Laurel River Lake Picnic Area
Laurel River Lake Picnic Area
Laurel River Lake Picnic Area
Laurel River Lake Picnic Area
Laurel River Lake Picnic Area

Featured amenities

Playground Playground

About Laurel River Lake Picnic Area

Laurel River Lake Picnic Area is a day-use facility located on a peninsula along the shores of Laurel River Lake. The picnic area provides 19 individual picnic sites which are first-come, first-serve, and two reservable shelters. There is no overnight camping allowed in the area. Click here for the Laurel River Lake Picnic Area virtual tour.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Playground Playground
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Playground
Missing information?

Reviews (22)

What Guests Are Saying

The Laurel River Lake Picnic Area offers a beautiful pavilion with lakeside access, ample picnic tables, and great facilities like a grill and electricity, making it a wonderful spot for gatherings. However, issues such as illegal parking, lack of park supervision, and cleanliness in the bathrooms and surrounding area detracted from the experience. Overall, many visitors enjoyed their time and plan to return despite the noted concerns.

Review Summary

3.6
22 reviews
5
45.5%
10
4
22.7%
5
3
4.5%
1
2
0.0%
0
1
27.3%
6

Timi R

July 10, 2025

5

pavilion was clean grill was GREAT! Everyone had a great time!
Thank you!

marcilla B

July 20, 2024

5

We love this location

Angel P

July 12, 2024

5

NA

Angel P

July 30, 2022

5

A

Candace M

July 6, 2022

1

This area as gradually gone downhill year after year. We've rented this shelter for around 10 years for our reunions. We've run into lack of toilet paper, trash everywhere, no soap, no running water in the bathroom sinks, etc. This year we had zero electric at the shelter and the bathrooms were locked. They had porta potties but of course they were nasty. We had to drive some family members to the spillway to use that bathroom due to how nasty the porta potty became. We rely on the electric at the shelter for fans to keep our elderly and babies cooler in the heat. This year we could not do that. We reserve the shelter a year in advance and were never informed of the lack of amenities we had already paid for. After asking around, I found the bathroom had been locked for at least 3 weeks leading up to the day we were there. the playground has also gone downhill. It seems like each year we're there, there's a piece of equipment that is no longer usable.

Rachel B

August 21, 2021

1

There was yellow jacket nests all over the pavilion. We spent the whole day fighting off the yellow jackets and many of us got multiple stings.

Sonia J

May 30, 2021

1

The electric did not work, people were there when we arrived, then people showed up while we were there stating they had rented it as well, and even though parking was not included as the website indicated there is not enough parking to go around.

Jonathan C

November 30, 2020

1

Horrible the trash was over flowing and the parking was not just for the shelters like it stated online. A sign posted at the shelter stated it was open to the public for parking and not just for the shelters.

Tiffany K

July 12, 2020

1

Picnic area was filthy trash was overflowing from their cans and bathrooms were dirty. The bathrooms didn’t have toilet paper or any hand soap.

jennifer a

January 15, 2020

5

We love this location for my daughter's birthday party during the summer. Plenty of tables under the shelter for food and cake. It is very close to the water so we were able to walk down for a swim after the party as well.

Location & Directions for Laurel River Lake Picnic Area

1433 Laurel Lake Road, London, KY 40744 United States

Elevation: 333 ft

Getting There

From London, Kentucky, head west on HWY 192 for approximately 15 mi. Turn slight left onto KY-1193. Continue on KY-1193 until arrive at destination on left. Area is marked by "Laurel Dam Picnic Area" signs.

Nearest town

London, KY - 19 mi

About 30 min to downtown

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore London, KY

Population: 7,561

Nearby city: Knoxville, TN

Approx. 72 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,243 ft

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