Best Tent Camping near Liberty, KY

Tent campsites near Liberty, Kentucky provide access to both established state park facilities and secluded primitive areas along Kentucky's lakes and forests. Pulaski County Park offers tent sites with varying levels of amenities, while more secluded camping can be found at Hidden Ridge Camping with its three dedicated tent sites spread across 53 acres of wooded land. Clifty Campground in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park provides tent-specific sites with some offering electric hookups, though the most private spots (sites 48-50) are more primitive.

The terrain for tent camping varies considerably throughout the region, with many sites featuring gravel pads in established areas and natural surfaces in primitive zones. Water access is inconsistent, with some campgrounds like Clifty offering drinking water while others like White Oak and Rockcastle require campers to bring their own supplies. Basic amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables are common at established sites, but primitive areas typically provide minimal facilities. A recent review noted that "the sites are inconsistent between their sizes on the Clifty campground," indicating the importance of selecting specific tent sites when possible. Seasonal limitations affect some areas, with certain campgrounds like Grove Boat-In only operating from April to October.

Most tent camping areas provide good tree cover, offering welcome shade during hot Kentucky summers. At White Oak Boat-In Campground, which is "accessible only by boat or mountain bike," tent campers experience a level of seclusion not available at drive-in sites. The primitive tent sites at Rockcastle offer waterfront views with sites "well spread out for the most part." Some campgrounds become crowded during peak season, particularly holiday weekends. Pulaski County Park, while offering good lake access for tent campers, can become busy with day visitors. Several tent camping areas provide direct access to hiking trails, including Clifty Campground where campers can access the Wildflower Loop Trail and Eagle Falls Trail. Tent campers frequently mention the quality of night skies and wildlife viewing opportunities at the more remote sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Liberty, Kentucky (15)

    1. Pulaski County Park

    11 Reviews
    Nancy, KY
    21 miles
    Website

    "It has RV sites, tent sites, and shelter houses.. There are several cabins on site. Great  lake views and beach.  Lots to do at PCP."

    "There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp. There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins."

    2. Hidden Ridge Camping - Tents

    1 Review
    Lake Cumberland, KY
    26 miles
    Website

    $50 - $160 / night

    "We're so excited to have this property on our platform. These sites are spacious and secluded, the perfect spot for your next family adventure. Check out the hiking trails close by!"

    3. Halcombs Landing

    1 Review
    Jamestown, KY
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 858-1549

    "Halcombs Landing Recreation area and Boatramp on Rt 127, is past Lake Cumberland State Park outside Jamestown, Ky.

    A nice, picturesque stop off on your travels through the area."

    4. Clifty Campground — Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

    5 Reviews
    Parkers Lake, KY
    46 miles
    +1 (606) 309-4808

    $30 - $33 / night

    "We looked at the tent site map on the state resort park map and nothing looked GREAT except for Clifty Campground spots 050, 048, and 049 they all look isolated from any of the other sites with 050 being"

    "Each site had a water hook up, standard lantern/trash pole, fire ring, electric box, and was a short walk from the Clifty campground bathroom."

    5. Grove Boat-In Campground

    4 Reviews
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 864-4163

    "It was dark once I set up but an awesome could helped me with fire wood and had a nice talk around their campfire. Beautiful area. Very busy on labor day weekend!!"

    6. HomeGrown HideAways

    3 Reviews
    Bighill, KY
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 986-3478

    $15 - $75 / night

    "Nestled in a narrow valley between high ridges of The Knobs, this campground gives the feel of secluded country living with your own trails and creeks to explore."

    "Instead of sleeping in it, which would have been perfectly comfortable, we actually used it as more of an extra shelter and we pitched out tents in the field in front of the Yome."

    7. Wildcat Creek Farm

    4 Reviews
    Lawrenceburg, KY
    49 miles

    $32 - $82 / night

    "A campsite settled upon the bank of the Kentucky River with a friendly farm cat, goats, horses and cow we delighted in a campfire as the sun set and the stars came out."

    "Neighbors were quiet as well. Even though we had an accidental mishap. Kevin was super cool. Would definitely recommend. Will be coming back for sure. "

    8. Rockcastle

    2 Reviews
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 864-5225

    "The site are well spread out for the most part, the view is very nice if you get to camp on the water, and we were able to find space on a major holiday which was very welcome."

    9. Ryans Camp Ramp

    1 Review
    Albany, KY
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 858-1549

    10. White Oak Boat-In Campground

    1 Review
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 528-6156

    "It’s within the Daniel Boone National Forest on Laurel River lake and is not actually an island. It can’t be accessed by car but you can bike in on a dirt service road."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Liberty, KY

395 Reviews of 15 Liberty 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.

  • 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.

  • Staci R.
    Jul. 1, 2017

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

    Blue Heron Campgound

    Quite secluded, yet a great launching point to hiking and biking trails of all difficulties. This visit was for running the Yamakraw 20K, and resulted in some astonishing views of Big South Fork River! Campsites were very large, with ample room between to allow for privacy, yet everyone is nesseled into an almost level area which makes setting up easy. Plenty of bear resistant containers for trash and food storage. Shower and bath house centrally located, clean and warm. Did not have any interaction with Park personnel, but locals in Sterns were very friendly and helpful. Will visit again!

  • E
    May. 27, 2019

    Grove Boat-In Campground

    Awesome experience for a kayak.

    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 and I waited til too late to get there. It was dark once I set up but an awesome could helped me with fire wood and had a nice talk around their campfire. Beautiful area. Very busy on labor day weekend!!

    There are vault toilets but no showers.

  • Lisa D.
    May. 23, 2023

    Kendall Campground

    Only tent site

    I had the only tent site. It was adequate but many stares up and down. No water no electricity. Bathrooms were clean, campground was clean and quite. There is a snack shack outside the gate and they have bait. Good fishing lake and river.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Camp on the Kentucky

    Seasonal Campground With Great Pricing

    Something that sets this place apart from others in the area is long term tent camping!! Yes you read that right, LONG TERM TENT CAMPING! For most of those who travel you know they often offer long term services for those in RVs which provides a discount for staying more than a night or two, but at this campground you as a tent camper can find a location that suits your Kentucky home needs on the road for a day, a week or even a month!

    But what does that entail exactly?

    This site is really nice, with level sites for RVs or tents, padded grass which is well maintained, nice gravel roads around camp and a river frontage with views which will make you just want to stop and take in the scenery.

    When I visited I noticed a lot of people staying here near the weekend were visiting to launch their boats and troll the river fishing for what looked like some pretty large fish. It was pretty cool to see some of the people setting up their campground fish fry, and they were even friendly enough to invite me to join, though I don't eat fish so it didn't really work out that way.

    The tent sites were shaded and had several different options, you could choose primitive which is only $17 or for a few dollars more you could have electricity. All sites come with a picnic table and fire ring and a pull in to keep you and your things closely together.

    There was a playground and volleyball, but I didn't see anyone using these when I was there. A small camp store has a lot of the essentials in case your forgot something or just needed to pick up a snack. There was also firewood available, a big plus!!

    This place is a bit older looking in appearance but it is charming and the owner is very cool. I didn't meet a single person there that wasn't just enjoying life.

    TIPS:

    • If you are trying to check in the office has kind of strange hours. They are only open until 2 Sunday through Tuesday, not sure why but call in advance if you are running later than this time and want to check in.
    • Check their online event schedule! This campground host tailgating for UK so you can find a good tailgate party if you plan in advance, right at your campground!!
    • This is nearby the Bourbon Trail as well as so many other places where you will find activities. I was here to check out the Castle (I have attached a few photos) Can't miss this stop!!!

Guide to Liberty

Tent camping near Liberty, Kentucky offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from secluded sites to family-friendly parks, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Wolf Creek Resort Park, campers can enjoy electric hookups and picnic tables, making it a convenient choice for families.
  • Hidden Ridge Camping - Tents features drinking water and showers, ensuring a comfortable stay in a beautiful wooded setting.
  • Little Lick Campground offers spacious sites with trash disposal, perfect for those who want to leave no trace.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $40

  • Camping at Halcombs Landing is free, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious campers looking for a picturesque spot.
  • Ryans Camp Ramp charges around $40 per night, providing basic amenities in a private setting.
  • For a unique experience, Grove Boat-In Campground offers tent camping with a beautiful view, typically available from April to October.

Tips for tent camping near Liberty

  • When visiting Wildcat Creek Farm, be sure to enjoy the friendly farm animals and the serene riverside setting.
  • At HomeGrown HideAways, take advantage of the community kitchen and trails for a more social camping experience.
  • For those seeking adventure, White Oak Boat-In Campground is accessible only by boat or mountain bike, offering a unique way to reach your campsite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Liberty, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Liberty, KY is Pulaski County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 11 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Liberty, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Liberty, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.