Nolin River Lake stretches across 5,795 acres in south-central Kentucky with water depths reaching 157 feet in some areas. The lake's numerous coves and inlets create varied camping environments with terrain that transitions from heavily wooded areas to open shorelines. Fall temperatures typically range from 45°F to 75°F while summer camping often sees temperatures in the 80s with moderate humidity.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Nolin Lake offers excellent fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish with dedicated fishing platforms at several locations. At Dog Creek Campground, "Campground extremely well maintained, quiet. ACE campgrounds are great and this one is great+," notes a visitor who appreciated the easy lake access.
Hiking trails: The Shady Creek Trail provides a two-mile hiking route through woodland terrain near the lake. As one camper at Moutardier Campground reported, "There is also a two mile hike that is in the campground called Shady Creek Trail. It looked like it had not been hiked in a while but it went through woods, small stream and had a cool rock formation."
Kayaking: The numerous sheltered coves make Nolin Lake ideal for paddlers. "We kayaked around the lake which was very enjoyable - saw ducks, and birds such as a grey heron. Also lots of fish jumping," shared a visitor who stayed at Moutardier Campground.
Mammoth Cave excursions: Many campers use lake campgrounds as a base for visiting the nearby national park. "We came here while on a trip to Mammoth Cave (very near- ½ hour drive)," explains one camper, making lakeside accommodations practical for cave explorers.
What campers like
Halloween celebrations: Fall campers appreciate the special events organized during October. "Family friendly Halloween fun. Has a decorating contest with trick or treat in the campground. Safe and clean with lots of restrooms and lake front sites," reports a reviewer about Singing Hills RV Park And Campground.
Clean facilities: Many reviewers note the well-maintained bathhouses and grounds. "The campground was very well manicured and clean. Many of the sites were right on the lake. Bathrooms were very clean and well lit," commented a visitor to Moutardier, highlighting the Corps of Engineers' maintenance standards.
Waterfront access: Direct lake access ranks high on campers' preference lists. According to one Wax Campground visitor, "The water was up high so it made it an amazing waterfront campsite the grounds and the bathrooms were incredibly clean." Many sites feature steps or paths leading directly to the water's edge.
Fishing platforms: Dedicated fishing areas appeal to anglers who prefer to fish from shore. "Love this campground. Have not found a bad spot yet. Family and pet friendly," shared an enthusiastic angler who enjoyed bank fishing at the lake.
What you should know
Site spacing varies: While many sites offer angled parking for views, proximity to neighbors differs across campgrounds. As one reviewer noted, "The sites are strategically stacked in each loop. Close but angled so you see a lot of your neighbors but a lot of scenery too."
Train noise: Some campgrounds near the lake experience rail traffic. At Cave Country RV Campground, "I almost never give a 5 rating to a property that adjoins railroad tracks, but this one earned it," explains one camper, acknowledging the periodic train noise.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife sometimes includes unwelcome visitors. One camper reported, "We had a nice weekend enjoying the water and the interesting wild life. Cornelius got bit by a turtle when he got a little too close and we saw a turkey. Plus there are a multitude of vultures, sorta creepy."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close between September and May. According to staff at Wax Campground, "The Corp closes whole loops I was told so they don't have to 'count' them. But the site hosts are able to open them if their needed."
Tips for camping with families
Pond fishing: Younger children enjoy stocked ponds with easy fishing access. At Singing Hills, "The little catch-and-release pond is well-stocked and there is a catfish pay lake across the street, so our boys had plenty of fishing to keep them busy."
Playgrounds: Multiple play areas keep children occupied between water activities. "Family friendly. 3 playgrounds with safe clean equipment. Plant of lake view sites and positioned to provide a semi private experience," notes a visitor to Moutardier.
Tent site selection: Families camping in tents should select sites with adequate space. "Absolutely loved tent camping here! Several modern bath houses with showers, toilets and sinks. Tent sites are spacious enough for multiple tents/ canopy's to be set up," advises a Moutardier camper.
Site drainage: During rainy periods, some sites retain water more than others. At Singing Hills, one camper advised, "Our site was reasonably level, but if there is rain forecasted, I strongly recommend different sites as these sites are the low point in the CG."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RV campers consistently mention variable site grading. At Diamond Caverns RV Resort, "First site was a concrete pad, we were assigned a different site when our original reservation was scheduled, but we went to office to say it was too unlevel for us. They kindly found us a spot that was great."
Electrical load management: Some campgrounds have power limitations. "The electricity at the campground doesn't appear to be able to handle the amount of load that most campers will pull in the summer months," reports one RVer, recommending limiting simultaneous appliance use.
Water hookup positioning: Water connections at some sites create connection challenges. One camper noted, "Our water hookup was weird…it ended up under our back bumper were we had to crawl under to connect."
Reservation flexibility: When sites appear fully booked online, calling directly sometimes reveals availability. "When I went to Rec Gov to reserve a site it said that the campground was full, but when I arrived a bunch of the sites were empty," explains a Wax Campground visitor.
