At $14 per night, Red River Gorge Retreats operates out of the same property as the well-known Miguel's Pizza, giving climbers visiting campgrounds near Slade a low-cost base with more on-site infrastructure than the price suggests. The campground is a large open field with minimal tree cover, which means the sun will wake you early. Tent campers share the grounds with class B RVs, and full hookups with electric, water, and sewer connections are available for those who need them.
As Kelsey G. puts it, "You haven't been to Red River Gorge if you haven't been to Miguel's," and the campground's reputation is largely built on its social atmosphere. The crowd skews toward rock climbers, and a sign at the entrance designates it a "climber campground," though no one checks credentials. Quiet hours begin at 11pm and are generally respected, though busy holiday weekends have seen noise and late-night traffic. The community fire pit is shared; individual fires next to tents are not permitted.
The on-site amenities go well beyond what you'd expect at this price point. Miguel's Pizza serves food daily, including coffee, breakfast burritos, and sweet potato pancakes in the morning. Token-operated shower stalls, restrooms, covered cooking areas, picnic tables, a half basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and slacklines round out the facilities. Tokens for the showers are available through the laundry room, which can be confusing for first-time visitors, so it's worth asking another camper if you can't locate them. A climbing gear shop on the property carries shoes, chalk, clothing, and assorted gear.
Camping is open field style with no designated individual sites. The ground is relatively root-free and even, but the lack of shade means heat and direct sun can be significant in summer months. Whittleton Campground and Natural Bridge State Resort Park are nearby alternatives for campers who prefer tree cover or a more structured layout. Reservations are available, pets are welcome, and the WiFi is accessible from the lounge beneath the restaurant. If rain is forecast, reviewers recommend pitching your tent on higher ground within the field to avoid water pooling.
Map & DirectionsRed River Gorge Retreats (Miguel's Pizza) is located in Kentucky near Slade
Coordinates
37.78343603 N
83.68291655 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/20/26- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 3/15/26
AT&TLTEGood CoverageVerified by 16 usersLast on 7/31/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/20/26
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 3/15/26
- AT&TLTEGood CoverageVerified by 16 usersLast on 7/31/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 50 min from Lexington, KY
- 1 hr 48 min from Huntington, WV
- 1 hr 50 min from Cincinnati, OH
- 2 hrs 57 min from Kingsport, TN
