Looking to go glamping near Wellington and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping near Wellington, KY is a great way to go camping with the tastes of home. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Kentucky glamping spot for you.
$7 - $30 / night
Jefferson Memorial Forest features a campground for tent camping and can accommodate both families and groups. Although the Forest is only minutes from Metro Louisville, camping here seems like a much more remote camping experience. Located within the Horine Reservation, the campground is in the uplands of the Forest and has good separation between individual campsites. Seven family campsites and four group campsites are available. Latrines and water are near to all the sites.
$15 - $30 / night
Bring the whole family for an ideal getaway in the Bluegrass State! We have endless activities, themed weekends, top notch accommodations and are located only minutes from downtown Louisville. While on the campground, observe the Indian cave dwelling burrowed in limestone cliffs, enjoy movies on our big outdoor movie screen, explore the area with a hike right from your site and enjoy our natural pond area! Make a splash in our crystal clear pool- open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Summer campers can join in the fun with our themed events every weekend from June until September. Please visit our events or Facebook page for more information on our seasonal events. With 90 foot pull-through and 50-amp sites available, our campground is truly big rig friendly. No RV? No problem! Enjoy a comfortable stay in one of our cozy one or two bedroom air-conditioned Camping Cabins. For those who like the comforts of home, try our fully furnished Deluxe Cabin, with full kitchen and bathroom. For more rustic accommodations, spend the night on a grassy tent site, all sites have fire pits and picnic benches. When we say bring the whole family, we mean your four legged friends too! Offering pet friendly cabins as well as a dog park for them to play in.
Lake Shelby offers 20 acres of water stocked with bluegill, crappie, bass, catfish, and more! A 10 site RV campground is available for guest as well as 15 tent sites and primitive sites along the lake front. The park is great for canoeing / kayaking, fishing, and bird watching, bald eagles are frequently spotted.
$12 - $22 / night
$25 - $40 / night
Raintree Lake was established in 1962
WAYS TO STAY RV Sites – Tent Sites – Deluxe & Rustic Cabins – Groups.
AMENITIES 50 Max Amp – 80′ Max Length – New Salt-water Pool (Opened Summer 2022) – Camp Store – Propane – Fishing – Firewood – Dog Park – Large Venue Pavilion – Dump Station – Laundry Room – Free High-Speed Fiber WIFI.
UNIQUE AMENITIES Basketball Hoop – Corn Hole Court – Playgrounds – Outdoor Bowling – Kayak & Canoe Rentals – Horseshoe Pits – Sand Volleyball Pit – Outdoor Chess & Checkers – Pedal Cart Rentals – Picnic Areas – Gaga Ball Court – Crafts – Wifi For Streaming.
$45 - $125 / night
$27 / night
Traveler
Delaney Park is a great family place .nice cabins good fishing and lots of boats to rent or bring your own. Camp how you like, from Primitive to Glam-ping. Its at the start to a Fifty mile trail ( Knobstone Trail) or you can do the Delaney Loop in about 6 hours. ( 7.5 miles and 2000 ft elevation change ) a good challenge for all ages. trail is well marked and maps at gate. Lots to do and also nothing to do. Bring whole Family and Friends for a great weekend or just a day
Ranger
WE went to this KOA during the kentucky derby weekend, so of course you can expect it to be packed, we made reservations months ahead. When we got there is was not only packed, but there was no one enforcing the quiet hours, and it seemed like the cleaning staff could not keep up. There were loud people all through the night, and trash was overflowing everywhere. I'm not sure what it's like during other weeks of the year, but during the kentucky derby week it is a hot mess.
Traveler
Very popular campsite for the surrounding area. Otter Creek runs through the Outdoor recreation area. Lots of hiking, biking and horse trails. Great opportunities for fishing also abound.
It is an older campsite with the facilities in need of an upgrade, but serviceable. Used to be owned by the city of Louisville Parks and Recreation, then set dormant and unused for several years before the State of Kentucky took over.
Ranger
This state park could use a little TLC. The acreage is good, nice views of the lake, and it does offer good campsites, however some are smaller than possibly described so use your best judgment. There is a lodge, trails, and fishing. Tennis courts are down by the Butler-Turpin State Historic House. Mini-golf and a gift shop are also available. It looks at one time there was a golf course but it is absolutely overgrown. There was some road construction during our visit so check the Kentucky State Park site before visiting.
Traveler
Having lived 62 years in Kentucky, less than twenty minutes from the Jeff. Forest, leaving to explore USA, then returning to my home state allows me a unique point of view. The seclusion here and the closeness to nature is a grand slam! Due to fall, the sites seem much closer than they are due to the thinning foliage. Friendly neighbors, standard picnic table/fire pit/port-a-potties/potable water. Roomy campsite and room for my son to visit in his car with my van parked inside the campsite. Lots of trees for hammocking. Lots of downed wood for easy collecting, lots of trails ranging from 1.5 to 13.0 miles through gorgeous mixed forest of old and new growth deciduous and coniferous hardwoods.
Guide
Overall this truly was a cute little spot to camp out on our way to Kentucky! One of the benefits of this site is that the cave and gift shop are right there, so you have a cool Opportunity to take a tour and then stay in the same area. The campgrounds are all equipped with a nice fire pit, picnic table, lean to, and the availability of electric hookup. The campgrounds also has a couple newer cabins that look really cute. The camper and tent spots are right along a cute little creek so it was very pleasant. They have a small shed attached to the gift shop that has firewood for sale. They have a small cafe that sells the usual hot dogs, chips, soda and the sort. They also have a larger open air pavilion that they provide yard games like, cornhole, horseshoes, and other games, so pretty nice. I would definitely recommend this as it is small and intimate, but if you are looking for private seclusion this is not for you.
GuideHonestly, I would give this campground 5 stars but we had a big safety issue at our site. At site 11 and a few others, they had no backstops at the back of the blacktop pad. If the site was level, it wouldn’t have been as bad. Upon setting up our 16’ camper, it began to slip backwards down toward the woods. Our wheel blocks were probably placed, but the grade was just too much. We ended up pulling the camper higher up on the blacktop almost in the road and had no issue. No other RV sites were available to move to. Other than that, the campground was very nice. Trails were very well kept, playground equipment looked new and safe, workers were friendly, and bathrooms were clean. The golf course wasn’t operational (exept mini golf was neat and working) and there were a lot of tree stumps left from all the cut Ash Trees that were affected by the emerald ash borer beetle. The State Park did have informational signs explaining the effect on trees in the area. They have many cabins of various sizes and in great shape. Workers were seen cleaning everyday. The Butler Mansion was well taken care of though we didn’t make it there when it was open. Our campsite was nice. We lucked out that our neighbors were tent campers because our two sites were so close together. Heads up to check the map and Google Earth when booking. Some sites have a lot of room and others are super close to neighboring sites. The Kentucky Speedway is about 15 minutes away. Louisville an hour. And if you want to checkout a cute little town, stop in La Grange, KY (30min drive) See the “Trains on Main”, drink at La Grange Coffee Roasters, antiques, local artist shops, and eat BBQ at Big R’s & Shannon’s Bar-B-Q.
GuideTent sites have so many trees surrounding them. If you're looking for more privacy anything off of the loop will do just fine. We stayed at FS1 and could only catch glimpses of other campers, although you do hear and see folks on trails frequently. The ground is SUPER SOFT due to all the pine needles that have fallen over the years. We moved our tent around a bit to get it anchored firmly for expected wind at night... some spots were to soft, but it made for good sleeping!
Firewood was ordered in advance when I booked the site, delivered to our spot while we were setting up.
We took our dog and he had a great time(on leash of course!).
Restrooms are porta-style but hand sanitizer was everywhere and everything was VERY CLEAN.
Since the camp sites are behind a locked gate there is no through traffic aside from other campers. Very nice!
Going back this upcoming weekend as well! Camped this past weekend at Group Site 3. You could fit 6 tents here and still have space. Couldn't hear any other campers aside from some jerks at Group Site 1 that decided to start howling and barking around 11pm as well as playing a radio very loudly past 9:30pm. Couldn't hear the radio unless I walked up to the porta-potties though.
Even with all of the planes overhead from folks leaving town after Derby the tree cover dampened the noise wonderfully. Love love love camping at JCMF.
TravelerLove this place! You are literally ten minutes from anything you want or need. Once you get to the top of the hill you are far removed from the noise, hustle and bustle of city/suburb living. The camp sites are all wooded and primative, 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.
ScoutI love it here
GuideClose to home and close to nature. Overall this campsite is amazing in the sense that its in a very natural setting. The firepit is pretty huge and you can cook on it real easy. By request, you can have firewood delivered here. Would go back.
ScoutThis is a great camp ground with private campsites. Lots of hiking trails. Very generous bundles of firewood that are well worth the money delivered to your site. The airplanes are worth noting, earplugs are a plus! My 2 downfalls for this campground is that there is no full bathhouse, only portapoties; Which were well kept. And 2, there is a locked gate that you have to let yourself thru even during the day.
ScoutThis 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.
For some this is a problem, for others or if you use ear plugs maybe not so much. Others might even like the drone of jet engines. Just something to keep in mind. The trails nearby are nice as well.
TravelerAwesome campground in the city and one of my favorites!
LegendI have camped at this site several times. Ear plugs are a must as it is in the direct flight path of a major airport. My boyfriend had a Fitbit and was able to spot how many times an airplane flew over our tent in the evening/early morning hours. It must be a UPS hub or FedEx as the planes were huge and at all hours.
That being said it is a great price. The website is tricky to book a campsite as it makes it hard to see when the next possible opening will be for a site. I generally like to call them and talk with them.
On each visit, I learn more about the area and the trails. They have 4 trails that you can explore.
The sites are mixed which did cause some confusion as other campers were on my site when I rolled in. I had to explain that I had Group Site 2 and they had Family Site 2. This is a big difference. Once they finally believed me they moved onto the next site and already had my camp fire going for me.
The nice thing is that they deliver firewood to your campsite. You don't have to pick it up at the camp store and make a mess of your car. For Family sites per night you can order a bundle at $15.00 and for the Group Sites you can order a bundle at $30.00. I did not feel like the wood was lacking as it was a nice load of wood. They delivered it while we were out hiking. I simply ordered some at the main site/office each morning depending on what I felt like later on in the evening based on our group plans/weather.
Our campsite did have water as you can see from the pump. Then we had porta johns. I traditionally come to this campsite every 2 years for a local festival in Louisville. You will want to notice that the rates can change for certain busy times such as during the races.
For a group site they only allowed 2 cars. The rest of the cars had to go to an overflow lot which was near by. It was a short walk but can be a hassle. Don't expect to park plenty of cars at the site even if it is a group site.
They do have dumpsters at the campground aka park but not at your campsite. Be prepared to pack it in and pack it out. I do like how they have a gate with a code but it is heavy. I had to have my friends help me lift the gate as I am not a strong build. It is the long swinging arm kind and had to be lifted slightly to help me get the lock out of it.
As I mentioned the location is why we keep coming back. The folks in the office are friendly and there is lots to do in Louisville.
GuideHad a peaceful couple nights at Site 5.
ScoutI've camped here around 10 times. The location to trails, access to water, latrines, secured gate access are all nice. It's about 10 minutes to a nearby gas station but you'd never know it.
The issues and why I no longer go here. The large group sites are peppered throughout the family sites so if you happened to have a loud crowd on your weekend then you'll hear the music and shouting sometimes well into the night despite quiet hours.
The campsite rests below the route to Louisville's international airport. For a hour or two in the morning and in the afternoon huge jets fly right over the campgrounds. Really throws me outta my mood.
The disrespectful large crowds are what really did it for me. Many people treat the campgrounds like thier backyards and that's unfortunate.
RangerTo find the campground, follow your GPS to Horine Reservation at 12304 Holsclaw Hill Rd. If you follow GPS to Jefferson Memorial Forest, you will end up at the zipline & welcome center. Once on Holsclaw Hill Rd, follow the road & signs to the campground until you reach a gate. A 4 digit code is given to you when you make a reservation. The gate gives a nice sense of privacy & security for the campsite. The camp sites are easy to find and well marked with big signs. I was at Group Site 1This site is huge! Just a guess, but I would say around 1.5 acres. About 2/3 of this site is open, grassy field. The other 1/3 is shaded. The shaded area has 3 large picnic tables, water, fire ring & a private latrine. I purchased firewood in advance & it was delivered to our site before we even arrived. The dumpster is conveniently located near this site. The private latrine is a small, open-air structure near the shaded area of the site. There are 2 composting toilets & the toilet paper was fully stocked. The building is partially open the elements, so it was a little dirty (to be expected) but we used our hose and sprayed the floor clean. The toilets are "squatting" toilets. Which mean they are close to the floor (see pic). There are plenty of wooded areas to explore & hiking trails nearby & several great areas for hammocks. The site looks well maintained & had recently been mowed prior to our arrival. There are enough trees & space to give plenty of privacy between sites. This site is perfect for a large group or family wanting to tent camp together. The picnic tables are the large, sturdy kind. The fire ring was huge with an attached grill. There was another fire ring and 2 more picnic tables in the open grassy area, closer to the road. Designated parking is near the road, which is a bit of distance for carrying a lot of gear. However, since the ground was completely dry, we dropped our gear at the shady area and then parked our car at the road. Overall, this is a great space with unexpected beauty!
TravelerAwesome camping for being so close to the city!
Guideoverall a good place, the group site are fairly large and have running water and compost latrines. Parking is not on site but only a short walk. Lots of trail access. fishing at a stocked public lake is a short drive.
LegendLoved hitting the bourbon trail and being able to head back into nature! This place afforded us the ability to enjoy the city and then kick back at a nice scenic spot. Very great accomadations!
ScoutWe stayed at JMF as a shake down for a primative camping trip to TN. It was nice and quiet - and so close to home!
We will be back for a trip to "get away" for sure!
LegendWow! Super cute and tranquil surprise right outside of Louisville (20 minutes). Great little stop over if you are hitting the Bourbon Trail! Clean, quiet and spacious!
GuideThis is a hidden little gem in the bustle of Louisville. We visited in the off season and during COVID. But the staff were friendly, grounds were clean, sites are very close together. We were happy to spend the night and know we were safe and tucked in. Our son loved the jump pillow, I gave it a try and my knee has been reminding me all day that I’m too old for that!! We would definitely stay again.
LegendLouisville South KOA is a beautiful park, well maintained, with lots of green grass. It upholds more than the standard quality of a KOA and is a KOA Holiday property which means it has more to do than the journey parks. They have a nice community area in the middle with things for dogs and kids to do. They have a centrally located bath house and several cabins on the property. There are several longer term campers, lots of overnighters, and during the weekday it wasn’t difficult to get a space. On the weekends the park fills up so if you’re here for work call ahead of schedule to maximize potential of getting a spot here for longer.
The staff is very friendly, and accommodating. They take great care of the park and they are seen cleaning and working frequently all over the park.
Cellular signal is really good for AT&T and TMobile so streaming and working was easy.
There are lots of food delivery places, and small restaurants to go to as well.
ScoutNice spacious campground Friendly staff Clean showers
TravelerTent sites: steep hill with rodents living there. Gravel driveway leading to tent sites: a trench sure to rip the exhaust off your car. The RVers and workers: they make it obvious you are beneath them. Pets allowed: you WILL be up all night with the barking chihuaua on the next site. Airplanes flying over head as you are getting ready to sleep. Traverse the lawn to the faraway bathroom to ruin your shoes at 2am. Laundry on-site but the workers will scowl while you use it. Catch all this ire for the grand old price of $50+ per night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Wellington, KY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Wellington, KY is Charlestown State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.
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