Lake Cumberland State Resort Park Campground

Kentucky has an impressive variety of state and national parks, as well as national forests, lakeside recreation areas, and other unique features. A campervan rental provides travelers with the freedom to visit these epic areas while enjoying some added comfort and convenience along the way. Before you hit the road, though, spend some time exploring Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. The 3,000-acre park has lodges, gift shops, country stores, a marina, nature trails, and a big lake to cool off in during the summer.

Next on the list is General Burnside State Park, a delightful place on the Cumberland River east of Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. Named for Union General Ambrose Burnside, the park was used to station troops during the Civil War. Since then, it has become a phenomenal place to go boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. A championship-level golf course on-site proves to be one of Kentucky’s finest. Just a little bit beyond General Burnside State Park is the sprawling wilderness of Daniel Boone National Forest. This two-million-acre forest takes up a large chunk of Kentucky, with splendid wildlife and natural beauty. Six hundred miles of hiking trails, hundreds of recreation sites, and dazzling National Natural Landmarks like the Red River Gorge can be found while navigating through this park either on foot, bike, kayak, canoe, or in your camper rental.

Just north of Bowling Green in the center of Kentucky is perhaps the state’s most impressive and famous park. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to what is thought to be the longest cave system in the world. You can take a subterranean excursion through this mesmerizing wonderland underground to see ancient caverns, cathedral-like chambers, and different passageways that support a variety of rare animals like bats.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park Campground is close to a few small towns, but the closest city to the RV park is Lexington, the state capital. If you are after some sightseeing or adventuring in town, Monticello is perhaps a better bet as it is far closer than the capital city. The small town is home to Southern-style barbecue joints, wineries, taverns, art galleries, boutiques, and historic homes too. The West-Metcalfe House, the Raccoon John Smith House, and the Brown-Lanier House were all erected centuries ago, with the West-Metcalfe House even serving as a headquarters for three different generals during the Civil War.

The Wayne County Historical Museum offers more context to the historic homes and sites in town, with antiques, artifacts, and old photographs recounting the history of Monticello and the surrounding Wayne County. Take a guided tour at this educational museum, housed in an old Victorian-style hotel famed for its underground caverns that help to cool the building naturally.

At various times throughout the year, there are celebrations and events happening in the tiny town of Monticello. The Autumn Raft-Up is a fun festival where you can take part in lively festivities in town. Book an RV in Russell County in early summer, and you can attend The Cornbread Festival, the town’s largest draw. Spend a day at the celebration, and you can sample endless amounts of southern soul food and different styles of cornbread.