, fishing lake, propane filling station. A dog park would be nice for the pups, but the do have a large grass area for walking them on lead. Internet connection is spotty! The spaces are a little close, but not as bad as some, and we were on an end site, so we had more room.

  • Donna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 20, 2023

    Paducah-Kentucky Lake KOA

    Very nice little KOA

    We only stayed one night but staff was very pleasant and sites are reasonable size. There is a nice dog park with disposable bags. Our site overlooks a nice little pond. There is a clean laundry facility and heated restroom and showers. We did not need to use the facilities so I cannot comment on those. Campground is easily accessible from I24. We would definitely stay here again.

Guide to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Discover the perfect spots for pets-allowed camping near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet owners like spacious sites and amenities

  • At Hillman Ferry Campground, families appreciate the spacious and clean sites, perfect for setting up with pets.
  • Energy Lake Campground offers well-maintained facilities and easy access to the lake, making it a great choice for pet owners.
  • Eureka Campground features beautiful waterfront sites with ample space, allowing pets to roam freely while you relax.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

  • Enjoy hiking trails at Piney Campground, where pets are welcome to join you on your outdoor adventures.
  • Hurricane Creek provides access to the lake for swimming and fishing, perfect for a day of fun with your dog.
  • At Bumpus Mills, you can explore the beautiful surroundings and enjoy water activities with your pet by your side.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great amenities

  • Canal - Lake Barkley features electric hookups and picnic tables, making it convenient for pet owners to enjoy their stay.
  • Nickell Branch Campground offers a peaceful atmosphere with well-maintained sites, ideal for relaxing with your pets.
  • Redd Hollow is known for its stunning views and spacious sites, providing a perfect backdrop for a camping trip with your furry friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is Hillman Ferry Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 38 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area?

TheDyrt.com has all 98 dog-friendly camping locations near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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