Best Campgrounds near Means, KY

Eastern Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest surrounds the small community of Means, with multiple campground options within a 30-minute drive. The Red River Gorge area features highly-rated destinations like Koomer Ridge Campground and Natural Bridge State Resort Park's Middle Fork and Whittleton campgrounds. To the north, Cave Run Lake hosts Zilpo Campground and Twin Knobs Recreation Area, both operational from April through early November. Accommodation styles range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots, cabins, and glamping options. Several private campgrounds like Callie's Lake and Miguel's Pizza (popular with rock climbers) provide additional alternatives with varying amenity levels.

Reservations are essential during peak seasons, particularly summer weekends and fall color periods. As one camper noted, "Summer is busy, definitely worth making reservations. The fall though mid-week we've done walk-ins with hardly any people." Many campgrounds in the region have seasonal operations, typically closing for winter between November and April. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with limited or no coverage in gorge areas and valleys. Road conditions can challenge larger RVs at some campgrounds, with visitors reporting, "The road getting to the campsite is mostly one lane, so if you are in an RV, go slow." Site leveling can be problematic at certain locations, with many campgrounds built on the region's characteristic hilly terrain.

The natural features draw consistent praise from visitors, particularly the geological formations in Red River Gorge. According to one camper, "The Natural Bridge State Park and Red River Gorge is one of the most beautiful and well-hidden gems of the region." Water-based recreation opportunities abound at Cave Run Lake, where campers report excellent stargazing: "Amazing seeing the Milky Way one evening." Fall receives special mention for reduced crowds and spectacular foliage. Site spacing varies considerably between campgrounds, with some offering generous separation while others place units closer together. Most established campgrounds maintain clean facilities, though some visitors note maintenance issues at certain locations during peak season.

Best Camping Sites Near Means, Kentucky (79)

    1. Koomer Ridge Campground — Daniel Boone National Forest

    47 Reviews
    Pine Ridge, KY
    14 miles
    +1 (606) 663-8100

    $24 - $36 / night

    "We've some spent time now in Kentucky and Red River Gorge area is one of favorites in this state. The campground is good pretty simple."

    "It is located just off Exit 11 on the Bert T Combs Parkway (the highway that runs through the area, which is a beautiful drive itself)."

    2. Middle Fork Campground — Natural Bridge State Resort Park

    42 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 663-2214

    $20 - $30 / night

    "I would rank the Red River Gorge area as the most beautiful place in the Kentucky. Any time I get the chance to head out this way, I do."

    "Pros: clean bath house, convenient to SUP Kentucky/Gorge underground, level sites (smaller though)

    Cons: traffic noise, no cell service (which is a pro for some)"

    3. Red River Gorge Campground

    22 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    9 miles

    $10 / night

    "Getting away from the busy life and into backcountry is like stepping into God's country. Don't have to worry about nothing and every day is a new adventure."

    "The Tarr Ridge parking area is located on highway 77 on Tarr ridge rd in the red river gorge."

    4. Zilpo Campground

    49 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 768-2722

    $28 - $94 / night

    "Having recently moved to Kentucky from California was so happy to get to camp in another season besides summer."

    "The sites next to the water have steep drop offs so no back door fishing. It's easy to get to the water just not right at the sites. The swimming beach was a disappointment."

    5. Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    42 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 780-7818

    $31 - $128 / night

    "Stayed here for one night on a road trip to the Great Lakes. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere but nestled nicely on a lake with pretty water and nice scenery."

    "It is close to the water. We left our boats down on the bank. You have a "private" restroom and shower house. Occasionally you will get a hiker or someone coming through the trails that will use it."

    6. Callie’s Lake and Campground

    18 Reviews
    Stanton, KY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 559-2554

    $10 - $40 / night

    "There are many campsites of multiple types available, but there are several primitive sites that still feel secluded and surrounded by trees."

    "This was a nice campground near the red river gorge. My friends and I stayed at a primitive campsite # 10."

    7. Red River Gorge Retreats (Miguel's Pizza)

    19 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    12 miles
    Website

    $14 / night

    "For a few bucks per carload, Miguel’s camping spot is contains of a few open field areas situated between the Climbing Gear Shop and the famous pizza spot."

    "There is only a community fire pit - you can't have fires next to your tent.

    Here are some of the cool things at this campground.

    Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner at their on-site restaurant."

    8. Whittleton Campground — Natural Bridge State Resort Park

    20 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 663-2214

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Located off I-64 in eastern Kentucky, RRG and Natural Bridge offer a wide variety of activities including hiking, camping, backcountry camping, kayak and canoe rentals, and the area has various local"

    "Close to the Natural Bridge trail and multiple SUP Kentucky sites."

    9. Natural Bridge Campground

    12 Reviews
    Slade, KY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 663-9352

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Nice shaded creek on the outskirts of the campground. Running water, RR, a grill, & Fire ring. All perks. 🔥"

    "You cannot bring in firewood from outside of Natural Bridge State Park/Red River Gorge, so we purchased some with our reservation. They loaded up a wheel barrow for us and we took it to our site."

    10. Clear Creek Rec Area

    9 Reviews
    Daniel Boone National Forest, KY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 768-2722

    "We couldn't have asked for a better place to end this portion of our kentucky adventures This camp ground is pretty basic and lovely."

    "We stayed in spot 17 which had its own access to a smaller creek. You can take a short walk up the small creek to get to Clear creek. Spots deep enough for swimming. Our dogs loved this place."

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Recent Reviews near Means, KY

629 Reviews of 79 Means Campgrounds


  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Beautifuly kept and right next to the amazing horse park

    We spent two nights here and were pleasantly surprised that most of the campsites had probably at least 50 to 60 feet between each one and lots of grass and trees. The campsite we stayed in, 140, was a pull through so that was bonus. Most of the campsites look like they had at least water and electric and I think there might have been some sites that had sewer as well. Right next-door to the Kentucky Horse Park, which is a must see. Very interesting museum and lots of barn with different types of horses in them to visit. If you buy your ticket at the campground, you would get five dollars off the admission fee.

  • Andy M.
    Aug. 12, 2025

    S-Tree Campground

    Great camping spot for Off-Road enthusiasts!

    A very well-developed camping area that caters to the off-road community. There are 2 loops for camping; loop B is still being upgraded. The park will begin implementation of fees as soon as the loop is completed. There are several sets of vault toilets, but no running water nor trash pickup, even though they have built a pad for a dumpster.

  • Joshua R.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Nice place

    Clean and quite. Nice bathrooms. Great place if you want to go the the horse park. Not far from Lexington.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Oh! Kentucky RV Park & Campground

    Nice camp ground

    It’s well maintained and the staff are friendly. It’s easy to get to and set up. The sites are a bit too close together. And not perfectly level.

  • Paul K.
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    Fantastic.

    We stayed in one of the "premium" sites, right on the water F19. The view was incredible. The campground was quiet and the facilities clean. Perfect spot.

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Turkey Foot Campground

    Good free camping

    This place takes winding back smaller roads to get there, but is very quiet and beautiful! We fit with our 21 foot camper and truck. Large spots, river alongside campground. Sad to see people left a lot of trash. Free is free!

  • Cynthia K.
    Jun. 24, 2025

    Grayson Lake State Park Campground

    Very Nice State Park!

    Grayson Lake State Park- East Kentucky. So, we had reservations for Carter Caves, but they canceled on me due to redoing the campground. I was fortunate to find a site at Grayson Lake for Wednesday & Thursday night. 

    This is a very nice campground at a small state park roughly 10 miles from Carter Caves. Most of it is campground & golf course, with 2 trails.

     Grayson Lake has 71 sites with water& electric. There's a dump station. There's 2 playgrounds. 2 bathhouses. They are on the high side of state park clean. I didn't see any spider webs or bugs.

     The area was meticulously mowed & clean- no trash at the site or fire pit. The staff at check were friendly & helpful. 

    We were at site 19 close to the bathhouse. A nice site, but that row had full sun. There were many nice sites, but many had a serious incline. Stay away from site 39 - that has a good view of the wastewater treatment plant!

    Grayson Lake is part of a larger area managed by the US Army Corp of Engineers. There's a lot of boating & fishing. We had a good time & if in the area would stay again!

  • Kim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Paintsville Lake State Park Campground

    My Eastern KY Fav!

    This campground is just as I'd hoped--small, clean, and peaceful. The sites are spacious and level. The surrounding hills and lake are gorgeous.

    The campground has many full hookup sites. I checked out the bath house: it's the cleanest I've ever seen! Laundry facilities are available. There is a playground for children.

    Lots of boating and fishing occurred.

    Both the staff and the other campers were friendly and considerate. Quiet hours were observed.

    We've already made reservations for next season!


Guide to Means

Camping spots near Means, Kentucky sit within the Cumberland Plateau region at elevations around 800-1,200 feet. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with humid summers reaching the 80s and mild winters with occasional snow. Streams run high during spring, while fall typically brings lower water levels and temperatures that range from 40-70°F through September and October.

What to do

Primitive backcountry camping: Red River Gorge offers extensive backcountry options with a required permit ($5). "You need a pass when not camping in a camp ground which cost very little per night. The hiking trails are mind blowing with great views and river side. Must see arches and natural bridges," notes one Red River Gorge Campground visitor.

Water activities: Cave Run Lake provides paddling opportunities. "We were able to use our blow up paddle board and cruise around. It was the first time using it so that made our experience here even more wonderful," shares a camper at Clear Creek Rec Area. The small lakes and streams allow for fishing, swimming and paddling from April through October.

Mountain biking: Trail networks accommodate riders of various skill levels. "Koomer Ridge campground has a great location for mountain biking (what we went for), hiking, fishing - anything really! The Daniel Boone Nat Forest is, I think, at its most beautiful in late spring," reports one visitor.

What campers like

Creek access: Many campsites feature stream proximity. "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," says a visitor at Middle Fork Campground. These creekside sites typically fill first during summer weekends.

Direct trail access: Campsites with connecting trails receive high praise. "Multiple trails leave straight out of the campground and head into the Red River Gorge, a nice feature. Campground is heavily wooded, too, so plenty of shade should be available during the summer months," mentions a Koomer Ridge Campground reviewer.

Stargazing conditions: The region's distance from major cities creates excellent night sky viewing. "This campsite is amazing. Perfect for stargazers. Nobody is there during the weekday. But the weekend is usually packed," notes a Zilpo Campground camper.

What you should know

Road access constraints: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. "The road getting to the campsite is mostly one lane, so if you are in an RV, go slow," advises a visitor. Many roads into backcountry areas are gravel, narrow, and may be impassable after heavy rain.

Seasonal campground closures: Most established campgrounds operate limited seasons. "We were there for a 3 day 2 night weekend. Had about 5-6 other campers there. People are super friendly. Place is peaceful. Can not hear much road noise unless a car doesn't have a muffler," reports a Natural Bridge Campground camper.

Site spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more privacy than others. "Koomer ridge is a great campground if you don't want to hike to camp, it's kid and dog friendly!" shares one visitor. Site numbering at most campgrounds does not consistently indicate privacy levels.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming holes: Creeks provide natural water play areas. "Loved this place so much we stayed a few nights on our trek cross country. We stayed in spot 17 which had its own access to a smaller creek. You can take a short walk up the small creek to get to Clear creek. Spots deep enough for swimming. Our dogs loved this place," reports a Clear Creek visitor.

Bathroom facilities: Amenities vary widely between campgrounds. "Bath/Shower house: More than adequate toilet stalls, two sinks, and two showers. Only one sink had hot water. The shower was wimpy at best. Took a long time to coax hot water, and then the flow was very weak," explains one Middle Fork Campground camper.

Playground accessibility: Some campgrounds include play equipment. "We had a wonderful time here. We plan to return soon!" shares a Whittleton Campground visitor. Many families report children enjoying the natural features more than constructed play areas.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling requirements: Many campsites present leveling challenges. "All sites were level; some were paved, and some were gravel (riverfront sites tended to be gravel). Most are back-in, but the middle row has pull-thru sites, however, if you had a large RV with a toad, you would likely not have room for both in your site," explains a Middle Fork camper.

Hookup limitations: Water and electric availability varies widely. "We paid for a campsite that had water and electric but we had to share water with another site. Luckily there were a splitter available," notes a Natural Bridge Campground visitor. Most campgrounds offer limited full-hookup sites that book months in advance during peak season.

Length restrictions: Some campgrounds cannot accommodate larger rigs. "Beautiful area. Campsites are tight! Had trouble backing in our 32' bumper pull. Close to the Natural Bridge trail and multiple SUP Kentucky sites," reports a Whittleton Campground visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Means, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Means, KY offers a wide range of camping options, with 79 campgrounds and RV parks near Means, KY and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Means, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Means, KY is Koomer Ridge Campground — Daniel Boone National Forest with a 4.6-star rating from 47 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Means, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Means, KY.

What parks are near Means, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 parks near Means, KY that allow camping, notably Daniel Boone National Forest and Buckhorn Lake.