Laurel Branch Park Campground in Kentucky on map
Laurel Branch Park Campground
This is your best bet for tent camping on Rough River Lake.
Rough River Lake, like many other impoundments in west-central Kentucky, is growing in popularity. It receives more than 2 million visitors annually. Many visitors come from the nearby metropolis of Louisville. Before that high number scares you off, though, realize there is plenty of room for another visitor or two. And I have just the place for you to pitch your tent: Laurel Branch Park. This destination is ideally located for recreating on Rough River Lake. It is adjacent to the largest area of this snakelike impoundment, where the Rough River Arm and the North Fork Rough River Arm meet. And the wider waters of Rough River Dam are not far away either.
So there is plenty of water to explore, and you can find your own slice of this lake, where the wooded shoreline is punctuated by occasional sandstone outcrops.
You will see plenty of the lake from Laurel Branch Park, as the entire campground is laid out along the shoreline of Rough River Lake. It is well maintained and well landscaped. Pass the campground tollhouse, manned by the campground host, which adds safety and security. Camp Area A, on your left, has 19 sites. Fifteen of the 19 mostly shaded camps face the lake, but the lake view is obscured by woods. The day-use area is next along the shoreline, with picnic tables and a short hiking trail. Then comes Camp Area B, with sites 20-29. This small loop, landscaped with trees and a grassy lawn, has electricity and water. Campsites 23 and 24 have great lake vistas. If you have a boat, camp here, as Camp Area В is conveniently located to the campground boat ramp.
Camp Area С is located on a little hill overlooking Rough River Lake. All the lakefront sites here are very nice. This is the best area for campers with children. You can swim in front of your camp on a shoreline of rocks and willow trees. A small playground is here. As with the previous two loops, vault toilets for each gender are conveniently located nearby. Sites closest to the water are nonelectric, leaving them most often in the hands of tent campers. I specifically recommend sites 45-51.
Camp Area D has nine sites and connects to C. Its sites are not directly lakeside but are close to the water nonetheless. Some of the sites are too open to the sun, and the summer sun can be sultry here, so I recommend bringing a sun shelter to this campground, no matter where you stay. There are a few nonelectric sites here as well. Because so much of the campground presents lakeside sites and lake views,
I recommend reserving your campsite. When you reserve a site, you eliminate your worries, and the campground host will have it staked out for you.
Lake recreation is the name of the game here. Kentuckians and others visit to cool off in the summer and enjoy all the water sports, such as skiing, fishing, and just watching the waves roll up on shore. The Laurel Branch Arm of the lake is a no-skiing area, which makes swimming just off your campsite safer for the kids. I like to tour the lake by boat, cruising up all the snakelike arms to see what is around the next bend. And with more than 5,000 acres of surface water on Rough River Lake, there is plenty of room to find your own watery oasis.
Getting to Laurel Branch Park Campground
From Louisville, take US 60 West to KY 259. Turn left and take KY 259 South to KY 110. Turn right on KY 110 West, and follow it 1 mile to the campground.
GPS COORDINATES N37° 36.375' W86° 27.607'
Key Information about Laurel Branch Park Campground
ADDRESS: 435 Laurel Branch Rd., McDaniels, KY40152
OPERATED BY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CONTACT: 270-257-8839; Corps office: 270-257-2061, www . lrl . usace . army . mil ; reservations: 877-444-6777, reserveamerica . com
OPEN: Early May-October
SITES: 62
SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, lantern post, water; most have electricity
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served and by reservation
REGISTRATION: At campground tollhouse
FACILITIES: Vault toilets, water spigots PARKING: At campsites only FEE: $17 nonelectric, $22 electric ELEVATION: 520 feet
RESTRICTIONS in Laurel Branch Park Campground
Pets: On leash only
Fires: In fire rings only
Alcohol: Prohibited
Vehicles: No more than 2 per site
Other: 14-day stay limit in a 30-day period
