Best Tent Camping near London, KY
Daniel Boone National Forest surrounds London, Kentucky with several tent-only campgrounds and primitive tent sites along Laurel River Lake. White Oak Boat-In Campground offers tent campsites accessible only by boat, kayak, or mountain bike on a dirt service road. Clifty Campground at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park provides dedicated tent camping areas with sites 48-50 offering more seclusion for tent campers. Rockcastle Campground and Craigs Creek Group Area provide additional primitive tent camping options within a short drive of London.
Most tent campsites in the London area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. White Oak Boat-In Campground provides potable water and pit toilets but no showers or electrical hookups. Sites typically include fire rings where permitted, though firewood can be difficult to find dry due to humidity near water features. Tent pads are generally flat but may consist of gravel, dirt, or forest floor with minimal grading. Vault toilets are common at primitive sites, while developed campgrounds like Clifty offer bathhouses with showers. The camping season typically runs April through October, with some sites closing earlier depending on weather conditions. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with Verizon providing better coverage than other carriers.
Tent campers seeking privacy should target specific sites at established campgrounds. According to reviews, Clifty Campground sites 48-50 offer the most seclusion for tent-only camping, with site 49 noted as "the most private spot" despite lacking electricity and water hookups. One camper observed that White Oak Boat-In Campground "fills up on weekends" but provides "wonderful atmosphere" with "spacious sites" in a wooded setting. The area offers excellent hiking opportunities, with the 333-mile Sheltowee Trail passing through parts of the region. Winter visitors can access some backcountry tent sites via cross-country skiing or snowshoeing when roads are closed to vehicles. Primitive tent camping areas generally provide more solitude than developed campgrounds, particularly during weekdays and non-holiday periods.