By Sarah MitchellOutdoor Editor & Trail Expert · Updated
🏨 Kentucky’s Lakeside Full-Service Resort — A 120-room lodge on the shore of 57,920-acre Lake Barkley, with 18-hole golf course, full-service marina, 78-site campground, 13 cottages, Windows on the Water restaurant, fitness center, swimming beach, and direct gateway to the 170,000-acre Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
On the western shore of Lake Barkley — a 57,920-acre reservoir created by damming the Cumberland River in 1966 — Lake Barkley State Resort Park delivers something that most state parks can only dream of: a full-service, year-round resort experience operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, at state park prices. A 120-room lodge with lake views and a full restaurant. An 18-hole championship golf course. A full-service marina with boat rentals. A fitness center with indoor pool, sauna, and racquetball. 13 two-bedroom cottages tucked in the woods. A 78-site campground. A swimming beach. And, minutes away, the gateway to one of the most remarkable public recreation areas in the country: the 170,000-acre Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Lake Barkley is one of Kentucky’s “State Resort Parks” — a designation that elevates it beyond a traditional campground-and-trails operation into a genuine hospitality destination. The concept is uniquely Kentuckian: build proper resorts on some of the most beautiful public land in the state, and offer them to everyone at prices that working families can afford. The result at Lake Barkley is a park that functions equally well as a weekend fishing trip, a family vacation basecamp, a romantic getaway, or a golfer’s retreat — with the vast wilderness of Land Between the Lakes waiting just across the road.
Lake Barkley
Feature
Details
Surface Area
57,920 acres
Dam
Barkley Dam (Cumberland River, 1966)
Shoreline
1,004 miles
Maximum Depth
60+ feet
Adjacent Lake
Kentucky Lake — connected via canal
Between the Lakes
Lake Barkley + Kentucky Lake = “Land Between the Lakes”
The Lodge
Feature
Details
Rooms
120 rooms and suites with lake views
Restaurant
Windows on the Water — full-service dining
Fitness Center
Gym, racquetball, sauna, steam room
Indoor Pool
Year-round wellness pool
Gift Shop
On-site
Golf — Boots Randolph Golf Course
Feature
Details
Holes
18
Par
72
Design
Scenic fairways with meadering stream
Pro Shop
Full equipment, cart rental
Marina and Boating
Service
Details
Boat Rentals
Fishing boats, pontoons, ski boats
Boat Slips
Seasonal and transient slips
Fuel
On-water fuel dock
Supplies
Tackle, bait, fishing supplies
Phone
(270) 924-6081
Fishing
Species
Best Season
Notes
Largemouth Bass
Spring, Summer
Weed edges, points, structure
Crappie
Spring (spawning season)
Brush piles, submerged timber
Bluegill
Summer
Docks, weed edges
Channel Catfish
Summer, Fall
Night fishing, cut bait
Striped Bass
Fall
Deep water, trolling
Fishing Loaner Program: Forgot your gear? The park offers a free fishing loaner program — rods, reels, and basic tackle available to borrow. A Kentucky fishing license is required.
Camping
Detail
Information
Sites
78 campsites
Season
March – November
Hookups
Water and electric
Accommodates
Tents and RVs
Cottages
13 two-bedroom cottages
Trails
Type
Miles
Difficulty
Hiking Trails
9+ miles
Easy-Moderate
Mountain Biking
7 miles
Moderate
Land Between the Lakes — 170,000 Acres
Lake Barkley State Resort Park sits at the eastern gateway to Land Between the Lakes (LBL) — a 170,000-acre National Recreation Area managed by the U.S. Forest Service, occupying the narrow peninsula between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. LBL features:
From Nashville: 80 miles northwest (~1 hour 20 minutes)
From Paducah: 30 miles southeast (~35 minutes)
From Louisville: 220 miles southwest (~3 hours 15 minutes)
From Clarksville, TN: 65 miles northwest (~1 hour)
Best Time to Visit
Season
Highlights
Crowd Level
Spring (Mar-May)
Crappie spawning, dogwood, golf season opens
Moderate
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Full marina, beach, boating, LBL programs
High
Fall (Sep-Nov)
Eagle migration, fall foliage, bass fishing
Moderate
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Lodge retreat, indoor pool, eagle watching
Low
Is Lake Barkley a full resort?
Yes! Lake Barkley is a Kentucky State Resort Park — a full-service resort operated by the state. It features a 120-room lodge with lake-view rooms, a full-service restaurant (Windows on the Water), an 18-hole golf course, a full-service marina with boat rentals, an indoor fitness center with pool, sauna, and racquetball, plus 13 two-bedroom cottages and a 78-site campground. It’s a genuine resort at state park prices.
What is Land Between the Lakes?
Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is a 170,000-acre National Recreation Area managed by the U.S. Forest Service, located on the peninsula between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. It features the Elk & Bison Prairie (drive-through wildlife viewing), the Golden Pond Planetarium, the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, off-highway vehicle trails, and extensive camping. There is no general entrance fee — individual attractions have separate admission. Lake Barkley State Resort Park sits directly at LBL’s eastern gateway.
Sarah Mitchell is an outdoor writer and trail researcher with over 8 years of experience exploring state parks across America. As the lead editor at AmericasStateParks.org, she has personally visited more than 200 parks in 42 states, logging thousands of trail miles and hundreds of campground nights. Sarah specializes in detailed park guides, accessibility information, and family-friendly outdoor planning. Her work focuses on helping first-time visitors feel confident and well-prepared for their state park adventures.
200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing
