Camping near Pewee Valley, Kentucky offers a mix of woodland and lakefront opportunities within 30-45 minutes of town. The terrain varies from flat sites in developed facilities to more rugged, less level spots in primitive camping areas, with elevations ranging from 450-800 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in the region face seasonal closures or reduced services between December and March, with some operating limited winter facilities.
What to do
Hiking at Clifty Falls State Park: Located about 60 miles from Pewee Valley, this park offers challenging trails with significant elevation changes. "The best hike, in my opinion, was Trail 6 to 5, then down to 2, and back up to 5, finishing on Trail 4 at Hoffman Falls. Lots to see on that hike and not very crowded," shares one camper at Clifty Falls State Park Campground.
Water activities at Lake Shelby: This small lake offers fishing and paddle sports within a short drive from Pewee Valley. "Kayak rental available. Host friendly and helpful. Awesome wildlife for a park within the city: herons, geese (except for poop), ducks, turtles, beavers," notes a visitor to Lake Shelby Campground.
Historical exploration at Rose Island: A former 1920s amusement park site now reclaimed by nature. "Rose Island is very cool- Haunting but sublime. The paved trail to see Rose Island is about 1/2 mile long hill that is very steep in parts," explains a camper at Charlestown State Park Campground.
What campers like
Privacy at Jefferson Memorial Forest: The secluded camping areas offer a true forest experience minutes from Louisville. "The camp sites are all wooded and primitive, preserving the peaceful serenity of such a beautiful and heavily forested area. Forgot to mention the miles of walking trails ranging from easy to difficult," reports a camper at Horine Reservation Camping at Jefferson County Memorial Forest.
Wildlife viewing at multiple locations: Many campsites offer chances to see local wildlife. "Great space between the tent sites, but virtually no real privacy as public traffic into park was steady. Awesome wildlife for a park within the city: herons, geese, ducks, turtles, beavers. We didn't see the coons but put food away every night as they visited our camp on a nightly basis."
Spaciousness at Taylorsville Lake: The sites offer generous room compared to other campgrounds in the region. "Most of the sites were really big, and there was plenty of space and trees in between. We stayed at site P02, but I don't recommend that specific site. It was probably the worst site in the primitive camp, but I reserved it online in advance. It was far from flat," observes a visitor to Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground.
What you should know
Facilities vary widely by season: Many campgrounds reduce services in cooler months. "The bathhouse was really, really nice. Very clean and spacious. However, there was no hot water. Bathrooms aren't heated in the cooler months. Zero cellular or wifi service so that could be good or bad."
Aircraft noise at some locations: Being near Louisville International Airport affects some campgrounds. "This is a great little well-kept campground. Unfortunately it's in the departure path of Louisville's airport, so be prepared for once-a-minute takeoffs if the airport is using its southbound runways for departures. UPS releases about 100 planes from around 3-5am."
Staff availability challenges: Several campgrounds report limited staff presence. "The biggest overall issue is the lack of staffing. I'm not sure if it's the usual or if there is a lack of staff in general but we got in shortly after 7PM and there was no ranger or staff to be found to get firewood. No honor system or anything," notes a visitor at Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "We stayed one night here, and it was great! We had been traveling all day and decided to find a place to camp. We ended up with a beautiful, quiet place, right on the lake, and we set up camp as the sun was setting. It was beautiful! There was an awesome play area for the kids and the shower facilities were clean."
Trail difficulty ratings: Check trail ratings before hiking with children. "The Lake View trail was a good and tough hike. If you take young ones, be sure they will be self-reliant. It can be very steep in some areas," warns a camper at Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground.
Activity options for rainy days: Several campgrounds have nearby indoor facilities. "Indoor and outdoor pool in the other half of the park. Nice area, County Fair while we were there, historic downtown. Several grocery stores, thrift stores and boutiques. Renaissance festival nearby."
Tips from RVers
Site length limitations: Many RV sites in the area have shorter lengths than advertised. "Came here in our 40' class A. Very weird at first as the sites are 20 feet long, but they allow front ends to stick out. Very nice park on a lake. All new electrical and water, all sites have 50 amp despite the website stating only 30 amps as recent update."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have unlevel sites requiring equipment. "Site 22 was so sloped our red levelers barely made it work. Site needed gravel, it was mostly sticky dirt that got tracked into our travel trailer immediately after sweeping."
Dumping station access: Not all campgrounds with hookups have convenient dump stations. "Only 10 RV spots, 9 have electric and water hook ups (which is what we had). It was awesome backing into the spot as there is ample asphalt in front of all the sites. To dump afterward was OK to get in but it is a tighter fit. It would be nice if you could pull through to dump but you have to back in."
