Barkley Lake Camping
notifications Text me when there's a cancellation at Barkley Lake
Overview
A brief introduction to Barkley Lake
Lake Barkley was named for former Vice-President Alben Barkley. Land Between the Lakes (US Forest Service) and Fort Donelson National Military Park are on Lake Barkley?s western shore.
Lake Barkley, a 58,000-acre (230 km2) reservoir in Livingston County, Lyon County and Trigg County in Kentucky and extending into Stewart County and Houston County in Tennessee, was impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1966 upon the completion of Barkley Dam. Both the lake and the dam are named for Vice President Alben Barkley, a Kentucky native.
The dam impounds the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky, approximately 38 miles (61 km) upstream from where the Cumberland empties into the Ohio River. One mile (1.6 km) above the dam is a canal connecting Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country. The lakes run parallel courses for more than 50 miles (80 km), with the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area located between them.
Lake Barkley is 134 miles (216 km) long with a shoreline measuring 1,004 miles (1,616 km). The lake's level is maintained at different levels throughout the year for flood control purposes. Summer pool, 359 ft (109 m) above sea level, is normally reached by May 1. The water level begins dropping gradually on July 1, and winter pool (354 ft; 108 m) is reached by December 1. The spring rise starts April 1. The lake's water surface area varies accordingly from 57,920 acres (234.4 km2) at summer pool to 45,210 acres (183.0 km2) at winter pool.
ARE Barkley Lake campsites SOLD OUT?
We can help! Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. Just tell us when you’d like to camp at Barkley Lake, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll text you when a suitable spot opens up!
Scan for cancellationsContact Barkley Lake
- Recreation.gov
- Booking site: https://www.recreation.gov
Spotted an error?
Whoops! Sometimes we make mistakes. Want to help improve the Barkley Lake listing? Please suggest a correction.
Reviews
Camper reviews for Barkley Lake
Be the first to post a review of Barkley Lake!
How was your visit to Barkley Lake? Share your review of Barkley Lake and help fellow nature-lovers make an informed decision.
Post a reviewPlease be nice. Around here, we try to be helpful, inclusive, and constructive.
Map
View a map of Barkley Lake
UNABLE TO RESERVE A CAMPSITE?
Get notified when a sold-out campground has availability
Tell us when, where, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll notify you (via SMS) when a suitable spot opens up at that campground—so you can nab that sold-out campsite reservation!
