Land Between the Lakes

[luckydc]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a campground in the Land Between the Lakes region? I have plenty of campground resources, so I am looking for a recommenation for a camp that someone stayed in and thought was great!

Thanks much.

[Joe Z]

Stayed at the Hillman Ferry Campground (Kentucky side) on my way to the factory and really enjoyed it. Beautiful sites, lots of trees, and mine happened to be right on the water! Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.lbl.org/CAMPHillman.html

Joe

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by luckydc

Does anyone have a recommendation for a campground in the Land Between the Lakes region? I have plenty of campground resources, so I am looking for a recommenation for a camp that someone stayed in and thought was great!

Thanks much.

There are 5 campgrounds in LBL that I am aware of. They are Piney, Hillman Ferry, Energy Lake, Wranglers Campground and LBL Big Pine. I made the mistake of pulling into LBL Big Pine thinking it was Piney. It had a small country store, a few cabins for rent and a number of gravel sites shaded by trees. The sites were very close together and there was no shower room. It is 2 miles from the South LBL entrance by LBL Bait and just past Cindy's Catfish Restaurant. While the people were very nice, I can't say it would be my first choice but I would stay there if the other campgrounds were full.

Wrangler's Campground is located in the middle of LBL 5 miles south of the Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium. I stayed in one of the 4 person cabin at Wranglers Campground. It didn't have a commode or washbasin but this has been 5 years ago so who knows what has happened by now. It did have a shower/washroom and it was pretty clean as were the cabins. The campground had Basic sites, Electric sites, Electric/Water sites and Electric/Water/Sewer sites. They even had seperate areas for Group/Electric sites. There were shower buildings, activity courts, horse rental, an Outpost, a Pavilion, playground, large & small rustic shelters and a dump station. Nice place best I can remember. Call 270-924-2044 for reservations. Last prices I had were $12 for Basic, $16 for Electric, $18 Electric/Water, $20 Electric/Water/Sewer. Water is not available November through March on campsites, but is available at the fill stations.

Piney, Hillman Ferry and Energy Lake have modern hookups as well as bathrooms/showers. Piney and Hillman Ferry have Outposts (stores) and mountain bike rentals. Piney has camping shelters. Piney is located 1.8 miles on Fort Henry Road west of the South Welcome Station. It is right on Kentucky Lake and is real nice. The boat launch area just south of Piney if not in the campground.

Energy Lake Campground is located north of Golden Pond Visitor Center on Energy Lake which is part of Lake Barkley. There is a boat launch area there.
I don't remember much about it. Call 1-800-525-7077 or (502)924-2000 for information on all these campgrounds or go to www.lbl.org

There are a number of other campgrounds without hookup at LBL. Rushing Creek Campground, Coulson Hollow Group Camp, Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Birmingham Ferry/Smith Bay, Cravens Bay, Fenton and Gatlin Point. Hope this helps.

[roger n cindy]

stay wherever but eat at cindys catfish rest.

roger

[john hd]

I made the mistake of pulling into LBL Big Pine thinking it was Piney.

been there done that, it was like the campground from "deliverance" .

the owner said "sure don't git many of them shiney trailers in here" and to top it off, that area is "dry". good thing i always travel with plenty of millers on board!

i stopped to get some backup brewskis out at the interstate and when i asked "where the hell is the beer?" i was greeted with a shrug. and the girl at the counter said "fourty miles this way or fourty miles that way" pointing at the highway!

so be forewarned and stock your fridge accordingly!

john

[Midamrail]

We really like Hillman Ferry, particularly the last loop to the south near the water. The sites are large and shaded and have full hookups.

If you're there, don't miss Patty's 1880s Homestead restaurant just to the north of the entrance to LBL. The food is outstanding, and we make a point to call a day ahead to order their Dutch apple pie any time we go through the area so we can pick it up and have it as dessert throughout our trip. When we passed through on the way to Florida back in November, our pie was warm and waiting when we got there!

[CaptainJones]

It depends on if you are going to LBL as a destination or just a stop over. There a lot of campgrounds in LBL (actually between the lakes) as well as outside the official LBL which are privately owned. There are some within minutes of I-24 while some would be 1 hour away or more.

All campgrounds are usually closed at least until the first of March and some until April 1st.

Whichever you are doing I totally agree on the stop at Patty's in Grand Rivers KY. The 3/4 inch porkchop is outstanding.

Greg

[norbert]

Originally Posted by Midamrail

If you're there, don't miss Patty's 1880s Homestead restaurant just to the north of the entrance to LBL. The food is outstanding

if they dont serve beer, john wont go......
norby

[CaptainJones]

Actually even though Kentucky is known for it's Bourbon more of the the state is "Dry" than is "Wet". Patty's is in a "Dry" county.

[wayne.yl]

You can't go wrong w/ hilman ferry. They do not take reservations during the summer season. Its first come, first serve. You shouldn't have any problem this time of year though. The sites to the south are the best as there are more of them on the water and in the trees. Further west outside of the lbl there are other campsites. Exit off of western ky pkwy on hwy 461 through Eddieville and follow it to over the bridge at cumberland river and over the damn at tennessee river and go south along west side of ky lake to Draeffenville and take hwy 68 south to aurora and kenlake marina for other campsite options. The newest campsite I am aware of is at the north end of lbl. Turn off hwy 461 at grand rivers to south on trace rd. Its just past Green turtle bay resort on the left. they take reservations there. I love the whole area as I grew up in Southern Indiana and spent my youth fishing Kentucky and Barkley lakes.
Wayne

[pmclemore]

Page and I also enjoyed Hillman Ferry. It was a nice, quiet, and attractive campground. (In fact, we were pleased to meet barkingspider there - he was heading North, we were returning East from CO). We especially enjoyed visiting the Farmstead a few miles South. We found the campground to be clean, and the staff friendly.

Pat

[luckydc]

Thanks for all the replies! I plan on spending a week in the region and, as you all know, it is always better to have a first hand recommendation for a campgound. How many times have I researched a campgound only to arrive an realize it is nothing like the advertisement!

It looks like Hillman Ferry is the place to stay.

Thanks again for all the replies!

[tcrum]

Anything new on LBL campgrounds?

[nilesrob]

Well, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is we stayed at a state (national?) campground at LbtL's in 2009 and have pictures. The bad news - can't remember the campground. I do know that it was a LONG dirt road off the major road to get to the campground.

Great place for kayaks!

[MonaxLisa]

Stayed in one of those campgrounds in a camper last year after it had been flooded. Worst place we stayed by far. I was out of the truck with my dogs for about three minutes and we were COVERED in ticks!
Picked several off of my dogs and two off of my mom and one off of me.
It was terrible!
Hope you have a better visit than I did