Camping
Pick a spot, pitch your tent, or park your RV – start making memories with us! Land Between the Lakes offers a variety camping opportunities for you. Bring your boat! Boat ramps can be found throughout Land Between the Lakes with access to both Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. Take the challenge! Travel the 300 mile undeveloped shoreline and camp along the way.
Links & Information:
Developed Campground Links:
Come Explore All of the Ways to Spend the Night at Land Between the Lakes:
Basic and Backcountry Camping
Each person 18 and older must possess a Basic and Backcountry Camping Permit
Basic and Backcountry Camping is prohibited:
- • Within cemeteries, picnic areas, and day-use areas
- • With horses
- • Within nightly fee campgrounds
- • Within Colson Hollow Group Camp
- • Within Brandon Spring Group Center
- • Within Woodlands Nature Watch Area between Mulberry Flat Road and Silver Trail Road, east of Taylor Bay to Lake Barkley
- • Within 200 yards of US68/KY80, Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway (formerly The Trace), Mulberry Flat, Silver Trail, KY Lake Drive, and Fort Henry roads
- • Within 200 yards of any public day-use facility, Nature Watch Demonstration Area in TN south of Ft. Henry Road, or Central Hardwoods Scenic Trail
- • Maximum stay, 21 nights during any 30 consecutive days. On day 22, camping unit and occupants must move off Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Basic Camping Facilities with Boat Ramps:
- • Demumbers Bay
- • Ginger Bay
- • Neville Bay
- • Pisgah Point
- • Twin Lakes
Some areas have picnic tables, fire rings, dumpsters, and toilets.
Basic Camping Permits available:
- • Online 24/7
- • Golden Pond Visitor Center and Wranglers Campground year-round
- • March through November: North and South Welcome Stations, Homeplace, Nature Station; Hillman Ferry, Piney, and Energy Lake campgrounds
- • Discounts of any kind do not apply
- • Two copies; repurchase if both are lost
- • The Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit is not applicable at Self-Service Camping Areas.
Seasonal Camping: Call 270.924.2044; Short term sites, three to nine months, are available at Cravens Bay Camping Campground and Taylor Bay Backcountry Campground.
Colson Hollow Group Camp: Call 270.924.2044; Reservation required Fees begin at $40.
Self-Service Campgrounds
Read sign and instructions at entrance. The Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit is not applicable at Self-Service Camping Areas.
Cravens Bay, Fenton, Nickell Branch, Birmingham Ferry, Smith Bay, Sugar Bay, Taylor Bay, Boswell Landing, Gatlin Point and Redd Hollow are small campgrounds that have designated sites with access to picnic tables, fire rings, toilets, boat ramps, and dumpsters. In addition, Cravens Bay has flush toilets and sells ice seasonally; Fenton offers designated sites with electric hook-ups.
- • Within 30 minutes of arrival, fill out envelope, insert camping fee, and deposit in metal fee tube. See Rate Chart at entrance
- • Senior and Access Pass cardholders receive 50% off self-service camping, must possess a card to receive discount, and must occupy the site. Card may not be borrowed by a family member or friend
- • Camping fee is per camping unit, per night (RV, van, pop-up, etc). Two tents are considered one camping unit. Example: three or four tents are considered two camping units; one camper and one tent are two camping units
- • Each fee allows two vehicles and up to eight people per camping unit, per night
- • Two camping units allowed on each site
- • All camping units, including vehicles, must be placed on designated site pads; Not on grass
- • Maximum stay, 21 nights during any 30 consecutive days. On day 22, camping unit and occupants must move off Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Protect Heritage and Natural Resources
- • Metal detectors strictly prohibited.
- • Wildlife and plants are protected. Damaging or destroying plants or trees is illegal including carvings and nails in trees; lanterns hanging against trees; cutting, removing, injuring, digging, or destroying living plants. (Mushrooms, nuts, berries, or other fruit may be picked or gathered.)
- • Destruction, defacement, disturbance, or removal of any building, sign, structure, barrier, natural feature, archaeological artifact (including “scrap” metal), or public property of any kind is prohibited.
Rules of the Road
- • Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) designates roads where public motor vehicle use is authorized in Land Between the Lakes. Obtaining this information is your responsibility. Available on our maps page(print at home), North and South Welcome Stations, and Golden Pond Visitor Center.
- • All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, campers, and RVs must be properly licensed.
- • Roads signed “Cemetery Use Only” are only to be accessed by those visiting the cemetery. No recreational access allowed.
- • Parking is permitted within one vehicle length off a Forest Service authorized road.
- • Blocking access to any road, trail, or gate is prohibited.
- • 50mph speed limit on Woodlands Trace.
- • Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), including trail bikes, motorcross bikes, mini-bikes, all-terrain vehicles, three and four-wheelers, may be operated in Turkey Bay OHV Area only. Street legal and state registered motorcross bikes are legal to ride on all authorized roads.
- • Moped operators must comply with all Land Between the Lakes and state regulations.
- • Kentucky: Scooter/moped/motorized cycle operators must have a valid state driver’s license.
- • Tennessee: Scooter/moped/ motorized cycle operators must have a Motor Driven Cycle License and wear a helmet.
- • Biking is not permitted on Nature Station Trails or south of Golden Pond North/South Trail. Fort Henry Trails are open to mountain biking.
- • Golf carts are prohibited except at Cravens Bay, Hillman Ferry, Energy Lake, and Piney campgrounds.
Backpacking
A person must carry all his/her camping equipment and personal belongings in a backpack and wear it on his/her back; walk via a hiking trail to camp one or more nights, generally moving along the trail to a different location by foot each day. This does not include parking a vehicle and carrying supplies by hand to a campsite nearby.
Developed Campground Regulations
Hillman Ferry, Piney, Energy, and Wranglers Campgrounds.
- • After Hours Arrival:If you arrive after gatehouse hours, refer to the posted instructions, occupy your assigned site, and return by 9am the following day for check-in.
- • Alcohol: Possessing alcoholic beverages in violation of any KY or TN State law, regulation, or statue is prohibited.
- • Campfires:All campfires must be contained in fire rings. Extinguish fire thoroughly before leaving the site. Do not burn trash. Fire rings should not be removed from their locations.
- • Camping Equipment:Camping equipment may not be left unattended overnight.
- • Camping Unit: A camping unit is one sleeping tent or one wheeled vehicle--such as a Recreational Vehicle, motorhome, pop-up trailer, trailer, fifth-wheel, truck camper, van camper, or a truck or SUV with topper or overland camping style unit. A camping fee is charged for each camping unit.
- • Campsite: Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis or at time of registration by reservation. We encourage you to reserve and pay for your entire intended stay as your site may not be available for extension otherwise.
- • Campsite Capacity: Each paid campsite allows for two vehicles. Additional visitors and vehicles will be charged. Campsites are limited to a maximum of eight people per site, five overnight vehicles, and two camping units in which only one may be wheeled. When the number exceeds the maximum, a second site must be rented, paid for, and occupied by an additional camping unit. Please refer to specific campgrounds for guidance.
- • Campsite Change: Changing campsites requires staff to check availability before you can move. A change fee will be applied. If gatehouse staff is unavailable, check the “After Hours” notice posted on gatehouse information board for guidance.
- • Campsite Gravel Pad: All camping units and equipment must be placed on prepared gravel campsite pads. Stakes can be driven through the gravel campsite pads. Stakes cannot be driven into blacktop camping pads.
- • Campsite Occupation: A camping unit must occupy the site immediately after registration and must be fully set up including tents and pop-up trailers. Sites may not be “held” with a temporary camping unit. At least one adult, 18 years of age or older, and a proper camping unit must occupy the site the first night and may not be left unattended overnight. Campers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- • Check in/out Time: Check-in is 4:30pm, You may check in anytime of your arrival date if the site is vacant. Check-out is 3:30pm. A one-night late fee will be assessed after 3:30pm.
- • Commercial Activities: Require a special use permit. No items shall be sold, advertised, or displayed. No solicitation or printed materials.
- • Emergency: In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1.
- • For non-emergency situations or to report a theft, loss, accident, or disturbance – contact the campground staff or call Forest Service Law Enforcement at 877-861-2457.
- • Glass Containers: Glass containers are not permitted in public areas.
- • Group Activity Shelters: All registered campers share activity shelters unless reserved in advance.
- • Hunting: Hunters must possess both a valid state hunting license and a Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit to engage in Hunting Activities while on Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
- • Late Arrivals: Campers must arrive, check-in, and occupy the reserved site within 24-hours from the scheduled arrival date. After 24-hours no refund will be given, and the site becomes available.
- • Liability:Land Between The Lakes is neither liable nor responsible for damage, loss, or theft of personal property or for injuries to visitors.
- • Length of Stay: Regulations limit camping to up to 21 days in a camping loop. After 21 days in a loop, you must move to another loop or area for a minimum of 7 days before returning to previous camping loop.
- • Minimum Stay: We have a two-night minimum stay on weekends and a three-night minimum stay on holidays with reservations.
- • Natural Resources: All wildlife and plants are protected. Please do not feed the wildlife. Use fallen branches as firewood. Do not nail, carve, or hang anything, including lanterns, on trees.
- • No Wake Zones: near swimming areas, boat ramps and fishing docks.
- • Parking: All vehicles must park on campsite gravel pad or in designated overflow areas.
- • Pets: Pets must be on a leash of 6-feet or less and under physical control at all times while in campground. You are required to clean up after your pet. Pets are not permitted in any buildings. Pets must not be left unattended.
- • Prohibited: Fireworks, firearms, metal detectors, vehicle maintenance, discharging gray or black water, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway vehicles (OHV), and archery target practice are prohibited at all times. Archery and firearm target practice are allowed in the Golden Pond Firing Range off US68/KY80. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV’s) are allowed at Turkey Bay OHV Area.
- • Recycle: Please recycle.
- • Reservations: Reservations may be made beginning six months to two days before arrival date for a select number of campsites above the flood plain. You can make reservations anytime online at www.usedirect.com/CampLBL or Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm Central Time when calling 1-800-525-7077.
- Reservations are complete when full payment is made via Visa, MasterCard or Discover charge or debit cards. Non-refundable reservation fees will be charged. In addition, change fees and cancellation fees may also be charged. Refer to camping fees for details.
- • Reservations Group Camping: Reservations for Brandon Spring Group Center and Colson Hollow Group Camp can be made by calling 270-924-2044.
- • Road Rules: 15 mph speed limit in campgrounds; Follow all state and federal regulations. Golf carts are allowed on campground roads and only by a state-licensed driver.
- • Safety: You are responsible for your own safety. Camp and recreate at your own risk. If you have a safety concern or injury, notify Campground Staff.
- • Seasonal Camping Program: A limited number of campsites are available for seasonal camping for two to nine months at Hillman Ferry, Piney and Wranglers developed campgrounds. Lottery drawings follow. Applications available online in mid-November. For more information call 270-924-2044.
- • Speed Limits: A 15 mph speed limit will be enforced on the entrance road and a 10 mph speed limit for camping and unloading areas. Please use these areas for their designated use.
- • Swimming Beaches: Permitted for registered campers only, during daylight hours. Pets and glass NOT permitted. No lifeguard on duty - swimming is at your own risk. Water shoes and life jackets are encouraged. Swimming at boat ramps and courtsey docks is prohibited.
- • Quiet Hours: Quiet hours 11pm to 6am. Generators must be silenced during this time unless in a designated 24-hour generator area. Limit vehicle traffic to entering and exiting.
- • Visitors: All visitors must register at the gatehouse and must be visiting a registered camper, and obtain a current vehicle permit. Visiting hours are from 6am – 11pm; Vehicle fee is $5 for up to 8 people. After 11pm; a full camping fee will be charged. To conserve parking space and maintain security, only registered campers may bring in recreational equipment such as boats, golf carts, RV’s, etc. Acquire a map of Land Between the Lakes to see a list of available boat ramps. All vehicles and equipment must be removed from the campground when checked out.
- • Water: Protect our water supply; please use biodegradable products. Discharge gray or black water at designated dump stations only. Do not clean fish or other game in shower buildings, sinks, or at water faucets and hydrants. Do not wash dishes, brush teeth, or wash up at potable water sources. Do not wash vehicles or trailers at campground. Do not connect hoses to faucets or plug campers into outlets at shower buildings. To help protect our water supply from harmful bacteria, detach hoses from hydrants and remove from area when not in use. Do not tie up pets to hydrants. For your safety, state certified employees monitor our drinking water. Wastewater is processed on site through state permitted treatment facilities and eventually discharged into lakes.
