Land Between The Lakes Camping

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Campgrounds & Backcountry Camping

There's nothing like camping. You might enjoy all the amenities campgrounds have to offer: facilities, hook-ups, recreational programs, etc. But you may also prefer "roughin' it" in the backcountry with a simple hammock and supplies.

Campgrounds

Land Between The Lakes has four full-service campgrounds and several other basic camping areas in the national recreation area.

Hillman Ferry Campground

Located in the North end of LBL near Grand Rivers, Ky., Hillman Ferry campground has 380 campsites offering a variety of services and amenities. Hillman is nestled along the shores of Kentucky Lake between Moss Creek and Pisgah Bay, so the campground offers many lakefront and lakeview sites.

Landlubbers can sleep among the tall trees at one of our many woodland locations, too. You can pitch a tent, or hook up your RV at our basic, water, sewer or electric sites. All campsites have a fire ring and picnic table.

Other general amenities available at the campground include modern restrooms with showers, resident staff on duty, and an Outpost Supply center offering camping supplies and rentals (open April to October).

Enjoy your stay! There's lots to do: Hillman Ferry Campground has a large swimming beach area, plus two boat launching ramps and a fish cleaning station. Groups can also make use of our outdoor campfire theater and pavilion.

Love the outdoors? Then rent a mountain bike from our Outpost and hit one of the trails designed for Hillman campers. Hiking trails, an archery range, and ballfield are also available.

During the summer months, our staff leads a variety of recreation programs for all ages.

Location: 820 Hillman Ferry Road, Grand Rivers, Ky.
Phone: 270-924-2181.

Wrangler's Campground

Wranglers Campground and its network of horse trails are located in one of the most scenic spots at LBL. Bordering Lake Barkley and beautiful Fords Bay on the east, and nestled between Laura Furnace Creek and Lick Creek on the West, it's the only place at LBL designed for horseback riders and wagons.

Trails wind through rolling hills, forests filled with wildlife, and along the shores of Lake Barkley.

Some of LBL's most unique historic sites are found along the trail. Ride to the ruins of Laura Furnace, once a major iron producer, silent now for over 100 years.

Deer, wild turkey, majestic hawks, and a shoreline teeming with waterfowl are just a few of the pleasures you'll find along the trail!

Location: 5100 Laura Furnace Road, Golden Pond, Ky.
Phone: 270-924-2201

Energy Lake Campground

Energy Lake is a quiet inlet separated from the rest of Lake Barkley by Energy Dam. Campers can enjoy Energy's beach, activity area, or rent a canoe.

Energy Lake offers a variety of activities and can accommodate groups, families and other campers. This makes it a popular camping spot for scout troops, school groups, reunions and other large groups. Lakeview and wooded campsites are equipped with electrical hookups which can accommodate RVs and campers.

Hiking trails surround Energy Campground; there are also canoe rentals, a swimming beach, activity field for sports like softball, an archery range, campfire theater, assembly building, and a paved play court.

Location: 5501 Energy Lake Drive, Golden Pond, Ky.
Phone: 270-924-2270

Piney Campground

Sleep among the whispering pines at Piney Campground, located at LBL's southern tip along the shores of beautiful Kentucky Lake. Piney campers can take advantage of a variety of lakefront and woodland camping options. With more than 300 electric sites that can accommodate large motor homes, Piney is a favorite among RVers.

But if you're not in the RV crowd, don't worry: tent campers can bed down at one of Piney's basic campsites. And if a less rustic camping experience is in order, Piney also has several Camping Shelters. Camping Shelters are ideal for families with children or those who want to camp but don't have the equipment.

The one-room buildings have beds, ceiling fans, tables and chairs, electric outlets and a large porch, plus picnic tables and fire rings. Those staying in Camping Shelters use the campground restroom and shower facilities. Pets are not allowed to stay in Camping Shelters.

Piney also has many recreational opportunities for campground users. Campers can rent a bike at the Outpost Supply Center (open April to October) and explore a network of bike trails or test their skills on the Bike Skills Court.

There's also an archery range, playground, ballfields, swimming beach, campfire theater, boat ramps and fishing pier. During the summer months, the staff leads a variety of recreation programs for all ages.

Location: 621 Fort Henry Road, Dover, Tenn.
Phone: 931-232-5331

Backcountry Camping

The places to spend the night or two in the backcountry number in the hundreds! Also called "dispersed camping", pitching a tent in the middle of nowhere might be just what the doctor ordered.

You can camp just about anywhere with a permit, but there are some restrictions:

You can stay up to 14 nights if you choose. If you want to spend more time that than, you'll need to move your tent at least a mile away from your previous spot.

Get permits online here.

Basic Camping Areas

If you prefer a basic camping amenities such as a vault toilet, trash cans, mowed areas and perhaps even a boat ramp, one of these basic camping areas might suit you.

Basic Campgrounds

A step up from Basic Camping Areas, you'll find defined campsites, fire rings and/or grills, picnic tables, vault toilet, trash cans, mowed areas and a boat ramp. 

Self-Service Campgrounds

These offer a source of drinking water, designated campsite pads, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, vault toilets, trash service, lake access and boat ramps.