The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Williamsburg, KY

627 Reviews

The Daniel Boone National Forest region around Williamsburg, Kentucky features diverse tent camping options within an hour's drive. Tent campers can choose between established sites at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park's Clifty Campground or more remote primitive camping at Grove Boat-In Campground along Laurel River Lake. Several walk-in tent locations in the area provide both accessibility and a sense of seclusion from RV camping areas.

Clifty Campground offers designated tent campsites with varying levels of privacy. Sites 48-50 are notably more secluded than others, with site 49 frequently mentioned as the most private option. A review on The Dyrt notes, "Best site for privacy is 49 plus it's pretty big. Sites 40-47 have electric and water. Sites 48-50 do not but all sites are close to the bath house." Most tent-focused areas feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathhouses with showers. Several primitive tent campgrounds like White Oak and Grove require boat or foot access, creating a more immersive outdoor experience.

Tent campers seeking seclusion will find the walk-in tent locations particularly appealing. The boat-in campgrounds at Laurel River Lake provide waterfront tent camping with minimal facilities – typically only vault toilets without showers. Based on feedback from The Dyrt, "My first experience to a boat in and did it all on my own! My boat was my kayak. I parked at the Grove marina and packed all I could on my kayak and headed to the sites." North Cumberland WMA-Royal Blue Unit offers primitive tent camping opportunities with drive-in access on forest roads, though high clearance vehicles are recommended during wet weather. During summer months, most tent campsites remain available midweek, while weekends see higher occupancy rates. Fall offers excellent tent camping conditions with reduced crowds and comfortable temperatures for hiking the nearby trail systems.

Map showing campgrounds near Williamsburg, KentuckyExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Williamsburg, Kentucky (28)

    1. Clifty Campground — Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

    5 Reviews
    Parkers Lake, KY
    11 miles
    +1 (606) 309-4808

    $28 - $31 / night

    "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."

    2. Tranquility Creek

    1 Review
    Williamsburg, KY
    2 miles
    +1 (772) 501-5012

    $60 - $100 / night

    3. Grove Boat-In Campground

    4 Reviews
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 864-4163

    "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!!"

    4. Rabbit Road Campground — Indian Mountain State Park

    1 Review
    Jellico, TN
    11 miles
    Website

    "Primitive isn’t our mode of camping, but we rode our bikes up the road to check out this beautiful campground. Easy to find, marked with a sign."

    5. White Oak Boat-In Campground

    1 Review
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 528-6156

    "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."

    6. Rockcastle

    2 Reviews
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (606) 864-5225

    "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."

    7. TVA Public Land- Fork Bend

    11 Reviews
    La Follette, TN
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 632-2101

    "I recently learned that TVA land is free to camp on, so I sought out some close to me and found Fork Bend. If you want to get away from people, this place is for you."

    "(Disclaimer: I pack heat whenever I am alone.)

    The site was pretty much shaded by the forest canopy throughout the day, with full sun toward the edge of the water."

    8. North Cumberland WMA- Royal Blue Unit

    2 Reviews
    Pioneer, TN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 663-2000

    "We were in our rooftop tent, so we we’re looking to drive in and had several options. There were several fields you could rent camp in though."

    " North Cumberland/Royal Blue is located a few miles off I-75, and is a good spot for outdoor recreation. This place is a bid draw for ATV’s, and from what I understand they ride up there year round."

    9. Laurel River Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Laurel River Lake, KY
    16 miles

    10. Chuck Swan State Forest

    4 Reviews
    Maynardville, TN
    32 miles
    Website

    "If you like primitive camping out in the middle of nowhere with a view, this is a place for you! 

    Chuck Swan State Forest is just that , a Forest, nothing more."

    "Lots to explore here, beaches, hi clearance roads(Jeep roads), caves, old cemeteries, rocks to jump off into the lake,and an old fire tower you can climb for what I would expect is a great view."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 28 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Williamsburg Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Williamsburg, KY

26 Photos of 28 Williamsburg Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Williamsburg, KY

627 Reviews of 28 Williamsburg Campgrounds

  • Rebecca J.
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Pure gold for such an inexpensive price

    I think lots number 712 and 13 are the best because they are situated right around a beautiful pond with massive lily pads and dragonflies. It is about a 20 minute drive to a local store or a save a lot when we forgot some groceries. The trees are mature so there is plenty of shade and lofty space between each lot. We are on a paved site surrounded by gravel picnic table light post and fire ring also with a food storage bin to keep out the bears! It gets quiet! It gets dark! For $20, it is unbeatable. :-)

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Daniel Boone National Forest Little Lick Horse Camp

    Listen for banjos

    You will drive and drive and drive...and drive on the gravel road. However the road is good and the signage will get you there! Follow the little tent signs to Little Lick Horse Camp in the woods of Daniel Boone NF. The Nathan McClure trailhead is in the campground so there will be other traffic coming in. There are a few good size sites, with picnic table, fire ring and not much else. This is primitive, to include no toilet so bring your bucket or whatever you use.....remember Leave No Trace ;) Dark and starry skies, quiet and woodsy....try not to think about any scary wood based movies. Horses, llamas, trail bikes and dogs would be perfect for this campground. The sites are big enough for more then one tent or hammock. There are several other nice/challenging trails nearby and the Rattlesnake Motorcycle route in the area.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2018

    Blue Heron Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    What are you here for?

    Alum Ford Big South Fork Recreation Area is in my top 10 favorite areas.

    I try to participate in the Yamacraw Trail Run every year because it is just AWESOME, and this area is part of their route due to the excellent scenery of the area.

    If you like trees, hills, streams, falls, historical markers, old cabins and history , plus not much use of modern technology when you camp then you will thoroughly enjoy Big South Bend! If you are a bring the kitchen sink kinda camper you might wanna find a nearby KOA or other type campground.

    The campground has no signal, no electricity, no showers, no host. Just you, a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring. Oh, and there is one pit toilet. Bring 5$ cash for the honor pay station and your hiking shoes and watercraft. There is a Trailhead at the back of the 6 site campground and a boat ramp down the hill.

    The sites are well maintained and old , probably CCC built with wood steps leading up or down to your site. There is no direct access to the boatramp but there is a short trail that connects the sites to the boatramp that runs along the cliff face down to the ramp.

    The trailhead is part of the Sheltowee Trace Trail and connects to the Yamacraw Bridge. You could easily stage a multi day backpacking trip from Alum Ford to take in the local sights.

    Not far up the road is the Yahoo Picnic Area. I think it used to be a campground just by the way it’s set up. Picnic tables on pads and a nice old pavilion for groups with a grill. Past that Yahoo Falls. This is a technical, moderate trail down to the tallest falls in Kentucky. Also a very old area but maintained with newer restroom facilities. The loop trail was approximately 1.5 miles long with a metal staircase on one side and trail on the far side. This is also part of a thru trail. Get you an old fashion paper map before coming cause your fancy electronic gear may or may not work here.

    This is one of many areas through the Kentucky/Tennessee Big South Fork if you are able plan for an extended stay to check the whole place out;)

  • I
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Barren Fork Horse Camp

    Litter Ruins Great Spot

    We needed a spot for Labor Day weekend and discovered Barren Fork Horse Camp in Daniel Boone National Forest near Whitley, KY. There are lots of great hikes and natural bridges in the area to check out. We had no problem finding a site. The biggest negative is the amount of trash that was left in the fire rings and the litter strewn throughout the woods. This is a beautiful campground, but the litter was the worst we’ve ever seen. There is potable water available near the vault toilet buildings, but no electricity or dump station. There are no rules on generator use, so beware that your neighbor may run the generator all day and night. The price of the campground was $8 for one night/$12 for two nights. With just a little TLC, this could be a great place to camp.

  • Lori H.
    Aug. 4, 2019

    Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Campground

    Beautiful Night Sky, Quiet Camping

    Pickett State Park is a great spot to camp if you like peace and quiet, but don’t want to have to backpack in to a spot. Despite the small campground, it was pretty much empty on the first weekend in August when we stayed. It is near the Big South Fork, and Scott State Forest, so there’s lots of great hiking, horseback riding, river recreation, etc. nearby. From other reviews on The Dyrt, I learned the park is excellent for stargazing, and it is true, you will have amazing views at night, we slept in a tent without a rain fly, just so we could see the stars!

    The campground has several sites with electric and some without. We stayed in B1, which did not have electric. All the sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and the ones on the outside of the loops back up to the woods and trails. All the sites are spacious.

    The restrooms were clean, but they must be pretty old. There were some areas in need of tile repair, but it was just a cosmetic issue, so it didn’t bother me. The showers were nice, and everything was clean.

    The campground also has cabins, and those seemed to have more guests than the campground. They have a set of cabins that were connected, like apartments, and they have some larger, freestanding cabins too. They had a group site as well, but I did not go to it.

    The park has a lake with swimming area, and canoe/kayak/paddle board rentals, a swinging bridge, playground, tennis courts, a gigantic picnic area, and several great trails.

    This was a very pleasant find, and we will definitely return!

  • T
    Aug. 25, 2020

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Very Nice Campground

    We camped two nights last week in Loop A, the tent only, nonelectric section. Being mid-week, there were not many people, meaning it was also nice and quiet. The sites are roomy, with a large tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, lantern hook, and a food storage locker. Yes, this is bear country, but we didn't see any during our visit. The bath houses are as nice as you're likely to find in a national park, with flush toilets, hot showers, and an outside sink for dish washing, etc. There is also a large, wheelchair accessible bathroom with roll-in shower. A water hydrant is available to fill jugs and tanks.

    We drove through the other loops to see what they look like, because Loop A isn't open in winter. Should we decide to camp here in winter, Loop B is the only section open. But, that will let us use an electric heater. 

    Be aware that some things are not open in 2020 due to Covid-19. The park visitors centers are still closed, the swimming pool wasn't open mid-week, and the check-in building was unstaffed when we arrived. There was a sign at the check-in point telling us to reserve and pay for our site using Recreation.gov. We had cell service there, so no problem. It you don't have service, drive across the road to the Camp Store (which is not always open) to use WiFi there. There is a note on the front door with the password. 

    There are so many things to do in Big South Fork and surrounding areas that you really need to just visit the park website and make a list of things to do. Some are easy and roadside, others not so much. For example, to hike the Twin Arches Loop Trail, you'll drive several miles of dirt roads to reach the trailhead and end up hiking about 6 - 6.5 miles. The description says the loop is 4.6 miles, which is true, but you have to add another 1.4 miles for the out-and-back from the parking lot to the start of the loop. The loop trail isn't bad, but the access trail has steep stairs. Anyway, find something you like and enjoy the Cumberland Plateau.

  • Deserrae P.
    Jul. 7, 2018

    Frozen Head State Park Campground

    Unexpectedly Very Nice

    I stayed at this campground for one night this past spring during April. My friends and I went rock climbing at the Obed and originally we were going to stay at the usual climbers campground spot. After checking it out and realizing we were unprepared to set up a tent in a gravel mud puddle we checked out frozen head's campground and it was so nice. The place we set up our tent was relatively dry for the cold, wet weather (about as good as it gets). The fire rings and picnic tables were great and so were the hiking trails. The best part was how big, nice, and clean the bathrooms were. The bathrooms were kept extremely warm for the weather.

    TLDR (Too Long Don't Read)

    • IDEAL location to camp if you are climbing at the obed
    • AMAZING bathrooms especially if you are camping in cold wet weather
    • would 100% return if I am looking for camping in TN
    • GREAT price
  • Lori H.
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Bandy Creek Campground — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

    Ranger Review: GCI Freestyle Rocker Pro at Bandy Creek Campground

    Bandy Creek Campground is located in The Big South Fork National River and Recreation area on The Cumberland Plateau. Big South Fork is a great place for outdoor adventure. Some activities include hiking, horseback riding, rick climbing, tubing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, and just about anything else! The area is never overcrowded, even in the middle of summer. There are many scenic views throughout the area, so bring a camera!

    Campground review: Bandy Creek Campground is a great place! The sites are all spacious, and wooded for the most part, so you have plenty of space and some privacy. The campground seemed quite large, and was fairly empty for a Weekend in August. Some sites have food storage lockers (not sure if all do) as the area is a bear habitat. We saw some deer and turkeys, so there’s wildlife around for sure!

    There is tent loop, and a group camp area, and I believe the campground hosts several retreats.

    There’s riding stables at the camp store too. The campground also has a large swimming pool, with lifeguards.

    The restrooms were immaculate! Seriously the cleanest campground restrooms I believe I’ve seen. Ours had a filtered water bottle fill up fountain too.

    This campground is really nice, and quiet, but also has so much to do, I highly recommend it!

    Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to try out products sometimes, and today I’m trying out the GCI Freestyle Rocket Pro! https://www.gcioutdoor.com/camping-chairs/freestyle-rocker-pro/

    The Freestyle Rocker Pro is one of the best chairs I’ve used! It is actually much lighter than I expected, and is still extremely sturdy. Lightweight gear is a must when camping, or attending events!
    It has a carry handle so you don’t need to try to fit it in a case to have a strap like other chairs I’ve used. The Rocker was smooth on natural surface, pea gravel, and concrete. It is very comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. It folds up super easy with just a pull of the handle. One feature that I especially love is the cup holder and side pocket. It will actually hold a drink without spilling, and you can fit a phone, keys or other small items in the pocket. This chair is awesome! Two thumbs up!!

Guide to Williamsburg

Tent camping near Williamsburg, Kentucky offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the scenic beauty of the region. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and unwind.

Tent campers should check out Grove Boat-In Campground

  • Experience stunning views and a welcoming atmosphere at Grove Boat-In Campground, where you can enjoy a boat-in adventure and connect with fellow campers around the fire.
  • This campground features essential amenities like drinking water and picnic tables, making it a comfortable choice for families and groups.
  • With access to hiking trails and the serene waters of the lake, it's an ideal spot for both relaxation and exploration.

Tips for tent camping near Williamsburg

  • Be prepared for a primitive experience at Little Lick Campground, where spacious sites allow for multiple tents and a chance to enjoy the tranquility of nature.
  • Bring your own water and supplies, as this campground does not offer drinking water, but the peaceful surroundings and wildlife make it worth the trip.
  • Keep an eye out for local wildlife, including bears and bobcats, to fully appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

Activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  • For those seeking a unique camping experience, White Oak Boat-In Campground offers access only by boat or mountain bike, providing a secluded getaway surrounded by nature.
  • Enjoy hiking, kayaking, and fishing in the nearby waters, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
  • The campground's spacious sites and wooded environment create a perfect backdrop for a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Williamsburg, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Williamsburg, KY is Clifty Campground — Cumberland Falls State Resort Park with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Williamsburg, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Williamsburg, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring