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Best Campgrounds near Dawson Springs, KY

646 Reviews

Campgrounds near Dawson Springs, Kentucky include developed sites with varied accommodations at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, which offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. The park serves as a central recreational hub with access to hiking trails, waterfront activities, and equestrian facilities. Several nearby campgrounds including Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Hurricane Creek Campground provide additional options within 30 minutes of Dawson Springs, creating a network of mixed-use camping destinations that support diverse outdoor experiences.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter availability. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park campground features paved sites with electric and water hookups, though many visitors note significant terrain challenges. Site leveling presents common difficulties, with multiple reviews highlighting this concern. Advance reservations are recommended during summer months when the beach areas become crowded. The equestrian camping section tends to offer more level sites with full hookups compared to the main campground. A visitor noted, "This place was laid out and built by someone who hates RVs. Seriously steep compound slopes, tight 90 degree turns, and hookups 100' away on the wrong side of the site all make this place horrible for anything but a pop up."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Dawson Springs area, with Pennyrile Forest State Park's beach receiving consistently positive reviews. The white sand beach area provides swimming opportunities and equipment rentals including canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats. Campground facilities typically include bathhouses with showers, though maintenance quality varies across locations. Several visitors mention the peaceful, quiet atmosphere as a key benefit of camping in this region. While the developed sites offer amenities like electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations, campers should be prepared for varied site conditions. One camper shared, "The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity. The spot that we were at had plenty of room to spread out and relax."

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Best Camping Sites Near Dawson Springs, Kentucky (123)

    1. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

    19 Reviews
    Dawson Springs, KY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 797-3421

    $20 - $45 / night

    "Pennyrile Forest State Park off Ky69 outside Dawson Springs, Ky. A newer trail Pennyrile Nature Trail is 13.5 mile long hiking trail, from Dawson Springs to the park."

    "First of all, the drive to Dawson Springs is GORGEOUS. Rolling hills, farmland, trees, really gets you in the mood!"

    2. Hurricane Creek

    19 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 522-8821

    $16 - $32 / night

    "Hurricane Creek is off of Rt 274 in Kentucky on the east side of Land Between The Lakes."

    "**The nearby Land Between the Lakes park is amazing. This is a much more basic park and campground on the shore of the eastern lake."

    3. Lake Barkley State Resort Park

    19 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-1131

    $20 - $28 / night

    "the staff was helpful and friendly. the park had a great beach area. make sure you have extension cords and hoses as the utilities are positioned in between two sites. i only gave it 4 stars because of"

    "Although this is a remote campground, it is situated in a State RESORT park, so it is more like glamping."

    4. KOA Campground Kentucky Lakes Prizer Point

    14 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 522-3762

    "You can't beat having a lake next to you while you are camping. This is something my family and I always look for when we are camping. Water is always a great place to entertain the kids and family."

    "Most sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals."

    5. Hillman Ferry Campground

    38 Reviews
    Grand Rivers, KY
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-2000

    "Hillman Ferry is the northernmost full service campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and is an excellent base camp for exploring the LBL and other recreation opportunities in"

    "This campsite is located in beautiful Land Between the Lakes. Many sites are by reservation, but many more are first come first serve. Sites are big and open and some provide views of Kentucky Lake."

    6. Energy Lake Campground

    19 Reviews
    Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 924-2270

    "We have two small kids and were with family (in adjacent D4) so we really hoped for a site with flat space for the kids to play in, but there was absolutely no grassy area."

    "Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake( some closer then others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area."

    7. Holiday Hills Resort

    4 Reviews
    Eddyville, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 388-5253

    $35 - $999 / night

    "Clean campsites with a great view of the lake. Nice pool as well!"

    "The site is on the lake with cabins as well. They have full hookups and they were in good condition.  We were in and out. Will will be back through for sure to check the place out during the day. "

    8. Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    21 Reviews
    Grand Rivers, KY
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 362-4840

    $20 - $256 / night

    "Canal campground is right on the canal that connects Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake at the north end of Land Between the Lakes."

    "Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam."

    9. Outback RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Eddyville, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 388-4752

    $38 - $43 / night

    "The location is near a large KY dam and lakes recreation area. No surprise that the majority of sites are permanent residents with wooden decks, patio furniture and ferns."

    "The campground(CG) was easy to find off I-24, but we did as the pre-check-in email stated and took exit 45, NOT exit 40 as the RV GPS wanted."

    10. Prizer Point Marina & Resort

    9 Reviews
    Cadiz, KY
    25 miles
    Website

    "Prizer Point KOA and Marina is your basic camp away from home with all those modern conveniences. Water all around (peninsula) so water sports of course."

    "The pools were (and usually are not) open when the women and I come to camp on our "week-end" (every September), and the lake was already at winter pool this year, but that makes it quite easy to launch"

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Recent Camping Photos near Dawson Springs, KY

157 Photos of 123 Dawson Springs Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Dawson Springs, KY

646 Reviews of 123 Dawson Springs Campgrounds

  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    John James Audubon State Park Campground

    Last Time

    This is the 3rd or 4th time. Usually last stop before home. 3pm on Saturday and not one staff on site when we arrived. Car on loop area making it hard to get trailer into site, just missing the car with my truck. No picnic table at site so unable to get grill out. 15-20 trailers resting on blocks and above ground dump at each site. Large propane tanks. Looks like permanent sites and most didn't have anyone there. A bit disappointed

  • SkywaystoHighways.com Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Hillman Ferry Campground

    Peaceful Lakeside Camping

    We enjoyed our weekend stay during the HTC-E campout. Staff were very helpful and friendly. The camps grounds were clean and free of debris. Free showers with plenty of hot water, good water pressure. There was a strange phenomena of dead gnats/flying things on the ladies bathroom counter each morning. Not sure if someone sprayed each night… The lake was low, which we were told was common for this time of year as the dam level gets adjusted after Labor Day weekend. Still enough water for kayaking. This campground is very large so the golf cart rental was worth the $80 p/day fee. All in all, a great visit to Land O’ Lake. Check out our video on YouTube at Skyways to Highways.

  • Sergio S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Fletcher's Fork Campground and Cabins

    Great price, clean sites, strict rules.

    Sites are in great condition from asphalt site, concrete pad, picnic table, to hookups. They are however very strict on their rules. MUST BE A DODID OR VA ID CARD HOLDER.

  • Anna M.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Fenton Self-Service Campground

    Basic

    Right off a main road the spots are shallow so not ideal for long rigs. It does have power and one pit toilet at one end.

  • Anna M.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

    Cleanest Bathrooms

    There is nothing special about the location. There is a boat ramp nearby. There were only people set up in the park today. They do have a playground.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    A good spot to have a work week

    Functional clean porta potties. Fire pits, tables and water( not at the campsite but available at the entrance). Not a ton of privacy but very friendly people. Not great for starlink but very moderate t mobile a slightly better Verizon. Lots of tents and vans. Not many spots. Beautiful.

  • j
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    Nice COE campground

    Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam. The canal connects them and you can see boats and occasionally barges passing through. There are over 100 campsites are available, many with water views. We had a spacious site with a river view. Other loops are closer together and no view. Sites offer electric and/or water hookups, tables and fire ring. Other amenities include clean old style bathhouses, a dump station, laundry facilities, a playground, and picnic pavilions. We saw several deer roaming the grounds. There's a great pizza place in town Papa Z.

  • Cheyanne S.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lake Barkley State Resort Park

    Shaded but unlevel

    Enjoyed our stay. Bring quite a bit of leveling materials as the sites are very unlevel. 1 dump station and an older but usable bath house. The road to come in was narrow but we'll marked. Very shaded and decently spaced out. Water and electric only.

Guide to Dawson Springs

Camping near Dawson Springs, Kentucky, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Energy Lake Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The views were spectacular—especially the sunset." Another camper enjoyed the "hiking trails, paddle boating, canoeing, and kayaking."
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Hurricane Creek, are right on the lake, making it easy to cast a line. A reviewer noted, "Nice campground right on the lake. Family-friendly, lots of children on their scooters."
  • Wildlife Watching: Campers at Canal - Lake Barkley often spot deer and other wildlife. One camper said, "Tons of deer, and skunks, but they don’t bother you."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. At Hillman Ferry Campground, one visitor remarked, "The bathrooms were very clean. The showers were okay."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A camper at Piney Campground said, "The site was spacious and clean. Plenty of room for our 30' travel trailer."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. At RJourney Clarksville RV Resort, one reviewer noted, "The employees are so nice and so helpful."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A visitor mentioned, "There is no potable water on site."
  • Busy on Weekends: Popular spots can get crowded, especially on weekends. A camper at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground advised, "Recommend only visiting Monday thru Thursday."
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A visitor to Jackson Falls noted, "The road to get into the primitive camp area is long and just a little bumpy."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities. Hillman Ferry Campground has a playground that kids enjoy. One parent said, "We rode our bikes all over the place and enjoyed the playground and lake."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes or canoes for extra fun. A camper at Energy Lake Campground mentioned, "We were only able to stay one night but it was the reset we needed."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for hikes and outdoor activities. A visitor at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park said, "The views here are breathtaking."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites can be uneven. A reviewer at Clarksville RV Resort mentioned, "Our site was in the row nearest the interstate, which are overnighter pull-throughs."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Stock up on essentials before arriving, as some campgrounds may not have stores. A camper at Hurricane Creek noted, "There was someone plugged into our electric when we got there."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds near highways can be noisy. A visitor at Canal - Lake Barkley said, "The roads to the sites have a lot of curves; be careful not to clip your trailer on a tree."

Camping near Dawson Springs, Kentucky, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Dawson Springs?

Camping costs in the Dawson Springs area vary by campground and amenity level. At Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, located not far from Dawson Springs, camping fees are reasonable for the amenities provided. The park offers a quieter alternative to staying in the busier resort section with its conventions and tourism activities. For more budget-friendly options, consider Boswell Landing Campground, which provides more basic accommodations at lower rates while still offering restroom facilities and beautiful Kentucky Lake views.

What facilities are available at Dawson Springs Campground?

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park near Dawson Springs offers excellent camping facilities. The park features a campground with both standard sites and RV-friendly options, a camp store, and access to the 13.5-mile Pennyrile Nature Trail. Camping amenities include hiking maps, friendly staff, and beautiful surroundings with rolling hills and forested areas. The park serves as a gateway to the 75-mile Pennyrile driving loop that connects several Kentucky parks, making it an excellent base for exploring the region.

What camping is available near Dawson Springs, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, Dawson Springs, KY offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Dawson Springs, KY and 7 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Dawson Springs, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dawson Springs, KY is Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park with a 4-star rating from 19 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dawson Springs, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Dawson Springs, KY.

What parks are near Dawson Springs, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Dawson Springs, KY that allow camping, notably Barkley Lake and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

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