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Best Tent Camping near Morehead, KY

644 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Morehead, Kentucky provide both established and dispersed camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Paragon Dispersed Camping Area offers primitive tent camping on Cave Run Lake, while Clay Lick and North Fork campgrounds provide established tent sites within a short drive of Morehead. White Sulphur Horse Camp in Salt Lick also accommodates tent campers who need access to basic toilet facilities.

Sites throughout the Daniel Boone National Forest vary in terrain and preparation level. Most dispersed camping areas like Paragon feature basic dirt or gravel clearings with minimal amenities. Vault toilets are available at some locations, but potable water is rarely provided. Campers should plan to bring adequate water supplies or treatment methods. As noted in a review from The Dyrt, "This is dispersed camping, meaning there are no amenities besides a pit toilet and a few fire rings. Make sure to bring your own water treatment." Access roads can become muddy during wet weather, particularly at primitive sites near Cave Run Lake.

Primitive tent setups near Morehead offer direct water access and natural surroundings with varying levels of seclusion. Areas closer to Cave Run Lake feature fishing opportunities and boat launches suitable for kayaks and canoes. Many backcountry tent camping areas remain open year-round, though early May through late September represents the official season for several established campgrounds. A review on The Dyrt explained that "With about a dozen or so sites, some along the lakeshore, others closeby, lots of options exist to be alone or with a group." Campsite availability operates on a first-come, first-served basis at most dispersed locations, with no reservation system in place. Campers should be prepared to pack out all trash, as multiple reviews mention finding previous campers' debris at primitive sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Morehead, Kentucky (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Morehead, KY

26 Photos of 12 Morehead Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Morehead, KY

644 Reviews of 12 Morehead Campgrounds

  • R
    Aug. 13, 2018

    John Swift's Lost Silvermine Historic Campground

    Great family-friendly, primitive car camping

    This campground is easy to access and good for individuals or groups; it's mostly covered with grass though there are areas that are more dirt, closer to the river. It's nestled between the Red River and Highway 715, so you are pretty close to the road and will hear some road noise, but it's a pretty quiet 2-lane highway. There are picnic tables and fire-rings at each campsite, and it is easy to pitch a few tents in close proximity if you are there with a group. The toilets are port-a-potties scattered throughout the campground. You are asked to sign a waiver and agree to the quiet hours (11-6). The campground is gated and the gate is closed and locked at 10 pm (but the campground manager sleeps on-site). The firewood we purchased here was very wet though, and never burned well. This is typical of much of the firewood purchased at the RRG though, unless you buy kiln-dried from the store. Canoe and kayak rentals happen at the site as well. This was perfect for camping with my 10-month old, without needing to hike in from the car. A good balance between a crowded state campground and backcountry camping.

  • Chris M.
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Yatesville Lake State Park Campground

    Great camping on the lake

    Camping: As far as camping goes there’s a little variety. On top of the hill there is camper sites with full hook ups which is actually quite spacious and spaced out from other sites compared to other campgrounds, but some sites are better than others of course. There is also primitive tent camping on top of the hill, but appeared slightly cramped. In my opinion the best sites are the boat in tent camping sites down the hill by the lake. The sites also run along a gravel rode that can be used to hike in. All sites throughout have fine gravel pad, picnic table, a fire ring and access to numerous bathrooms of which have a compost toilet and running water for the sink. Camp staff will deliver ice or firewood to any site if requested. Extras: The main attraction is the lake of course which is quite clean for swimming, boating or fishing, but can be a little busy at times. There are a few hiking trails near by, but I wouldn’t come here for that. There is a golf course and I did notice, but didn’t get to check out, there is a place called The Cove at Yatesville lake that has a beach for swimming with climbable inflatables in the water, kayak rentals and among other things. Conclusion: A great local place to have fun on a lake, but not somewhere I’d travel an extended distance to see.

  • Jeffrey A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2023

    Koomer Ridge Campground — Daniel Boone National Forest

    Lovely NF Campground

    Koomer Ridge is really an excellent campground!  As of April 2023 all sites were first-come, first-serve (no prior reservations permitted).  We camped one night and thoroughly enjoyed it!  No hook-ups but the site was level for a 21" campervan and had a HUGE tent pad, 2 lantern posts, fire ring and picnic table in a spacious site.  Plenty of trees for hammocks, too!  Sites were more than adequately spaced out around the campground and some were quite private.  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.

    The shower house is next to Site 14 and was clean though chilly but had hot & cold running water and was modern/updated.  Only ding here was that a couple of the toilets were out of service during our stay - no big deal as the campground was fairly empty and I hope they'll be addressed before summer crowds arrive.

    The campground is on a ridge - so apart from the sites themselves, there is very little flat ground to be had.  Not a drawback, just an observation.  But the hills make for a lovely setting and beautiful sunsets/sunrises filtering through the trees.  Only criticism is the proximity to the Mountain Parkway nearby; had we been tent camping, the traffic noise would have been a nuisance all night.  But in the campervan it wasn't noticeable, fortunately!  Not enough to cost a star, but worth noting if you're using a tent or soft-sided camper.

    Red River Gorge is an extraordinary and beautiful place to explore, and Koomer Ridge is an excellent basecamp from which to do so!

  • Chris H.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    Hidden Gem

    We've stayed at Twin Knobs twice now in our popup camper. First time was at F26, second was at F24. We love how the outer loop sites have such quick access to the water.

    Both sites are shaded very well and the sites themselves are huge. We could see other campers through the trees but we felt pretty well secluded.

    Each site has several tall poles with hooks for trash bags/food storage. as well each site has a large fire pit with flip-over grill for cooking.

    The firewood bundles are a bit pricey ($7) at the checkin shack, but I'm glad they are available. we purchased at least 7 bundles to have a pretty much constant fire through the day and night.

    The bathrooms are clean and easily accessible. There was a bit of an overflow issue our first day on site but it was resolved in less than an hour by the loop hosts.

    Pop's bbq was a hit both nights we were there. We ordered carryout (covid) and ate at camp on the provided picnic tables. The Dollar General is also adequately stocked.

    All in all a fantastic visit which we will repeat ASAP. it's too bad they close at the end of October. I bet winter camping there would be a treat.

    Cheers,

    Chris

  • M
    Jan. 26, 2022

    Callie’s Lake and Campground

    Impressive

    We were very pleased with this campground. When we first checked in, the smell of the food in the campground store was to die for. We had plans to cook at our campsite, but the specials that night were very tempting. The staff was kind and helpful, and provided us with a map of the property. The bathhouse was a nice touch! There are many campsites of multiple types available, but there are several primitive sites that still feel secluded and surrounded by trees. There are several sites that can be accessed by a sedan, but some of the sites farther back really require something more suited to off-road driving. We were in a Subaru Forester and had no issues, but did actually have to help push a Camry out of a rut. We visited in October 2021 and it seemed like the area we selected was still slightly under construction. The campsite was wonderful, but the picnic table was sitting on a slope and we were having a difficult time preventing our food from falling off. A flatter spot for the picnic table would be our only suggestion to the owner. My friend used a tent and was happy to see a flat spot cut out of the slope our site was situated on. I used a hammock and didn’t have any trouble finding suitable trees. We loved it and will definitely be back!

  • Steve Z.
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park

    Great place for passers through or staycationers.

    We have stayed in four sites her during the past couple of month. There are two walk-in sites (10 & 51). Both were pleasant, nearly level, close to amenities, but were under no shade. [Site 10 is presently inhabited by a large family with a sign that says “Camp Host out front. I have not seen them do anything for campers here, and the site is kept in disgraceful cluttered condition.] we next stayed on Lot 13, which backs up to the primitive campground. Quite nice, but beware: this site as well as about half of the other sites at this campground require the use of electrical and water extensions because the connections are on the “wrong” side of the RV, and quite a distance away. For Lot 13, I needed over 50’ of extensions. We then stayed on walk-in lot 51. I was able to “self permit” at the gate…it’s first come first served, no online reservations. Nice, but no shade. Finally, we’re on Lot 47. Eureka! This is my favorite so far. It’s one of the “premium sites” with wooden deck and nicer picnic table for only $2 additional per night. View is phenomenal, and it’s close enough to dumpsters and gatehouse. Notice that I didn’t mention anything about sewer hookups. That’s because there are none. There is a single, very popular dump station near the entrance/exit.
    There are several miles of decent trails here, a swimming pool, putt putt golf, a pioneer museum, and a lodge with a good restaurant. The campground is easily accessible and is very kid and pet friendly. Nice sites for tent camping. Facilities are a bit dated, but clean and well maintained. All RV sites are back-in, and some are limited length. (Though some campers have rather cleverly managed to pull through a couple of the sites.) Some are quite unlevel.
    Overall good family campground on rich historical site.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Fort Boonesborough State Park Campground

    Pricey but interesting

    I was very interested in this area for the living history museum but as a tent camper I had more than a little sticker shock at the $36 price point not to mention the booking fee on Reserve America. That made this one of the most expensive campgrounds I have stayed at including numerous stops in California. 😒

    The sites were well shaded and included the typical set up of fire rings and picnic tables but I did feel a little closer to my neighbor than I would have liked. I can only imagine the feeling to and RV camper would be even more suffocating.

    The campground was noisy and busy as it was a weekend, and while some of that can be expected for the higher price point I would have liked things to have been a bit more accommodating to those times, maybe they should offer a few less sites so there can be a bit more space so if it is busy you don’t feel like you are suffocated by noise.

    With that being said, not all was bad here. The things to do outside of th campground itself were worth some of the inadequacies the camp provided in way of space. The living history museum was one of the best I have seen in the Kentucky or Tennessee area and other amenities such as water access and proximity to hiking was great.

    If I did return it would be during the week and potentially not during summer to avoid the crowd.

  • Kelley K.
    Aug. 20, 2020

    Paintsville Lake State Park Campground

    Beautiful place, easy kayak launch, clean restrooms and showers

    We tent camped at one of the hike-in (it's a well maintained gravel path) sites at PLSP, #33. This is the first site on your way in. I was by myself with my son and dog so I felt more comfortable being here near the bathhouse. There are raccoons who like to eat so be sure to put your food up at night. The lake is really calm. There are boats coming in and out but not "traffic" per se, no issues at all kayaking and we went out several times. Fishing was good with rooster tails and panther martin spinners (silver), 1/8 and 1/16 oz. The water was down so there were a lot of places to paddle onto the shore and wade fish. There is some access right at the campground for littles to get in the water. I really recommend water shoes as there are some hooks/lures in the water. We never left the campground during the weekend, so I can't comment on the proximity to restaurants but it was only 5-8 min or so back to town. I had terrible phone service with Sprint here. We did have one new camper come in at 3am on Saturday morning to set up their tent and being so close to the entrance of the hike-in spots, I woke up. That was tough. When we go back, I'll pick a site further back up the hiking path and bring a wagon to tote our stuff. The staff at the gate are amazing and so friendly. The restrooms are clean. Three showers. NO ONE other than the tent campers seemed to use the bath house so I never waited for a shower or anything and there were several families tent camping and the rv sites were completely full. It's a really nice and safe place. I really recommend it and look forward to going back. One thing, the actual tent pad was 11x13 and seemed a bit small but worked fine for us.

  • Frank H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2021

    Sandy Springs Campground

    Nice campground

    This was the last campground before returning home from a month long camping road trip across the country and back. Picturesque camp directly on the Ohio River. Very level. Small campground with about 40 sites. Basically all sites are for RVs and equipped with electrical and water and most with sewer. We were tent camping and set up and a very soft & thick grassy space on one of the empty sites. The owners plan to install dedicated tent sites along the edge of the woods. There is a camp store with most needed items. Ice and firewood sold. Very spacious and individual toilet and shower & sink rooms. Good showers with plenty of hot water. Playground for children. Volleyball for anyone. Dumpster for trash. Great people. Easy to make reservations.

Guide to Morehead

Tent campsites near Morehead, Kentucky sit within the western edge of the Appalachian foothills with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. The area experiences humid summers with average temperatures reaching the mid-80s and mild springs and falls that create ideal primitive camping conditions. Most dispersed sites remain accessible year-round, though seasonal closures affect some established campgrounds during winter months.

What to do

Kayaking access points: At Red River Gorge Adventures, campsites run alongside the river bank, allowing easy water entry. "This campground is only a two mile paddle to the infamous jump rock and swim hole," notes Josh J., making it convenient for day paddling trips without shuttle arrangements.

Hiking to viewpoints: The Red River Gorge area contains numerous backcountry campsites reached via hiking trails. "Hanson's point at the red river gorge is often called the best view of the Gorge. To get to Hanson's point you'll have to earn it by hiking for about 2.5 miles, but trust me when I say it's worth it," explains Wayne H.

Wildlife spotting: Morning hours offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities at lakeside campsites. One camper at Paragon Dispersed Camping Area reported, "Our first morning a heron was fishing in the lake less than 100 feet from us. We saw him catch a fish. There were woodpeckers, hawks and several other birds I did not recognize."

What campers like

Remote water access: The primitive sites provide direct lake and river frontage without crowds. "We found a spot right on the lake... The view of the lake from our camp site was amazing. Very picture worthy!" notes Kevin C. about his Paragon experience.

Budget-friendly options: Free camping remains available throughout the Daniel Boone National Forest. "This drive in campground is awesome for those who like to camp for free. Right off the highway! Located on Cave Run Lake. No fire pits, no restrooms, no water or electricity hookups. Most spots have boat in access!" reports Wayne H.

Diverse camping layouts: Red River Gorge Campground offers varied site configurations. "There are so many different places to hike. Be careful of cliffs and your surroundings. Nothing but natural beauty. You can rock climb, camp, hike, kayak, and best of all amazing views," writes lindsay P.

What you should know

Arrive early for dispersed sites: During peak season (May-September), first-come, first-served sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "We arrived right after a busy holiday weekend, and found our site (and those next to it) full of extra fire rings and heaps of trash," notes Shari G.

Road access challenges: Some primitive camping areas have restricted or difficult access depending on weather conditions. "June 2019 was not able to access the campsite due to a gate blocking the road," reports Dylane S. regarding Paragon access.

Rangers provide updated info: Local forest service stations offer current conditions reports. "Call or visit the ranger office before entering the forest to get the latest recommendations for good trails and where to see wildlife!" advises Lynn G.

Trash management essential: Daniel Boone National Forest White Sulphur Horse Camp maintains basic facilities, but campers must pack out waste. "The place was clean, restroom facilities were stocked with TP," notes John, though limited trash disposal options exist at most dispersed sites.

Tips for camping with families

Structured campground options: For those camping with children, established sites offer more amenities. "Red River Adventure is a veteran owned boating rental/shuttle service with an attached campground. It's very spacious... They do have a trash bin and portable-potty's scattered around and they sell firewood on site," Josh J. explains.

Kid-friendly swimming: Natural water features provide family activities. "If you wade out into the water about 15ft upstream of the boat launch, the river is relatively flat with a sandy bottom that is about 5' at normal water level. Excellent place for an afternoon swim," recommends Josh J.

Quiet hours enforcement: John Swifts Lost Silvermine Campground provides a family-oriented atmosphere. "During our two night stay the other sites were all filled with families, so very kid friendly. Not a lot of amenities," reports David C., while another camper mentioned strict 11pm quiet time enforcement.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most dispersed camping near Morehead lacks RV amenities. "There is no potable water or electrical hookups, but with our solar panel we are always ready for primitive sites," notes Shari G., highlighting the need for self-contained systems.

Spacious sites availability: Even larger rigs can find suitable spots at certain times. "Love this place, will be returning in the future. We stayed a week and only saw three other campers and no one with in 100 yards of our campsite," reports Andrew C. about his experience at Red River Adventures.

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across the region. "There was slight cell service for Verizon & AT&T, enough for maybe text but not very consistent," John notes about White Sulphur Horse Camp, while others report complete service gaps in more remote areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Morehead, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Morehead, KY is Paragon Dispersed Camping Area with a 3.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Morehead, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Morehead, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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