Warning
GeneralReservations for seven consecutive nights or more receive an automatic 25% discount.
Featured amenities
About Zilpo - Daniel Boone Nat. For.
Number of accommodations: 162
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Showers
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Zilpo - Daniel Boone Nat. For..
Rates, Sites & Availability
162 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
162 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (658)
What Guests Are Saying
Zilpo Campground is praised for its beautiful location, cleanliness, and friendly camp hosts, making it a favorite for many long-time visitors. While some amenities, such as hot water availability and maintenance support, have declined, most campers still enjoy the private, serene sites and the access to outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. However, issues like noise from other campers and limited store supplies have been noted, highlighting areas for improvement.
What Guests Are Saying
Zilpo Campground is praised for its beautiful location, cleanliness, and friendly camp hosts, making it a favorite for many long-time visitors. While some amenities, such as hot water availability and maintenance support, have declined, most campers still enjoy the private, serene sites and the access to outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. However, issues like noise from other campers and limited store supplies have been noted, highlighting areas for improvement.
Review Summary
James M
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2022 • Stayed at: F012, Loop: F LOOP
Beautiful place, very hidden from other main section of the lake. Its camping at its best, away from ppl, nature and relaxation. Staff has been amazing over the years I have been there. Place does need some work on the beach, its a gravel lot pretty much, go by the boat ramp for sandy swimming. Could use some activity areas in the camping areas, like playground, etc.
James M
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2022 • Stayed at: F012, Loop: F LOOP
Beautiful place, very hidden from other main section of the lake. Its camping at its best, away from ppl, nature and relaxation. Staff has been amazing over the years I have been there. Place does need some work on the beach, its a gravel lot pretty much, go by the boat ramp for sandy swimming. Could use some activity areas in the camping areas, like playground, etc.
Crystal H
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: F010, Loop: F LOOP
I have been camping at Zilpo for about 22 years and it continues to decline each year. The camp sites are huge and more secluded than any other place and that along with the friendly & helpful staff is what keeps bringing us back. When we first started camping at Zilpo, they had clean and visible paths to and around the lake, they used to have activities for the kids (make things, paint things, educational walks). Have not seen that for about 15-17 years.
This year, we had poison ivy inside our campsites (I am allergic). This last time (Labor Day holiday 2022) the bath house that was designated for our campsite was closed due to staff shortages, so we had to go to another loop to shower. The restroom had a pipe burst (which flooded my campsite with clean water) and so they opened the bath house and closed the restroom until it got fixed the next day and then closed the bath house again. That made absolutely no sense to me at all! Why would you close the bath house (3 showers & 3 toilets) instead of a restroom (3 toilets)? The walking paths used to be clear and visible, but now they are overgrown and you can barley tell where they are. The Beach area is closed most of the time. We were there for 11 days and the beach was open for 3 of them. The water by our campsite was out of order and has been for at least 3 years. There are toilets and showers that have been out of order for a few years. It is disheartening to see such a beautiful place where you have many memories deteriorate.
Crystal H
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: F010, Loop: F LOOP
I have been camping at Zilpo for about 22 years and it continues to decline each year. The camp sites are huge and more secluded than any other place and that along with the friendly & helpful staff is what keeps bringing us back. When we first started camping at Zilpo, they had clean and visible paths to and around the lake, they used to have activities for the kids (make things, paint things, educational walks). Have not seen that for about 15-17 years.
This year, we had poison ivy inside our campsites (I am allergic). This last time (Labor Day holiday 2022) the bath house that was designated for our campsite was closed due to staff shortages, so we had to go to another loop to shower. The restroom had a pipe burst (which flooded my campsite with clean water) and so they opened the bath house and closed the restroom until it got fixed the next day and then closed the bath house again. That made absolutely no sense to me at all! Why would you close the bath house (3 showers & 3 toilets) instead of a restroom (3 toilets)? The walking paths used to be clear and visible, but now they are overgrown and you can barley tell where they are. The Beach area is closed most of the time. We were there for 11 days and the beach was open for 3 of them. The water by our campsite was out of order and has been for at least 3 years. There are toilets and showers that have been out of order for a few years. It is disheartening to see such a beautiful place where you have many memories deteriorate.
Steven M
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: G020, Loop: G LOOP
This is the third time we have stayed at Zilpo. Our kids really like being close to the lake, and having a beach area. The campground is always clean, and the bathrooms are maintained pretty well. We have had a few minor issues, such as a not working shower. To be fair, I have stayed at many campgrounds, and I have had these types of issues everywhere. These things just happen. Comparatively speaking, the people who manage Zilpo are very friendly and helpful, and the stay is always fun. We will come again in the future. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the store at the lake. It was way understocked. However, the beach area had been closed for a period of time due to high water, and with the beach the store had been closed as well. Overall, I would recommend Zilpo, expecially if you have a boat. Cave run lake is a nice lake, not too big, not too small.
Rebecca B
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: A003, Loop: A LOOP
The facilities were excellent. Clean bathroom and showers. The campsite was nice, tent pad drained well. Overgrown with briars and undergrown immediately outside the boundary of the site.
The first night we camped, a neighbor camper blasted music until 10:30pm then continued to be disruptive and extremely loud until past 1 am, keeping our small kids awake as well as us. We told the camp host but the same exact thing happened the next evening. I'm not sure why their are hosts if they aren't going to do their job. Nothing worse than going camping to enjoy nature and be pestered by humans.
Steven M
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: G020, Loop: G LOOP
This is the third time we have stayed at Zilpo. Our kids really like being close to the lake, and having a beach area. The campground is always clean, and the bathrooms are maintained pretty well. We have had a few minor issues, such as a not working shower. To be fair, I have stayed at many campgrounds, and I have had these types of issues everywhere. These things just happen. Comparatively speaking, the people who manage Zilpo are very friendly and helpful, and the stay is always fun. We will come again in the future. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the store at the lake. It was way understocked. However, the beach area had been closed for a period of time due to high water, and with the beach the store had been closed as well. Overall, I would recommend Zilpo, expecially if you have a boat. Cave run lake is a nice lake, not too big, not too small.
Rebecca B
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: A003, Loop: A LOOP
The facilities were excellent. Clean bathroom and showers. The campsite was nice, tent pad drained well. Overgrown with briars and undergrown immediately outside the boundary of the site.
The first night we camped, a neighbor camper blasted music until 10:30pm then continued to be disruptive and extremely loud until past 1 am, keeping our small kids awake as well as us. We told the camp host but the same exact thing happened the next evening. I'm not sure why their are hosts if they aren't going to do their job. Nothing worse than going camping to enjoy nature and be pestered by humans.
Brad C
VerifiedSeptember 11, 2022 • Stayed at: H034, Loop: H LOOP
Excellent clean facilities! Large sites with enough space between neighbors and most have good lake views. The only drawback is a lack of walking trails
Brad C
VerifiedSeptember 11, 2022 • Stayed at: H034, Loop: H LOOP
Excellent clean facilities! Large sites with enough space between neighbors and most have good lake views. The only drawback is a lack of walking trails
Location Zilpo - Daniel Boone Nat. For.
Address:
8697 Z Ilpo Road
Salt Lick, KY, 40371
United States
In Salt Lick, KY, at the intersection of State Route 211 and U.S. Route 60,
take Route 211 south for 3.6 miles to the Forest Recreation sign. Turn left
at the sign, onto Clear Creek Road and go 3.9 miles to Zilpo Campground sign.
Turn left at the sign onto Forest Route 918 and drive 8.7 miles to the campground.
The campground is accessible via U.S. Route 60 and State Route 211. U.S. Route 60 is approximately 3.6 miles from the campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.075 / -83.5
Policies & Rules
General
- Limit 6 people and 2 vehicles per single campsite; additional vehicles will be charged an additional fee per night; additional guest will be charged $2 per night.
- Each cabin has 2 double bunk beds with out mattresses, Please bring your own sleeping bags or other bedding.Each cabin can accommodate up to 6 people and 1 vehicle. Tents and RVs are not allowed at the cabins.
- Beach is opened from Memorial day to Labor day, unless flooding occurs hours of operation are 11am to 8 pm
- Only Authorized companies are allowed to drop off and set up rental trailers, all unauthorized RV trailer rental deliveries will be turned away.
- Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
- A discount of 25% is now available for reservations that include 7 or more consecutive days.
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralReservations for seven consecutive nights or more receive an automatic 25% discount.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 13, 2026