Taylorsville Lake sits at 643 feet above sea level and spans 3,050 acres in central Kentucky. The surrounding Spencer County offers rolling hills and hardwood forests that create natural windbreaks for campers. Cell service can be inconsistent throughout the Taylorsville area, with best reception typically found at higher elevation campsites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Taylorsville Lake is known for bass, crappie, and catfish. Many campers at Camp Nelson RV Park spend time on the Kentucky River. "We seen the staff checking it every hour. It is open to the public which we didn't care for. The playground was very old," notes camper Kristen H.
Bourbon Trail access: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for distillery tours. Campers staying at Little Patch of Heaven Campground find it "Perfect place to stay and go tour bourbon distillery," according to Sarah F.
Water recreation: Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities on both Taylorsville Lake and nearby rivers. At Camp on the Kentucky, visitors enjoy river frontage. "When I visited I noticed a lot of people staying here near the weekend were visiting to launch their boats and troll the river fishing for what looked like some pretty large fish," writes Crystal C.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites. At Whispering Hills RV Park, "The park is well-maintained. The grass is mowed regularly and everything looks neat and tidy," according to Jill B.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses and common areas. One visitor to Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground stated, "We were near the restroom facilities which were very clean. The camping area was recently mowed. Plenty of parking for guests and tents."
Waterfront views: Several campgrounds offer sites with views of rivers or lakes. Jonathan B. commented about Whispering Hills RV Park: "We LOVE this campground. It is always so clean and the staff is amazing and accommodating. We will definitely be back soon!!!"
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground is only open April 1 to December 15, while others like Grandma's RV Park and Little Patch of Heaven remain open year-round.
Variable site quality: Level sites can be hard to find at some parks. At Whispering Hills, "The sites are gravel and most are not level, but not too bad. There is all manner of leveling going on!" notes Jill B.
Limited amenities at some parks: Smaller parks may have fewer facilities. Jason M. observed that at Grandma's RV Park, "I don't see how there could be tent camping here, there's no grass. But I wouldn't be able to verify anyway because there was no attendant in the office at 10 am on a Monday morning."
Payment policies: Some campgrounds have strict reservation policies. At Little Patch of Heaven, one camper reported their reservation was canceled when payment wasn't received within 24 hours, with the management stating "you did not followed the rule making your reservation."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. Heather K. shared about Taylorsville Lake State Park: "Playground was close and perfect for everyone to go run and play. Reservations were easy and staff friendly."
Swimming options: Pools provide recreation when lake water is too cold. A visitor to Elkhorn Creek RV Park mentioned, "It was perfect for our kids and dogs. Kids were none stop walking the dogs, and scootering up and down the road. Everyone was so kind, there was even live music!"
Group camping sites: Some parks offer designated areas for multiple families. At Taylorsville Lake State Park, one camper mentioned, "We camped there in July for my son's birthday party. We were on the group campsite #7."
Safe, enclosed areas: Parks with limited traffic improve safety for young children. At Brooks RV Park, one reviewer called it "the safest RV Park in the Louisville, KY area, right off I-65 in the Greater Louisville area."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many rv camping sites near Taylorsville, Kentucky require additional blocking. At Whispering Hills RV Park, Laura H. noted, "Leveling of the spots is decent, there are clearly some spots where RVers struggle and hang wheels off the ground."
Water pressure regulation: Some parks have particularly high water pressure. A visitor to Whispering Hills warned, "The water pressure was quite high (70 psi) according to the worker at the campground so make sure to have a water pressure regulator."
Pull-through availability: Several parks offer pull-through sites for easier access. At Cummins Ferry, a new RVer shared, "Within an hour of buying my 1966 Airstream (only 17' but I needed a pull through!) I chose this beautiful campground because of the people! Starting with the needed reassurance on the phone, then setting me up."
Parking limitations: Some campgrounds restrict where additional vehicles can park. Laura H. observed at Whispering Hills, "There are a lot of people staying here longer term for work and such. Many have more than one vehicle which takes up the parking for others."
