We will be driving through Kentucky and looking for someplace to stay for a couple days. We will have just spent a week in the Smokie Mountains and on our way to Northeast Ohio. It will be in early June.We'd like something like a state or national park where we can enjoy being outdoors. We were considering maybe Mammoth Cave or Daniel Boone areas, but are open to other suggestions.

We stayed at Mammoth Cave for a few nights last September. The sites were very large and in the woods-- really nice, I thought. We were able to walk from the camground to the visitor's center to pick up the cave tours. If you like horses, you should consider a stop at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The campground adjacent to the KHP isn't exciting-- I mean, it has all the amenities you would want, but the sites are close together. It's the Kentucky Horse Park itself that's worth staying for-- a VERY well done museum. We spent the entire day there and had to go back the next morning to finish it up before we left.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5294940.pdfthis might help.

Mammoth Cave NP has a nice wooded CG (no hookups, unless they added them since we were there). Not quite what you were asking about, but if you have horse lovers with you, you might consider Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington. Nice clean CG - paved sites with grass between, electric & water hookups, etc. - and a great park adjacent dedicated to all things horse, including many of the live kind to see & admire.

We are originally from Southern Illinois and when making our yearly trips back to the homeland we would pass the Land Between The Lakes area in the NW Corner of Kentucky.Always wanted to stay there but since it was so close to our destination never did...Looks like a neat NATURE TYPE camping experience... Probably not near your planned route to OHIO however...All of our roads go through Gatlingburg and the Smoky Mtns. We stay at ELKMONT most of the time and when we want to be around the shopping crowd we will stay at Riveredge RV Park in Pigeon Forge. Roy Ken

Do a search for Red River Gorge. It is one of the most beautiful areas we have been to. I would highly recommend it. I can't remember the Campground we stayed at I think it was Clear Creek or something like that. Great area for hiking!

Campground recommendation in Kentucky | Good Sam Community

RGar974417
Explorer
May 07, 2015
We have stayed at Canal Campground in LBL.Nice sites,many on the water.Water and electric and a few FHU. We also stayed at Boonesboro State Park.Campground is ok and it was nice visiting the old fort.Water and electric hookups.Downside is you're right next to a quarry. Carter Caves SP in eastern Kentucky isn't far off I64.Nice wooded campground with lots to do including cave tours.Water and electric hookups.
FLGup
Explorer
May 06, 2015
We are sitting in KY Horse Park right now. OMG, this is a nice quiet park this time of year.

While here, we drove the back roads past the horse farms and had lunch at Wallace Station in Midway, shopped the cute downtown area and had a great drive back. We also toured the horse park and went downtown Lexington to Mary Todd Lincoln's home.
JoeH
Explorer III
May 06, 2015
LBL is very nice, we stayed at Hillman Ferry, had a very nice pull thru in a wooded area... near Mammoth cave, we've stayed at Jellystone because we wanted FHU. Nice park, but lots of kids, as was expected.
trsky
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Another vote for the "Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area". We like Blue Heron because it is not as busy as Bandy Creek. It's a beautiful area check it out on the web.
scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
Land Between the Lakes, LBL has excellent camping. From full hook up to dry camping. If you like ACOE there are several Corp of Engineer CG's around LBL also.
Mammoth Cave is nice as mentioned. Towards the side there is Big South Fork NRA.
Blue Heron(east side) and Bandy(west side) are also nice with water and elec hookups. Hiking trails are better out of Blue Heron. Mtn bike trails are better at Bandy.

LBL has plenty of hiking/biking/horse trails all nice.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
We enjoyed Fort Boonesborough State Park
Laman
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
We stayed at the Kentucky Horse park last fall good place although it happened to be Halloween weekend so it was totally full of families who really went all out in decorating, fun to watch.

If you stay in that area drive on over to the famous Keeneland race track and just ride the back roads view the numerous horse farms in that area, very scenic.

Not very national park like but while in Kentucky try and catch one of the bourbon distillery tours, actually very informative and interesting especially the Makers Mark tour. Also I really enjoyed the tour of the barrel maker in Lebanon, Ky. very informative.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2015
X10 on Kentucky Horse Park CG.

Whether you like horses or not right next to the CG are several very well noted museums, gift shops etc. and special event activities abound everyday. All within a short walk or drive from your CG site.

http://kyhorsepark.com/
http://kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=571&Itemid=264

I stopped for one just one night and ended up staying a whole week!! :B

BTW: They also have what they call 'primitive sites' which are not listed. You have to ask for it.

It's near the entrance on the grass with electric and water only. There is a dump station at the front of this area. The rate for this part of the CG was far less than the CG sites in the inner circle on concrete pads.
TxTwoSome
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
Do a search for Red River Gorge. It is one of the most beautiful areas we have been to. I would highly recommend it. I can't remember the Campground we stayed at I think it was Clear Creek or something like that. Great area for hiking!
RoyB
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2015
We are originally from Southern Illinois and when making our yearly trips back to the homeland we would pass the Land Between The Lakes area in the NW Corner of Kentucky.

Always wanted to stay there but since it was so close to our destination never did...

Looks like a neat NATURE TYPE camping experience... Probably not near your planned route to OHIO however...

All of our roads go through Gatlingburg and the Smoky Mtns. We stay at ELKMONT most of the time and when we want to be around the shopping crowd we will stay at Riveredge RV Park in Pigeon Forge.

Roy Ken