Your Guide to a Kentucky State Park Summer

Kentucky State Parks offer an amazing blend of adventure, history, and tranquility for your summer escape. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, knowledge-chaser, or just want to relax, there is a state park for you. This is your guide to a Kentucky State Park summer!

Get Out

• Take a hike! Kentucky State Park trails unveil the magnificence of the state. The majority of the Parks have great hiking trails that highlight natural beauty, wildlife, and incredible geological displays. Check out some of the state’s most beloved trails at Natural Bridge State Resort Park or go for the more hidden gems at a park like General Butler State Resort Park – we love them all.
• Play a round of golf at one of the grand golf courses. Try out what’s known as the “granddaddy” of the Kentucky State Park golf courses at Kentucky Dam Village!
• Enjoy the outdoor recreation centers at the parks. At Kincaid Lake State Park, there is an extensive list of offerings such as mini golf, corn hole, horseshoes, badminton, basketball, and more.
• Paddle around! Many of the state parks in Kentucky offer canoeing and kayaking. Some of our team members learned boat safety as kids at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park and have returned to the water here many times since!
• Speaking of Pennyrile, amazing fishing can be done there as well as many other Kentucky State Parks such as Lake Cumberland, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake, Jenny Wiley, Buckhorn Lake, and more!
• More of a boating than paddling person? There is an abundance of opportunities for that in the parks! Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is a well-loved boating destination.
• Explore the history of Columbus-Belmont State Park and attempt to pick up the remnant of the chain that was stretched across the Mississippi River during the Civil War.

Cool Down

• There are fabulous pools galore at the Kentucky State Parks! Taking a dip on a hot summer day is the perfect way to cool down. Just a few of the ones we have enjoyed are at E.P. Tom Sawyer, Kincaid Lake, and Lake Barkley. Lake Barkley’s pool is for those lodging with them and something else we love about them is they not only have a pool that is lakeside but also a lovely indoor pool for rainy days!
• This simply would not be a Kentucky State Park guide if we did not recommend visiting Cumberland Falls to catch the Moonbow! This is nighttime adventure so the sun will not be bearing down. Bonus cool down points if you get a cone of soft serve ice cream here during the day!
• If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, visit Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Park to see the artifacts in an excavated Mississippian Native American mound!
• Visit the world-class museum and nature center at John James Audubon State Park.
• Immerse yourself in the prehistory of Kentucky at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.
• Game rooms can bring out the inner child in all of us. Maybe try one out at Kenlake or Pennyrile?
• One of the best ways to cool down in Kentucky is to explore a cave! Both Carter Caves and Dale Hollow offer cave tours. This is a must, especially if you have never been in a cave before!
• Take a swim at the beach! A few state parks, like Barren River Lake, have beaches that make accessing the water an irresistible activity for a summer day.

Recharge

• Refuel yourself with a delicious meal at one of the state parks! We have enjoyed breakfast and a sunrise at the Harbor Lights Restaurant at Kentucky Dam Village, scrumptious fried catfish with homemade tartar sauce at the Driftwood Restaurant at Barren River, and stunning lake views at Windows on the Water at Lake Barkley. You can’t go wrong!
• Relax in one of the lovely Kentucky State Resort Parks’ lodges. Incredible architecture can be found at Lake Barkley. Fabulous mid-century vibes are displayed at Kenlake. Pet-friendly villas are available at Barren River Lake.
• Recharge with a book anywhere at any of the Kentucky State Parks! Beach, bench, lodge, pool, campsite – all will welcome you with your next summer read.

Cheers to your summer road trips!

UPDATE: Kentucky State Parks were heavily impacted by recent storms. Please check their website for the most up-to-date information.

Thank you to Kentucky State Parks for making this guide possible!