Zilpo Recreation Area
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Zilpo Recreation Area
Zilpo Recreation Area is a 355-acre campground on Cave Run Lake on Cumberland District . This area has sites for tent camping and RV hookup. Basic rental cabins sleep up to 7, with beds, table, porch, accessible ramp entrance and picnic tables. Bathrooms and water are located nearby at the bathhouse. The campground has bathhouses with hot water showers, hiking and jogging trails, scenic overlooks, a boat ramp and a nearby country store. A sandy beach with a roped swimming area offers visitors a spectacular view of the lake. The Zilpo Store is your one stop shop to purchase food, floats, ice, wood, etc. during your beach and camping stay. Zilpo Mountain Trail #1802 begins across from D loop in Zilpo Campground and loops back around to near the entrance station. Zilpo Campground Map (pdf) Cave Run Lake is nestled among the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky. Built for flood protection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this 8,270 lake provides flood protection to the lower Licking River valley and supplies water to area communities, improves water flow conditions on the Licking River, and offers habitat for many species of fish and wildlife. The lake is known for its excellent muskie fishing.
Before you go
Season
May 22
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
Zilpo Beach & Day Use • $10/vehicle for visitor day use. Over 6 per vehicle: $2/person. • Walk-in/bicycle $2/person. • Commercial buses/vans: $2/person. • Vista family annual pass for beach use $50. • Interpretive programs $8/vehicle. • Firewood $7. Zilpo Cabins • $85/night. Up to 6 persons plus a vehicle. Zilpo Campground • $25/single. • $35/prime single. • $38/double. Additional Campground Fees: $10/electric. $8/extra vehicle per night. $8/RV dump station per use.
Hours
Check-in: 2 p.m. Checkout: 11 a.m. Only registered campers are allowed at Zilpo after 10 p.m.
Accessibility
The bathhouse is accessible for persons with disabilities.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.