Camping near London, Kentucky centers on the Daniel Boone National Forest region, with most campgrounds situated between 900-1,500 feet elevation. The area features limestone terrain with numerous rock formations, waterfalls, and river access points. Weather can change quickly in this part of Kentucky, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer months when temperatures typically range from 75-90°F.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers several trail options beyond just viewing the main falls. "We hiked to see Cumberland Falls (from the lodge) and Eagle Falls. After a short drive, we hiked Natural Arch and Yahoo Falls," notes Crystal H. from Ridgeline Campground.
Water activities: Laurel Lake provides boating and swimming opportunities near Holly Bay Campground. "You can swim next to shore, bring your pets, tie up your boat, be around friendly people or private," explains Angie B. who calls it the "prettiest lake in KY" with "crystal clear water."
Historical exploration: The Daniel Boone National Forest contains numerous historical sites. As Shelly S. mentions about Bee Rock Rec Area, "Visiting Daniel Boone is like stepping back in time. A lot of history from the origins as well as the structures built. Several choices in trail difficulty and all lead to awesome views and natural wonders."
Nighttime astronomy: For a unique natural phenomenon, Cumberland Falls offers moonbow viewing. One camper notes the falls is "the home of the only regular moonbow (lunar rainbow) in the northern hemisphere" that "appears every month during the full moon – 2 days before and 2 days after, when the night skies are clear."
What campers like
Privacy in camping sites: Holly Bay Campground provides secluded spots. "The sites are spaced out, large and completely shaded," writes Carissa D., while another camper describes their site as "large, secluded, completely shaded and very large."
Fishing opportunities: Rockcastle Riverside offers direct river access. Crystal S. calls it a "beautiful peaceful location" that's "perfect for fishing and relaxing" as it sits directly on the Rockcastle River.
Family-oriented activities: State parks organize regular events for campers. At Levi Jackson, Joanna H. reports that "the campground organizes fun activities for the summer holidays like tie dying, camper's only pool party, bingo, best decorated campsite, etc."
Natural swimming areas: Several campgrounds provide water access beyond just formal pools. Marlene V. from Holly Bay suggests: "Bring your boats, bikes, kayaks, fishing poles and bathing suits. The water is fantastic!"
What you should know
Seasonal facility limitations: Winter camping requires planning. One camper at Cumberland Falls notes: "Normally, there are additional amenities such as drinking water, showers, and flush toilets, but those we are closed for the season. We did, however find that the drinking water in the picnic area near the falls was running."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Ridgeline Campground, one reviewer warns: "The spots are uneven and many backup to a large hill" while at Levi Jackson, a camper mentioned sites were "pretty unlevel though. Bring lots of blocks."
Hookup distances: At certain campgrounds, utilities may be far from parking spots. Amy J. notes about Cumberland Falls: "Be sure to bring an extension cord if you want to use power. The hookups are too far away."
Road noise considerations: Locations near highways experience traffic sounds. At Westgate RV Campground, Tim mentions "you do get road noise as it is at the intersection of two main Kentucky roads" while also noting that "construction going on behind it" started "at 5 in the morning."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment. At Rustling Pines Campground, Kristopher G. notes they've "got a great natural playground for kids to play on." Similarly, Alison C. found that at Levi Jackson, "the playgrounds were our favorite place to be as they have a pretty good choice of equipment."
Consider tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds designate special areas for tent campers. Justin S. observes that Levi Jackson has a "tent loop," though warns "if you're in a tent and can't get one of the tent loop sites you might not have a great time" since "most of the camping is out in the open on concrete pads."
Find campgrounds with ranger programs: State parks often provide educational activities. Michael R. from Ridgeline Campground mentions: "Staff was great - lots of activities for the kids to do through the State Park - Archery (free), Swimming Pool (free), and more free activities, horseback riding ($20pp). Camp host led scavenger hunts, lazer tag, capture the flag, etc in the campground in the evenings."
Check bathroom facilities: Bathhouse quality varies between campgrounds. Alison C. says at Levi Jackson "the bathrooms could use some updating as the sinks don't have hot water and using the shower requires pushing the faucet on every 2 min," whereas Rustling Pines gets praise for its "huge and clean" shower house.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: At The Farm RV Resort, sites include complete utilities. Teresa J. notes the resort offers "spacious, level sites that provide plenty of room for both our RV and outdoor activities" with "full hook-ups, making it super convenient for extended stays."
RV length limitations: Size restrictions apply at certain campgrounds. At Ridgeline Campground, one reviewer advises: "Make sure to watch the 'max vehicle length' - we have a 21' van and we barely fit into our site that had a longer max length," while another suggests not bringing "a trailer much over 25'."
Extension cord requirements: Power hookups may require extra equipment. A Cumberland Falls camper recommends: "Be sure to bring an extension cord if you want to use power. The hookups are too far away" and another mentions having to "use a regular 110 extension cord to get the hookup to our van."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer sewer hookups. Marshall P. mentions that while they "stayed in a full hook up site" at Levi Jackson, "the dump station was well positioned and easy to navigate" for those without direct sewer connections.
