Canal
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.
More like this: electric hookups in Kentucky · full hookups in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · big rigs in Kentucky · pets allowed in Kentucky · group sites in Kentucky
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 113 |
| group standard electric | 1 |
| tent only electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
115 sites in 10 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 085 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 086 | BRPT | Electric | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 087 | BRPT | Electric | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 088 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 43 | Gravel | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 089 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 53 | Gravel | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 090 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 091 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 69 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 092 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 99 | Gravel | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 093 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 92 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 094 | BRPT | Electric | Back-in | 59 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 1 | Yes | 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 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 093, 094, 095, 096 and 18 more are listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Physical Address: 1010 Canal Campground Road, Grand Rivers, KY 42045. From Interstate I-24, take Grand Rivers Exit 31. Drive south on Highway 453 for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto J.H. O'Bryan Avenue for.1 miles. Turn right onto Canal Campground Road for.5 miles.
| Nearest town | Grand Rivers, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 36.9956° N, 88.2097° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Trading Post ↗ | 12.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Youngblood's RV Super Center ↗ | 28.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 36.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
COE Grand Rivers, KY. Canal Campground Lake Barkley
Worth a stop
Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.
- 1.3 miGreen Turtle Bay Marina ↗Boat launch
- 4.9 miBuzzard Rock Marina ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miCanal Loop Connector A0.5 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.8 miCanal Loop Connector B0.5 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.1 miCanal Loop Connector C0.6 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.8 miCanal Loop ↗11 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.8 miNorth End Paved1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miCanal Loop Connector D0.8 mi trail · hiking, bike
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
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area begins about 10.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.4 miLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 171,281 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
- Thomas Lawson HouseBuilding · Grand Rivers · 1.6 mi
- Oak HillBuilding · Calvert City · 8 mi
- Mamie S. Barrett (towboat)Structure · Eddyville · 10.7 mi
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.
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.
Guidebooks for Kentucky
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Canal?
Sites at Canal are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Canal?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Canal have?
115 sites, including 113 standard sites with power, 1 group standard electric, and 1 tent only electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Canal?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Canal have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Canal?
Electric hook-ups, showers and flush restrooms create a comfortable camping experience.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Canal?
Yes, pets are allowed at Canal. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Canal?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Canal?
Sites 093, 094, 095, and 096 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 22 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Canal?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Canal?
From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Canal?
Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.
Source: Getting there