Carter Caves State Resort Park and Lake Vesuvius offer several glamping options within 30 miles of Greenup, Kentucky. The terrain features rolling hills and forests with elevations between 600-1,000 feet, creating mild temperatures that average 70-85°F in summer and 30-45°F in winter. The Ohio River borders Greenup County's northern edge, providing additional recreation opportunities for campers exploring this eastern Kentucky region.
What to do
Cave exploration: Carter Caves State Resort Park has multiple cave systems with varying difficulty levels. Tours run daily during summer months and weekends in spring and fall. According to visitor Chris B., "The caves are great to explore as well. Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something! Great for the kids! (don't touch the bat poo :P)"
Water activities: Lake Vesuvius features a swimming beach and fishing spots for bass, crappie, and catfish. Jackson B. notes, "The lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach), kayaking, and fishing. They have plenty of crappie, bass, and catfish stocked in the lake and there are bait shops close by."
Hiking trails: Several trails around Shawnee State Park Campground connect to longer backpacking routes. "The park has a lot to do...There's tons of waterfalls off the trails, and other things to see," says Chris B. Another camper mentions that "Shawnee State Park campground has a variety of great tent sites...The campground had fun amenities for kids."
Mini golf and recreation: Huntington Fox Fire KOA offers family activities including mini golf and banana bikes. As William I. states, "Their camp store is stocked with everything you may need and not to mention their swimming lake is pretty fun and provided hours of entertainment for the youngins in our group."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius, campers enjoy good separation between sites. Jackie D. mentions, "The sites are spread apart enough so you aren't right beside someone - and shaded. Well prepared sites with a clearing, fire ring, and a picnic table."
Year-round camping options: Some campgrounds stay open throughout winter. At Ashland Huntington West KOA, campers find yurt accommodations available year-round. Joseph C. appreciated their service, noting, "KOA staff was very friendly and accommodating. We were able to stay extra days without any problems."
Natural surroundings: Many sites feature wooded settings. Jackson B. says of Lake Vesuvius, "I LOVE camping here, unlike a lot of camp grounds they're actually within the woods so you feel like you're actually part of the forest and the nature."
Yurt camping near Greenup: Several campgrounds offer yurt accommodations within 30 miles of Greenup. One visitor to Ashland Huntington West KOA mentioned they "have a pool and mini golf to entertain the kids who have been driving you crazy on the road. Excellent food trucks which is good since there's not much else in the area."
What you should know
Water and electric connections: At Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, some sites require extra equipment. As Ron & Bonnie D. note, "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites though."
Cell service limitations: Several campgrounds have limited or no cell service. At Shawnee State Park, one camper mentions, "There is absolutely no cell service in the Campground. The lodge at the top of the hill has a weak signal, but is better than nothing if you really need to check in with outside world."
Booking requirements: For yurt camping in Greenup Kentucky area, reservations are essential during peak season (April-October). Many sites can be reserved 6 months in advance. One camper at Twin Knobs noted, "This is one of the most popular sites and we booked it 6 months in advance."
Primitive camping options: For those seeking more rustic experiences near premium yurts, primitive sites are available. According to Becky H., "I grew up in the primitive campground with a huge canvas tent. We've graduated to an RV and are on the other side of the campgrounds now but still loving it."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween festivities: Many campgrounds host special events in October. According to Karen P. at Shawnee State Park Campground, "We went to the campground during the Halloween festivities in October. There are a lot of activities to do while at the state park, caving, hiking, kayaking, mini golf, golf, etc."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. At Huntington / Fox Fire KOA, families find plenty to do: "They had so much for kids to do: a swimming pond with inflatables, gem mining, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside," says Zach H.
Educational opportunities: Ranger-led programs teach children about local ecology. Chris B. suggests, "Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something! Great for the kids!"
Cabin glamping for convenience: Families with young children often prefer cabins or yurts over tents. William I. explains, "Although I'm more of a tent camper myself, my family members have some medical issues that require them to sleep inside and have access to electricity, so Fox Fire turned out to be a really good spot for that."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for large rigs: At Twin Knobs Recreation Area, Karen P. advises, "We had two campers on the site lined up on one side. One is a 22 ft. and the other a 37 ft. We had plenty of room on the campsite."
Extension cord requirements: Check electrical hookup locations before arrival. As autumn L. notes about Carter Caves, "The only issue was that some of the sites were around 50 ft from the electric hook up. Thankfully we were able to switch spots instead of renting an extension cord."
Water pressure considerations: Some sites have unusually high water pressure. Wendi L. warns, "Beautiful place to camp. Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others. We stayed at site 6 which wasn't too difficult to park but the water pressure was extremely high."
Site drainage: Look for gravel sites that handle rain well. Karen P. observed, "We stayed June 5th through June 9th and it rained every day, a lot. Our campsite (A-30) drained the rain off really well."
