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Best Tent Camping near Bowling Green, KY

619 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Mammoth Cave National Park region, approximately 30 miles northeast of Bowling Green, Kentucky, offer primitive camping options for visitors exploring the caves and surrounding woodland areas. Houchin Ferry Campground provides tent-specific sites along the Green River with basic amenities and natural surroundings. For those seeking more remote experiences, the Narrows Boat Ramp area accommodates tent campers with minimal facilities.

Most tent sites throughout the region feature dirt or grass pads with little to no grading, particularly at Houchin Ferry where campers find picnic tables and fire rings but must bring their own water. Vault toilets or porta-potties are typically maintained but can be limited in number. Access roads are generally paved but narrow in places, with sites at Houchin Ferry requiring reservation through the National Park Service. Seasonal considerations include potential flooding along the Green River in spring, with summer bringing higher temperatures and increased visitation.

Deeper seclusion awaits tent campers willing to venture to the less-developed areas of Mammoth Cave National Park, where sites along the Green River offer fishing and kayaking opportunities. The spacious tent sites at Houchin Ferry provide room for families while maintaining a natural setting. Areas with tree cover offer welcome shade during Kentucky's warm summer months, though many locations lack cell service. A visitor commented, "Houchins Ferry Campground is small and the sites are pretty close together, but it's a great spot for a day kayaking, about 11 miles from Green River Ferry." Tent campers often use these sites as bases for exploring the cave systems, hiking the park's trail networks, or enjoying water activities on the nearby rivers and lakes.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bowling Green, Kentucky (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bowling Green, KY

8 Photos of 9 Bowling Green Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Bowling Green, KY

619 Reviews of 9 Bowling Green Campgrounds

  • Rodney G.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Baileys Point

    Beatiful spot on the lake

    This campground is a favorite spot of ours that is close to home. it is only a 40 minute drive from Bowling Green. it has nice bathroom and shower facilities. Great access to the lake and a variety of shaded campsites. The campground host are always gracious and helpful.

    We camp with a teardrop, so every site we have stayed at is spacious and accommodating.

    There is access to a boat ramp and a few miles of trails that connect to a picnic area. there is also a playground, volleyball court and ample opportunities to enjoy the lake.

    Be sure to check out Paradise Point and The Landing at Port Oliver while you are there!

  • Donna R.
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Baileys Point

    Right on the Water!

    Love this campground. It's one of the few in the state where you can camp near the water and keep your kayaks or boat within a quick stroll. It also has welcome shade in almost every sIte which helps during the hot humid days of summer. A beautiful park during the fall with all the changing colors on the numerous trees, too. Barren River Lake is peaceful and serene to camp alongside. Facilities are well kept including bathhouses, park areas, laundry, roads and sites. Pet friendly. Online reservations are convenient. A favorite place just an hour from Bowling Green, KY.

  • Shea M.
    Apr. 3, 2020

    Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Cave Camping

    We really enjoyed this place! It's located on the green river and has very spacious campsites. Plenty of room for the kids or dogs to run around. Very secluded. There is a concrete picnic table, pole and fire pit at each spot. Across the road to the ferry is a large pavillion with several more picnic tables for bigger gatherings. There are a few porta potties and no water or hookups. Primitive camping only. We tent camped here in July and saw hundreds of lightning bugs (see video)! It was magical, that really made the experience so much better for us!

    Highly recommend a cave tour as well at Mammoth Cave National Park. You will not be disappointed!! Can't wait to go back!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2018

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Base Station

    Mammoth Cave Campground is in the country but centrally located between several nice size cities and right off I65.

    No signal once you get in the park except if your lucky at the lodge. We tuned in to WIFI whenever we passed through the Visitors Center/lodge restaurant in the morning.

    The campground is primitive, no electric with parking pads, picnic tables and fire rings. There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”.

    There is enough space between camp sites to have some privacy and the trees provide natural noise block and shade. There be critters in the woods so protect your food! You may see deer and turkey, you won’t see the little shit raccoon that runs off with dog toys and any food left out ;)

    There are several trail access points directly from the campground. Including two easy trails to the visitors center.

    Aside from the obvious, cave tours, there are several other options on how to spend your day and nights.

    If your coming for the cave specifically make sure you reserve your preferred cave tour way ahead of time!

    If you are coming for the trails, enjoy! There are multiple options. I run the trail near the visitor center year round. It is technical and hilly, not stroller friendly.

    The trails on the far side of the Green River ferry have dispersed camping sites and plenty of natural features to discover.

    The float down the Green River is enjoyable. If you bring your own water craft several of the companies will drive you to the put in from the ferry parking area for a nominal fee.

    Also across the Green River is the Maple Springs group and horse campground, I’m not a horse person but I see plenty of them in the area and they seem to be enjoying the trails and campground.

    There is also zip lines in the area, a winery and golfing.

    Fast food and Wally World in Brownsville, other touristy attractions one exit up at Cave City. (Ky Down Under and Dinosaur World, plus a Yogi Bear Campground)

    We spent the weekend hiking in the rain and avoided Green River, it’s a muddy mess right now.

  • Peg D.
    May. 1, 2019

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Best weekend ever

    Loved staying at the mammoth cave state park last weekend. April 26th-28th 2019.

    No reservations are needed until May 1st. It was Walk up First come first serve from March through May. The last weekend of April was perfect and was not over crowded but had a good amount of visitors. We had perfect weather as well. The camp grounds are clean and nice looking , bathrooms also very clean and have normal toilets, laundry room had new washers and dryers and very roomy & clean with attached bathrooms & showers for men & women. The camp store was nicely set up and had plenty of foods and stuff Incase you forgot anything. However they do not sell real fire wood. They do sell compressed fire bricks. That Looks-like compressed sawdust bricks. So if you want real fire wood you have to go off trail and find it. Recommend and saw to cut it up but there was plenty of dead branches to be found through out the park and you are allowed to pick it up and burn it. The cave tours are fun and educational however if you lack fitness some of them will test your limits. So know your limits before booking. Highly recommend buying your tickets before you arrive as they fill up super fast and they offer more tours during the peak season than they do in spring.

    The lodge is nice has 2 restaurants one is sit down one is fast food snacks like setting. There are 5 gift shops in all between the camp store has 1 the lodge has 2 and the visitors center has 2. It’s worth the trip if your in to caving and hiking. Unfortunately there is lack of access to the river unless you go backwoods hiking/camping But all in all it’s a fun time!

  • Randi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    Grand Ole RV Resort & Market

    Peaceful, Well-Run RV Park with Great Location

    We really enjoyed our stay at The Grand O RV Resort! The staff was super friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived. A man even led us to our site in a golf cart and helped my fiancé back in and park our trailer, which was a huge help.

    The campground had a small store with supplies, a restaurant with a menu available (though we cooked our own food), and live music each night while we were there during the summer — a nice touch! There’s a train that passes by on the nearby track a couple of times a day, but it was never super early or late and didn’t bother us at all.

    We stayed in the center of the park, which didn’t have much shade, but the outer edge sites seemed more wooded. The roads and campsites are made of small pebbles, which made it easy to drive and back in. It was overall very quiet, and the location is great — just off the interstate, about 10 miles north of Nashville, and roughly 45 minutes from Bowling Green. We visited the National Corvette Museum and Lost River Cave while we were there.

    Our site had full hookups (water, sewer, and electric). The bathhouse was clean, air-conditioned, and accessed with a key code — two toilet stalls and three showers for women, all very well maintained. We didn’t use the laundry facility (if there was one), but the Wi-Fi was decent, and T-Mobile cell service worked well, even for using our hotspot. It’s a pet-friendly park (though we didn’t bring pets), and while there’s no pool or playground, there were some nice wooden swings to enjoy.

    They also have firewood for sale and a propane filling station on site. Overall, we had a great stay and would definitely recommend The Grand O to anyone looking for a quiet, clean, and well-located RV park near Nashville!

  • Heather K.
    Jul. 29, 2019

    COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

    Enjoy a beach in the middle of KY!

    I suggest you make a reservation as this campground fills up quickly. Axtel is located on the shore of Rough River Lake and has over 150 camp sites. Almost every site has quick access and/or views of the lake. There is a designated swimming and beach area. There are several restrooms located throughout the campsite. They were clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. There is an easily accessed dumpster area and dump station near the main entrance. WiFi is available however, there is a fee. There is a boat ramp, so you can bring your boat and/or other watercraft. Fishing is allowed as well. There are a lot of sites with electric and water, but some without either. There are sites for tent camping and RV's. Sites have fire pits and a post with a hook for hanging trash and/or lanterns. No alcohol is allowed. Dogs on a leash are allowed. While we were here, several of the sites along the lake were flooded (see pics). The beach had recently been closed due to flooding, but was open while we were there. If you dig down just a couple of inches on the beach, you'll find clay. My kids loved this and made a couple of clay pots (see pics). As with most campsites we visit, people here were friendly and courteous. There is not a market on site, however there was a Dollar General about 13 miles away. They had a lot of the groceries we needed. There were also several gas stations along the way there that had ice and firewood. This is a great place for families to enjoy a beach without leaving KY!

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 2, 2025

    Barren River Tailwater

    40 Mins from 65

    Tailwater CG - Glasco, KY 1/1/25

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for an overnight stay. Great winter price, but 40 minutes from 65 w trailer. Price 2024: $8 w interagency pass during winter Security: Host’s site at entry. Usage during visit: Only us Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: No Site Spacing: Close. Varies.
    Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: Required. Can be made at the cg.
    Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes, however off during winter 24/25.
    Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes. Only at one location during winter. Generators: Allowed. Bathroom: Two. Flush Bath and showers bathhouse is closed during winter. Pit toilets at far end open. Pull Throughs: One. Cell Service (Verizon): 1 to 3 bars Setting: Along River Recent Weather: Cold nights.
    Solar: Yes Host: Yes, helpful.
    Rig Size: Varies between sites. Sites: Some sites back up to the river. These are the best locations, I think.

  • Kristin H.
    Nov. 5, 2021

    Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    Tent Camping Paradise

    We camped at site P27, which is in the RV section of the campground, but off to the side and pretty private. Great little spot and had our own piece of shoreline. No electricity or water here but equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post. Had to back truck up as best we could and walk a little trail to the site and unload. Had to park by basketball court when done unloading, so keep in mind your vehicle won't be within site. There is a group site off in the distance and they were pretty loud but still a good distance off so it was tolerable. Daughter caught her first fish here. Loved waking up to the fog over the lake. Bath house wasn't as clean as I recall from previous trips but it wasn't anything to get worked up about. Lots of places are short staffed these days so I can't fault them too badly. Nolin is on of our favorite campgrounds!

Guide to Bowling Green

Tent camping near Bowling Green, Kentucky offers access to cave systems, river recreation, and dense woodland environments within a 35-mile radius. Mammoth Cave National Park remains the central attraction with multiple camping areas situated along the Green River watershed. Most tent sites maintain basic amenities with seasonal availability dependent on river water levels and summer temperatures.

What to do

Kayaking the Green River: Set up at Houchin Ferry Campground for river paddling opportunities. "Great spot for a day kayaking, about 11 miles from Green River Ferry," notes David, who recommends the waterway for day trips.

Fishing the riverbanks: The Green River provides fishing access directly from campsites. "The sites are near a river and there is an option of taking the ferry to the campground," Sara S. explains about Houchin Ferry, noting its natural respite from busier park areas.

Hiking backcountry trails: Access trail networks from the campgrounds for day hikes. "There are two trailsheads, First Creek Trail and McCoy Hollow Trail near Temple Hill. There are three dispersed campsite on First Creek Trail," reports a visitor who discovered these less-traveled routes after consulting park maps available at the visitor center.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Narrows Boat Ramp offers more than just water access. "There is a marina on site along side the boat ramp and a nice pavilion, playground, nature trail and restroom," explains Shelly S., who appreciates the mile-long nature trail with benches and scenic lake overlooks.

Evening wildlife viewing: Tent sites provide opportunities to observe fireflies during summer months. "We tent camped here in July and saw hundreds of lightning bugs! It was magical, that really made the experience so much better for us!" shares Shea M. about their summer camping experience.

Temperature advantages: Riverside locations offer natural cooling. "Sites are right along the side of the Green River and the temperature here was a consistent 3 degrees F lower than in town," notes Overland O., highlighting the practical advantage of the shaded river locations during Kentucky summers.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: During peak seasons and since COVID-19, many sites require advance booking. "It usually is first come first serve, but during Covid is reservation only. It fills up fast on the weekends," David warns about weekend availability at Houchin Ferry.

Limited facilities: Most sites maintain only basic amenities. "Very clean port a pottys that are maintained well. Dumpster for trash and each site has a fire ring," explains Overland O., clarifying what to expect at Mountain Top Retreat where amenities remain limited.

Limited connectivity: Cell service remains minimal throughout the camping areas. "No signal. Your phone will tease you with one bar and occasionally something might get through but it would be easier on your battery to just wait until you get into town," explains Shelly S. about connectivity limitations.

River conditions: Water levels affect campsite usability. "All the spots are very close to each other. The only river access is just a muddy ramp," reports Nick B., noting early spring conditions affect water access points.

Tips for camping with families

Look for larger sites: Select spots with room for children to play. "Very spacious campsites. Plenty of room for the kids or dogs to run around," recommends Shea M., highlighting the family-friendly layout of certain riverside sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bowling Green, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bowling Green, KY is Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park with a 3.7-star rating from 9 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bowling Green, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Bowling Green, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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