About Tailwater
Number of accommodations: 49
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Showers
Playground
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
On Site Services
- Playground
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Tailwater.
Rates, Sites & Availability
49 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
49 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 (393)
What Guests Are Saying
Tailwater Recreational Area offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience along the Barren River, with friendly staff and a clean environment. Many visitors appreciate the scenic views and the opportunity for fishing and outdoor activities, making it a desirable spot for families. However, some guests have encountered issues with amenities like water and electricity not being available as expected, as well as concerns about bathroom cleanliness and maintenance.
What Guests Are Saying
Tailwater Recreational Area offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience along the Barren River, with friendly staff and a clean environment. Many visitors appreciate the scenic views and the opportunity for fishing and outdoor activities, making it a desirable spot for families. However, some guests have encountered issues with amenities like water and electricity not being available as expected, as well as concerns about bathroom cleanliness and maintenance.
Review Summary
Melissa C
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: TAIL
Good
Teresa D
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: TAIL
The bath houses are clean and it’s a quiet campground, but occasionally during the summer the lake water stinks really bad.
Melissa C
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 01, Loop: TAIL
Good
dorothy r
VerifiedJune 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: TAIL
it was good
dorothy r
VerifiedJune 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: TAIL
it was good
Candy T
VerifiedJune 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: TAIL
The grass was so over grown which caused bugs to be everywhere. The banks are so overgrown you have a very small area to hang out. And the attendant was a jerk. He jumped several campers about things that isn’t against the rules. We couldn’t even enjoy ourselves. We’d see him coming and cringe thinking we were gonna get jumped on again. My husband and myself have Ebike. I was riding and my speedometer said 8.8-10mph all up the road. He waved me down to tell me to slow down. He said he wasn’t for sure if my bike was allowed in the campground. When the speed limit is clearly posted at 15 mph. I was not breaking ANY rules. He is just ignorant and needs to educate himself before he jumps someone who pays for a site and pays for diesel to get there to enjoy themselves. He jumped my brother in law and jumped 2 other groups for having golf carts. I feel he’s on some type of power trip and needs to be called down. We’ve camped there for years and will cancel our remaining trips this year if our next trip goes as this one did. Tailwater hasn’t got much going for it. It’s stinks a lot of the time and the grass is always grown up. So if they are going to act like this they will run off a lot of campers. It’s convenient for us and we go there to came with family that lives close by. We typically camp every 2 weeks and camp at a lot of different campgrounds. And this has just stunned me and just made me mad
Jamie F
VerifiedJune 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: TAIL
Great trip and a very peaceful vacation .. everything was very clean and well taken care of!
Candy T
VerifiedJune 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: TAIL
The grass was so over grown which caused bugs to be everywhere. The banks are so overgrown you have a very small area to hang out. And the attendant was a jerk. He jumped several campers about things that isn’t against the rules. We couldn’t even enjoy ourselves. We’d see him coming and cringe thinking we were gonna get jumped on again. My husband and myself have Ebike. I was riding and my speedometer said 8.8-10mph all up the road. He waved me down to tell me to slow down. He said he wasn’t for sure if my bike was allowed in the campground. When the speed limit is clearly posted at 15 mph. I was not breaking ANY rules. He is just ignorant and needs to educate himself before he jumps someone who pays for a site and pays for diesel to get there to enjoy themselves. He jumped my brother in law and jumped 2 other groups for having golf carts. I feel he’s on some type of power trip and needs to be called down. We’ve camped there for years and will cancel our remaining trips this year if our next trip goes as this one did. Tailwater hasn’t got much going for it. It’s stinks a lot of the time and the grass is always grown up. So if they are going to act like this they will run off a lot of campers. It’s convenient for us and we go there to came with family that lives close by. We typically camp every 2 weeks and camp at a lot of different campgrounds. And this has just stunned me and just made me mad
Jamie F
VerifiedJune 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: TAIL
Great trip and a very peaceful vacation .. everything was very clean and well taken care of!
Sarah C
VerifiedJune 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: TAIL
Campground attendants were beyond friendly and very nice! Made sure to talk to everyone there from what I seen! When we arrived at our site there was a lot of trash in the fire pit and around our site. But other than that, we enjoyed our stay and was thankful for super friendly attendants!
Location Tailwater
Address:
1055 Tailwater Road
Scottsville, KY, 42164
United States
From Glasgow, KY: Take 31-E south for 4 mi; turn right on 252,
which will cross the dam in 8 mi. The Tailwater entrance road is at the
south end of the dam. Follow signs into recreation area. Approximately
19 miles from Bowling Green, KY.
Tailwater is accessible via US Highway 231, which is approximately 10 miles to the east. Interstate 65 is about 20 miles to the west, providing further access to nearby towns and cities.
Latitude & Longitude: 36.8944 / -86.1331
Elevation: 149 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Fires & fuel
- Firewood from outside the area is not allowed; purchase or collect firewood locally to protect forests.
Vehicles & parking
- Off-highway vehicles are not allowed.
Fees & deposits
- Day visitors are subject to a fee.
Local regulations
- All boats must comply with Kentucky boating laws and regulations.
Site types & loops
- During non-peak season, camping is primitive only; dump station and potable water available.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
