Blue Heron Campground
Blue Heron Campground is a rustic and spacious campground, situated on the Kentucky side of The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.
More like this: electric hookups in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · big rigs in Kentucky · pets allowed in Kentucky
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 44 |
| RV with electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 61 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
45 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | Electric | Back-in | 36 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Electric | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Electric | Back-in | 44 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Electric | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Electric | Back-in | 29 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 61 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Site 029 is listed accessible |
Blue Heron Campground combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate both RV and tent camping. The campsites are spacious and provide picnic areas and plenty of shade.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Oneida, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 36.6781° N, 84.5189° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSte-Wildlife Openings Rx
9 mi from the campground · 8 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 17.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sheltowee Trace Outfitters ↗ | 18.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Weekend RV Center ↗ | 47.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Blue Heron Campground Review (Kentucky) | Beautiful Views BUT Brown Water at My Site
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miKroger Arch Addition0.7 mi trail
- 2.6 miPiney Butte ↗9.7 mi trail
- 2.9 miLick Ck Falls0.5 mi trail
- 3.3 miLick Creek3.2 mi trail
- 4.6 miAlum1.8 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Beaver Creek Wilderness begins about 14.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 14.5 miBeaver Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 4,816 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Stearns Administrative and Commercial DistrictHistoric district · Stearns · 2.7 mi
- Louis E. Bryant HouseBuilding · Oneida · 9.2 mi
Natural features
The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres of both rocky gorges and forested plateaus. Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, this ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys that are found throughout the park.
Recreation
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
Nearby
Just a few miles from the campground is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot is located about 9 miles away in the town of Stearns, which offers train rides and other educational opportunities for campers. Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.
Guidebooks for Kentucky
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Blue Heron Campground?
Sites at Blue Heron Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Blue Heron Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Blue Heron Campground have?
45 sites, including 44 standard sites with power and 1 RV site with electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Blue Heron Campground?
The longest site here provides 61 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Blue Heron Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Blue Heron Campground?
Blue Heron Campground combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Blue Heron Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Blue Heron Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Blue Heron Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Blue Heron Campground?
Site 029 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Blue Heron Campground?
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Blue Heron Campground?
Oneida, Kentucky. Just a few miles from the campground is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum.
Source: Getting there
What if Blue Heron Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Creek Campground - Ky (2.6 mi), Alum Ford Campground (6.2 mi), and Barren Fork Horse Camp (7.3 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby