Dewey Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Van Lear, KY, KY
Price: From $10 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
The Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites is a primitive campground and the only U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground at Dewey Lake. The campground is open from April 20th - October 31st.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/dewey-lake-campground-shoreline-sites to be notified when sites open up.
Primitive shoreline campground with scenic views and direct lake access for swimming, fishing, and water activities. Highly rated by real campers (4.7/5 stars) for beautiful landscapes and family-friendly amenities.
Wildlife alert: Timber Rattlesnake present in area; also Elk, Wapiti, Pileated Woodpecker, and Eastern Box Turtle documented within 8km.
Insider tips for Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites: Arrive early for unreserved shelter access, especially the accessible handicap shelter. Pack a picnic — campground is remote with limited nearby services. Boat and walk-in access available; choose entry method based on your gear.
Skip Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites.. You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only.. You need last-minute reservations — federal campground books up early..
Best time to visit Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites: May-June — Early in the May-October season; avoid peak booking pressure while accessing full amenities.. September-October — Late season offers fewer crowds and pleasant weather before seasonal closure..
Nearby campgrounds: Dewey Lake Shelter (VAN LEAR, KY), Fishtrap Lake Shelters (SHELBIANA, KY), East Fork (Wv) (EAST LYNN, WV), East Lynn Lake Shelters (EAST LYNN, WV).
Cell signal at Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites (Van Lear, KY): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
The Dewey Lake Campground Shoreline Sites is a primitive campground and the only U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground at Dewey Lake. The campground is open from April 20th - October 31st.
Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Arrive early for unreserved shelter access, especially the accessible handicap shelter.
Pack a picnic
campground is remote with limited nearby services.
Boat and walk-in access available; choose entry method based on your gear.
Early in the May-October season; avoid peak booking pressure while accessing full amenities.
Late season offers fewer crowds and pleasant weather before seasonal closure.
FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.









From US 23 turn at the red light toward Highlands Hospital (Route 302) for about one mile, turn right onto Route 3 for about 1.5 miles; after 1st over pass turn right onto 302 Lake Road, take left at bottom of ramp and Dewey Recreation Area Entrance is one mile on right, Project Office is 1.25 miles on right, continue to pass the project office and cross the dam, once arriving at the intake structure you will see a parking lot and this is where you can park while staying at the campground.
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