Leave a Comment
Waterfront RV sites with hookups have been getting harder to find in many states, yet Kentucky still has a healthy number of lakeside campgrounds that keep prices low without cutting out the comforts most RVers enjoy.
These spots sit on some of the state’s most visited lakes, offering easy access to boating, swimming, and shoreline views right from the campsite.
Many of these parks fall under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers system, which helps keep rates low and consistent. With an America the Beautiful Senior Pass, several of them drop well below the standard nightly rate.
So if you want a place where you can settle in beside the water with electrical and water hookups (plus other amenities), this list will give you a clear starting point.
1. Axtel Campground
Location: Rough River Lake near McDaniels, Kentucky
Price: $30
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233408
Axtel Campground sits on the shoreline of Rough River Lake, a 5,100-acre destination that draws millions of visitors each year. The campground has 158 sites with a mix of electric and non-electric options, and most offer wide views across the lake. The layout is spacious, and the setting provides quick access to boating, fishing, and swimming.
Guests have access to a swimming area, boat ramp, dump station, fish cleaning station, playground, short walking trail, and modern bathhouses with showers and flush toilets. It is a straightforward lakeside campground that stays busy because of its amenities and its central location along the water.
2. Laurel Branch Campground
Location: Rough River Lake near McDaniels, Kentucky
Price: $30
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233410
Laurel Branch Campground also sits along Rough River Lake and offers a quieter setup with 62 campsites. Several of these sites include both water and electric hookups, and many sit right on the waterfront. Campsites that are not directly on the shore are only a short walk from the lake.
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, a playground, a boat ramp, a nature trail, a fish cleaning station, and a public beach that stays popular during summer. With its mix of shaded sites and open lake views, Laurel Branch gives travelers an easy lakeside stay with W/E hookups and access to the water.
3. Pikes Ridge Campground
Location: Green River Lake near Knifley, Kentucky
Price: $32+
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233583
Pikes Ridge Campground sits along the shoreline of Green River Lake, surrounded by rolling meadows and wooded areas on the Highland Rim. The campground offers 60 sites, with 20 that include water and electric hookups. Several of the sites sit right on the waterfront, giving campers easy access to the lake from their doorstep.
The area includes a playground, hiking trail, swimming beach, boat ramp, and multiple docks for tying up boats. A fishing pier and modern showerhouse are also located within the campground. The mix of shoreline access and open grassy areas makes Pikes Ridge a great choice for visitors who want both amenities and room to spread out (who doesn’t want that?).
4. Waitsboro Campground
Location: Lake Cumberland near Somerset, Kentucky
Price: $30
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232733
Waitsboro Campground sits along Lake Cumberland and offers a quiet setting close to Somerset. It has 17 RV sites, all with electric hookups, and five tent-only sites. Eight of the RV sites sit directly on the water, giving campers some of the best lake views in the area.
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, a laundry facility, and a dump station. A group picnic shelter and a day-use parking area sit nearby.
5. Buckhorn Campground
Location: Near Buckhorn, Kentucky
Price: $24
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232566
Buckhorn Campground rests along Buckhorn Lake in the Cumberland Plateau and offers a mix of recreation both on and off the water. Summer brings monthly interpretive programs, and the lake itself offers boating and fishing throughout the warm months.
The campground includes electric hookups, laundry facilities, hot showers, vending machines, a dump station, and flush toilets. A basketball court, horseshoe pits, playground, swimming area, and boat ramp round out the amenities. Visitors also have access to free wireless internet.
6. Canal Campground
Location: Barkley Lake near Kuttawa, Kentucky
Price: $30
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232541
Canal Campground sits on a peninsula between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, giving visitors access to two major waterways in one location. The campground faces Barkley Lake, while the shoreline of Kentucky Lake is a one-mile walk across the canal. Campsites offer views of the dam and passing boats.
A designated swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic pavilions, and playground create a family-friendly setup. Several sites around the pavilion can be reserved for group use, and a fishing float sits nearby for those who want to spend time on the water. Amenities include electric hookups, showers, and flush restrooms.
7. Cumberland Point Campground
Location: Lake Cumberland near Nancy, Kentucky
Price: $26
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232563
Cumberland Point Campground sits along a quiet section of Lake Cumberland and offers a shaded, 30-acre setting with 30 campsites. Fourteen of these sites are directly on the water, giving campers easy lake access and open views across the shoreline. The campground also has a day-use area, picnic shelter, and public parking near the entrance.
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, and a dump station. Visitors can use the boat ramp and playground inside the park, which helps keep most recreation within a short walk of camp. The smaller size of the campground adds to the relaxed feel, especially for travelers looking to avoid larger, busier loops.
8. Eureka Campground
Location: Barkley Lake near Kuttawa, Kentucky
Price: $20
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232585
Eureka Campground sits among the rolling hills around Lake Barkley, a large reservoir known for steady fishing and wide open water. Kentucky’s largest yellow bass was caught here, which keeps anglers coming back season after season.
The campground includes 26 campsites with water and electric hookups, along with hot showers, a playground, a swimming area, and a boat ramp. A picnic shelter can accommodate groups of up to 100 guests. The wooded surroundings and easy lake access give Eureka a simple, comfortable setup for weekend or extended stays.
9. Hurricane Creek
Location: Barkley Lake near Cadiz, Kentucky
Price: $30+
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232609
Hurricane Creek Campground sits along the wooded shoreline of Lake Barkley. The campground offers 51 sites with water and electric hookups, including six walk-to sites set back from the main loops. The rolling terrain gives many of the campsites shade and privacy, and the size of the lake provides plenty of room for boating and paddling.
Amenities include hot showers, laundry facilities, and a playground. Lake Barkley covers nearly 58,000 acres with more than a thousand miles of shoreline, so there is no shortage of places to fish or relax along the water.
10. Moutardier Campground
Location: Nolin River Lake near Bee Spring, Kentucky
Price: $32
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233556
Moutardier Campground sits along the shoreline of Nolin River Lake, a 5,795-acre reservoir that attracts more than two million visitors each year. The campground offers 167 campsites, all of which include modern amenities such as electric and water hookups, flush toilets, and shower houses. Many of the sites are on or near the water, keeping access convenient.
Visitors can use the swimming areas, boat ramps, and trails around the lake. The rolling forested surroundings and broad lake views give Moutardier a relaxed feel, and the size of the campground means there are plenty of options for both shaded and open sites. It continues to be one of the most visited campgrounds on the lake for those who want hookups along with water access.
Write a comment