Camping areas near Russellville, Kentucky offer a mix of lakeside and forest settings, with elevations ranging from 400-800 feet above sea level throughout the region. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F, while spring brings frequent thunderstorms with 3-5 inches of rainfall monthly. Many campsites in this area of Kentucky are situated within easy reach of both water recreation and hiking trails.
What to do
Fishing at Nolin Lake: The 5,795-acre lake provides excellent bass and crappie fishing opportunities from shore or boat. Nolin Lake State Park Campground provides convenient water access points. "Great place for relaxing," notes one visitor, with "most sites having direct access to the water."
Mini golf and activities: Bowling Green KOA includes free mini golf with your camping fee. "With your fee you receive (you and all your group) a free game of Miniature Golf a day. Next there is wifi and cable available. There is a swimming pool on site and two pay lakes with paddle boats," shares one camper.
Trail exploration: Woodland hiking paths range from easy to moderate difficulty, with some offering lake views. At Lake Malone State Park Campground, "the Twisted Tree trail (and the Blue Heron loop attached)" comes highly recommended. One visitor notes: "We park in the campgrounds and are often greeted by friendly waves from other campers, and maps and excellent advice from the camp hosts."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning hours provide the best wildlife spotting opportunities. "Got up at the crack of dawn and took a walk, saw lots of critters," reports one Lake Malone visitor. Many campgrounds in the region have designated wildlife observation areas.
What campers like
Level, accessible sites: The campgrounds in this area feature well-maintained, level spots suitable for various equipment. At Dad's Bluegrass Campground, visitors appreciate that "all lots are pull through" and one camper mentioned they have "a huge pavilion for events, nice pool, showers, and very clean restrooms."
Waterfront camping: Lakeside sites are particularly popular but require advance booking. Baileys Point offers waterfront camping where "our boat can be moored into a cove very near site. Always beautiful views of Barren River Lake," according to a regular visitor.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness is consistently mentioned in positive reviews. At Spring Creek Campground, visitors find it a "serene setting" with one camper noting it's a "wonderful little peaceful spot" where "clean bathrooms" enhance the stay.
Local entertainment: Several campgrounds provide on-site music and activities. Grand Ole RV Resort & Market features "live music every night," and one visitor shared that "the entertainment for NYE was seriously the most fun we've had out in a while. Nothing says Nashville like live country music!"
What you should know
Train noise considerations: Some campgrounds are located near active rail lines. Grand Ole RV Resort is situated near tracks where "trains rolling by at 3 am is not how I like to spend my night," according to one camper. Request sites further from tracks if noise is a concern.
Seasonal booking requirements: Peak season (May-September) often requires reservations 3-6 months in advance. Nolin Lake State Park Campground "books 6 months out. Very hard to get a spot, but so worth it!" according to one visitor.
Dog breed restrictions: While many campgrounds welcome pets, some have specific breed policies. Spring Creek Campground requires visitors to "ask about what breeds of dogs they allow. Couldn't stay due to my German Shepherd mix," reports one camper who had planned to stay.
Interstate noise levels: Proximity to highways affects some dog friendly campgrounds near Russellville. One visitor to RJourney Clarksville RV Resort noted: "If only Clarksville wasn't so close to the highway... just a bit noisy from the proximity to highway. Fine for an overnight certainly, or longer, if highway noise is not a bother."
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Campgrounds vary in their children's facilities. Grand Ole RV Resort has limited play equipment where "they show a playset on their map and it was two regular swings and a baby swing. This was disappointing since we had little ones."
Swimming options: Several pet-friendly camping areas near Russellville offer swimming beaches or pools for family enjoyment. At Red River Valley, campers can enjoy "camping by the river. You can pick any spot throughout the property, close to the restroom and facilities, or far. It's super laid back."
Quiet hour considerations: Family campers should note that quiet hours vary between campgrounds. At Nolin Lake State Park, "quiet hours do not start until 11 PM which is not ideal for campers with young children," according to one family.
Weekend crowds: Some locations become busy on weekends with local visitors. Nolin Lake State Park "started filling up on Friday and Saturday and was obviously very crowded on the weekend. Seems like a 'party spot' for locals," reports a family camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For short stays, request specific loops or areas. At RJourney Clarksville RV Resort, "we had to drive around the campground to line up with the propane tank to refill our tank. The park is really quite nice with small grass sections next to each site."
Hookup considerations: Water connections may present challenges at some locations. At Dad's Bluegrass Campground, one RVer found their "site was slightly uphill where I had to park to reach the water hookup. The water hookup is very close to the ground and leaked for me."
Overnight transit spots: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Russellville cater specifically to travelers passing through. Nashville KOA Resort offers dedicated overnight areas where "our pull through patio site was $120/nt, and that was during early spring time," notes one visitor who felt it was "a bit high for what we got."
Leveling requirements: Terrain varies between campgrounds, requiring different leveling preparations. At Bailey's Point, "plenty of room at our site for 2 tents, but it was a little difficult to find level spots," which applies to RVs as well on certain sites.
