Zilpo Campground in
Salt Lick (KY)

All around, top notch, 5 star experience. Campground very nice, clean, and organized. Boat ramp easy accessible, beach, store, ice anything you could possibly need. Staff both friendly and helpful and go well above and beyond expectations. G loop host, Buffalo and Lisa receive my highest compliments. They have done a fantastic job keeping Zilpo Campground a true hidden gem. Thank you all.

Other than an extra 40 mins to get around to the campground, the location is awesome. Large campsites, you can hardly see the other sites. Heavily wooded, right in the lake. Great hiking trails!

For Site G-2 We made our reservation on line for 9/23/24-9/25/24 . No one was at the check in/ check out station the whole time we were there. The MANAGER came to our camp site on Wednesday as we were getting ready to leave and wanted to know if we had any camp tags for our truck? I told her no and she said did we have reservations? Shouldn’t she have known that? There is no camp host on G Site No shower house you have to go to site H for showers. No ice for the 3 days we were there, we had to go out to Salt Lick to get Ice. Only one bathroom house the other one is a Port-A-Poty. They do not spray for mosquitoes or other biting bugs like they use to. My advice Do NOT GO TO CAVE RUN LAKE FOR CAMPING!!!

We had a blast car camping with our roof top tent. We brought SUP boards and played on the lake which was so much fun. Firewood, electrical hookups, water, and the bath house were all great amenities. The campground is dog-friendly too which was perfect.

We had the best weekend! Great sites! Room for several on each site. Our site had a path right to the water a private beach. The water was perfect weather was perfect the bathrooms were so clean the place is amazing.

We stayed on f018. We had the time of our lives . It's under new manage Marcie an Don. They were very nice. Went up and got us ice one nite and we paid Don. They have worked to to get the place back in shape. The campground is clean, the trails are back in shape, bathrooms and showers clean,and plenty of toilet paper.Don and Marcie worked really hard!!!!! We will be back. And watch out for the bears they are there!!!!!!

I camped at Zilpo for 5 nights during the 4th of July Holiday (2024). This was the first time I had camped here since 2017. I am leaving 5 stars because I simply cannot believe how well the place is being managed now. I am the person who never leaves 5 stars! I stopped coming to Zilpo after watching it decline for years. Something has changed since 2017. The bathrooms were as clean as they could possibly be for their age. Every staff member I encountered was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. If you camped here for the first time you might not understand but if you camped here in the past and quit coming because the bathrooms were filthy and the staff was rude you truly need to give Zilpo another chance! It has changed for the better and we will be back again soon! This is the most beautiful campground on Cave Run Lake and it is now getting the treatment it deserves. My one complaint is that the pavement needs redone due to some pot holes but that is a minor complaint and obviously out of the control of the staff working there.

My husband and I along with our family have been coming to Zilpo Campground for 30 years and it has went so down hill, especially in the last 10 years. For some reason they can't keep camp host, the store is never open anymore, the rock at beach is horrible. The camp sites need more gravel, the bathroom and.bath house need updated in the worst way. You can't walk the trails due to so many trees down across them. We haven't even our camp host the entire two weeks we have been here, we have to go hunt someone down to get ice. They need to find away to make Zilpo Campground the way it use to back 30 years. The new company Vista isn't making anything any better either. The also need to make more sites electric and full hook ups. The need to enforce the rules, people drive through here like they are on the main road. There is alot more I could say.

Nice large private site that was well maintained The campground was clean and the people were friendly. The beach area is very nice. The bathhouse need updated but otherwise it is a decent campground.

The most accommodating and helpful staff! Very informative and kind. The sites are clean and private enough to feel comfortable to enjoy nature’s sounds. Some music floated over to us but not too noisy at all. We will be back! Thanks Ladies!

Loved visiting Zilpo this last weekend. Me and my family had an amazing time. Plenty of trails and sits right on the lake. Awesome boat dock to launch boats and amazing staff. Lisa and Jason were so helpful with trails to hike and things to do! If you are considering going to camp anywhere near Cave Run lake I highly recommend Zilpo!

Beautiful spot for a weekend getaway with my family! Loved the convenience of having direct access to cave run lake. Our site and cabin were both as clean as you can get when outdoors and the cold AC in the cabin was very refreshing after a hot day spent on the lake! I loved seeing the wildlife and the fact that anything I needed the staff was there to help without any complaints! We will be making a trip up very frequently :)

Overall a great family weekend. Some personal opinions are the Zilpo beach needs attention, too rocky especially in the water. We stayed in a cabin and was not happy with the fire ring. It was 3 feet tall and almost impossible to cook over and viewing the fire was impossible. The showers were substandard and temperature control was iffy. The staff was very friendly and they were obviously short handed but then entire place was clean and neat.

We recently stayed here for Memorial Day weekend. This was my first trip there in 17 years and it was nothing short of amazing. The entrance is beautiful, you feel like you are driving in to a mountain retreat. Our campsite was clean and all amenities were available. The staff was so friendly and so welcoming. We’ve already booked again for July!

The staff was very friendly and helpful. I lost my necklace that I received for mother's day. The staff found it and returned it to me. Zilpo is a beautiful place to camp, swim, and fish. From my family's campsite we had easy and quick access to the lake.

Poison ivy completely covered our camp site and was growing on the picnic table and in the gravel. When brought to the attention of the staff, they were completely rude and dismissive. Also this camp ground is dealing with a tick infestation. We were here for 24 hours and pulled about 30 ticks. The camp store was empty without any snacks or supplies. Campground guests disregard quiet hours. All in all, a terrible experience!!! Try another camp ground in the area if you want to experience this place. There are plenty

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Zilpo Campground on the F loop, and it was an unforgettable experience! The natural beauty of Daniel Boone National Forest is breathtaking, and Zilpo Campground offers the perfect setting to immerse yourself in it. What made my stay truly exceptional were the incredible staff members, especially Buffalo and Lisa. From the moment I arrived, they were warm, welcoming, and genuinely caring. Buffalo’s extensive knowledge of the area and Lisa’s friendly demeanor made me feel right at home. They went above and beyond to ensure that all campers had a fantastic experience. Their dedication to maintaining the campground and their commitment to visitor satisfaction are truly commendable. The F loop itself was serene and well-maintained, providing a peaceful retreat amidst nature. Whether it was hiking, enjoying the lake, or simply relaxing by the campfire, every moment was enriched by the tranquil surroundings and the wonderful company of other campers. If you’re looking for a campground that offers stunning scenery, excellent facilities, and outstanding staff, Zilpo Campground is the place to go. I can’t recommend it highly enough, and I look forward to returning in the future. Thank you, Buffalo and Lisa, for making my stay so memorable!

Probably one of the most well maintained National Parks campgrounds I've been to. I know it's all determined by the work ethic of the camp stewards, but the current ones are top notch. Upon checkout, the grounds guy cleans the campsite, blows all the leaves off the site, and then rakes the gravel pads smooth. The beach is very clean, and so are the shower houses. My only two gripes would be: 1. More hooks in the shower stalls 2. Cut back the poison ivy and sumac from the edges of SOME of the campsites. UPDATE: As of the 2023 camping season, Vista Recreation is managing the campground. Sites aren't raked like they used to be when checking in. Bathrooms are left with very minimal toilet paper and no hand soap at the sinks. The cost of one night on a single site would buy a whole case of TORK toilet paper. Just very poor management at this time. The hosts are nice and all, but what they provide the campground leaves a lot to be desired.

Great campsites off the beaten path! We stayed for two nights during the week and were the people in our loop. Check in was super easy and the people we encountered were very nice. Firewood and ice were available to buy until 4pm. The showers and bathrooms were full of bugs but the water was warm and refreshing after swimming! We found some good shaded spots at the beach and good trees to set up a hammock. Besides the ticks, we really enjoyed our time! We have Verizon phones and had one bar at the site, a couple more at the beach. Do note there’s not a good town for supplies closer than 30 minutes. Our friends had some critter visitors get into a peanut butter container, dog food and even natural oatmeal soap, so definitely put everything away if you leave the site!

Had a great time. The sites are pretty private and kept up well. The camp host was very friendly and knowledgeable. Bathhouse could use a little refreshing. Beach area wasn’t anything great and there was a store that looked abandoned. This is pretty far off the beaten path but had decent service with AT&T. Great place to unwind and get away.

The location is great- about a 30 minute drive off of I64. Pros: I loved how it felt remote. The facilities were clean. Beautiful area. Cons: no good views of the lake from any of the campsites and the beach road was closed. Shower facilities in E and G were closed due to staffing, H loop showers were open. Camp site was in F loop and the camp hosts had a barking dog the entire time until quiet hours. The water pump near our site did not work. Another pump in F loop ran continually.Large amount of ticks despite staying on the paved road and gravel pad site.

Very clean campground. Sure facilities are a bit older and show expected wear and tear, but kept very clean. Campsites are mostly level where possible. Nice gravel areas at most locations. Look at loop H and G for waterfront sites. All are in wooded areas. Camp store was closed as well as the beach but that was due to the excessive rain fall in the area and understandable. There was ice and wood for sale at the entrance gate and a gentleman came by in a cart selling firewood as well. Cabins are smaller. About 10 x 20. Half that space is a sitting area and the other half is the bunk room with 4 single bunks. There are no mattresses in the cabins so bring a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. There were many varieties of butterflies and other insects that came by to visit. And at night, the stars are amazing! We even saw the Milky Way. Go if you enjoy a rustic but not quite primitive camping experience.

This was a Perfect campground. The sites were clean and well maintained with pea gravel, a picnic table, and a fire pit. The bathrooms were kept clean and had showers. The ladies at the entrance were very nice and we even meet a couple of campers. The road leading up to the campground was Super curvy. The lake was clean and they had a nice little beach for swimming. We Will be back again.

The sites at Zilpo are great. Most sit a decent way off the camping loops. They all have tent pads and are level. Almost all have a good amount of trees and vegetation between campsites. Picnic tables and fire rings are in good condition. The bathrooms are a little dated (paint is peeling in the showers, out of order stalls, etc.) but staff keeps them clean and the shower water was very hot. Unfortunately, I can not say the same about my campsite. There was a large amount of toilet paper in the woods surrounding the campsite. Our particular site had a little trail to access the lake, and many sites offer the same. The campground is pretty isolated so it's a pretty long trip to get groceries or gas. The check-in booth does sell ice and wood which was nice. There is one main trail within the campground (Zilpo) which offers great views but isn't very long. The campground has a nice beach and a separate boat launch. Campers are able to store their boats at their sites because the drives are long enough and sit so far back from the road. We brought our kayaks and enjoyed spending time on the water this way. Seeing a bald eagle while kayaking was a highlight. Overall, it's a well run and great campground. Since it is quite isolated, there is not a ton to do (especially if you don't own a boat) but part of the attraction to camping is getting away to relax anyway. We would definitely recommend Zilpo and will return.

Great place to visit! The staff was helpful. We rented three cabins (two initially) that were very clean. Dedicated staff cleaned the bath houses daily. The hiking trails were fun, even after the previous day of rain. The swimming beach was very rocky which would be ok if you have swim boots or something to protect your feet (my only negative for this place).

Amazing site! Had two picnic tables, a leveled gravel spot for the tent, a pole to hang your lantern, and plenty of space for the kids to roam. There was a ton of poison ivy, and the showers had no hot water, but as this is a campground and not a hotel I don't see that being a reason to take a star away. The views were beautiful, the camp sites private, water spigots plentiful, staff friendly... All sounds great experience.

Absolutely love this place and it is beautiful. It may be a bit challenging to make the last 15 miles but so worth it.... Nice sites that lead to the lake, double sites but no double electric hook ups (only one 30 amp), very spacious and we'll shaded. We have made this an annual destination for our family. We have met several families that are here the same weekend we are and we look for them on our return trips. The electric sites are limited so if you need a generator go ahead and invest in one. No matter what the question or the problem is the staff always helps us out to the best of their ability. In loop H I love the site host. He and his wife are adorable and accommodating. My only complaint are the ticks, after getting bit last year I am so paranoid and the miss understanding from last year about the double sites and what they can accommodate. But they made it work for us and we did as well. I call that a win win! Enjoy the photos I captured of Chipmunks running around, the cute turtle and unique ash gray lady bug on our cot it almost blended in.