Parksville area campsites offer visitors year-round access to several campgrounds that connect Bourbon country with Kentucky's river valleys. The region sits at elevations between 700-900 feet, creating a varied landscape where campers can experience both wooded retreats and open riverside camping. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, making primitive camping challenging from November through March without proper cold-weather gear.
What to do
Disc golf at Logan-Hubble Park: This county park near Lancaster provides campers with water and electric hookups plus recreational activities beyond water sports. "Sort of basic campground, water, electric. Some low hanging branches a little challenge for bigger rigs. Close to a convenient put in spot for canoeing, kayaking on the Dix River (inside the park). Beautiful medium size lake in the park plus standard county park amenities. Does have a disc golf course," notes Jeff C.
Theatre performances at Pioneer Playhouse: Pioneer Playhouse Campground combines camping with cultural entertainment during summer months. "Beautiful and Quiet. Not many first come first serve sites, but if you can snag a spot you will be rewarded with a peaceful evening. There is a theatre insight which is 70 years old and full of history. Amazing people, close to town and very inexpensive," says Kara A.
Bourbon trail exploration: Located within driving distance of several distilleries, campsites near Parksville make excellent base camps for bourbon enthusiasts. "We stayed for 5 days and will definitely be coming back. Plenty of places to visit while here. We did parts of the bourbon trail and just enjoyed our time at the campsite," reports Joe B. about his stay at Taylorsville Lake State Park.
What campers like
Secluded primitive sites: Tent campers appreciate the more remote options at Taylorsville Lake State Park where visitors can escape the busier RV areas. "We stopped at this campground for two nights on our way down to Tennessee for the eclipse. Most of the sites were really big, and there was plenty of space and trees in between. The primitive camp was close to the equestrian camp, and between to two campgrounds, there were only 25 sites," shares Cassandra C.
Waterfront access: Many campers choose Camp on the Kentucky for its river views and boat launch facilities. "This site is really nice, with level sites for RVs or tents, padded grass which is well maintained, nice gravel roads around camp and a river frontage with views which will make you just want to stop and take in the scenery," explains Crystal C., who adds that "a lot of people staying here near the weekend were visiting to launch their boats and troll the river fishing."
Long-term tent options: Unlike most campgrounds, some locations near Parksville accommodate extended tent stays. "Something that sets this place apart from others in the area is long term tent camping!! Yes you read that right, LONG TERM TENT CAMPING! For most of those who travel you know they often offer long term services for those in RVs which provides a discount for staying more than a night or two, but at this campground you as a tent camper can find a location that suits your Kentucky home needs on the road for a day, a week or even a month," notes Crystal C.
What you should know
Seasonal staffing limitations: Some parks operate with minimal personnel during certain times. "The biggest overall issue is the lack of staffing. We got in shortly after 7PM and there was no ranger or staff to be found to get firewood. No honor system or anything so we had to venture out to find some after we got our tent up because the main office was closed as well," reports Justin S. about Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Trail maintenance varies: Hiking paths may not all receive equal attention. "Some of the hiking trails were well marked and up kept but some others were not so if you aren't good with navigation, choose wisely. Biggest issue we had was with the Gazebo Loop Trail/Pioneer Trail. Several spots were overgrown and not marked so you had to guess a little bit until you ran back into a well worn trail," notes Justin S.
Uneven campsite terrain: LockRidge Park offers newer facilities but campers should prepare for grading issues. "The gravel at this time was fairly new and thick, so we had to be careful as we maneuvered our 40' fifth wheel down a slight incline to get to the CG area," shares MickandKarla W., who were impressed by "how wide and deep the sites were."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground provides recreational space for children right near the tent camping area. "If you are looking for a place to take your children for a week or weekend of fun, My Old Kentucky Home State Park is your place. We stayed in spot 22 which is large and spacious. Seven of us camped (two families) with three tents, three hammicks and two cars. We had plenty of room," reports Colette M.
Budget-friendly entertainment: Families can save money by camping rather than staying in hotels when attending area events. "There are plenty of amenities and clean restrooms but this is really nothing to write home about if you're looking for a great outdoors getaway. It's definitely cheaper than a hotel though. If you're comfortable in a tent and don't want to shell out the cash for a hotel, this may be a good option for you," explains Carrie J. about Kentucky Horse Park.
Group site options: Some campgrounds offer dedicated areas for multiple families camping together. "We camped there in July for my son's birthday party. We were near the restroom facilities which were very clean. The camping area was recently mowed. Plenty of parking for guests and tents. We were on the group campsite #7. Playground was close and perfect for everyone to go run and play," says Heather K.
Tips from RVers
Site selection challenges: Camp Nelson RV Park offers river access but has limitations for larger rigs. "We enjoyed our stay at Camp Nelson RV Park. It's a smaller(ish) park with quite a few permanent sites. A bit tight for larger rigs (ours is a 40' DP). The campground has a very nice pool and is very quiet," notes Randy G.
RV leveling requirements: Some sites demand extensive equipment for proper leveling. "The sites here are not level. We used our normal 2x green blocks for the Jack, but needed all 10 of our leveling blocks, plus 8 paving stones to get the appropriate height," reports Whistle P. about Cummins Ferry RV Park.
Wi-Fi performance: Several campgrounds have invested in improved connectivity for remote workers. "They have 5 WiFi connections making this some of the best campground WiFi I have ever had," shares Stacey about Cummins Ferry, while MickandKarla W. reports about LockRidge Park: "For Wifi, ask for the password so you can connect to a strong signal. Performance was way above average. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon."
