Canal
Kentucky
Free — you'll pick up right here.
Conditions: Clear
for campground, todayWeather is good
1 factor · 1 source
Observed 23 h ago
clear: Weather
Clear, high 82°F / low 60°F, 0% precip — 97/100 for campground
OpenWeather23 h ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Campsite availability
Live from Recreation.gov for Canal.
Here's your stay, mapped
Canal
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Gear for the day
Meals
Photos
About this campground
Overview Situated along a peninsula between the lush shorelines of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, Canal Campground offers modern camping and provides the ideal setting to enjoy nature at its best with family and friends. Visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the Barkley Dam and boats traveling through the canal from the comfort of their campsite. The campground faces Barkley Lake, and the shore of Kentucky Lake is a brisk one-mile walk across the canal. Recreation From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Eagle nests can be spotted throughout the grounds, and its not unlikely for visitors to encounter deer and other wildlife. A short hiking trail allows campers to enjoy the outdoor scenery at their leisure. Fishing is also a popular pastime, and during warm months bass and catfish are plentiful in both lakes. Facilities A designated swimming beach and a boat ramp help campers enjoy the lake. Picnic pavilions and a playground create a perfect setting for a party or family get-together. For group camping, several sites surrounding the pavilion can be reserved, and a fishing float nearby allows groups to go out on the lake together. Electric hook-ups, showers and flush restrooms create a comfortable camping experience. Natural Features Lake Barkley, as part of a dam project at the Cumberland River, spans 134 miles along the Kentucky landscape, offering countless recreational activities to visitors. The canal connects Lake Barley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country. Nearby Attractions Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.
Directions & GPX
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more campsites worth the drive
Cravens Bay Campground
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Kentucky.
Sugar Bay Campground
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Kentucky.
Fenton Lake Campground
~28 min drive
Lakeside Forest Service campground with 160 sites, electric hookups, and boat ramp access.
Colson Hollow Group Camp
~34 min drive
COLSON HOLLOW GROUP CAMP is a campground in Georgia with 200 sites.
Redd Hollow Campground
~36 min drive
A worthwhile stop near Kentucky.
Bacon Creek Primitive Horse Camp
~36 min drive
Bacon Creek Primitive Horse Camp is a 64-site campground in Georgia managed by the Forest Service.
Jones Creek Campground
~40 min drive
JONES CREEK CAMPGROUND is a campground in Georgia with 128 sites.
Rushing Creek Camping Area
~41 min drive
Rushing Creek Camping Area is a campground in Georgia with 328 sites.
Ginger Bay Backcountry Camping
~47 min drive
Ginger Bay Backcountry Camping is a campground in Georgia with 64 sites.
Nickell Branch Basic Campground
~1 min drive
Nickell Branch Basic Campground is a campground in Kentucky at about 389 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
