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Best Tent Camping near Laurel River Lake

513 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Laurel River Lake in southeastern Kentucky offers secluded tent camping sites accessible primarily by boat, with Grove Boat-In Campground and White Oak Boat-In Campground serving as the main established options within Daniel Boone National Forest. Most tent sites are reachable only via watercraft, with many campers kayaking or canoeing to their destinations from one of the lake's marinas or boat launches. Tranquility Creek provides 15 tent sites with a mix of drive-in and walk-in access for those seeking alternatives to boat-access camping.

Tent campsites around Laurel River Lake feature minimal amenities, with vault toilets available at some locations but showers notably absent. The boat-in sites require proper planning as campers must transport all necessary equipment and supplies across the water. Fire rings and picnic tables are present at Grove Boat-In Camp, while other areas like White Oak may be more primitive. Seasonal operation affects availability, with Grove Boat-In Camp typically open from April 11 through October 15. During peak summer weekends and holidays, backcountry tent sites fill quickly, particularly at the more established locations.

The wooded tent camping areas provide natural shade and privacy not commonly found at developed campgrounds. Sites generally offer direct lake access for swimming and fishing, making them popular bases for water activities. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers particularly appreciate the seclusion and natural setting, though preparation is essential. "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," one visitor shared about Grove Boat-In Campground. Clifty Campground at nearby Cumberland Falls State Resort Park provides an alternative tent camping option with more amenities, including some sites with electric and water hookups, though with less privacy than the backcountry options on the lake.

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Best Tent Sites Near Laurel River Lake (23)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Laurel River Lake

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Tent Camping Reviews near Laurel River Lake

513 Reviews of 23 Laurel River Lake Campgrounds

  • Rebecca J.
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Pure gold for such an inexpensive price

    I think lots number 712 and 13 are the best because they are situated right around a beautiful pond with massive lily pads and dragonflies. It is about a 20 minute drive to a local store or a save a lot when we forgot some groceries. The trees are mature so there is plenty of shade and lofty space between each lot. We are on a paved site surrounded by gravel picnic table light post and fire ring also with a food storage bin to keep out the bears! It gets quiet! It gets dark! For $20, it is unbeatable. :-)

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Daniel Boone National Forest Little Lick Horse Camp

    Listen for banjos

    You will drive and drive and drive...and drive on the gravel road. However the road is good and the signage will get you there! Follow the little tent signs to Little Lick Horse Camp in the woods of Daniel Boone NF. The Nathan McClure trailhead is in the campground so there will be other traffic coming in. There are a few good size sites, with picnic table, fire ring and not much else. This is primitive, to include no toilet so bring your bucket or whatever you use.....remember Leave No Trace ;) Dark and starry skies, quiet and woodsy....try not to think about any scary wood based movies. Horses, llamas, trail bikes and dogs would be perfect for this campground. The sites are big enough for more then one tent or hammock. There are several other nice/challenging trails nearby and the Rattlesnake Motorcycle route in the area.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2018

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    What are you here for?

    Alum Ford Big South Fork Recreation Area is in my top 10 favorite areas.

    I try to participate in the Yamacraw Trail Run every year because it is just AWESOME, and this area is part of their route due to the excellent scenery of the area.

    If you like trees, hills, streams, falls, historical markers, old cabins and history , plus not much use of modern technology when you camp then you will thoroughly enjoy Big South Bend! If you are a bring the kitchen sink kinda camper you might wanna find a nearby KOA or other type campground.

    The campground has no signal, no electricity, no showers, no host. Just you, a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring. Oh, and there is one pit toilet. Bring 5$ cash for the honor pay station and your hiking shoes and watercraft. There is a Trailhead at the back of the 6 site campground and a boat ramp down the hill.

    The sites are well maintained and old , probably CCC built with wood steps leading up or down to your site. There is no direct access to the boatramp but there is a short trail that connects the sites to the boatramp that runs along the cliff face down to the ramp.

    The trailhead is part of the Sheltowee Trace Trail and connects to the Yamacraw Bridge. You could easily stage a multi day backpacking trip from Alum Ford to take in the local sights.

    Not far up the road is the Yahoo Picnic Area. I think it used to be a campground just by the way it’s set up. Picnic tables on pads and a nice old pavilion for groups with a grill. Past that Yahoo Falls. This is a technical, moderate trail down to the tallest falls in Kentucky. Also a very old area but maintained with newer restroom facilities. The loop trail was approximately 1.5 miles long with a metal staircase on one side and trail on the far side. This is also part of a thru trail. Get you an old fashion paper map before coming cause your fancy electronic gear may or may not work here.

    This is one of many areas through the Kentucky/Tennessee Big South Fork if you are able plan for an extended stay to check the whole place out;)

  • I
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Barren Fork Horse Camp

    Litter Ruins Great Spot

    We needed a spot for Labor Day weekend and discovered Barren Fork Horse Camp in Daniel Boone National Forest near Whitley, KY. There are lots of great hikes and natural bridges in the area to check out. We had no problem finding a site. The biggest negative is the amount of trash that was left in the fire rings and the litter strewn throughout the woods. This is a beautiful campground, but the litter was the worst we’ve ever seen. There is potable water available near the vault toilet buildings, but no electricity or dump station. There are no rules on generator use, so beware that your neighbor may run the generator all day and night. The price of the campground was $8 for one night/$12 for two nights. With just a little TLC, this could be a great place to camp.

  • Lori H.
    Aug. 4, 2019

    Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Campground

    Beautiful Night Sky, Quiet Camping

    Pickett State Park is a great spot to camp if you like peace and quiet, but don’t want to have to backpack in to a spot. Despite the small campground, it was pretty much empty on the first weekend in August when we stayed. It is near the Big South Fork, and Scott State Forest, so there’s lots of great hiking, horseback riding, river recreation, etc. nearby. From other reviews on The Dyrt, I learned the park is excellent for stargazing, and it is true, you will have amazing views at night, we slept in a tent without a rain fly, just so we could see the stars!

    The campground has several sites with electric and some without. We stayed in B1, which did not have electric. All the sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and the ones on the outside of the loops back up to the woods and trails. All the sites are spacious.

    The restrooms were clean, but they must be pretty old. There were some areas in need of tile repair, but it was just a cosmetic issue, so it didn’t bother me. The showers were nice, and everything was clean.

    The campground also has cabins, and those seemed to have more guests than the campground. They have a set of cabins that were connected, like apartments, and they have some larger, freestanding cabins too. They had a group site as well, but I did not go to it.

    The park has a lake with swimming area, and canoe/kayak/paddle board rentals, a swinging bridge, playground, tennis courts, a gigantic picnic area, and several great trails.

    This was a very pleasant find, and we will definitely return!

  • T
    Aug. 25, 2020

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Very Nice Campground

    We camped two nights last week in Loop A, the tent only, nonelectric section. Being mid-week, there were not many people, meaning it was also nice and quiet. The sites are roomy, with a large tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, lantern hook, and a food storage locker. Yes, this is bear country, but we didn't see any during our visit. The bath houses are as nice as you're likely to find in a national park, with flush toilets, hot showers, and an outside sink for dish washing, etc. There is also a large, wheelchair accessible bathroom with roll-in shower. A water hydrant is available to fill jugs and tanks.

    We drove through the other loops to see what they look like, because Loop A isn't open in winter. Should we decide to camp here in winter, Loop B is the only section open. But, that will let us use an electric heater. 

    Be aware that some things are not open in 2020 due to Covid-19. The park visitors centers are still closed, the swimming pool wasn't open mid-week, and the check-in building was unstaffed when we arrived. There was a sign at the check-in point telling us to reserve and pay for our site using Recreation.gov. We had cell service there, so no problem. It you don't have service, drive across the road to the Camp Store (which is not always open) to use WiFi there. There is a note on the front door with the password. 

    There are so many things to do in Big South Fork and surrounding areas that you really need to just visit the park website and make a list of things to do. Some are easy and roadside, others not so much. For example, to hike the Twin Arches Loop Trail, you'll drive several miles of dirt roads to reach the trailhead and end up hiking about 6 - 6.5 miles. The description says the loop is 4.6 miles, which is true, but you have to add another 1.4 miles for the out-and-back from the parking lot to the start of the loop. The loop trail isn't bad, but the access trail has steep stairs. Anyway, find something you like and enjoy the Cumberland Plateau.

  • Lori H.
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Ranger Review: GCI Freestyle Rocker Pro at Bandy Creek Campground

    Bandy Creek Campground is located in The Big South Fork National River and Recreation area on The Cumberland Plateau. Big South Fork is a great place for outdoor adventure. Some activities include hiking, horseback riding, rick climbing, tubing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, and just about anything else! The area is never overcrowded, even in the middle of summer. There are many scenic views throughout the area, so bring a camera!

    Campground review: Bandy Creek Campground is a great place! The sites are all spacious, and wooded for the most part, so you have plenty of space and some privacy. The campground seemed quite large, and was fairly empty for a Weekend in August. Some sites have food storage lockers (not sure if all do) as the area is a bear habitat. We saw some deer and turkeys, so there’s wildlife around for sure!

    There is tent loop, and a group camp area, and I believe the campground hosts several retreats.

    There’s riding stables at the camp store too. The campground also has a large swimming pool, with lifeguards.

    The restrooms were immaculate! Seriously the cleanest campground restrooms I believe I’ve seen. Ours had a filtered water bottle fill up fountain too.

    This campground is really nice, and quiet, but also has so much to do, I highly recommend it!

    Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to try out products sometimes, and today I’m trying out the GCI Freestyle Rocket Pro! https://www.gcioutdoor.com/camping-chairs/freestyle-rocker-pro/

    The Freestyle Rocker Pro is one of the best chairs I’ve used! It is actually much lighter than I expected, and is still extremely sturdy. Lightweight gear is a must when camping, or attending events!
    It has a carry handle so you don’t need to try to fit it in a case to have a strap like other chairs I’ve used. The Rocker was smooth on natural surface, pea gravel, and concrete. It is very comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. It folds up super easy with just a pull of the handle. One feature that I especially love is the cup holder and side pocket. It will actually hold a drink without spilling, and you can fit a phone, keys or other small items in the pocket. This chair is awesome! Two thumbs up!!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Alum Ford Campground — Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

    Put it on the Pad

    Ranger Review: Mountain House Meals at Alum Ford Campground ,Big South Fork, Ky

    Campground Review: Near Yahoo Falls Alum Ford this small (6 sites) primitive campground is a good place to set up base camp for activities your planning in the area. 

    Not much to the actual campground: 

    • Picnic table, bear box, tent pad ,fire ring

    • Pit toilets

    • Co-located with a boat-ramp (Cumberland River)

    • A trail that meanders along the cliff face behind the campsites that takes you down to the boat-ramp

    • Trailhead in the very back to Yamacraw Bridge and the Sheltowee Trace

    The campground is quiet aside from loading and unloading boats (which went on until after midnight) There were only two occupied sites when we arrived on a Saturday. No reservations and $5 per site. There is credit card information on the pay envelope but I prefer to use cash and not have my info floating around. 

    The campground was clean and well maintained but obviously old and in need of some restoration, no surprise with all the cuts in Park positions. I like this type of campground but not so much the noise from the boat-ramp. There is no direct put in from the sites. I doubt I would leave my watercraft tied off overnight either.

     This would be an excellent and cheap spot to do some extensive hiking from or even backpacking/dispersed camping from. Due to there being no through traffic you could leave your vehicle and odds and ends and not have to worry about anything wandering off while your gone. We camped here after hiking some of the Tennessee end of the Sheltowee Trace. Sunday we hiked some more and visited Yahoo Falls. 

    Product Review: Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals are surprisingly very good....https://www.mountainhouse.com/m/abus.html

    Now I say this from a background of years of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat....in someone’s opinion) and T-rations. So it should only be improvement, BUT some of the other products I’ve tried were not that great. 

    I first tried Mountain House a few years ago on a backpacking trip and thought it was okay, but not great. I tried Mountain House again last year and enjoyed it a lot more. I don’t know if they changed anything or maybe I read and followed the directions ;)

    So when given the opportunity as a Dyrt Ranger to review Mountain House I was like absolutely!

    I selected breakfast items, Granola and Egg mixtures( not together;) because that’s the time of day I like quick and easy so we can get on the move.

    I read the directions and boiled my water, poured a cup in, waited 3 minutes and Had Some Scrumptious Eggs and Bacon! Just that easy, quick AND filled me up. 

    I’m trying to think of any cons but right off hand the only problem I ever had was not reconstituting it correctly. Eggs needed some salt and pepper but that would go back to preference. 

    Mountain House comes in pro-paks for backpackers and high altitudes, which are packed to save space. They have cans for crowds and kits for preppers or just emergency preparedness.

    Definitely good for at the house, in the camper and the car just in case.

Guide to Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake spans 5,600 acres in southeastern Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, with water depths reaching over 180 feet. The surrounding landscape features limestone bluffs and dense hardwood forests typical of the Cumberland Plateau. Primitive camping options range from completely remote sites to boat-in locations with basic vault toilets, with most campers needing to prepare for self-sufficient stays without access to potable water or electrical hookups.

What to do

Hiking trails: The area surrounding Grove Boat-In Campground offers various walking paths through the Daniel Boone National Forest. One camper mentioned, "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."

Mountain biking: Some campers access White Oak Boat-In Campground via dirt service roads rather than boats. As one visitor noted, "It can't be accessed by car but you can bike in on a dirt service road. Most of the docks are quite small, so plan to visit by small boat or by canoe/kayak."

Water recreation: Swimming, fishing, and boating are popular at Pulaski County Park, located about 30 minutes from Laurel River Lake. "Great beach access. Quite and very clean," writes one camper, while another mentions the convenience of boat ramps: "You can bring your boats along and put them in right there they have 2 different ramps on either side of the camp ground."

What campers like

Secluded sites: The best tent camping near Laurel River Lake often means finding private spots away from crowds. At Clifty Campground, one visitor recommends: "Best site for privacy is 49 plus it's pretty big. Sites 40-47 have electric and water. Sites 48-50 do not but all sites are close to the bath house."

Winter access: For adventurous campers seeking solitude, White Oak offers year-round opportunities. "You can XC ski or snowshoe to the site (3+ miles) in the winter. Great wildlife all year. People go scuba diving in this lake but we haven't ever tried it."

Natural setting: Tranquility Creek lives up to its name with its peaceful atmosphere. A camper simply stated: "Quiet, clean place to rest. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."

What you should know

Site selection matters: At Clifty Campground — Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, campsite quality varies significantly. "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," shares one camper.

Seasonal closures: Always check if facilities are open before planning your trip. Rockcastle Campground has limited access during certain times: "Campground is closed, but the boat launch is open. Might be able to park in boat launch parking. Clean pit toilets."

Limited cell service: Connectivity can be spotty around Laurel River Lake. One Clifty Campground visitor noted: "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."

Tips for camping with families

Look for developed alternatives: For families wanting more amenities than primitive boat-in sites, Pulaski County Park offers more facilities. "There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins. There are several play ground areas close by for the kids to play," writes one frequent visitor.

Pack water toys: Swimming areas provide natural entertainment for children. "This campground is in a great location... The lake view is gorgeous. There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area," notes a visitor to Pulaski County Park.

Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds get busy during peak times. "Despite the no alcohol rule, there's still a lot of partying at night. No one really enforces that. It can get loud," warns a Pulaski County Park camper.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most camping near Laurel River Lake is primitive, but Rabbit Road Campground at nearby Indian Mountain State Park offers some amenities. "Primitive isn't our mode of camping, but we rode our bikes up the road to check out this beautiful campground. Easy to find, marked with a sign."

Plan for size constraints: RV camping opportunities are limited around Laurel River Lake itself. A Pulaski County Park visitor explains the campground layout: "There is the hilltop 'parking lot' pull throughs, the largest part of the campground spread across the knoll, to include water front sites and primitive sites across the road in the trees."

Prepare for basic facilities: Even at campgrounds with RV sites, amenities may be rustic. One camper at Pulaski County Park shared: "Bathhouse showers are so outdated and barley cleaned and just gross, water source is old and campground manager didn't follow up with me."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Laurel River Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Laurel River Lake is Grove Boat-In Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Laurel River Lake?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Laurel River Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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