2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Tent campers visiting Somerset, Kentucky have access to tent campsites ranging from lakefront spots to boat-in-only sites along Lake Cumberland and Laurel River Lake. Pulaski County Park offers tent campsites with lake views and multiple hiking trails, while the more secluded Grove Boat-In Campground provides tent sites accessible only by watercraft on Laurel River Lake. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park's Clifty Campground maintains dedicated tent-only sites with varying degrees of privacy, particularly at sites 48-50.
Most tent camping areas around Somerset feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables, though availability varies by location. Primitive tent sites at Rockcastle offer picnic tables but no drinking water or restroom facilities. Sites at Clifty Campground include electric hookups at sites 40-47, while sites 48-50 are more primitive but offer greater privacy. A camper noted that "the privacy of site 49 was worth the lack of electricity and water" at Clifty Campground. Access to some tent-only areas requires careful planning—White Oak Boat-In Campground can only be reached by small boat, canoe, kayak, or mountain bike via a dirt service road, offering a more isolated experience.
Tent campsites throughout the region provide varying levels of tree cover and access to recreational activities. Grove Boat-In Campground offers a peaceful setting for tent campers, though one visitor mentioned it was "a pretty decent paddle away" from the marina parking area. Laurel River Lake tent sites attract visitors seeking seclusion, with spacious, wooded campsites that cannot be accessed by car. Pulaski County Park features extensive trail systems for hiking and mountain biking directly from the campground, though some reviewers note that weekend crowds and noise can impact the camping experience. Walk-in tent sites at Hidden Ridge Camping provide more secluded options on wooded land, allowing tent campers to distance themselves from higher-traffic areas.
"It has RV sites, tent sites, and shelter houses.. There are several cabins on site. Great lake views and beach. Lots to do at PCP."
"There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp. There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins."
"We're so excited to have this property on our platform. These sites are spacious and secluded, the perfect spot for your next family adventure. Check out the hiking trails close by!"
from $50 - $160 / night
"The site are well spread out for the most part, the view is very nice if you get to camp on the water, and we were able to find space on a major holiday which was very welcome."
"We looked at the tent site map on the state resort park map and nothing looked GREAT except for Clifty Campground spots 050, 048, and 049 they all look isolated from any of the other sites with 050 being"
"Each site had a water hook up, standard lantern/trash pole, fire ring, electric box, and was a short walk from the Clifty campground bathroom."
from $28 - $32 / night
"It was dark once I set up but an awesome could helped me with fire wood and had a nice talk around their campfire. Beautiful area. Very busy on labor day weekend!!"
"The bathroom facilities were pretty nice and the campsites had awesome fire rings. Direct access to the lake via a short trail"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $150 - $204 / night
"It’s within the Daniel Boone National Forest on Laurel River lake and is not actually an island. It can’t be accessed by car but you can bike in on a dirt service road."
"My site was covered in dried mud, cigarette butts all over. They don't seem to clean the sites much. Showers/restrooms need better cleaning."
"Dog friendly, quiet and patrolled by state park rangers, and Jellico police. The picnic tables and fire rings are oddly placed at some campsites. Camp store was only open Sat & Sun."
Available next weekend
from $60 - $100 / night
ScoutIve been here in the summer and now in the Fall and I've been lucky enough to be the only person here. Nice places to hike around the area. Hiking trail out the backside of campground. Boat launch down the road.
TravelerThe lakes are way low, so our lakeside campsite was not really. With no flow, the lake stunk and had a slimey feel. Too many motors to paddle, too loud, no privacy. I’ll not visit this one again.
RangerNo service and I wholeheartedly suggest getting here before dark because driving in was like the intro forest version of The Hills Have Eyes. Abandoned houses and even a cemetery at one point. If you’re into it like I am, this was a welcomed, eerie experience. Only complaint is that the site felt a little “lived” in with random items and trash left behind. For the love of Pete, please pack out your stuff. Found a spot with direct water access. There was a picnic table and fire pit. I arrived after dark so did not explore until morning. The river had cool rocks and there was obvious beaver activity. The massive boulders and Tarzan worthy tree vines made for a scenic adventure that was worth the drive for.
ScoutMost of the camp sites on the Clifty side are small and right on top of each other, except one- T-49. T-49 is off by itself and its big and private. There is a trail head (12) right next to the site, which was great. Its about a 1.5 mile hike, moderately difficult. This site is also not too far from the bathrooms, which were very clean. You can fill up a water can in the bathroom. We have At&t and had no service at the camp site. Lastly, there is plenty of fire wood at the site if you're willing to process it. So long as it has not rained recently, no need to buy fire wood. 5 stars for sure!
RangerThe campgrounds around here are old and not updated. But with the high price of campgrounds around here, we don’t mind staying in an area that is older for a cheaper rate. Most campgrounds in the area are $50-$75, this place is $35. With water and electricity. So it doesn’t matter that the bathrooms were quite dated but clean. There are showers but only shower curtains. There is a code to get into the bathrooms.
TravelerPrioritize money over safety of guests, period. Focus on seasonal money over long-term gas period management has literally said, we don't like these people, we realize you don't like these people, but we need their money, so get along with them. This is what they tell their permanent people to deal with during the summer when there are drunks. Literally had golf carts with unsupervised kids going past the house, over 300 notifications. Normal traffic is about 100, just on the weekend. Drunks on boats. Management is two-faced. They are so focused on making it a bougie place since they took over four and a half, five years ago, that they no longer care about making sure that they have a community that cares about each other. They have three communities. They have permanent communities who care about the park and get together and look out for each other. Then they have seasonal people who are drunk, don't care, don't follow the rules. And then they have work groups who they prioritize over residents and people who have picked up, cleaned the park, cared about the park, and don't want to see toddlers get run over by kids on golf carts like last summer. Every summer, it is nuts. There's no quiet anytime anymore, even in the dead of winter. This place is nuts. Overpriced. If you get anything in permission, like I did, get it in writing or management will use it to throw you out. I had permission for what I was doing. I'd done it for three years, and they prioritized a group of project workers that will be gone in a few months over a long-term resident who is disabled, not available to meet, not arguing with a neighbor who's a child, and lied three times in the middle of our own private conversation and ran to management with lies.
TravelerWe stopped here for an overnight traveling to Charleston, South Carolina. The sites were very nice. Staff very friendly. Very clean. Would recommend
GuideThis is somewhat of a RV parking lot with level gravel sites with electric, sewer, and water. Some lots have trees. Ours did not. Park has pool, clean bathrooms and showers, laundry. People are friendly. The shop has multiple convenience items. They offer propane and have a kerosene tank too. It’s about 30 mins to Lexington. We have a 35’ travel trailer
GuideThe bathrooms are very clean well lit.
Tent campsites near Somerset, Kentucky feature varying terrain depending on the lake access point. Somerset sits at approximately 990 feet above sea level, with camping areas ranging from 725 to 950 feet elevation around Lake Cumberland and Laurel River Lake. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F during day with night temperatures dropping to 65-70°F, creating conditions where moisture can collect on tent surfaces overnight.
Mountain biking on extensive trail systems: Pulaski County Park offers numerous biking paths for various skill levels. A visitor noted, "The trails are varied and pretty cool. They twist and turn and cross creeks and hill tops. I won't say their easy to navigate but it's doable if you pay attention to the names and direction your going." Some trails connect to areas outside the main park boundaries.
Disc golf excursions: Pulaski County Park features a full disc golf course that provides a workout along with recreation. One camper mentioned, "The disc golf will take you on quite a hike and to another parking lot and trailhead totally outside the park."
Boating access: Grove Boat-In Campground requires watercraft for access but rewards with peaceful waterfront camping. A kayaker reported, "I parked at the Grove marina and packed all I could on my kayak and headed to the sites. This was a pretty decent paddle away and I waited til too late to get there."
Waterfall viewing: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers multiple waterfall viewing opportunities. A hiker cautioned about trail signage: "Even some of the signs such as where the waterfall was for the nearby Dog Slaughter Falls Trail said the falls were 1 mile away but it was actually several more miles."
Private tent sites with wilderness feel: Clifty Campground at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers more isolated spots. A camper recommended, "I loved site 48 at Clifty Campground. It was the most secluded spot we could find. Definitely book ahead of time if you can."
Lake views from campsites: Tent camping areas along Lake Cumberland provide water access and views. One camper at Rockcastle reported, "The site are well spread out for the most part, the view is very nice if you get to camp on the water, and we were able to find space on a major holiday which was very welcome."
Non-electric sites for true tent experience: Some sites without hookups offer better natural settings. A camper at Clifty Campground observed, "Sites 40-47 have electric and water. Sites 48-50 do not but all sites are close to the bath house."
Swimming access: Several campgrounds provide swimming areas during summer months. One visitor to Pulaski County Park mentioned, "Great beach access. Quite and very clean."
Bathroom facility limitations: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. One camper at Pulaski County Park noted, "The shower house has both showers and stalls but are not kept clean during very busy times." Another camper suggested, "The only thing I would add is another bath house at the lower end of the camp areas."
Site selection importance: Hidden Ridge Camping offers walk-in tent sites that provide more privacy. A reviewer commented, "These sites are spacious and secluded, the perfect spot for your next family adventure."
Limited primitive sites: Rockcastle campground provides basic tent sites but with minimal amenities. A visitor reported, "There was some trash scattered around due to inconsiderate campers and the vault bathrooms were pretty rough."
Trail navigation challenges: Trail systems can be confusing without proper maps. A hiker at Pulaski County Park advised, "I've been there several times and just recently found another parking area and trailhead. I'm surprised they don't have a tree top trail or zip line."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. One family at Pulaski County Park mentioned, "There are hiking trails near the entrance of the camp. There is several different types of camp areas ranging from primitive to cabins. There are several play ground areas close by for the kids to play."
Recreational diversity for different ages: Tranquility Creek provides a quieter camping experience. A visitor simply stated, "Quiet, clean place to rest. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."
Weekend crowds: Family campers should be aware of busier periods. A camper at Pulaski County Park advised, "Good primitive sites. If they are really busy it can be a little crowded especially down by the water but over all a really good camping spot."
Swimming areas for children: Water access points with designated swimming areas provide safe recreation options. A visitor noted about Pulaski County Park, "There's a very large walking trail, and archery area. You can put a boat right in at their little dock as well. The lake view is gorgeous. There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area."
Site size limitations: Many tent-focused campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. At White Oak Boat-In Campground, a camper noted, "It can't be accessed by car but you can bike in on a dirt service road. Most of the docks are quite small, so plan to visit by small boat or by canoe/kayak."
Check campground layout: Some campgrounds have tight turns and limited parking. A camper at Clifty Campground reported, "I had to be careful when parking as I had to avoid the water supply, 2 trees, a safety pole for the water supply (painted brown), electricity box, and then the drop off on the other side of the road."
Electric hookup locations: Electric sites are specifically designated within most campgrounds. A camper noted about Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, "Stayed in the Clifty Campground. All sites with electric/water and NO RV's. 2 sites at either end totally primitive."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Somerset, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Somerset, KY is Pulaski County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Somerset, KY?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Somerset, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
