Cabins near New Haven, Kentucky provide access to both Green River Lake and Nolin River Lake with multiple options within 45 minutes of the city. The region features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 500-800 feet and mixed hardwood forests that create dappled shade at many campsites. Summer temperatures average 85°F with high humidity while spring and fall temperatures range from 50-75°F.
What to do
Hiking trails at Green River Lake: Green River Lake State Park Campground offers several hiking opportunities with varied terrain. "The lake is really pretty, the showers were pretty decent. Other campers were well behaved and it was fairly peaceful. 1/2 the park has good shade, the other half has no shade," notes a visitor.
Kayaking Green River: Access points are available at Green River Lake State Park Campground where water activities are popular. "We stopped in nearby Greensburg on the way to rent a kayak, as we'd heard the closest marina(s) to the campground only had pontoons and larger craft. The river itself was wonderful to explore via kayak, and we ended up barely hiking."
Visit Mammoth Cave National Park: Located about an hour from New Haven, Mammoth Cave Campground offers easy access to cave tours. "Very close to Mammoth cave, peaceful area, clean bathrooms," shares one camper. Another adds, "The only downside is maybe the camp store closes really early. I think maybe 5? By the time we got there our first day it was closed."
Farm animal interactions: Horse Cave KOA has a small farm where visitors can interact with animals. "There is a small barn with animals penned up so you can just walk up to the fence and pet them. My wife and daughter loved that! Great little dog park with a mini obstacle course."
What campers like
Lake access sites: Moutardier campground on Nolin Lake features prime waterfront sites. "The view of the lake from the teardrop camper was awesome. We kayaked around the lake which was very enjoyable - saw ducks, and birds such as a grey heron. Also lots of fish jumping," reports one visitor.
Private shower setups: Some campgrounds have recently upgraded their facilities. A camper at Horse Cave KOA noted, "They have recently built a new bath house and it's awesome. It has rooms that each have a toilet, sink and shower. Total privacy! Nice and clean as well. Big points for this amenity."
Quiet atmosphere: White Acres Campground near Bardstown offers a peaceful setting. "Great hosts, quiet camping location, 5 minute drive into town. No, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but we don't need all that stuff. I'd rather pay a cheaper price than to stay at a place with activities going on all the time and so much noise you can't enjoy the countryside."
Wildlife viewing: Holmes Bend campground provides opportunities to see native wildlife. "Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds. The beach is great and right next to the marina. Some sites only have electric at the higher numbers but there is a station to fill your tank with drinkable water."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Green River Lake State Park Campground operates from April 1 to December 31, while Moutardier runs from May 2 to October 18. One visitor noted about Green River: "We stayed at this beautiful park in early November. There were only a few other campers so it was peaceful and very pretty. We enjoyed the lake views and fall colors everywhere."
Site selection matters: At Otter Creek Park Campground, site privacy varies significantly. "There are a ton of primitive sites! It is first come, first serve though, which is scary if you like to plan. Most sites are spaced out, but some are wide open. There isn't too much privacy, so you really have to choose your site well."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds are located near major roads. A Horse Cave KOA visitor mentioned, "The only reason is not getting 5 stars is bc it's right on the Interstate, and that noise wasn't the most peaceful."
Limited WiFi: Internet access is spotty throughout the region. A Green River Lake camper reported, "The downside was the store was closed and the wifi we expected wasn't on. Since this was a working trip, we had to go to town and get wifi at the library (5 stars there!) that meant less time to explore all the trails."
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave offers extensive children's programming. "This is the kind of campground you can take your kids, never leave the campground, and have fun for days. We went over a long weekend in October, with the point of the trip being to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. The campground had activities for the kids all day Friday and Sunday."
Halloween events: Several campgrounds host special fall activities. An Otter Creek visitor shared, "We go every fall with our entire family to enjoy the Halloween activities. The campers all go all out and let the kids trick or treat. There is even a group who does a haunted house and it is so fun!"
Water features: Jellystone Park includes water attractions that appeal to children. "Karst beach is so nice with the wibit (extra cost but worth it). The pools are OK in my opinion. Small and hard to socially distance (which matters these days) and the water slide is a bit too rough for us, but there's always an activity or fun to be had somewhere."
Playground options: White Acres Campground provides basic play areas, while Holmes Bend offers better facilities. A visitor noted, "Playgrounds are cleaned everyday. Walking around you will find wildlife. Lots of deer and turtles and birds. The beach is great and right next to the marina."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: At White Acres Campground, the layout provides decent room between sites. "It's a country setting on the outskirts of Bardstown, KY. It's just a few miles away from the scenic parts of town. The staff at check in were exceptionally friendly and drove us to our site."
Hookup quality: Electric reliability varies between campgrounds. A Louisville South KOA camper reported, "We did have an issue with our electric pole showing a fault on both the 30 and 50 amp plug. We informed the attendants as soon as we plugged in and were told they didn't have anyone on call until the next morning."
Dump station challenges: Some facilities have poorly designed waste disposal areas. A Horse Cave KOA visitor cautioned, "Our main issue was the dump station, horrible layout. What takes us maybe 10 minutes took over 25. Plan ahead or decide to dump elsewhere."
Local supply runs: Visitors should stock up before arrival at most campgrounds. "Columbia city 20-30 minutes from campground walmart super-center, restaurants, Mexican and fast food, hardware, ATM'S, Rv repairs, automotive part stores," shared a Holmes Bend camper.
