Camping spots near Mount Washington, Kentucky range from state parks with lake access to smaller private campgrounds within forested terrain. Sites sit on varied terrain including lakeshores, forested areas, and park settings with minimal to moderate elevation changes. These campgrounds experience hot, humid summer conditions with temperatures regularly reaching 85-95°F from June through August, while spring camping brings milder temperatures but increased chance of rainfall.
What to do
Explore historic sites: Visitors staying at My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground can tour the Stephen Foster Home and access multiple museums. "The mansion to tour. Amphitheater open during the summer. A great family-friendly place to visit," notes one camper who appreciated the historical elements.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Shelby Campground offers both lake fishing and stream fishing below the dam. "You can fish both in the lake and on the stream below the dam. A couple of docks on the lake side," reports a visitor who stayed in April. The campground also rents paddle boats for water recreation.
Hiking varied trails: Horine Reservation Camping at Jefferson County Memorial Forest provides trails ranging from 1.5 to 13.0 miles through mixed forest terrain. "Lots of trails ranging from 1.5 to 13.0 miles through gorgeous mixed forest of old and new growth deciduous and coniferous hardwoods," writes a camper who appreciated the natural surroundings.
What campers like
Seclusion close to amenities: Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground offers spacious sites with privacy while remaining accessible to Louisville. "Most of the sites were really big, and there was plenty of space and trees in between," reports one visitor who stayed at the primitive camping area.
Bourbon country access: White Acres Campground serves as a convenient base for distillery tours. "Being minutes away from all the Bardstown brewery's this is a MUST SEE PLACE!" writes an enthusiastic visitor. Another noted it's "a country setting on the outskirts of Bardstown, KY. It's just a few miles away from the scenic parts of town."
Clean, spacious sites: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept grounds with adequate space between sites. At Charlestown State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the concrete pads and full hookups. "The campground is very large and very well kept. All the sites are pretty much the same with good spacing between them," notes one reviewer who rated their experience highly.
What you should know
Reservation policies vary: Some campgrounds have strict payment policies. One visitor to Little Patch of Heaven Campground reported: "Made a reservation. I had read the reviews about reservations being canceled due to non-payment, so knew I would have to follow up with payment still." Call ahead to confirm reservation requirements.
Airport noise impacts: Jefferson Memorial Forest sits beneath flight paths from Louisville International Airport. "The campsite rests below the route to Louisville's international airport. For an hour or two in the morning and in the afternoon huge jets fly right over the campgrounds," reports one camper who found this disrupted their outdoor experience.
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Tent campers should prepare for fewer amenities. At Lake Shelby, a reviewer noted: "The restrooms are located at the RV parking area, so we had to drive to use them. In my opinion, the restrooms should have been built in between the RV sites and tent sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Louisville South KOA offers family-friendly amenities including a bounce pillow that appeals to children. "Our son loved the jump pillow, I gave it a try and my knee has been reminding me all day that I'm too old for that!" shared one parent who stayed at the facility during off-season.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities for children during summer months. At Lake Shelby Campground, visitors noted "indoor and outdoor pool in the other half of the park," providing options for families to cool off during hot Kentucky summers.
Educational opportunities: Many camping areas offer learning experiences for children. At Horine Reservation, one camper noted: "The seclusion here and the closeness to nature is a grand slam!" while another mentioned access to "Lots of trail access," making it suitable for nature exploration with children.
Tips from RVers
Site length considerations: RVers should confirm site dimensions before booking. At Lake Shelby Campground, one RV owner cautioned: "Very weird at first as the sites are 20 feet long, but they allow front ends to stick out. All new electrical and water, all sites have 50 amp despite the website stating only 30 amps as recent update."
Leveling requirements: Uneven terrain at some campgrounds requires preparation. At My Old Kentucky Home State Park, RVers should "make sure to have levelers to handle 7+ inches. Sites are a bit uneven and water and electric is about 40 feet away," according to one experienced camper who stayed there.
Accessibility for larger rigs: Some campgrounds can accommodate larger RVs better than others. At Brooks RV Park, which offers full hookups, a visitor noted: "Nice sized sites, reasonable priced compared to the KOA, all good full hookups, nicely kept, and most importantly it is in a safe country setting surrounded by large trees."
