Army Corps of Engineers · Rough River Lake · Mcdaniels, KY

Axtel

Axtel Campground is located on the shore of Rough River Lake in south central Kentucky. The 5,100-acre lake is a hometown paradise for visitors who love the outdoors, and more than two million visitors camp, picnic, fish, swim, boat and relax on the lake shore each year.

More like this: electric hookups in Kentucky · full hookups in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · big rigs in Kentucky · pets allowed in Kentucky

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Axtel RainbowAxtelAxtel CampgroundAXTEL
Photos courtesy of Darren Smith, Park Ranger, USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric111
Standard, no hookups41
zone1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

153 sites in 9 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
A001AElectricBack-in40PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A002AElectricBack-in33PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A003AElectricBack-in33PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A004AElectricBack-in45PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A005AElectricBack-in37PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A006AElectricBack-in33PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A007AElectricBack-in42PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A008AElectricBack-in32PavedPartial50 ampYes / Yes6 / 2Yes
A009AElectricBack-in42PavedNone50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A010AElectricBack-in32PavedNone50 ampYes / Yes6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Campground map of Axtel
Campground map published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to USACE. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length80 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
AccessibilitySites C054, E103 are listed accessible

Axtel Campground is a large facility with 158 campsites, many of which have electric hookups. All campsites provide sweeping views of the lake. A swimming area, boat ramp, dump station, flush toilets, playground, showers, drinking water, fish-cleaning station, and short trail are also provided. Wi-fi is available from an outside source.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Axtel30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.73 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.03 inches of precipitationMarch: 4.75 inches of precipitationApril: 5.14 inches of precipitationMay: 5.88 inches of precipitationJune: 4.97 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.56 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.36 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.68 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.95 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.91 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.82 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.0°F averageFebruary: 36.0°F averageMarch: 45.5°F averageApril: 56.4°F averageMay: 64.6°F averageJune: 72.1°F averageJuly: 75.7°F averageAugust: 74.8°F averageSeptember: 68.1°F averageOctober: 56.6°F averageNovember: 45.3°F averageDecember: 36.9°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mcdaniels, 2 miles from the campground at 425 feet, station USC00155280 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 53 inches a year.

Getting there

Begin at ramp onto I-64 West toward New Albany/St. Louis, traveling 22.3 miles. Take the IN-135, Exit Number 105, toward Palmyra/Corydon, onto IN-135 South toward Corydon, traveling 16.7 miles. Continue on Bypass Road KY-79 for 2.1 miles. Turn right onto KY-79, traveling 10.1 miles. Continue on 1st Avenue, KY-79S for 495 feet.

Nearest townMcdaniels, Kentucky
Coordinates37.6225° N, 86.4531° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Once a reservation has been created, there will be a $10 fee to cancel your reservation, change sites, or change dates. Cancellations made the day before you are scheduled to arrive through the day after your arrival date will also be charged the first night's use fee. No-show's are charged a $20 fee plus the first night's use fee. If you reservation is for only 1 night, and you have been charged the first night's use fee, there is no $10 or $20 service fee charged.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗16.9 mi
Outdoor gearSierra ↗35 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗40 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

axtel campground ky rough river lake camping tour

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The rolling, forested hills of rural south central Kentucky offer an extraordinary setting for those who visit the lake. Rough River Lake provides views of ancient sandstone, shale and limestone cliffs. An abundance of water in the area, both surface and underground, has carved through limestone to create a myriad of sinks and caverns. The lake itself is home to numerous species of wildlife, including migratory songbirds and waterfowl.

Recreation

A wide variety of recreational activities and facilities are provided at the lake, including ample opportunities for boating and fishing. The most sought after fish are bass, crappie and catfish, and bass tournaments occur at the lake throughout the year. Additionally, pontoon, johnboat and jet ski rentals are available at the nearby marinas.

Nearby

The historic Green Farm is adjacent to the lake. It consists of about 3,000 acres, a large ancestral home, an old water-powered mill and store and a golf course. George Washington once owned part of the land. Mammoth Cave National Park, which boasts the longest cave system in the world with more than 240 miles of mapped passageways, is about a one-hour drive away. Other nearby attractions also include the historic Holt House in Hardinsburg, the Jack Thomas House in Leitchfield, and the new Aquatic Center in Leitchfield.

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 Axtel?

Sites at Axtel are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Axtel?

Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Axtel?

Once a reservation has been created, there will be a $10 fee to cancel your reservation, change sites, or change dates.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Axtel have?

153 sites, including 111 standard sites with power, 41 standard sites without power, and 1 zone.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Axtel?

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 Axtel have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Axtel?

A swimming area, boat ramp, dump station, flush toilets, playground, showers, drinking water, fish-cleaning station, and short trail are also provided.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Axtel?

Yes, pets are allowed at Axtel. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Axtel?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Axtel?

Sites C054 and E103 are 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

Is there cell service at Axtel?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Axtel?

A wide variety of recreational activities and facilities are provided at the lake, including ample opportunities for boating and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation