Hillman Ferry (LBL) National Recreation Area

Kate Jolly

This was my first time at Land Between the Lakes, I went solo camping with my dog. The campground overall is quite clean and the employees are friendly, but it was busy! This campground is certainly more appealing to families looking for a summer adventure versus solo campers looking for peace in nature. The campground also seems to offer season-long rental spaces, and there were lots of golf carts, so keep that in mind! Nonetheless, my visit was nice-- I had an entire family of redheaded woodpeckers living in the trees above my site that were entertaining to watch, and I saw deer everyday. I heard coyotes calling at night, and I even had a skunk visit my site on the last night of my stay-- it walked within 20 feet of my site without caring!! My site was a two-minute walk up a steep hill for the bath house and water pump, and a five minute walk to the shower house. The showers were pretty clean, though I recommend shower shoes, and they were individual rooms rather than stalls. Dumpsters were a five-minute walk away. I was at Site 17 of Area B-2. The sites are gravel rather than sand, so I recommend extra padding if you want to be inside your tent without having shoes on. The site was lakeside but, according to a local I met, the lake water levels gets lowered after Labor day weekend, so my cove was half-drained. Nonetheless, the view was still rather nice after I adjusted to it, and I saw egrets and other waterfowl every day. The bugs at the campground are bad though-- so bad that they could bite through long-layers and repellant! I even got a tick without leaving the campground at all that day....keep that in mind if you visit LBL, in general. The sites in my section were moderately-spaced apart- it would've been a little crowded if every site had been reserved. If visiting the area, I recommend visiting the Elk & Bison prairie, too.

Trace

Been coming here for around 8 years. The staff will always help you find the best spot for you. They have great energy and for the kids they have basketball courts and you can rent a golf cart and have a blast. Fishing is pretty good, caught some nice catfish and plenty of bluegill. The lots aren't huge but enough for a big family tent and the fire pit that's already there for you and space around. They have boat ramps and swimming areas. My favorite is a spot on the water my kids can swim in and in the morning walk up to the store for slurpees and a snack. They have good fish cleaning areas and good spots for campers with all necessities or just basic for a tent sights with low prices. Bathrooms and showers close to all spots. I come here multiple times every year and it is close to alot of different Fishing and hunting sights in lbl for you to explore.

Shawn Johnson

Our recent stay at the campground was overall an excellent experience, thanks in large part to the staff and the pride they show in serving guests. Pros: We greatly appreciated how the campground acknowledged military families with praise and genuine appreciation. This meant a lot to us. The staff went above and beyond by providing America The Beautiful membership cards, which was an unexpected and generous touch. The grounds were very clean and well maintained, showing clear care and attention to detail. Staff members were consistently helpful, friendly, and accommodating throughout our stay. The personal delivery of our reimbursement receipt was a thoughtful gesture that added to the sense of professionalism and care. Cons: The only area for improvement we noticed was the firewood pricing. It seemed a bit overpriced compared to typical campground rates. Offering more reasonable pricing—or bundled deals for multiple nights—would make it easier for guests to enjoy campfires without hesitation. Overall: This campground truly delivers a welcoming, respectful, and well-managed experience. With just a small adjustment to firewood pricing, the experience would be close to perfect. We look forward to returning and will gladly recommend it to others.

Jedd Pearl

This is a great campground with beautiful sites available close to the lake. The sites are far enough apart that it doesn’t seem like you are right on top of one another. The restrooms and showers are clean and all of the staff that we’ve encountered are pleasant and helpful. This is our second visit and it’s definitely worth the 5 hour trip for us. We will be back.

Fred Henning (Night Brightly)

Pretty decent spot for camping on the Kentucky lake. We decided to go primitive and use tents. My five year old absolutely loved it. The only thing we didn't like was the rocks that the lots were set up with would have preferred sand mounds to setup the tents on, be aware that walking around inside your shelter will require the use of foot protection.