Alum Ford Campground

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Oneida, KY, KY

Price: From $15 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (9 reviews)

Season: May through October

Alum Ford Campground is located in the Kentucky portion of Big South Fork seven miles west of Whitley City, Kentucky at the end of Highway 700. The campground consists of six campsites each with picnic table and fire ring. Alum Ford Campground has six sites with tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, bear-proof garbage cans, and food storage lockers.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/alum-ford-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Alum Ford offers rare access to a remote section of the Big South Fork River where it meets Lake Cumberland, with an adjacent boat launch for both motorized and non-motorized watercraft. At $15/night for tent camping, it's an affordable base for fishing, paddling, and hiking the Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail.

Wildlife alert: North American Racer snakes observed in the area — keep an eye out while hiking or setting up camp, though they are non-venomous.

Insider tips for Alum Ford Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 6 sites and high demand during its May-October season. Bring your own water and supplies; the campground has vault toilets and bear boxes but no hookups or amenities beyond basics. The Alum Ford Boat Launch is directly adjacent, making this ideal for launching kayaks, canoes, or motorboats without extra travel.

Skip Alum Ford Campground if: You need RV hookups or modern facilities — there are no hookups and only vault toilets available.. You're visiting November through April — the campground is closed seasonally..

Best time to visit Alum Ford Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only; plan accordingly as it closes outside these months..

Nearby campgrounds: Blue Heron Campground (ONEIDA, KY), Bear Creek Campground - Ky (Oneida, KY), Station Camp Campground (ONEIDA, TN), Waitsboro Campground (SOMERSET, KY).