Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park ended up being a great home base for a week of exploring western Kentucky. We stayed here while visiting Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, spending our days exploring the area and also making time for one of our favorite Kentucky cities, Paducah. The location also worked surprisingly well for a little side trip into southern Illinois, since we could cross the bridge into Cairo for an event we wanted to attend. If you’re looking for Kentucky camping or considering camping at Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky Dam Village is worth putting on your list. In this guide, we’re sharing what you can expect from the campground, including the sites, amenities, camping fees, park activities, and our honest review after spending a week here.
Camping at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
Park website: https://parks.ky.gov/explore/kentucky-dam-village-state-resort-park-7793
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park has 69 electric and water campsites, plus 10 tent-only sites. Most of the RV sites have 20/30-amp electric hookups, and all of the RV sites are back-in sites, so keep that in mind if you prefer pull-throughs.
Each campsite includes the basics you need for a comfortable stay, including a fire ring and picnic table. The campground also has a good selection of amenities, making it a convenient option whether you’re staying for a night or settling in for a longer visit.
What campground amenities does Kentucky Dam Village have?
- Basketball court
- Multiple showerhouses
- Dump station
- Fire rings and picnic tables
- Laundry facilities
- Playground
- Volleyball court
How much does it cost to camp at Kentucky Dam Village?
Rates vary depending on the night of the week and whether you’re staying over a holiday. Standard RV sites are $30 Sunday–Thursday, $35 Friday–Saturday, and $40 on holidays. Tent sites are a little cheaper, starting at $20 Sunday–Thursday.
| Site Type | Sun-Thurs | Fri-Sat | Holiday Premium |
| Standard RV Site | $30 | $35 | $40 |
| Tent Site | $20 | $22 | $25 |
Is there a lodge at Kentucky Dam Village?
If camping isn’t your thing, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park also has a lodge with 147 rooms, along with cottages for a little more space and privacy. The lodge is a nice alternative if you want to enjoy the park without bringing your RV or tent.
Guests also have access to an outdoor pool during the summer season, plus on-site restaurants, a bar, and a convenience store. Room rates generally range from about $115–$300 per night, depending on the type of room and when you visit.
Can I cancel or change my reservation at Kentucky Dam Village?
A few things to know before booking your stay at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park:
- Changes: You can change a reservation online or by contacting the park at least 1 day before arrival. There is no fee to change a reservation unless you’re canceling it.
- Cancellations 15+ days before arrival: You’ll pay the $6 reservation fee plus a $10 cancellation fee, but the camping fees are refunded.
- Cancellations 14 days or less before arrival: You’ll pay the $6 reservation fee, $10 cancellation fee, and the first night’s camping fee. The remaining balance is refunded.
- Day-of-arrival cancellations: You must contact the park directly to cancel on the day you’re scheduled to arrive.
Things to Do at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
There’s plenty to do around Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, especially if you enjoy spending time outdoors. You can easily fill a day here without ever leaving the park, whether you want to hit the golf course, get out on the water, or simply enjoy the lake views.
- Golf: The park has an 18-hole golf course, making it a good option for golfers looking to squeeze in a round during their stay.
- Boating: The Kentucky Dam Marina sits on massive 160,000-acre Kentucky Lake and offers boat rentals as well as overnight docking. It’s a convenient spot to get out on the water and explore the lake.
- Fishing: Kentucky Lake is a popular fishing destination, with opportunities to catch largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky and white bass, as well as bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, and sauger. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just want to spend a quiet morning by the water, there are plenty of options.
- Dining: You don’t have to leave the park when you get hungry. There’s a restaurant on-site, making it easy to grab a meal without having to pack up and head into town.
- Hiking & biking: Several hike and bike trails wind through the park, giving you an easy way to get outside and explore the area on foot or by bike.
- Swimming: During warmer weather, you can head to the public-access sandy beaches along Kentucky Lake for swimming and relaxing by the water. It’s a particularly nice way to spend an afternoon when you’re looking for something low-key.
Our Review of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Campground
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. It was nice and quiet, and while the campground is fairly large, it felt surprisingly empty during our visit. A lot of the sites aren’t actually available to book, so there were quite a few empty areas throughout the campground. It was a little unusual, but we definitely weren’t complaining about having plenty of peace and quiet!
The showerhouses were decent, nothing fancy, but clean and well maintained. There are several showerhouses throughout the campground, so you don’t have to walk particularly far from your site to use one. Our site was especially large since we were on a corner, but even the regular sites seemed to have a good amount of space. There was plenty of grass around the sites, which gave us room to spread out, play games, and enjoy being outside without feeling crowded by our neighbors. Our camp host was also fantastic. He was friendly and clearly on top of things, stopping by almost as soon as we started setting up to check in with us and make sure everything was going smoothly.
As far as the campground itself goes, there’s nothing particularly spectacular about the sites or scenery. However, we think Kentucky Dam Village is worth considering if you’re looking for a place to stay while exploring Kentucky Lake or nearby Land Between the Lakes. The campground provides a quiet, comfortable home base, and the easy access to the lake is really the biggest draw for us.
What to Do Near Kentucky Dam Village
We stayed at Kentucky Dam Village while exploring Land Between the Lakes, you can read our full trip recap here:
A Week RVing in Western Kentucky: Land Between the Lakes and More
and you can read the highlights of Land Between the Lakes in this post:
