Green River Lake was created when the Army Corp of Engineers built a dam on Green River in between the towns of Campbellsville and Columbia in 1969. The result was a beautiful lake, ripe for recreation, right in the heart of Central Kentucky. It’s one of our favorite places to get away with the family for a quick trip.
The lake lies within easy reach of Lexington and Louisville and is close enough to most of Kentucky for a day trip or weekend getaway. It’s a nice, quiet retreat away from the busy-ness of daily life and the hustle and bustle of larger towns.
When we visit, we usually choose to camp. We’ve rounded up the best campgrounds on Green River Lake to help you plan your next trip.
Green River Lake State Park Campground
In general, we often choose to stay at state park campgrounds when we travel because they are reliably well-maintained and usually have nice amenities. Green River Lake Campground is no different. The campground offers 167 RV sites with hookups and 60 primitive tent sites. The entire campground is just steps away from the lakeshore and every site has views of the lake. Highlights include a well-maintained swim beach with bathhouse, 2 kids playgrounds, and a miniature golf course right on-site. You’ll be within easy reach of all of the hiking and biking trails, boat launches and more that Green River Lake State Park has to offer.
179 Park Office Road, Campbellsville, KY 42718 | 270-465-8255
Holmes Bend Campground
Holmes Bend is another nice, well-maintained campground on Green River Lake. It’s operated by the Corp of Engineers and offers RV and primitive camping. There’s an on-site bathhouse with showers and a playground for kids. Holmes bend is surrounded by forest and the lakeshore. There’s also easy access to walking trails. The campground is within close proximity to Holmes Bend Beach and the boat dock. Pets are welcome. In addition to campsites they also have cabin rentals, houseboats and a variety of watercraft rentals.
69 Corp Road, Columbia, KY 42728 | 270-364-4623
Pikes Ridge Campground
Pikes Ridge is a great place to camp at an affordable price. The campground is small but well-maintained and offers stunning views of Green River Lake. There’s 60 campsites, 20 of them waterfront. There’s no bathhouse at Pikes Ridge, but pit and portable toilets are available. The campground is perfect for those who really want to get away, but it’s quite remote. The closest store is 14 miles away. The roads getting to the campground are very narrow and meeting other vehicles can be tricky.
4725 Pikes Ridge Road, Columbia, KY 42728 | 270-465-6488
Green River Resort RV Park
Green River Resort RV Park is not located on the lakeshore. However, it is right outside the state park entrance. There’s a bathhouse with showers and restrooms, an in-ground swimming pool, and on-site store. There’s also a bar and grill on site – Tuckers Tiki Bar & Grill which is probably the closest place to eat to the state park. The campground is designed for RVs with full hook ups (water, electric, cable and sewer). There’s on-site wifi, a splash pad and playground.
1293 Lone Valley Road, Campbellsville, KY 42718 | 270-572-4226
Smith Ridge Campground
Smith Ridge Campground doesn’t have it’s own marina or a swim beach right at the campsites, but it is within easy reach of Emerald Isle Marina, Smith Ridge boat ramp and a swim beach. The campground is tucked away in a nice wooded location and has 80 campsites: 62 sites with electric only and 30 with both water and electric hookups. There are flush toilets, fire rings, showers, dump stations and drinking water to help your stay be more comfortable. The campground has its own on-site hiking trail and playground for even more fun during your visit.
35 County Park Road, Campbellsville, KY 42718 | 270-789-2743
Campfire Ridge RV Park/Campground
Campfire Ridge RV Park is a nice, quiet place to park your RV if you aren’t looking for loads of amenities and prefer to be away from the crowds. It’s a small, private RV park with 21 level sites that each have full hookups. RV sites are 30′ x 60′ and are half gravel and half grass. Guests can enjoy use of a playground and pavilion during their stay. The campground doesn’t have lake views or lake access itself, but it’s approximately 1 mile away from Smith Ridge boat ramp, so there’s easy access if you’d like to get out on the water. Campfire Ridge welcomes pets and has plenty of room for your furry friends to run and play.
300 Capps Road, Campbellsville, KY 42718 | 502-762-7644
