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Best Tent Camping near Zoe, KY

511 Reviews

Daniel Boone National Forest offers numerous tent camping options near Zoe, Kentucky, with Red River Gorge Geological Area providing both established and primitive tent campsites. Tent-only sites can be found throughout Tunnel Ridge Road, where dispersed camping is managed by the National Forest Service. Paragon Dispersed Camping Area in Clearfield offers free primitive tent camping with lakeside sites. The Ole Cornfield features riverside tent sites along the Licking River, while Red River Gorge Adventures provides primitive tent camping with spacious sites separated by at least 100 feet from neighboring campers. HomeGrown HideAways offers walk-in tent sites in a valley setting with trails and creeks to explore.

Most primitive tent campgrounds require campers to bring all necessary supplies, including water treatment equipment. At Red River Gorge, permits are required for dispersed camping and can be purchased at the Shell gas station in Stanton for approximately $5 for three days. Vault toilets and trash disposal are typically available only at trailhead parking areas. Fire rings are provided at some sites, but not all. Paragon Dispersed Camping Area features portable pit toilets but no potable water or trash facilities. Tent campers should practice "pack it in, pack it out" principles, as several reviewers noted significant trash issues at some sites. Surface conditions vary from grassy riverside spots to forest floor settings with minimal site preparation.

Backcountry tent camping experiences differ significantly across locations. One camper noted that Red River Gorge offers "primitive and paid campsites both available, depending on your comfort level and preference," with the "best campsites by water." At Red River Gorge Adventures, the sites include "wide open spaces, sites in the trees, sites with sandy floors" with the "entire campground running alongside the riverbank." Weekday visits typically provide more solitude, as one visitor mentioned that weekend crowds can make the area "a zoo." For tent campers seeking deeper seclusion, areas farther from established trails offer more privacy. The Ole Cornfield's tent sites are described as "peaceful with the river running below you," making them particularly appealing for tent campers who appreciate water proximity.

Best Tent Sites Near Zoe, Kentucky (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Zoe, KY

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Tent Camping Reviews near Zoe, KY

511 Reviews of 12 Zoe Campgrounds

  • R
    Aug. 13, 2018

    John Swift's Lost Silvermine Historic Campground

    Great family-friendly, primitive car camping

    This campground is easy to access and good for individuals or groups; it's mostly covered with grass though there are areas that are more dirt, closer to the river. It's nestled between the Red River and Highway 715, so you are pretty close to the road and will hear some road noise, but it's a pretty quiet 2-lane highway. There are picnic tables and fire-rings at each campsite, and it is easy to pitch a few tents in close proximity if you are there with a group. The toilets are port-a-potties scattered throughout the campground. You are asked to sign a waiver and agree to the quiet hours (11-6). The campground is gated and the gate is closed and locked at 10 pm (but the campground manager sleeps on-site). The firewood we purchased here was very wet though, and never burned well. This is typical of much of the firewood purchased at the RRG though, unless you buy kiln-dried from the store. Canoe and kayak rentals happen at the site as well. This was perfect for camping with my 10-month old, without needing to hike in from the car. A good balance between a crowded state campground and backcountry camping.

  • G
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Carr Creek State Park Campground

    RV/Tent camp by mtn lake

    Overall; nice place, bathrooms get gross quickly when campground is at full capacity. Not handicap friendly. Good cell service, 4G. Small beach area, clear water for swimming, but have quite a few steps to walk down to the lake. Playground equipment was taken down, only had a couple of swings. All sites have electric and water, picnic table, two poles to hang garbage or lantern, also fire rings with grates for cooking on Pets allowed on leash. Firewood and ice available.

    Attendant on site, not a ranger, maybe a "workamper?" Bathrooms cleaned only once in the midmorning. The commodes have a button to flush which is difficult to push. I think young children couldn't push it, so the toilets got nasty and full. Toilet paper ran out by early evening. There was no commode in the handicap stall in the women's room. Hot showers with regular handle for continual flow (as opposed to some places that only run a couple of minutes before you have to push the button again.

    Most sites are shaded and grassy areas. Sites 7, 8, 26, 28, 31 are washed out, not good for putting up a tent. Lake surrounds campground but not visible through the trees. A few very steep trails from some sites down to the lake.

    Beach is about 100 yds long. Water was clean and clear. It might be a slight challenge walking back up the steps to the parking lot if you're not in good shape. If you plan on hanging out at the beach area for awhile, I suggest bringing a beach tent, it gets hot. There is a drive way down to the beach for handicap access, but the gate was locked. There is a marina on the other side of the road. I believe you can rent a pontoon there.

    While we were there, somebody with a super loud speed boat was racing around, so be aware that if you're wanting peace and quiet, there is boating noise. There was also a group of campers that had speakers set up and played their music Sat night that was annoying. Not super loud, but we just didn't care for their style of music. We tolerated it, but don't know why they weren't asked to turn it down. To me, music shouldn't be heard much past your own site.

    It's about 5+/- miles in either direction for a store. There is an ice cream place about 2 miles away that also sells basic prep fried food and breakfast.

    Our electric didn't work (site 33) but we were with another couple and plugged into theirs next to us. We usually primitive camp, but because of the Aug heat, it's nice to have a fan at night.

    We might camp there again. The main thing is that the bath house needs to be updated and attended to more than once a day. It's better than nothing, but I'd rather go in an outhouse than see an overflowing toilet.

  • Jeffrey A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2023

    Koomer Ridge Campground — Daniel Boone National Forest

    Lovely NF Campground

    Koomer Ridge is really an excellent campground!  As of April 2023 all sites were first-come, first-serve (no prior reservations permitted).  We camped one night and thoroughly enjoyed it!  No hook-ups but the site was level for a 21" campervan and had a HUGE tent pad, 2 lantern posts, fire ring and picnic table in a spacious site.  Plenty of trees for hammocks, too!  Sites were more than adequately spaced out around the campground and some were quite private.  Multiple trails leave straight out of the campground and head into the Red River Gorge, a nice feature.  Campground is heavily wooded, too, so plenty of shade should be available during the summer months.

    The shower house is next to Site 14 and was clean though chilly but had hot & cold running water and was modern/updated.  Only ding here was that a couple of the toilets were out of service during our stay - no big deal as the campground was fairly empty and I hope they'll be addressed before summer crowds arrive.

    The campground is on a ridge - so apart from the sites themselves, there is very little flat ground to be had.  Not a drawback, just an observation.  But the hills make for a lovely setting and beautiful sunsets/sunrises filtering through the trees.  Only criticism is the proximity to the Mountain Parkway nearby; had we been tent camping, the traffic noise would have been a nuisance all night.  But in the campervan it wasn't noticeable, fortunately!  Not enough to cost a star, but worth noting if you're using a tent or soft-sided camper.

    Red River Gorge is an extraordinary and beautiful place to explore, and Koomer Ridge is an excellent basecamp from which to do so!

  • Angie A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Turkey Foot Campground

    Excellent find in the woods!

    Found the perfect spot for our trailer and our friends car camping. Clean vault toilets. Each site has fire ring and picnic table. Pack in pack out even though some didn’t get the memo yet park service was there in the morning to clean. Limited to no cell service.

  • Kenny P.
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Turkey Foot Campground

    Turkey foot Campground

    All tent pad sites with fire ring/grill and lantern hook. Vault toilets are available. No garbage pickup so pack it out!! Hiking and fishing are done activities

  • Chris H.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    Hidden Gem

    We've stayed at Twin Knobs twice now in our popup camper. First time was at F26, second was at F24. We love how the outer loop sites have such quick access to the water.

    Both sites are shaded very well and the sites themselves are huge. We could see other campers through the trees but we felt pretty well secluded.

    Each site has several tall poles with hooks for trash bags/food storage. as well each site has a large fire pit with flip-over grill for cooking.

    The firewood bundles are a bit pricey ($7) at the checkin shack, but I'm glad they are available. we purchased at least 7 bundles to have a pretty much constant fire through the day and night.

    The bathrooms are clean and easily accessible. There was a bit of an overflow issue our first day on site but it was resolved in less than an hour by the loop hosts.

    Pop's bbq was a hit both nights we were there. We ordered carryout (covid) and ate at camp on the provided picnic tables. The Dollar General is also adequately stocked.

    All in all a fantastic visit which we will repeat ASAP. it's too bad they close at the end of October. I bet winter camping there would be a treat.

    Cheers,

    Chris

  • M
    Jan. 26, 2022

    Callie’s Lake and Campground

    Impressive

    We were very pleased with this campground. When we first checked in, the smell of the food in the campground store was to die for. We had plans to cook at our campsite, but the specials that night were very tempting. The staff was kind and helpful, and provided us with a map of the property. The bathhouse was a nice touch! There are many campsites of multiple types available, but there are several primitive sites that still feel secluded and surrounded by trees. There are several sites that can be accessed by a sedan, but some of the sites farther back really require something more suited to off-road driving. We were in a Subaru Forester and had no issues, but did actually have to help push a Camry out of a rut. We visited in October 2021 and it seemed like the area we selected was still slightly under construction. The campsite was wonderful, but the picnic table was sitting on a slope and we were having a difficult time preventing our food from falling off. A flatter spot for the picnic table would be our only suggestion to the owner. My friend used a tent and was happy to see a flat spot cut out of the slope our site was situated on. I used a hammock and didn’t have any trouble finding suitable trees. We loved it and will definitely be back!

  • Andrew G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2019

    S-Tree Campground

    A quiet well maintained stopover, or a woodsy weekend retreat; your pick

    Arrived late and took a minute to find the actual campsites. They aren't right next to the fireplace shelter, rather just around the corner. Had the place completely to myself on a thursday night/friday morning. Biting bugs weren't bad,(late May) but there were still a ton of other varieties. Several toilets on site, but no water. Picnic tables, tent pads, and fire rings at each site. There are only 10 tent sites, and the ones by the shelter are for picnics only. I wouldn't recommend a long RV up there, although there seems to be another 10 or so sites big enough for RVs and trailers. I was really impressed by the overall quality of the campground, but the distance from everything is a big negative.  The northern road in isn't all that bad, but the south road is what I NEEDED to use to get to my various destinations, and it was a rough one. I made it in and out twice in an HHR, but I was bottoming out on gravel and such. Overall, the HHR handled it fine, it just wasn't worth it, so I ended up only staying the one night. If not for distance from everything and the road conditions, it would've scored a 5.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Fort Boonesborough State Park Campground

    Pricey but interesting

    I was very interested in this area for the living history museum but as a tent camper I had more than a little sticker shock at the $36 price point not to mention the booking fee on Reserve America. That made this one of the most expensive campgrounds I have stayed at including numerous stops in California. 😒

    The sites were well shaded and included the typical set up of fire rings and picnic tables but I did feel a little closer to my neighbor than I would have liked. I can only imagine the feeling to and RV camper would be even more suffocating.

    The campground was noisy and busy as it was a weekend, and while some of that can be expected for the higher price point I would have liked things to have been a bit more accommodating to those times, maybe they should offer a few less sites so there can be a bit more space so if it is busy you don’t feel like you are suffocated by noise.

    With that being said, not all was bad here. The things to do outside of th campground itself were worth some of the inadequacies the camp provided in way of space. The living history museum was one of the best I have seen in the Kentucky or Tennessee area and other amenities such as water access and proximity to hiking was great.

    If I did return it would be during the week and potentially not during summer to avoid the crowd.

Guide to Zoe

Daniel Boone National Forest provides extensive tent camping options around Zoe, Kentucky, spanning over 708,000 acres across eastern Kentucky. The region features varied terrain between 600-1,600 feet elevation, with sandstone cliffs, natural arches, and hidden waterfalls throughout the forest. Dispersed camping areas typically remain open year-round, though some access roads may close during winter months or after heavy rainfall.

What to do

Rock climbing access: At Red River Gorge Geological Area, visitors find exceptional climbing opportunities. "A fantastic place for primitive backpack camping! There are 100's of rock climbs on bullet proof rock," notes one camper, who recommends weekday visits to avoid crowds.

Swimming holes: Take a dip in the natural swimming areas throughout the region. At Red River Gorge Adventures, "if you wade out into the water about 15ft upstream of the boat launch, the river is relatively flat with a sandy bottom that is about 5' at normal water level. Excellent place for an afternoon swim."

Arch hiking: Many nearby trails lead to impressive natural arches. "Princess Arch offers 105ft of elevation and is a quick 0.6 mi hike from the parking loop," shares a camper. Hanson's Point requires more effort but delivers outstanding views: "To get to Hanson's point you'll have to earn it by hiking for about 2.5 miles, but trust me when I say it's worth it."

What campers like

Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites. At Red River Gorge Adventures, "I've camped on holiday weekends and never had other campers within 100 ft of my site. I've also been on weekends where I was the only camper there."

Wildlife viewing: The forest offers abundant opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Paragon Dispersed Camping Area, campers report excellent bird watching: "Our first morning a heron was fishing in the lake less than 100 feet from us. We saw him catch a fish. There were woodpeckers, hawks and several other birds."

Waterfront camping: Many prefer lakeside or riverside camping spots. "The entire campground runs alongside the river bank, so you can put in your own kayak/canoe or rent one from them," reports one camper. Another mentions Paragon's "beautiful location" with "amazing" lakeside views that are "very picture worthy!"

What you should know

Permit requirements: For backcountry camping, permits are necessary. "Pick up your parking pass at the Shell gas station at 12187 Campton rd, Stanton, KY. A three days pass is $5," advises one camper who visited Princess Arch at Red River Gorge.

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites have minimal amenities. At HomeGrown HideAways, "the outhouse was perfectly clean, but there were flush toilets available if you took a little walk." For most areas, prepare to bring all necessities.

Trash concerns: Pack-out discipline varies between sites. One camper at Paragon noted: "We spent a good hour cleaning up the area, and filled one section of our truck bed with it when we left. Carry it in, folks, and then carry it out."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly campgrounds: Some areas specifically welcome families. Red River Gorge Adventures "is super family friendly, they have an 11pm quiet time and strict alcohol policy," making it suitable for those camping with children.

Safety considerations: Watch for natural hazards with kids. "There are bathrooms and trash bins at the parking loop" near Princess Arch, but parents should note that many trails have steep drop-offs requiring close supervision of children.

Guided experiences: For families new to tent camping near Zoe, Kentucky, consider organized activities. Daniel Boone National Forest White Sulphur Horse Camp offers more structured sites that are "clean" with "restroom facilities stocked with TP," providing a good introduction to forest camping.

Tips from RVers

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the best tent camping locations near Zoe. At White Sulphur Horse Camp, there was "slight cell service for Verizon & AT&T, enough for maybe text but not very consistent," which helps plan communications during longer stays.

Space considerations: While most sites focus on tent camping, some accommodate small RVs. Red River Gorge Adventures offers spacious camping areas with fire rings and picnic tables, though without hookups. "The campsites are fairly primitive, only including a fire ring and a nice picnic table. They do not have any water or electric hookups."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Zoe, KY is Red River Gorge Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 22 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Zoe, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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