Best Tent Camping near Rough River Lake in Kentucky

Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Rough River Lake? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Rough River Lake campsites are perfect for tent campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Rough River Lake, KY (6)

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Showing results 1-6 of 6 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews in Rough River Lake

616 Reviews of 6 Rough River Lake Campgrounds


  • licia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Buzzard Roost Campground — Hoosier National Forest
    Nov. 18, 2024

    Buzzard Roost Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Buried Deep in the Forest- Nice View

    I’m grateful I got a spot, since there are only 5. I’m also grateful that’s it’s open (since past Nov 15th)- and that they are drive-in sites. It’s buried deep in the forest. Clean bathroom aka pit toilet, was literally just washed and stocked before I arrived. One bar with AT&T, was able to get online when the neighbors left (but not while they were home)- so a booster or better would be advised. Mine is unboosted. The neighbor running the loud generator (the noise in the video) did come over and ask if it was disturbing me, lol- which was nice. Of course I said no :) since I brought a fan that was able to drown out most of the noise. Overall, if I were staying for the 14 allowed days- I’d say it’s worth the trip in. The road in IS paved and well-maintained up until a tiny portion at the end. Grateful for a spot, though.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowling Green KOA
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    Nice KOA

    This KOA was easy to find by following our GPS. We checked in about 45 minutes prior to their 1:00 PM check in time and they didn’t even mention us being early. We decided we didn’t need an escort to our site as it was near the office. We proceeded to deluxe-patio pull-through site H-4 with FHUs. The utilities were nicely placed in the middle of the pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. This site has plenty of shade as does most sites in the campground (CG) due to mature trees, so we did not put out Starlink. We got 4 bars LTE on Verizon and used our MiFi versus Starlink. Site H-4 has a utility box on the yard side, so we had extra space between the adjacent site. They have a decent sized dog park with an agility set up. This KOA has a lot of amenities and lives up to a Holiday KOA rating. The dog park is a nice size. They have a decent laundry room behind the office with 4 washers and 8 dryers. It’s$2.50 to wash and$1.50 to dry. They have 2 fishing ponds. The large one you can keep 2 fish for$20 and the small one is catch and release. There’s some traffic noise from I-65 and surrounding roads. Our main reason to visit the area was to visit the National Corvette Museum. We enjoyed our two night stay.

  • Kelsey R.
    Camper-submitted photo from O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground
    Nov. 3, 2024

    O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    Shaded and secluded

    Obannon Overall, this is a nice state park to camp in. Staff was very friendly. They have ice and wood. My kids enjoyed the nature center, pioneer village, and one of the easy trails.

    We stayed in 220. It was nice to be right by the playground and bathrooms (which is what we wanted). Some spots near the back would be nice and secluded like the 180s and 190s and they’re still not too far from the bathrooms and playground. The better playground is in loop A.

    I will say, I didn’t see any staff members cleaning up trash, getting campsites ready, or anything the 2 days we were there. Even though we went in November, it was a nice weekend and wasn’t dead, so I was surprised I didn’t see anyone cleaning. Wasn’t the cleanest state campground we’ve been at in Indiana. Certainly wasn’t awful though either.

    My biggest gripe was they were hosting a huge cycling group. Like the whole loop A. We were all the way back in C. They held a concert that went on from like 8-11 pm. Being in a pop up, it was so loud and never ending. Made it difficult for my kids to sleep. If they’re going to hold (or allow) events like these, it should be posted on their website. Even with our sound machine, we still couldn’t block it out. I realize quiet hours aren’t until 11, but to me there’s a difference.

    There is also hardly any signage and spots are difficult to find. No arrows about which way to go, signs saying which loop you’re in, and spots are only marked on the electrical boxes.

    Overall, may stay again and try out the pool since we’re not too far from home, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to stay here.

  • Cynthia K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Lincoln Campground — Lincoln State Park
    Sep. 26, 2024

    Lake Lincoln Campground — Lincoln State Park

    Very nice!

     Lincoln State Park in Southern Indiana. About as far South as you can go! (In Indiana!). We did a weekend visit.

      150 electric sites. There's 30 & 50 Amp sites with water at each site!

    6 handicap sites. There are NO pull through sites. 

     The best sites are by Lake Lincoln- 40 & 41. 39 is ok, but all 3 of these sites are in the sun most of the day. Also, 40 & 41 are not ON the lake. Trail 1 & a wide grassy area are before the water. The only advantage IMO is an unobstructed view of the water & a short walk to the lake. 

    The sites seemed short, but people were able to park very large rigs in them. Check the site dimensions before booking or call the office to make sure you'll fit. 

      There's a large primitive campground. They have a modern bath house with showers. Some cabins.

      There's 2 bath houses in the electric side with flush toilets & showers. Very clean for a state park! 

      A double dump station. 

    6 trails from easy to moderate. The longest is 3.7 miles. 

      Boating & fishing are popular, but electric motor only. There's boat rental. 

      There's a beach, but closed after Labor Day. The camp store is in the pavilion by the beach & has limited hours after Labor Day. 

      There's a small nature center. 

     Lots of history in the park & in the area. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is directly across the road from the state park

     . Santa Claus Indiana& Holiday World are nearby.

  • amna S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

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  • amna S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
    Sep. 20, 2024

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

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    Thank you for your article. 4.0 gpa scale We had similar issues when we created our GPA calculator to help students evaluate their academic performance by converting letter grades to a numerical scale. This is to convert a Grade GPA 4.0 system where an"A" equals 4.0 and an"F" equals 0. To calculate GPA: assign points to each grade based on the course credits, sum these points, and divide by the total credits attempted. Or, use our free GPA to Letter grade conversion chart and GPA Calculator.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave
    Aug. 16, 2024

    Jellystone Park at Mamoth Cave

    Can’t beat the Location, Amenities & Proximity

    We’re staying one night for Mammoth Cave and added a second night thanks to the activities offered. For a family that usually only spends one night that’s a big deal. The kids are super excited to do the lake inflatable course and have already enjoyed the nice playground and bouncing pad. We chose a standard site so I didn’t expect much. For the price it’s great to have all the hookups but it’s not level at all. I parked at an angle, propped up the front and our full slide gives it a wonky tilt so got it pretty good. It could probably use another level of blocks at the front. Just wonky sites. But nice and wide

  • c
    Camper-submitted photo from Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
    Aug. 8, 2024

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Great Campground and Location

    We really enjoyed the four days we spent at the Mammoth Caves Campground, right in the national park. I have to correct some information on this listing, though. There are no electric hookups. There is water available at spots throughout the campground, but not at the sites. There is one difficult to use dump station. Also, internet connections are terrible. You need to rely on the WiFi at the visitor center and lodge.

    Setting that aside, it’s a beautiful, wooded campground with large and generally level sites. You’re right in the middle of the park, with all it has to offer. Its about a ten-twelve minute walk to the Visitor Center, which is where all the cave tours and many of the hiking trails start. The Visitor Center also has a great exhibit explaining the geology and history of the park and area. It is connected by a pedestrian bridge to the park lodge, which has several restaurants. Both buildings are wonderfully air conditioned, which helped a lot in the August heat.

    Also helping with the heat are the caves themselves, which are spectacular and not to be missed. Other activities right in the park are lots of hiking opportunities and canoe and kayak rental.

    There are modern and very clean bathrooms throughout the campground. It’s a mystery why they didn’t include showers when they built those bathrooms. Instead there are paid showers in the building housing the camp store. You insert six quarters and get a decent amount of time. For me, this was the only real downside of the campground, one I could put up with given all the other advantages.

    Site 35B was a great site and was next to a small field, giving us extra space and privacy.

  • Holdun R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Horse Cave KOA
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Horse Cave KOA

    Wonderful!!

    I stayed in spot 87 for 4 days. It was a clean camp with all kinds of variety of camping spots. The only reason is not getting 5 stars is bc it's right on the Interstate, and that noise wasn't the most peaceful. There were a ton of things for kids and families to do. There was a pool, playground, pond, etc. There were some really cool wagon tents, teepee's, and actual tree houses.

  • Ron J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph

    Horrible

    Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph View all Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph 4.2(1.2K) OVERVIEW PRICES REVIEWS PHOTOS BY OWNER ABOUT Google review summary 5 4 3 2 1 4.2(1,185) Reviews All cabin184 golf cart167 water slides45 mattress41+6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest ron james 11 reviews Vacation| Family I have shared with the management at sun outdoors and they have ignored my message. Unit cabin 518 was ant infested and dirty. But the dangerous impact on our health was BLACK MOLD. We all experienced breathing, headaches and other issues… More Stephanie S Local Guide·167 reviews·4193 photos a week ago NEW Our first trip here. We absolutely loved it. All of the staff is very friendly. The park is very clean and we looked out with good neighbors. Golf carts are available to rent and they have golf cart light parades a few… More Video 1 in review by Stephanie S Photo 2 in review by Stephanie S Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph(Owner) a week ago Stephanie, thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and all the amenities our park has to offer. We can't wait to welcome you back for another fantastic visit! Ryan Levasseur Local Guide·19 reviews·12 photos 4 days ago NEW It's so rare to find a place that you wish you would have booked one more night.… More Photo 1 in review by Ryan Levasseur Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph(Owner) 3 days ago Hi Ryan, thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great time during your mini vacation at our campground. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed the nostalgia, amenities, and activities we offer. We hope to welcome you back soon! Shelbey Sledge 1 review a month ago We stayed from Friday-Monday and 10/10 recommend. We stayed in a tent camp site. Having electric and water was nice. The bathrooms near 119K were personal bathrooms with a shower, toilet, and sink. So much better than a community bathroom.… More Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph(Owner) a month ago Shelbey, thank you for sharing such a detailed review of your experience at our campsite! We are thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time and enjoyed the amenities provided. Your feedback about the lack of hanging space is duly noted, and we will look into improving that aspect. ron james 11 reviews Vacation| Family I have shared with the management at sun outdoors and they have ignored my message. Unit cabin 518 was ant infested and dirty. But the dangerous impact on our health was BLACK MOLD. We all experienced breathing, headaches and other issues but they will not respond I am now on the March for safety and action. I will post on every social media method possible. I asked for their legal contact but they have chosen to ignore. I was handed a spray can for ants and spiders with the message this has a bad smell. Other posts will give more gruesome details Rooms: 1/5| Service: 1/5| Location: 3/5

  • Aimee H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wax - Nolin River Lake
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Wax - Nolin River Lake

    Beautiful views

    This is one of the cleanest campgrounds with excellent water views and you can pull your kayaks or floats into the river from your site..clean river lots of fisherman out ..we are in the C loop C007 and the site is amazing there are many riverside sites but some are primitive so make sure to double check

  • Erich H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowling Green KOA
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Bowling Green KOA

    A must stay to enjoy that KOA feeling

    After completing the warranty work at Camping World, we enjoyed this fabulous campground for two months. 

    The vibe is great, the campground is clean, and the office staff is fabulous. We enjoyed playing putt-putt golf and fishing in the catch-and-release and paid ponds. 

    Be sure to check out the Flight Museum across the street, the Corvette Museum, and the friendly people in the area.

    The only downside is at night due to the road noise from the I-65/I-165 split.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Singing Hills RV Park And Campground
    Jul. 18, 2024

    Singing Hills RV Park And Campground

    Amazing Service Very Close to Mammoth Cave NP

    We stayed at Singing Hills for three nights while visiting Mammoth Cave NP. Beth was super helpful via email even before our arrival with advice on tour tickets. My wife has mobility issues and she had good suggestions for us.

    Eldon checked us in and gave us recommendations for restaurants which were outstanding. I'm quite sure that our truck is now over-gross :-P

    The camping was just fine. Grounds are well tended. Spaces are gravel. Water, sewer, and electric all did what they should.

    The next time we are in the area, we will definitely return to Singing Hills.

  • JASON L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Great camping with enjoyable amenities

    This is a great family campground with excellent amenities, clean sites and grounds, beautiful surroundings, multiple cabins, pavilions, and a welcoming host office. We would love to visit and stay again. Do not let the short rural entry drive deter you. Yes it's hilly and curvy but take it slow and careful I promise it's worth it. Free firewood is just a bonus. Get a shady spot and enjoy the stay.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Child’s paradise !

    We went up in June 2024. There are several spots that are in the shade, but some of them are permanent campers. There is a fishing lake and a small river to fish in or wade and swim in. There is a miniature village for the kids along with 20 playgrounds in the campground. Golf carts are available to rent, and I feel are a necessity to get around this large park. There are also large fields to play in. Didn’t use the bath house. The general store has ice and a few souvenirs. There is cell service (AT&T and Verizon) There is also free wood. They have really cool spiral steps that lead up to a walk bridge. They also have a donkey and goats to pet. Altogether a really nice and clean park. Will definitely go again.

  • Josie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    Great Choice

    We loved our visit here! We stayed two nights with our dog and felt very safe. Campsites appear close at first but actually felt comfortably private. People walk and bike along the roads and it felt very friendly. Bathrooms are clean and cool. There’s a camp store, Caver’s, with food, souvenirs, showers, and bathroom. Super close to the visiting center for tours.

  • Nathan G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground
    Jul. 13, 2024

    O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    Decent campground, best on weekdays

    Had the typical state park experience. Bathrooms are decent, a little dated but oh well. The weekends in the middle middle of the season are typically busy. Plan your site well, many lack a level spot for tents and have a lot of slope near the pull off.

  • joseph B.
    Camper-submitted photo from COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground
    Jul. 10, 2024

    COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

    Depends on the spot

    Overall this campground is peaceful, but very crowded with a lot of spots in one area.  I was lucky enough to book a double spot that had some space between the other campsites with a good view of the lake.  Great amenities.

  • joseph B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Moutardier
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Moutardier

    Decent

    This campground has tried to cram as many people into it at one time as possible.  Sites are very close to each other that you could hear your neighbor burp or fart at any time day or night.  Otherwise, the campground is clean with good amenities.  If you are lucky enough to get a lake side spot, the views are good, but again, you will have neighbors.

  • Billy B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Bad campground

    The bathrooms are dirty, showers are full of hair, the toilets are dirty, staff can be rude, not a lot to do besides walk/drive around, not a very fun park if u was to bring ur kids to it, there’s not much to see. I wouldn’t waste ur take time comming here and instead go to a better park that’s much better


Drive Time


Guide to Rough River Lake

Tent camping near Rough River Lake in Kentucky offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, making it a perfect getaway for nature enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out Houchin Ferry Campground

  • Located in Mammoth Cave National Park, Houchin Ferry Campground provides a serene riverside setting with well-maintained primitive sites and picnic tables.
  • This campground allows pets and features fire rings, making it ideal for family camping trips.
  • Enjoy fishing and kayaking right from your campsite, with easy access to the river for a day of water activities.

Explore local attractions near Mammoth Cave

  • Just a short drive from Houchin Ferry Campground, Mammoth Cave National Park offers stunning cave tours and hiking trails that showcase the area's unique geology.
  • The nearby Green River is perfect for kayaking adventures, with scenic views and opportunities for wildlife spotting.
  • Families can enjoy a day of exploration at the park, with various trails suitable for all skill levels.

Tips for tent camping near Rough River Lake

  • Arrive early at Houchin Ferry Campground on weekends, as it tends to fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.
  • Be prepared for primitive camping conditions; while there are clean porta potties, there are no water hookups, so plan accordingly.
  • Bring your own firewood and supplies, as some campgrounds may not provide amenities like trash disposal or firewood sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rough River Lake?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rough River Lake is Houchin Ferry Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park with a 3.5-star rating from 8 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Rough River Lake?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Rough River Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.