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Best Equestrian Camping in Kentucky

680 Reviews

With Kentucky’s 45 state parks, the greatest length of navigable waterways in the lower 48, and the world’s longest cave system, the state of bourbon and horse racing is a dream destination for outdoor lovers. A diverse state with numerous distinct natural regions, Kentucky has a plethora of camping locations. Whether you choose to visit a state park or national forest, you don’t have to look hard to find amazing locations for camping in Kentucky.

For some of the most romantic and rugged landscapes in the state, visit the Red River Gorge in the south. With some of the most spectacular sites for camping in Kentucky, the gorge is a popular destination with visitors and locals alike. Climbers and hikers love the steep and rocky hillsides and cliffs which make the gorge famous. Located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Red River Gorge offers endless overnight options. From dispersed camping in quiet stretches of forest to whimsical treehouse and full-access campgrounds, it’s easy to find the perfect spot to spend the night. Snag a site next to a lake with record-sized muskies and you won’t have to go far to get on the water first thing in the morning.

If you love fishing, visiting Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is a must. With an abundance of lakes and rivers teeming with fish, it’s an angler’s dream. Enjoy lazy afternoons canoeing on the river or get an adrenaline rush on thrilling rapids. Nature lovers will love the plethora of wildlife and numerous hiking trails that wind through lush shaded forests.

Keep exploring Kentucky’s shaded forests and rugged cliffs in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in southeast Kentucky. Boaters will delight in the park’s large, languorous rivers and quick-flowing streams. Sheer bluffs and rocky gorges characterize the river valleys where water flows over rugged rapids and slows in quiet pools.

There are a variety of options for camping in Kentucky near the Big South Fork, from primitive to developed campgrounds. If you’re travelling with horses, stay in the horse camp, complete with a tack store stocked with essentials. Keep in mind that most parks and campgrounds have a ban on bringing your own firewood to prevent the spread of invasive species. Check with the campground regulations before you come, as some allow collection of wood on the forest floor and other require you to purchase firewood from a ranger. Wherever you choose to stay, with the Dyrt you can be sure to find the best camping in Kentucky.

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Best Equestrian Sites in Kentucky (48)

    1. Mammoth Cave Campground — Mammoth Cave National Park

    137 Reviews
    Mammoth Cave, KY
    +1 (270) 758-2424

    $25 - $50 / night

    "Mammoth has a campground adjacent to the Visitors Center which is basic except for two sites. There are reservable as well as walk up sites."

    "There is a restroom in the campground and a shower house, laundry room, post office and store adjacent. The dump station is next to that facility right outside the front “gate”."

    2. Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    49 Reviews
    Georgetown, KY
    Website
    +1 (859) 259-4257

    $40 - $43 / night

    "Great for equestrian trailers, convenient location off Interstate and right next to Kentucky Horse Park. Bathhouse, game room, laundry, camp store available."

    "I'll preface this with the fact that I am a Lexington, KY Native and have always lived close to the Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Horse Park Campground, but have never stayed there until this weekend"

    3. Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Olive Hill, KY
    Website
    +1 (606) 286-4411

    $20 - $120 / night

    "This is a beautiful state park with breathtaking views of creeks along the roadway, wonderful landscape designed by nature, good hiking trails, peaceful campground, and a nice lodge."

    "We liked that we could walk to the bathrooms and not have to drive there. We stayed at site 100 and really enjoyed the shade trees."

    4. Twin Knobs Recreation Area

    43 Reviews
    Salt Lick, KY
    Website
    +1 (606) 780-7818

    $31 - $128 / night

    "Stayed here for one night on a road trip to the Great Lakes. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere but nestled nicely on a lake with pretty water and nice scenery."

    "It is close to the water. We left our boats down on the bank. You have a "private" restroom and shower house. Occasionally you will get a hiker or someone coming through the trails that will use it."

    5. Nolin Lake State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Sweeden, KY
    Website
    +1 (270) 286-4240

    $25 - $40 / night

    "Near Brownsville, Ky and a little off the beaten path. But definitely worth a visit or two."

    "This lakeside getaway is one that will keep us coming back!! If you've never been to Kentucky...this will keep you coming back to the Bluegrass to camp for years to come!"

    6. Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Mount Eden, KY
    Website
    +1 (502) 477-8713

    $20 - $45 / night

    "We had a pretty decent time at Taylorsville Lake. The spots were spacious, and very nice picnic tables. We did a trail which was nice and went down to a boat ramp to see the lake."

    "The do have some pull through sites for equestrian trailers. Good horse trails. Clean facilities."

    7. My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    New Haven, KY
    Website
    +1 (502) 348-3502

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Located very close to Bardstown and a lot of distilleries on the bourbon trail, the campground is great, very small fills up fast."

    "My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground is a small campground, clean, and friendly staff. There is a golf course on site. Plenty to see, including My Old Kentucky Home, the tour was amazing."

    8. Lago Linda Hideaway

    23 Reviews
    Beattyville, KY
    Website
    +1 (606) 464-2876

    $12 - $115 / night

    "This big campground is a hidden gem near Red River Gorge. The road getting to the campsite is mostly one lane so is you are in an RV, go slow."

    "The trail around the lake was very nice, short but hilly so a good morning walk. It rained the first evening which led to some pretty little waterfalls the next day."

    9. Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    21 Reviews
    Grand Rivers, KY
    Website
    +1 (270) 362-4840

    $20 - $256 / night

    "Canal campground is right on the canal that connects Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake at the north end of Land Between the Lakes."

    "Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam."

    10. Greenbo Lake State Resort Park

    19 Reviews
    Greenup, KY
    Website
    +1 (606) 473-7324

    $19 - $44 / night

    "* Beautiful area of Kentucky Nice trails and great kayaking"

    "Primitive Site 22 was fantastic, tucked away from everyone and quiet. Greenbo just doesn't have a lot to do if you arent boating. And that's okay. We just wanted a lazy trip anyway."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos in Kentucky

20 Photos of 48 Kentucky Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews in Kentucky

680 Reviews of 48 Kentucky Campgrounds

  • Tonya D.
    Aug. 12, 2019

    Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground

    Quiet, bathrooms lacking.

    We had a pretty decent time at Taylorsville Lake. The spots were spacious, and very nice picnic tables. We did a trail which was nice and went down to a boat ramp to see the lake. You can also rent boats there as well. The bathrooms in my opinion needed a major cleaning. They were nice just not very clean. We most likely won’t visit here again but was nice to hit a Kentucky campground. I have found that camping in Kentucky is much cheaper than in Indiana. Definitely worth a checkout.

  • Lisa S.
    Apr. 6, 2019

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Great Place to Relax and Unwind

    Over 250 full hookup sites, great shade, beautiful trees, good size lots, however, some are on a grade making leveling difficult. Electric and primitive sites available. Great for equestrian trailers, convenient location off Interstate and right next to Kentucky Horse Park. Bathhouse, game room, laundry, camp store available. Numerous playgrounds and basketball courts for the kiddos. Swimming pool and for the avid hikers a trail that takes you to downtown Lexington.

  • Marissa G.
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Nice Campground Right between Lexington and Georgetown

    I'll preface this with the fact that I am a Lexington, KY Native and have always lived close to the Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Horse Park Campground, but have never stayed there until this weekend. 

    We stayed on Loop A in site #38.

    First, site #38 was a great large and fairly level site with 50AMP hookups and Water. There were no sewer hook ups, but the park has 2 dump stations that accommodate 2 RV/Trailers being dumped at one time. The site had a large amount of space between ourselves and our neighbors and we had a lot of extra space behind out paved site that was grassy. A great area for the kids/pets to run around. 

    The park has 2 playgrounds (one was closed due to COVID and the sanitizing that would have to be done. The park said they didn't have the staff to sanitize the playground further from the office/store). There is a community pool (it was closed because it isn't memorial day yet and the staff is still trying to determine if it will open this season after being closed all of 2020 due to COVID).

    You're able to bring your Golf Cart if you would like but you must get a permit from the campground office/store. They say there is a rule that no one under the age of 16 or anyone without a valid drivers license is allowed to drive the golf carts, but this is clearly not enforced, as my kids were nearly run over (more than once) by young kids speeding around on the gold carts. 

    The park is great for bike riding and you can travel just a short distance to get to the Legacy Trail (a 12 mile paved trail great from biking/running that runs from the horse park into downtown Lexington). It rained most of the day on Saturday while we were there but in the evening, we got to get the bikes out and go see the horses as they were grazing in the fields. 

    Right next door, you have the World Famous Kentucky Horse Park. Their trail rides are back open (Ages 7 an older $25.00 per person) and they also have their Pony ride for kids 12 and under ($5 a person) opened back up. You can go visit the different barns, go to the museums, etc. 

    Just 1 exit north on I75 you have  a Camping World, for all of your camping needs and then 1 exit after that you have a Walmart and Lowes for other things. Many food options as well. 

    There is a gas station just down Iron Works pike for all of your fuel and and snack needs. Attached to the gas station is also a liquor store. 

    Your smack in the middle of Georgetown and Lexington which both offer several family friendly Craft Beer Breweries/Taprooms, a lot of great local eating options and bars/nightlife options. 

    On Holidays now, at the Horse Park Campground, you have to have 5 day minimum stay, which can get a bit pricey. 

    All around though, great little campsite with easy access to I65/I64.

  • Courtney K.
    Aug. 15, 2021

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Clean and convenient

    Clean bathrooms and sites, within easy walking distance to the Kentucky Horse Park. Pay attention to which site you pick- if you’re in c loop, it’s a long walk to the bathroom!

  • P
    Sep. 29, 2018

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Great facilities, friendly staff and close to the Kentucky Horse Park.

    It can accommodate all sizes of tv's and also tent campers. All types of hook-ups with well maintained road access.

    The office/store is well stocked and the help is friendly. It is not far off of main highways and close to the Kentucky Horse Park.

  • j
    Sep. 12, 2024

    A.J. Jolly Park & Campground

    AJ Jolly campground

    Expensive for what it has to offer. At 48.00 bucks a night yes they do have WIFI in the RV section. They do have concrete pads. It’s a shame they are worthless they are to small to park the average RV on an are on the wrong side of most rigs unless you pull in 1/2 the sites the electric is on the wrong side. The sites are gravel and not level the rest rooms are new and nice. The horse stalks are very nice. If you have a large horse trailer type camper your screwed the sites are small so that only leaves you with the RV sites that are a few 100 feet away from the stables If you want to walk threw the drainage ditch add about 300 ft if you don’t want to walk threw the muck. It’s a shame when they paved the entry road they didn’t spend a little more. “Grant money “ or tax money an do it properly. The main play ground is extremely nice. About 1/3 Mile walk. They do have a small playground in the rv section. For horses again they have a nice setup for big RVs it Sux they have a dump station. Situated in between the entry road to the Fkatwood rv section and equestrian area The main lake is nice you can rent kayaks canoes. Or use your own boat. The boat ramp is nice the other end of the lake at the flat wood rv section. Is t really a lake it’s a back water shallow mud hole depending on the time of the year. Mosquitoes the size of jet fighters. Will rather eat you alive or carry you off. “Lol sorry could t resist “ it gets bad the park is clean and well maintained Except for the camp sites

  • M
    Oct. 24, 2019

    Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground

    Decent campground

    Nice campground. Not very big though. The do have some pull through sites for equestrian trailers. Good horse trails. Clean facilities.

  • Bran P.
    Jul. 18, 2016

    Kentucky Horse Park Campground

    Beautiful

    Very beautiful CG in Kentucky. Green everywhere and lots of fun. Hiking, trails, etc. all around, and of course, the Horse Park!

  • Jim C.
    Jun. 3, 2018

    Otter Creek Park Campground

    Great Public Camp Site

    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.

Guide to Kentucky

Horse camping in Kentucky offers a unique blend of scenic trails and equestrian-friendly facilities, making it a perfect getaway for horse enthusiasts.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like corrals and trails

  • Mammoth Cave Campground provides horse corrals, allowing you to keep your horses secure while you explore the beautiful surroundings of Mammoth Cave National Park.
  • Carter Caves State Resort Park features trails that lead directly into the park, perfect for horseback riding through stunning natural landscapes.
  • Kentucky Horse Park Campground is designed specifically for equestrian campers, offering amenities like horse stalls and easy access to riding trails.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

Tips for equestrian camping in Kentucky

  • When visiting Kentucky Horse Park Campground, be sure to reserve your horse stalls in advance, especially during peak seasons.
  • At Carter Caves State Resort Park, check the trail conditions before heading out, as some paths may be more suitable for experienced riders.
  • Bring extra supplies like water and feed for your horses when camping at Mammoth Cave Campground, as amenities may be limited in the more remote areas of the park.

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