4 Amazing RV Parks Near Louisville: From a Local
RV Parks Near Louisville, KY
Louis-ville, Lu-vill, Loo-ee-ville—how do you even say Louisville? If you are a local, you pronounce it “Lu-vill,” but the correct pronunciation is “Loo-ee-ville.” Louisville got its name from a French King named Louis.
Guess what? Louis and all his French subjects pronounced his name like “Louie.” And that’s why our city is named Louisville—pronounced ” Lou-e-ville.”
Louisville is a great city, and its location is prime to many larger towns and attractions. Louisville is best known for the Louisville Slugger, KFC, Kentucky Derby, and Bourbon. We sit on the border of Kentucky and Indiana and are so lucky to have many great options to camp at and explore. Whether you are looking for a natural or a more suburban holiday park in Louisville, KY, we have something for you!
And yes it’s totally possible to have an amazing time in Louisville, Kentucky camping!
TL;DR: Are you in a hurry and need a quick summary?
Louisville offers so many fun things to experience that travelers should visit for a long weekend or longer to enjoy everything! We share our top 4 best RV parks near Louisville, Kentucky, and some thoughts on other campgrounds near Louisville, including some free options.
Follow along as we share details on 4 amazing RV parks for Louisville camping, where we love to spend our weekends and holidays.
- Charlestown State Park
- General Butler State Park
- Elkhorn Creek RV Park
- Sycamore Springs Park
Top RV Camping Sites Near Louisville: From a Local
Since we live in Louisville and have jobs and school-age children, we are mostly weekend warrior campers. We sneak in a few longer trips when we can. We camp anywhere from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours from our house on the weekends. So we have a lot of knowledge about what is nearby and where you should camp!
Want to learn about planning camping trips?
Pro Tip: Louisville is home to some unbelievable fall foilage and is a must visit destination in the fall!
Charlestown State Park
Charlestown State Park is our favorite place to camp, close to Louisville! It is actually in Charlestown, IN, and is about a 25-minute drive into downtown Louisville. This state park offers 129 electric sites and 57 FHU sites. There is a water filling station on the way in and a dump station on the way out. Both are easy to navigate!
There are three loops:
- The main loop
- The Mulberry Loop
- The PawPaw Loop
We have stayed in several sites in the PawPaw Loop, both FHU and electric only. The electric-only sites are more private and offer shade, these are our favorite!
How Much Does Charlestown State Park Cost to Camp At: The Low Down
Electric sites are only $23/ night and FHU are $30-40/night, what a deal! There is a $7 fee to enter the park, or $9 for out-of-state license plates, which is good for 7 days. This park is open year round but full amenities are only guaranteed May-October. This means there may not be any water or bathhouses to use! So plan accordingly.
The bathhouses are older and have a push-button shower. The hot water is minimal but it feels great in our warmer summer months, a little chilly when it is colder in the spring and fall!
Camping is available year-round at Charlestown State Park. However, water is only available at the campground entrance and no dump station is available during the winter season. We advise you to check with the park for specific details between November 1st and March 31st.
What to do at Charlestown State Park
There are over 15 miles of hiking trails here and a boat dock to the Ohio River. We have hiked every trail and they vary in length from 1-4 miles. They are all beautiful and a little different!
Our favorite is the Rose Island Trail. It is a steep walk down a paved drive to Fourteen Mile Creek. Once you cross the bridge there are remnants of a 1920’s era amusement park. There are some signs to read and you can definitely envision the fun that was had here. We recommend taking trail #3 or #4 to the parking lot to avoid the steep hike back up the paved drive. It is slightly longer to do this but shaded and easier!
This park is a hidden gem and a great home base for your visit to Louisville!
General Butler State Park
General Butler is another of our favorite places to camp close to home. It is located in Carrolton, KY, about 50 miles to downtown Louisville. There are just over 100 campsites and a few FHU sites. Most sites are water and electric and there is a dump station available.
How Much Does General Butler State Park Cost to Camp At: The Low Down
Prices range from $30-40/night and only sites #42-51 are FHU! Definitely look at the pictures on the sites at this campground. Some sights are small, not level, or have a steep drop-off. Other sites are level, long, and perfect! We have stayed in several of the FHU sites and most sites on this part of the park are in great shape and big rig-friendly.
Camping is available year-round at General Butler State Park. However, water is turned off and no dump station is available during the winter season. We advise you to check with the park for specific details between November 1st and March 31st.
What to do at General Butler
There are 8 hiking trails ranging from .25 miles-4.5 miles and even a trail for mountain biking. You can also fish, boat, or kayak on Lake Butler. There is also an archery range and miniature golf in this park. There is also a pool but it has not been open for several years due to repairs needed. This is a beautiful place to get away from the city or be centrally located between Louisville and Cincinnati!
Interested in enjoying some hiking trails? Don’t miss our review of the Best Family Hiking Trails at General Butler State Park.
Elkhorn Creek RV Park
Elkhorn Creek RV Park is located in Frankfort, KY, about 1 hour to downtown Louisville but prime Bourbon Country area to explore! There is a pool, volleyball, and basketball courts, putt-putt, and a nice bathhouse.
How Much Does Elkhorn Creek Cost to Camp At: The Low Down
Our favorite sites are the water/electric-only sites right on the creek. These sites will run you about $50-60/night. They also have some FHU and pull-through sites but those sites are a little tighter and closer to the seasonal campers. We enjoy being right on the creek and having a little more privacy!
Elkhorn Creek offers winter camping with special rates for the winter season!
What to do at Elkhorn Creek
When we stayed at this campground, we enjoyed taking a tour with Canoe KY. The kayak trips are fun and the scenery is beautiful.
Elkhorn Creek RV Park has partnered with the Kentucky Bourbon Boys to offer a guided tour of several distilleries. This includes your own private tour guide and transportation. We have used the Kentucky Bourbon Boys before and they are very knowledgeable, you will enjoy this experience and not have to worry about driving while partaking in our magnificent Kentucky bourbon!
Sycamore Springs Park
Sycamore Springs Park is located in English, IN, about 50-60 minutes from downtown Louisville. This is a “no refund park.” If you call and speak to an employee at least 7 days before your reservation, they will look for another date but you will not get your money back if you need to cancel!
How Much Does Sycamore Springs Park Cost to Camp At: The Low Down
This campground has so many different sites, some on the lake, on the creek, or in the woods. Sites are $25-45 depending on the view and utilities provided. There are pull-through, back-in, and tent camping sites available, something for everyone here!
Sycamore Springs closes during the winter season!
What to do at Sycamore Springs
Sycamore Springs has 2 hiking trails through the park, and it’s close to Hoosier National Forest for other great hiking. This campground has more playgrounds than we have ever seen before. Every site is close to a playground area, and each playground is unique. We also enjoyed the free firewood available. Much of it still needed to be split, but it was a nice perk.
More RV Parks Near Louisville for Camping
So we went over our 4 favorite places to RV camp near Louisville. Now, let’s discuss other camping options. We have not camped at any of these listed below, so use your judgment and read reviews! I try to keep up with reviews others have made for mental notes of where we want to try to camp and where to steer others away from.
Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center
The Expo Center has some hookups and this is a great option if you have an event to attend here. The sites are no frills and no shade and will run you $75/night, but the location is great if you are attending the Kentucky State Fair, Kentucky Derby 150, Farm Machinery Show, Lawn and Garden Expo, or another event hosted at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center!
Taylorsville Lake State Park
Our family has hiked at Taylorsville State Park which is 40 miles from downtown Louisville but we have yet to camp here. This is on our list, though! The sites are mostly 20/30 amp sites. The campground offers several horse camping sites available!
Taylorsville Lake Campground is an ideal destination for those eager to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Kentucky and the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Conveniently situated near the acclaimed Bourbon Trail, this campground serves as an excellent base, allowing easy exploration of this iconic Kentucky highlight. Whether you’re here to bask in the great outdoors or to embark on a journey through the historic distilleries, Taylorsville Lake Campground caters to all aspects of your adventurous spirit.
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area
Otter Creek is about 30 miles from downtown Louisville. These sites are water and electric only and there are some horse camping sites as well. This is an area we have hiked at before and enjoyed it. We still need to try out the campground. You can camp here from $12-22!
Deam Lake State Recreation Area (IN)
Deam Lake is only 20 miles from Downtown Louisville! There are many RV sites, cabins and horse camping here. The RV sites are water and electric only. This is another spot on our list to try!
Deam Lake offers miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. This park serves as the southern starting point for the Knobstone Trail (Indiana’s longest hiking trail). The lake offers fishing and swimming.
Buffalo Trace Campground
Buffalo Trace (not the bourbon distillery in KY) is located in Palmyra, IN, about 30 minutes from Downtown Louisville. It is run by the Harrison County Parks and costs $21.50/night. We have heard great things about this campground and a wonderful option to be close to Louisville!
Lake Shelby Park and Campground
Lake Shelby Campground is located in Shelbyville, KY, just 30 miles from downtown Louisville or 20 miles to activities on the East side of Louisville. This is a small park with only 10 camping sites and only 1 FHU site. The campground will run you $20-30/night and there are long-term spots available.
We actually booked this campground for our very first night in our camper but after reading the reviews we decided to cancel. We have not stayed at this campground and do not plan to due to the poor reviews but this could be an option depending on what you need!
Brooks Mobile and RV Park
Brooks Mobile and RV Park is just 15 miles from downtown Louisville and right off of I-65. All sites are FHU and start at $40/night. This is definitely more of a Mobile Home Park than an RV park but they claim it is very safe and convenient. The reviews are either great or poor so might be good for a stopover or home base if you don’t plan to spend much time in your camper.
Derby Park Campground and RV Park
Derby Park Campground is a great location if you plan to attend the Kentucky Derby or a Music Festival! It is not necessarily in the best part of town though. It is basically a parking lot that costs $44-55/night! I assume prices are higher during Derby time too. Definitely read the reviews on this one, might only be a good option for Derby time!
Louisville South KOA
Louisville South KOA is located in Shepherdsville, KY on the South side of Louisville and about 20 miles to downtown. We have talked to several people who have stayed here and have enjoyed their stay but the reviews are a little hit or miss.
Louisville North Campground
Louisville North Campground is located in Clarksville, IN, and is the closest campground to downtown Louisville. This used to be a KOA. It is a parking lot with sites very close to each other. The reviews are not great online with the owners leaving nasty comments to the reviewers, yikes. This would only be a good place to overnight or simply for the location to mainly just sleep in your camper!
Free Camping Near Louisville
Low-cost camping options are tough to find. We found a few sites listed on Free Campsites.net. Content shared on that site is user-generated, so use verify before you go! Here are a few free camping ideas.
- Cabela’s – Overnight parking is allowed. We drive by and see semi’s and RV’s parked there. There are many restaurants and shopping options in walking distance
- Salt River Recreation Area (West Point, KY) – “camping” is permitted at the boat ramp. There is a daily fee of $10 for camping.
- Salem Lake (Hodgenville, KY) – camping is allowed for 2 nights.
Other Resources
Are you looking to visit Kentucky? Louisville is a great place to call your home base for your vacation. Check out our ultimate resource on 27-Day Trips from Louisville that You Will Love in 2024.
Did you know Kentucky is home to a life sized replica of Noah’s Ark? We recommend visiting the Ark Encounter and if you need a place to stay we have a guide filled with our expert recommendations!
Louisville is a great place to visit!
Louisville is a great place to visit! There are many excellent campgrounds near Louisville. We hope you enjoy your visit to our city, there is so much to do and see here!
