Campgrounds in and around Campton, Kentucky offer access to Daniel Boone National Forest and the Red River Gorge, an area characterized by sandstone cliffs, natural rock formations, and dense forest at elevations between 600-1300 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F, while spring and fall bring cooler weather between 50-70°F. Cell service varies dramatically depending on terrain, with many campsites situated in valleys having limited connectivity.
What to do
Kayaking the Licking River: The Ole Cornfield offers on-site kayak rentals with shuttle service to the dam. "They shuttle you up to the dam and it takes a couple of hours to get back down to their campground. Justin pulls your kayaks out and takes them up the hill for you, which is great for this old woman," notes a reviewer at The Ole Cornfield.
Hiking to Natural Bridge: The iconic sandstone arch spans 78 feet and stands 65 feet high. "Natural bridge area is a must see. Its super unique for the area and worth the hike to it," reports a camper at Middle Fork Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Both stocked ponds and natural waterways provide fishing options. At Callie's Lake and Campground, "They had a small lake (I'd call it a pond) for swimming and fishing (it was $5 for an adult to fish, and catch and release only)."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campground bathhouses receive consistent praise for maintenance. "The bathrooms are kept very clean and offers quality toilet paper and paper towels," notes a camper about The Ole Cornfield.
Riverside camping: Sites along waterways offer both recreation and relaxation. "When you arrive the host (Justin), brings you wood and a picnic table. Helps if you need anything. The campground is always extremely clean as are the bathrooms. Water and electric on site with a wide spot."
Family-friendly amenities: 4 Guys RV Park at Red River Gorge offers "a small fishing pond, swimming pool, basketball court, and a playground." Another camper adds, "The park is super clean, tons of showers in the bath house, nice little pool, lots of amenities at the camp store."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Fall foliage season (mid-October through early November) attracts the highest visitor numbers. "We stayed 5 nights at the Outpost and the owner was extremely nice! Brought me some fresh tomatoes and watermelon for my birthday!" notes a camper at Outpost Campground & RV Park.
Limited shade at newer parks: Some recently developed campgrounds lack mature trees. About 4 Guys RV Park, a camper mentions: "My only complaint, and I will say it is a very small complaint — it must be a relatively new park because there are no shade trees."
Road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires navigating winding mountain roads. "Navigation to some RV sites requires careful driving, as mountain roads include sharp curves and elevation changes."
Campsite privacy varies: Site separation differs significantly between campgrounds. "We stayed at B29 at Middle Fork next to the creek that runs through the campground. We really enjoyed swimming in and following the creek upstream."
Tips for camping with families
Water play options: Shallow creek areas provide safe water exploration for children. "The grandkids love to play in the river, which is about 1 to 2 feet deep at this location. Great for wading and catching minnows, crawdads, and such."
Playground availability: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There is a great, centrally located playground where the kids were able to run around after being in the truck for eight hours," notes a visitor to Outpost Campground.
Educational opportunities: Nocomas Pass offers unique historical elements among natural features. "Nocomas Pass is absolutely beautiful, secluded, spacious sites full of remnants from the old oil wells. Nacomas Pass has several hiking trails, beautiful Creek. Waterfalls in cool watering holes to sit in."
Off-season weekdays: For quieter family experiences, visit Sunday through Thursday during spring or fall. "We stayed here Mothers Day weekend. Had perfect weather and our tent site was by the creek so we could here running water all night. It was so peaceful!"
Tips from RVers
Utility placement: Check hookup locations before selecting sites. "A mix of electric sites, tent sites, and cottages spread out along Route 11. All sites were level; some were paved, and some were gravel (riverfront sites tended to be gravel)."
Leveling challenges: Some rv parks near Campton, Kentucky have uneven terrain. One RVer notes, "Tried to move the RV around for over an hour and finally went to the store to inform them of our trouble."
WiFi considerations: Internet access varies widely between Campton rv campgrounds. "As a remote worker I purchased 72 hours of WiFi for $20, which was great but only worked for 1 device."
Local repair services: Campground hosts often know local RV repair options. "Our camper had some plumbing issues and was leaking pretty badly while hooked up to the water connection. I brought this up to Callie later in the afternoon and she gave me the name of a local person who works on campers."
