Get outdoors with 3 sites in Central and Eastern Kentucky to pitch a tent this summer
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Summer fun in Kentucky
Use our recreation guide to plan your Kentucky summer of hiking, biking, swimming and more.
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More Americans than ever are looking to nearby state and national parks for convenient getaways, with a 36% increase in people camping at least once a year between 2019 and 2021, according to data from Kampgrounds for America.
Dotted with campsites that offer access to pristine lakes, the rugged Cumberland Plateau and everything in between, Kentucky has a lot to offer campers.
We’ve compiled this guide to three spots around central and eastern Kentucky, including a recommendation from one of our readers.
If we missed your favorite spot, don’t fret. Tell us about it through the Know Your Kentucky form at the end of this guide.
Fort Boonesborough State Park
There’s a lot to see and do at Fort Boonesborough, from boating down the Kentucky River and its iconic palisades to fishing and birding. What makes this a popular draw for campers is reconstructed Fort Boonesborough, which was the second settlement Daniel Boone established in Kentucky.
Originally established in 1775, Fort Boonesborough is back as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses and furnishings. Resident artisans perform craft demonstrations and give modern-day visitors a sense of what life was like for pioneers settling the state.
The campground features 166 sites equipped with electricity and water. There are two central service buildings, providing showering, restroom and laundry facilities, and three dump stations. A small grocery store is also available at the check-in area.
Operational season: Open year-round to campers.
Campground site costs: A fee schedule lists the rate for a standard campsite at $35 per night Sunday through Thursday, $37 Friday and Saturday and a $39 holiday premium.
Site booking: To reserve a site, call 859-527-3454 or email jack.winburn@ky.gov.
Big South Fork
A bit further afield than the last spot, this pick comes from Twitter user and high school history teacher Joe Waters, who responded to our reporter’s call for campsite recommendations.
Waters recommends staying at either the Blue Heron or Great Meadows campgrounds, both of which are geared toward primitive camping.
The sites will place you on the southern end of the Daniel Boone National Forest with easy access to spectacular hiking spots, like the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail in the Red River Gorge.
Blue Heron Campground is open from April and November. Notably, there’s the Blue Heron Mining community just a few miles from the campsite. It’s open year-round for visitors interested in learning about life in a company-owned mining town.
Unlike Blue Heron, Great Meadows offers year-round camping at Deer Loop, while Raccoon Loop is open April 16 to Nov. 15.
Blue Heron Campground operational season: April through November
Campground site costs: $20 per night
Site booking: Visit recreation.gov
Great Meadows Campground operational season: Raccoon Loop open year-round; Deer Loop open mid-April to mid-November
Campground site costs: $10 for single-tent camping, $15 for double-tent camping
Site booking: Campers can register and pay at a self-serve station on site
Cave Run Lake
The Twin Knobs and Zilpo campsites at Cave Run Lake provide nearly 400 campsites, along with swimming beaches and group-use picnic areas.
The Twin Knobs site opens between the second Friday in March and the first Sunday in November. Zilpo is available between the third Friday in March and the last Sunday in October annually.
Whether you’re drawn to boating and swimming on this massive, 8,720-acre lake, or the nearby trails that offer glimpses of woodland wildlife, this destination has something for you.
Twin Knobs campsite operational season: Open from March through November
Campground site costs: $25 for a single, non-electric site, $35 for a single/electric hookup site
Site booking: The amphitheater, campsites and group-use areas may be reserved at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777, 877-833-6777 for the hearing impaired or 606-780-7818
Zilpo campsite operational season: Open between March and October
Campground site costs: $22 for a single, non-electric site
Site booking: The cabins and campsites may be reserved at the recreation.gov website. Call 877-444-6777, 877-833-6777 for the hearing impaired, or 606-768-2722
Do you have a question about recreation in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
