New Haven, Kentucky provides access to several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, including White Acres Campground and My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground. These locations accommodate various camping styles from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots, with some offering cabin options. The Bardstown area serves as a central hub for campers exploring bourbon country attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities along Nolin River Lake and other nearby waterways.
Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences throughout the region. Most state park campgrounds like Taylorsville Lake State Park operate from April through October, while private facilities such as White Acres Campground remain open year-round. Road access to campgrounds is generally well-maintained, with most sites easily accessible by standard vehicles. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during peak season and weekends. Cell service varies by location but tends to be reliable near larger campgrounds. A visitor noted, "The campground is close to everything. There is a railroad museum in New Haven, KY."
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, particularly at Nolin Lake State Park where visitors appreciate the combination of lake access and hiking trails. Campgrounds in the area typically provide electric hookups, water access, and fire rings, though amenities vary by location. Sites near Bardstown offer convenient access to distillery tours and historical attractions, making them popular bases for exploring Kentucky's bourbon heritage. Travelers frequently mention the scenic countryside drives between camping areas. According to one review, "The campground is in a beautiful part of Kentucky. The town of Bardstown has a lot to do and a number of great restaurants." While some campgrounds near highways experience road noise, others tucked further from main routes provide more peaceful settings.
$25 - $45 / night
"My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground is a small campground, clean, and friendly staff. There is a golf course on site. Plenty to see, including My Old Kentucky Home, the tour was amazing."
"Located very close to Bardstown and a lot of distilleries on the bourbon trail, the campground is great, very small fills up fast."
"Bardstown Kentucky"
"Well I really have nothing bad to say, it’s a country setting on the outskirts of Bardstown, KY. It’s just a few miles away from the scenic parts of town."
$25 - $50 / night
"This campground is a walking distance to the visitors center. It's a well established campground and geared towards folks visiting mammoth caves."
"green river, which was enjoyed by all, and we appreciated avoiding the main entrance besieged by spring break campers!"
"Will absolutely come back again especially with the proximity to the city but having peace and quiet to the south. The walking trail was much longer than expected and really nice."
"There was corn hole, ladder ball, pool, walking trails, access to the river, cat fish pond, small dog park, and washers & dryers."
"Great overnight stop on our drive from Tennessee to Indiana. The hosts Valette and Greg were absolutely wonderful. The campground was well tended with a playground for the little ones."
"The people were very nice and the lake was beautiful"
$20 - $45 / night
"We had a pretty decent time at Taylorsville Lake. The spots were spacious, and very nice picnic tables. We did a trail which was nice and went down to a boat ramp to see the lake."
"Better if you have a boat ( or rent one at the marina across the lake) good access to the lake, gets busy in the summer. Stores in decent proximity off property. Can get loud at times."
$15 - $30 / night
"Having lived 62 years in Kentucky, less than twenty minutes from the Jeff. Forest, leaving to explore USA, then returning to my home state allows me a unique point of view."
"Tent sites have so many trees surrounding them. If you're looking for more privacy anything off of the loop will do just fine."
$65 - $80 / night
"The dog park slopes down a hill and connects with a fence that goes around the property."
ScoutWe checked in late on Thursday, coming from about 10 hours away, the proprietor called to check in and had no trouble with letting us check in late at night. Mr. Brown, has done an amazing job with this camp ground, we will definitely be back! It’s a beautiful area, beautiful park and wonderful owners!
LegendWe received an information email the day before prior to arrival with general info and wifi password plus how to pre check in. The morning of arrival, we received another email with specific instructions to not trust GPS and follow their instructions. Our Trip Wizard and Waze GPS instructions actually brought us right to the campground (CG). Since we had pre checked in, we were instructed in the directions email to go directly to deluxe pull-through site 78, where our welcome package would be in the electrical box. The site was plenty long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450. Not sure why this is a deluxe site as its gravel with a picnic table and portable fire pit? The utilities were more towards the front of the pad with no issues reaching the connections. It was a nice touch to see a small cement circle pad on the sewer connection. This is a new CG, so amenities like the laundry and gift shop were not opened yet. Water pressure was good. We got 4 bars on Verizon and 3 bars 5G on T-Mobile. We used our T-Mobile Internet versus Starlink. It would not have been an issue to use satellite as there are no mature trees in the campground. They have one large(about 1/4 acre) fenced dog area. The dog park slopes down a hill and connects with a fence that goes around the property. Do not throw small balls down the hill as they can go through the fence and there’s no way to recover the ball due to no openings/gates near by to get to the back of the dog park. There’s also a smaller fenced dog area near the front of the CG. Great customer service before and during our stay.
TravelerI had a great experience it's for gay people who loves the outdoors and keep it safe for all
ScoutSmall campground. Good for transient campers. A lot of full timers and campers that are older than 10 years. Office and women’s bathroom smelled like cat pee otherwise women’s bathroom was clean.
TravelerOver night stay. Called to reserve a spot and arrived just before dusk. Had a quick check in, found our spot and had a quick set up for a short overnight stay. Lovely quiet park and great hosts. Would stay here again.
ScoutFriendly . Shower was dirty water never got hot. The woman told us we couldn't hook up our water cuz it wasn't pressure at site. That we needed go buy a px to put on water hookup . Which I never have to have at other sites. It cost more than motel does..
GuideIt was a complete mess and the area looked neglected. To make things worse, the staff were rude and unhelpful when we asked questions. Definitely not a place we’d recommend.
GuideAbsolutely love staying here. Quiet, pretty, easy, and the owners and staff are delightful.
GuideMost are pull through sites, many have a shared water faucet. Clean and conveniente to town. Sandy the manager is a peach.
Camping spots near New Haven, Kentucky offer varied terrain options across central Kentucky's rolling hills, with elevations typically ranging from 400-900 feet. Many campgrounds open seasonally from April through October, though several private facilities maintain year-round operations. The region experiences moderate rainfall during camping seasons with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F during peak months.
Bourbon heritage exploration: White Acres Campground provides a strategic base for distillery tours. "We we're unable to spend much time at the campground but made our designed trip to see the brewery's! Being minutes away from all the Bardstown brewery's this is a MUST SEE PLACE!" notes camper Justin W.
Lake activities on Nolin Lake: Nolin Lake State Park Campground offers water-based recreation with boat launches and swimming areas. A visitor mentioned, "Water front sites in cove so not a lot of boat traffic. Quiet park with great gravel spots." The lake provides fishing opportunities and relatively calm waters suitable for paddling.
Hiking trails: Wooded paths through Jefferson Memorial Forest provide day hikes ranging from 1.5 to 13 miles. According to Robert P., the area features "lots of trails ranging from 1.5 to 13.0 miles through gorgeous mixed forest of old and new growth deciduous and coniferous hardwoods." Many trails connect directly to campgrounds, allowing campers to start hikes from their sites.
Railroad history: Several campgrounds provide access to regional railroad history sites, with New Haven housing a railroad museum. The small-town setting offers a quieter alternative to busier tourist destinations while still providing cultural attractions.
Pine grove camping: The tent camping area at Mammoth Cave Campground receives positive mentions for its natural setting. Christina M. notes, "The tent campground has spacious, level sites. The sites are located in a grove of pine trees, which makes for well shaded sites with a pleasant surface of soft pine straw to pitch your tents."
Secluded sites: Campers appreciate the feeling of isolation despite proximity to urban areas. As one Jefferson Memorial Forest visitor observed, "You are literally ten minutes from anything you want or need. Once you get to the top of the hill you are far removed from the noise, hustle and bustle of city/suburb living."
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds support wildlife viewing opportunities. At Mammoth Cave Campground, one camper shared, "Fireflies are great at night. Frogs are singing in the evening." Another camper at Taylorsville Lake noted, "Deer & turkey walk thru ur campsite! Very clean & quiet! The wildlife are very friendly!"
Affordable options: Budget-conscious campers highlight reasonable rates at several campgrounds. Jefferson Memorial Forest offers primitive camping for approximately $15-18 per night, while other state parks maintain competitive rates compared to private facilities.
Airport noise considerations: Jefferson Memorial Forest Campground sits beneath flight paths from Louisville International Airport. Derek P. warns, "Unfortunately it's in the departure path of Louisville's airport, so be prepared for once-a-minute takeoffs if the airport is using its southbound runways for departures. UPS releases about 100 planes from around 3-5am."
Seasonal operation schedules: Many campgrounds operate limited schedules. Taylorsville Lake State Park remains open only from April 1 to December 15, while Nolin Lake State Park operates April 1 to October 31. Verify operating dates when planning trips outside summer months.
Shower facility limitations: Some campgrounds have minimal or inconvenient shower facilities. At Nolin Lake State Park, Christina M. observed, "The shower house is in the RV campground and too far away to be a convenient walk. You have to drive there which is a pain with kids."
Weekend crowding: Multiple reviews indicate significant differences between weekday and weekend experiences. A Nolin Lake camper noted, "The park started filling up on Friday and Saturday and was obviously very crowded on the weekend. Seems like a 'party spot' for locals."
Playground access: Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground provides play areas for children. Heather K. shared, "Playground was close and perfect for everyone to go run and play. Reservations were easy and staff friendly."
Cave tours for kids: When using area campgrounds as a base for Mammoth Cave exploration, schedule cave tours in advance. Dan X. advises, "Reserve the all day guided tour with crawling about in small spaces for the best experience. Make sure your boots have enough tread or you won't be allowed to do the tour!"
Site selection importance: Review site maps carefully before booking. At My Old Kentucky Home State Park, one camper reported, "Many sites were not level and some sites were very short so make sure you review the site description." Another visitor recommended: "Site 26 is more private, has a wide pad and a little 'yard' to the side. Site 20 is one to avoid."
Historic site access: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to historic attractions suitable for educational family trips. The Stephen Foster Home at My Old Kentucky Home State Park offers regular activities for children and guided tours of the historic home.
Site leveling preparation: Little Patch of Heaven Campground and other area campgrounds may require significant leveling equipment. At My Old Kentucky Home, a camper advised, "Make sure to have levelers to handle 7+ inches."
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds provide varying levels of hookups. At White Acres Campground, Rick G. noted, "Utilities all worked, but this is a no fringe experience. However, if you want easy access to Bardstown and the various Bourbon Distillery Tours this place will work."
Reservation processes: Pay attention to strict reservation requirements. One frustrated camper at Little Patch of Heaven shared a warning about their payment policy: "The emails about payment all ended up in my junk folder, and I can't easily see those on my phone. I monitor that folder while I'm working on my computer, but as it was over the weekend, I didn't see them in time."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limitations on RV length. A Glendale Campground visitor mentioned the campground is "big-rig friendly" but many others in the area have narrow roads and limited turning radiuses. Particularly at state park campgrounds, research specific site dimensions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What recreational activities are available at New Haven, Kentucky?
New Haven and its surrounding area offer diverse recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts. At Camp Carlson Army RV Park, visitors can enjoy fishing in Otter Creek and a stocked lake. The Kentucky River provides boating opportunities at Cummins Ferry RV Park, which has a floating dock and boat ramp. The region also offers hiking trails, golf courses (found at My Old Kentucky Home State Park), distillery tours along the bourbon trail, and scenic drives through Kentucky's countryside. For water recreation, both Green River Lake and Lake Cumberland are accessible from the area, offering fishing, boating, and other water sports.
Is there a beach in New Haven, Kentucky?
While New Haven itself doesn't have a designated beach, nearby Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground offers lake access with a boat ramp where visitors can enjoy the water. The park provides opportunities for swimming and water recreation during the warmer months. Another option is Nolin Lake State Park Campground, which features shoreline access on Nolin River Lake. Both locations are within reasonable driving distance from New Haven and offer water-based activities for visitors looking to cool off during Kentucky summers.
What camping is available near New Haven, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, New Haven, KY offers a wide range of camping options, with 75 campgrounds and RV parks near New Haven, KY and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near New Haven, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near New Haven, KY is My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near New Haven, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near New Haven, KY.
What parks are near New Haven, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near New Haven, KY that allow camping, notably Green River Lake and Nolin River Lake.
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