Best Campgrounds near Leitchfield, KY

Leitchfield, Kentucky serves as a gateway to several notable campgrounds situated around Nolin Lake and Rough River Lake. Moutardier Campground, located near Leitchfield's southern edge, offers a mix of tent sites and RV-compatible spaces with electric hookups and water access. The surrounding area features Corps of Engineers-managed facilities like Wax, Dog Creek, and North Fork campgrounds that accommodate various camping styles. Most established campgrounds in this region provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets, with several offering boat ramps for water access. Primitive tent sites, RV-friendly areas with hookups, and even some cabin accommodations can be found within a 30-mile radius of Leitchfield.

Seasonal operation impacts most campgrounds in the area, with many facilities operating only from early May through late September or October. Water levels at Nolin Lake and Rough River Lake fluctuate seasonally, affecting shoreline camping and boat launch accessibility. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly, especially on holiday weekends. Many campgrounds near Leitchfield have gravel roads and tiered camping areas built into hillsides, which can present challenges for larger RVs or during rainy conditions. Cell service varies throughout the region but remains generally reliable at major campgrounds. "The sites were a little small. Still a decent place though! Just know that in June, it's hot as heck and 100% humidity here," noted one visitor describing summer conditions at Cave Creek.

Waterfront camping dominates the recreational landscape in this region, with many campers specifically seeking lakeside views. Sites along Nolin Lake feature distinctive emerald-green waters that several reviewers highlight as more attractive than other nearby lakes. Campgrounds typically offer boat ramps, fishing piers, and swimming areas, making water recreation the central focus for most visitors. While the natural setting appeals to many, several reviewers mention that sites are often positioned close together, limiting privacy. As one camper observed, "This campground has tried to cram as many people into it at one time as possible. Sites are very close to each other." Proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park (approximately 30-40 minutes away) makes these campgrounds convenient base locations for exploring the world's longest known cave system while enjoying waterfront camping.

Best Camping Sites Near Leitchfield, Kentucky (86)

    1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    137 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    24 miles
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $25 - $50 / night

    "This campground is a walking distance to the visitors center. It's a well established campground and geared towards folks visiting mammoth caves."

    "green river, which was enjoyed by all, and we appreciated avoiding the main entrance besieged by spring break campers!"

    2. Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4240

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."

    "This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"

    3. Moutardier

    23 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4230

    $18 - $50 / night

    "**

    Campground Review: Coming from Western Kentucky Parkway W or KY I65 either way you drive in to **Moutardier Campground you will"

    "It is located on Nolin River Lake. Our site was lakeside which was beautiful (Site D6). This campsite offered electric/water hookup, fire pit, picnic table, filet table, bathrooms, and showers. "

    4. COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

    14 Reviews
    Falls of Rough, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 257-2584

    $20 - $60 / night

    "Lake really low, water warm - but able to kayak. The weekend was close to 100% occupancy, and although busy- the activity and noises were all happy sounds of kids playing."

    "Axtel is a nice COE campground on Rough River Lake. Very family friendly and clean."

    5. Wax - Nolin River Lake

    15 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 242-7578

    $18 - $50 / night

    "** Off Route 88, south of Leitchfield, Ky on Nolin River Lake.

    Pack your yak, fishing gear and sunscreen cause it is the perfect water oriented campground."

    "Wax Campground is located on Nolin River Lake, which is managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. Translated; well maintained, picturesque and organized."

    6. Dog Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 524-5454

    $18 - $50 / night

    "Dog Creek Campground is located on Nolin River Lake in the Kentucky countryside."

    "Seems all sites have a lake view. Less than half full sun-Tuesday. Stayed at a006. Very close to beach, but that means you hear everything at the beach. Very humid and virtually no shade at our site."

    7. Cave Creek - Rough River Lake

    6 Reviews
    Falls of Rough, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 879-4304

    $18 - $50 / night

    "It was empty, possibly because it has no direct access to the lake? It is a nice shaded area, very open, spread throughout a small hilly area."

    "Cave creek is conveniently close to the water. Setting up was fast easy and convenient."

    8. Laurel Branch

    3 Reviews
    Falls of Rough, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 257-8839

    $20 - $60 / night

    "There is a day use area in between the first and second campgrounds with a short nature trail."

    "Close to Litchfield in Grayson county KY. Also has people selling wood along the way. Dollar general within a few miles for supplies."

    9. Maple Springs Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    12 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $50 / night

    "Nice large camping areas, secluded and quiet, easy access to the trails. Well maintained full hookup for RVs and plenty of room for your horse too."

    "Horses are allowed in the campground and you will see a lot of people taking their horses for a few runs around the road through the campsite as a warm up in the early mornings."

    10. COE Rough River Lake North Fork

    3 Reviews
    Falls of Rough, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 257-8139

    $20 - $60 / night

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Recent Reviews near Leitchfield, KY

683 Reviews of 86 Leitchfield Campgrounds


  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Hoosier National Forest Goldenrod Loop Campground

    Nice, small, remote campground

    Beautiful, heavily wooded, quiet campground. We are in a big rig but most people here are tent camping. Lake is small. Very peaceful, helpful attendant at gate checked in on us first day. We have electricity and water but no sewer hookups. Dump station available. If you just want to to get away and relax for a few days this is nice. But if you’re looking for lots of recreation opportunities you want to find a larger lake. There are a few trails but they are short.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Rock Cabin Camping

    Friendly, easygoing, simple camping

    Absolutely love staying here. Quiet, pretty, easy, and the owners and staff are delightful.

  • SkywaystoHighways.com Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Glendale Campground

    Simply serene

    Great overnight stop on our drive from Tennessee to Indiana. The hosts Valette and Greg were absolutely wonderful. The campground was well tended with a playground for the little ones. We don’t have little ones, but I couldn’t resist a ride on the merry-go-round! The facilities were pristine with piping hot showers that had great water pressure. Perfect TMobile signal and ***free WiFi *** which allowed us to get some work done. Conveniently located near 65 without too much traffic noise. Would definitely return here. Pick site 14 for the best view beside the lake.

  • dereck R.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Tree Tops RV Park

    Nice quiet place

    Nice quiet place. Very level. He takes very good care of the lot with gravel. The owner also runs an RV repair so you can get on-site repairs. Very useful. The shower house and bathroom are for emergency use only. Laundry room has a four-digit security code to get in. Most of the people staying here are long-term or semi-long-term. Lots of pipeline inspectors currently. Everyone has really nice rigs. Rate discount rates for 6 months or longer. Everything included except electric. Meters red monthly. Accepts mail delivery and package delivery.

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Very nice remote campground

    This is a very nice and clean campground with about 10 sites. It is part of Mammoth Cave National park. That means I could use my lifetime pass and it only cost $10 per night. Ranger came by twice a day. Very clean port a pottys that are maintained well. Dumpster for trash and each site has a fire ring. Road in is paved and not bad, but has a few hills and is narrow. These sites are listed as "Tent Only" but I got my Dodge van in no problem. In my 3 days here I saw many tents, a small pop up camper, and 2 vans. Anything larger would be a problem I think. Reservation only and pay online. Not much cell signal here, maybe 1 bar on Visible. (Verizon) Decent signal on Starlink mini at site 1. Sites are right along the side of the Green River and the temperature here was a consistent 3 degrees F lower than in town. Lot of shade, not good for solar.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    Super nice staff, great location

    Staff is very nice and informative.

    Close to Mammoth National Park…we were lucky to book a tour and it was really good, our teenagers liked it. We also rode Alpine slide across the street near the RV park.

    Campground had small catch and release pond. Lots of nibbles, one catch…sunfish. No laundry here…laundry mat 10 mins away, Wash n Fold? Super clean but expensive with nice machines. No bathroom there! Connected to car wash if you need. Bath house at Campground has everything you need but dated.

    Our site had issues, no fire ring,,,other sites had one, we didn’t ask about getting one…it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal to grab one from another site. Our parking area was level with gravel. Our water hookup was weird…it ended up under our back bumper were we had to crawl under to connect. And we had issue with 50 amp…the plug needs attention…it turned off at 0430 and we switched to 30amp. No big deal with any of it, but all together we will pick a different site next time.

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    The Narrows

    Very clean campground.

    This is a very nice, clean campground. Bathrooms are clean as well. Very nice view of Barren River lake too. I did not use it but there is a nice sand beach for swimming. Camphost is very nice.

  • B
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Louisville South KOA

    Avoid Louisville South KOA

    My family of 5 has camped at KOAs across the country with our professionally converted 12’x6’ RV trailer (electrical, but no AC/septic). Upon arrival at Louisville South KOA, I checked in and was escorted to our site by staff. Moments later, we were approached by the campground owners who told us we could not stay because our trailer did not come from a factory with AC or septic.

    I confirmed with KOA Corporate that no such rule exists, and this KOA’s justification was based on “KY Health Codes” which they could not show me in writing. Despite offering to tent-camp with our trailer in storage, we had to leave and pay $100 more to stay at a private campground over an hour away.

    Nowhere on the Louisville South KOA website is this “rule” disclosed. This was a clearly discriminatory and arbitrary. If you travel in a custom trailer or unique camper, avoid this location.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

    Well maintained, easy access sites

    Kid friendly park, no mature trees in new section but concrete pad with grill and fire pit. Pool with splash pad, pools, pillow pads, multiple playgrounds, dog parks and kennels are available. Also, lots of golf carts to rent.


Guide to Leitchfield

Camping sites near Leitchfield, Kentucky cluster around two main waterways—Nolin Lake and Rough River Lake—with most campgrounds situated between 800-900 feet elevation. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly reaching 90°F in July and August, while spring and fall offer milder conditions. Many campsites feature limestone outcroppings and native hardwood forests that provide varying degrees of shade depending on campground location.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Nolin Lake State Park Campground, campers can access excellent fishing directly from their sites. "Family trip for spring break 2019. Kids loved it. Decent showers. Good sites with shade," notes one visitor who enjoyed the fishing access.

Mountain biking trails: Near Maple Springs Campground, cyclists can access technical single-track trails straight from the campground. As one reviewer explains, "We stayed on the Maple Springs side of the Green River to be closer to the mountain bike trails and are glad we did. The trails were great for both of us and we could ride straight from the campground."

Disc golf course: Cave Creek Recreation Area offers a disc golf course adjacent to their basic camping area, making it an ideal spot for campers looking to include this activity in their outdoor experience. The course winds through shaded areas and provides a recreational option beyond water activities.

Kayaking launch points: Several sites at Wax - Nolin River Lake feature direct lake access ideal for launching kayaks. "Loved paddle boarding in the early morning before the boat traffic got going. Water was very warm," writes one camper who appreciated the calm morning conditions.

What campers like

Lake water clarity: Nolin Lake draws visitors with its distinctive colored water. "It sits right on Nolin Lake which is supposed to be infamous for its blue-green waters," explains one reviewer at Moutardier, highlighting why many choose this location over other regional lakes.

Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds in the area offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. At Maple Springs Campground, bird watchers reported seeing "a trip of Redheaded Woodpeckers playing as well as a mama Northern Flicker feeding her babies. We even saw a giant Pileated Woodpecker!"

Site privacy levels: Dog Creek Campground receives praise for its layout. "Site selection is all important at this campsite. Some have wonderful lake access, shade, and a bit of seclusion," notes one camper, indicating the value of carefully selecting your specific site.

Well-maintained facilities: The Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds consistently receive positive feedback for upkeep. One camper at Wax Campground observed, "The Army Corps of Engineers do a good job of using all the designated space for campsites but still keep it picturesque and clean."

What you should know

Seasonal water levels: Lake levels fluctuate significantly throughout camping season, affecting site availability. At COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground, "While we were here, several of the sites along the lake were flooded," reported one camper in their review.

Site differences within campgrounds: At Dog Creek Campground, "section C has some of the nicer site, even one with a little lagoon perfect to launch your yaks from," while other areas have "no trees, no lake, in the middle of everyone."

Access limitations: Some campgrounds require special consideration for access. For Maple Springs Campground, one reviewer warned: "If you are in a RV note that you can't go across the ferry with your rig!!! You have to go around the park to access this campground."

Tick prevalence: Hikers and campers should prepare for ticks, particularly in spring and early summer. One camper at Maple Springs noted, "The park is infested with seed ticks and deer ticks. I was pulling ticks off of every inch of me even though I was coated in several layers of hardcore bug spray."

Tips for camping with families

Halloween camping events: Moutardier offers special seasonal activities. "Family friendly Halloween fun. Has a decorating contest with trick or treat in the campground. Safe and clean with lots of restrooms and lake front sites," shares a reviewer who enjoyed this festive experience.

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. Dog Creek Campground includes "3 playgrounds with safe clean equipment" according to one reviewer who found it "family friendly."

Beach activities for kids: The beaches at several locations offer more than swimming. At Axtel Campground, "If you dig down just a couple of inches on the beach, you'll find clay. My kids loved this and made a couple of clay pots," reports one creative family.

Midweek visits for quieter experience: For families sensitive to noise or crowds, timing matters. As one camper at Dog Creek observed, "We are here during the week so it's really nice and quiet!! Would definitely come back!"

Tips from RVers

Electric service reliability: Some RV sites have power limitations. At North Fork Recreation Area, one camper noted, "Only issue we have come across was that the electric service on our site kept tripping the breaker. Only running AC and a CPAP machine and the breaker would not hold."

Site selection for larger rigs: Wax Campground requires careful planning for bigger RVs. "The road in/out is very narrow, very tight and not easily navigated with a 40' 5th wheel. Also, be very careful about sites, many are extremely undeveloped."

Campground approach routes: When heading to Cave Creek Campground, be aware that "The road is twisty and skinny. I'm not pulling a boat and would be concerned about passing in the curves."

Supply planning: Wax Campground's remote location means "you are about 30 min from a grocery store, so make sure you stock up before you go. There are several road side veggie stands where you can get fresh from the ground veggies."

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Leitchfield, KY?

Leitchfield offers several nearby camping options with Wax - Nolin River Lake being one of the closest, located just south of Leitchfield on Nolin River Lake. This Army Corps of Engineers campground is well-maintained and perfect for water activities. Dog Creek Campground is another option on Nolin River Lake with good facilities. Other nearby options include Nolin Lake State Park Campground, COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground near Mcdaniels, and Camp Carlson Army RV Park on Fort Knox. Most campgrounds in the area are open seasonally, typically from April through October, with varying amenities including electric hookups, water access, and dump stations.

What are the best camping sites near Leitchfield for families?

Nolin Lake State Park Campground is excellent for families, offering clean facilities and lake access for swimming and boating. Though not huge, it provides plenty of recreational opportunities on Nolin River Lake. Mammoth Cave Campground is another family-friendly option within walking distance to the visitor center, perfect for exploring the world-famous cave system. The campground is well-established with clean facilities and enough space for family gatherings. Other family-oriented options include The Narrows at Barren River Resort Park with shaded sites and marina access, and Rough River Lake campgrounds with various water activities. Most family campgrounds in the area offer picnic tables, fire rings, and restroom facilities.

Where can I rent an RV in Leitchfield, Kentucky?

While Leitchfield itself has limited RV rental options, the surrounding area offers alternatives. Travelers can check Cave Country RV Campground for potential rental information, as they're well-connected to the local RV community. Louisville South KOA in Shepherdsville (about an hour from Leitchfield) may also offer rental services or recommendations. For dedicated RV rentals, look to larger nearby cities like Louisville, Bowling Green, or Elizabethtown where national chains like Cruise America and RVshare have pickup locations. Local dealerships in these cities often provide rental options as well. Online platforms like Outdoorsy and RVshare connect RV owners with renters throughout Kentucky.