Kentucky's system of 44 state parks has been referred to as "the nation's finest" and experiences more repeat business annually than those of any other U.S. state. The state's diverse geography provides a variety of environments to experience. From mountain lakes to expansive caves to forests teeming with wildlife, park-goers have their choice of attractions, and they are all within a day's drive of each other.
Unless otherwise specified, data in the following lists are taken from Kentucky State Parks by Bill Bailey.
Although the Kentucky Horse Park is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is administered separately from the Department of Parks and is not a state park. Breaks Interstate Park is also separate, administered under an interstate compact with the state of Virginia, in partnership with the parks departments of both states.
State recreational parks Kentucky's 24 "rec parks" span the state from Columbus to Pikeville. Each features outdoor camping areas with a variety of outdoor activities.
ImagePark NameCounty or CountiesSizeCarr Creek State ParkKnott CountyLake: Columbus-Belmont State ParkHickman County Dawkins Line Rail Trail Johnson and Magoffin CountiesE. P. "Tom" Sawyer State ParkLouisvilleFort Boonesborough State ParkRichmondGeneral Burnside State ParkPulaski CountyGrayson Lake State ParkCarter CountyPark: Lake: Green River Lake State ParkTaylor CountyPark: Lake: John James Audubon State ParkHenderson CountyPark: Lakes: & Kincaid Lake State ParkPendleton CountyPark: Lake: Kingdom Come State ParkHarlan CountyPark: Lake: Lake Malone State ParkMuhlenberg CountyPark: Lake: Lincoln Homestead State ParkWashington CountyMineral Mound State ParkEddyvilleMy Old Kentucky Home State ParkBardstownNolin Lake State ParkEdmonson CountyPark: Lake: Kentucky State Parks – History Old Fort Harrod State ParkHarrodsburgPaintsville Lake State ParkJohnson CountyPark: Lake: Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail Bell, Harlan, Letcher, and Pike CountiesUnder constructionTaylorsville Lake State ParkSpencer CountyPark: Lake: Yatesville Lake State ParkLawrence CountyLake:
State resort parks Kentucky offers more state resort parks than any other state. Each features a lodge complete with dining room and Wi-Fi wireless Internet access.
PhotoParkLocationAreaBarren River Lake State Resort ParkBarren CountyPark: Lake: Blue Licks Battlefield State ParkRobertson CountyBreaks Interstate ParkPike County, Kentucky;Dickenson and Buchanan County, VirginiaPark: Lake: Buckhorn Lake State Resort ParkPerry CountyPark: Lake: Carter Caves State Resort ParkCarter CountyPark: Lake: Cumberland Falls State Resort ParkWhitley CountyDale Hollow Lake State Park Cumberland CountyPark: Lake: General Butler State Resort ParkCarroll CountyPark: Lake: Greenbo Lake State Resort ParkGreenup CountyPark: Lake: Jenny Wiley State Resort ParkFloyd CountyPark: Lake: Kenlake State Resort ParkCalloway and Marshall CountiesPark: Lake: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort ParkMarshall CountyLake Barkley State Resort ParkTrigg CountyPark: Lake: Lake Cumberland State Resort ParkRussell CountyPark: Lake: Natural Bridge State Resort ParkPowell CountyPark: Lake: Pennyrile Forest State Resort ParkHopkins CountyPark: Lake: Pine Mountain State Resort ParkBell CountyRough River Dam State Resort ParkBreckinridge, Hardin, & Grayson countiesPark: Lake:
State historic sites Ten of Kentucky's recreational parks and two of its resort parks are simultaneously designated as state historic sites. An additional eleven state historic sites are also maintained by the Kentucky Department of Parks.
PhotoParkLocationAreaBig Bone Lick State Historic SiteBoone CountyPark: Lake: Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic SiteBarbourvilleIsaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic SiteStanfordJefferson Davis State Historic SiteFairviewOld Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic SiteTompkinsvillePerryville Battlefield State Historic SitePerryvilleWaveland State Historic SiteLexingtonWickliffe Mounds State Historic SiteWickliffe
See also List of Kentucky state forests List of U.S. national parks
References
External links Kentucky Department of Parks