Renting an RV in Kentucky
Kentucky is known for many things: bourbon, bluegrass, bluffs of stone lining the interstate. To the north, green pastures give way to rolling hills. In the south, the world’s longest network of caves hide just below the surface. And to the east, the Cumberland Gap sits the same Gateway to the West it ever was. In between, the state of Kentucky offers travelers and nature enthusiasts something new over each rocky cliff and winding road. To see it all, you’ve got to go mobile.
Renting an RV in Kentucky is not only a smart way to make your very own tour of the state’s natural wonders—it might be the best way.
The same can be said about the Red River Gorge area, where a campsite-on-wheels gives you access to several attractions within the region, including Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Renting an RV allows you to expand your camping trip from one destination into many, and gives you the flexibility to plan around a single home base or to pick up and move camp as you go.
Kentucky’s place south of the great glacial flows and nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians makes for a varied and interesting landscape. No two places are alike, but fans of tree and stone and rushing water will always find a place to take in some of the state’s Southern hospitality—and maybe even a look at a Corvette concept car or two.
The park offers ample opportunities for wildlife sightseeing, beautiful hiking trails, guided tours of caves and historical sites, and, of course, plenty of camping. The park’s Wilderness Road Campground offers electric hookups at all 41 of its campsites, which are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. They can accommodate most RVs up to 50 feet, so this is the place to be to enjoy Kentucky with your luxurious RV rental.
Learn more about Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
The museum itself houses over 80 Corvettes and concept cars to take you on a 1-to-2-hour tour of Corvette history. The Corvette Café has rave reviews, so be sure to come hungry. You can extend your visit with a tour of the nearby Corvette assembly plant.
Learn more about the National Corvette Museum.
Some of the distilleries are very close—within eight miles of one another—which means you can fit several stops into a single day. Plan for about 90 minutes for each tour, plus extra time for arrival and exploring each location’s hospitality offerings. Nowhere else in the world can you get a look at a process so scientific yet rustic, as towering storehouses full of bourbon barrels fit into the hilly Kentucky landscape right beside some of the most high-tech beverage manufacturing facilities anywhere on earth.
Learn more about Bourbon Trail.
Of course, there are the cave tours, which have accessible options, and can all be reserved in advance—but there’s much more to Mammoth Cave National Park. Enjoy horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, and plenty of ranger-led programs to get the most from your stay in the park. There are three campgrounds plus a backcountry site, but RV campers should focus on reserving a site at Mammoth Cave Campground or Maple Springs Campground.
Learn more about Mammoth Cave National Park.
There’s no shortage of RV-friendly campsites in the area with your choice of electric, electric and water, and electric, water, and sewer hookups—all available in both 30-amp and 50-amp setups. Reserve your spot at either Energy Campground, Hillman Ferry Campground, Piney Campground, or Wranglers Campground in advance, and get ready for a camping vacation tailor-made for an RV rental.
Learn more about Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Barren River Lake State Resort Park is truly the best of both worlds—both a remarkable state park and a resort all in one. On one hand, there are hiking trails, fishing, watersports, and wildlife watching you’d expect from a state park. On the other, a restaurant with a focus on southern cooking and local craft beer—and a full 18-hole golf course. When you factor in the park’s proximity to Mammoth Cave State Park and the National Corvette Museum, Barren River Lake makes for a perfect vacation hub.
The park offers 99 campsites with electric, water, and sewer hookups available. Staying on-site with your RV puts you close to the park’s many recreational activities, while also giving you the flexibility to take day trips out to the caves or any other destination in Southern Kentucky.
Learn more about Barren River Lake State Resort Park.
RV parking is not allowed within Natural Bridge State Resort Park, but there are many RV-friendly campgrounds nearby throughout the greater Red River Gorge area. Choose a site close by, then drive-in for a truly unique day trip at Natural Bridge.
Learn more about Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
Calcite is one of the most alluring minerals you’ll find in a cave, with its naturally iridescent colors and tendency to collect in jaw-dropping formations. Diamond Caverns inside Mammoth Cave State Park capitalizes on this with a fully lit cave tour that shows you the colorful splendor of calcite up-close and personal.
The guided tours of Diamond Caverns run year-round, with regular tours in the spring and summer months, and set tour times in the fall and winter. The caves keep at a cool 58 degrees, so come prepared with a jacket even in the warmer seasons. Plan for an hour-long tour, plus time at the gift shop on the way out.
Learn more about Diamond Caverns.
Deep inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Red River Gorge is an ideal RV destination for athletic outdoor enthusiasts. There are several campgrounds with electric hookups throughout the region, including the KoA Natural Bridge Campground which puts you close to the amenities of Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
Learn more about Red River Gorge.
Scuba diving is hard to come by in the landlocked center of the country, but the crystal-clear waters of Laurel River Lake make for the perfect underwater getaway. If staying above the surface is more your style, you can’t do much better for fishing, boating, and even waterskiing than Laurel River Lake. The shore is lined with striking bluffs and sprawling tree cover—ideal for snagging trout during a night fishing excursion.
Holly Bay and Grove Campgrounds accommodate RVs, with many electric sites where you can set up a home base for your daytime adventures. If that includes time spent on the water, contact nearby Grove Marina and Holly Bay Marina, which offer rentals, fishing licenses, and any other aquatic service for an enjoyable lake vacation.
Learn more about Laurel River Lake.
First up is Cave County RV Campground in Cave City, Kentucky. Just five miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, this is one of the most conveniently located RV parks in Kentucky for out-of-state visitors making their way to the caves.
Second, we have Elizabethtown Crossroads Campground in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Another on-the-way park just off I-65, Elizabethtown Crossroads offers plenty of shade, a playground, a pool, and plenty of peace and quiet.
Third, is Falls Creek Cabins & Campground in Corbin, Kentucky. This RV-friendly park is located just down the road from Falls Creek and its many attractions. Also, it’s not far from the Sanders Café—the original Kentucky Fried Chicken!
There are many, many more. Any of the locations listed above will have multiple campgrounds surrounding them and most have campgrounds right at the destination itself. You should have no trouble finding a good place to park your rented RV in Kentucky. If you need some good recommendations, check out Good Sam’s list of campgrounds.
Kentucky is anything but a flat state, with hills and ravines and river valleys at every turn. If you’re coming from a flatter part of the country, keep in mind that many of the destinations in the state will involve driving your rented RV up and down plenty of hills. Fortunately, the state only averages 11 inches of snow per year—less than half the US average—so you should enjoy safe and clear roads year-round.
Also, despite being the birthplace of bourbon, keep in mind that most camping destinations in the state do not allow alcohol of any kind. Enjoy the Bourbon Trail—but keep the sampling to the distilleries and save the bottles for home!
Boondocking is generally not allowed in Kentucky state parks. Federal parks often allow dry camping, or what they refer to as dispersed camping, so if you’re looking for a free place to set up for the night without any hookups, contact rangers at any of the state’s national forests: Daniel Boone, George Washington, and Fort Knox.
A few other notable wilderness areas that are well-regarded for boondocking in the RV community include Wilson Creek Recreation Area, S Tree Campground, and Turkey Foot Campground. RV owners also report success at interstate rest areas, truck stops, and large retail parking lots.