1
Pull-thru
USACEBuckhorn Lake · Kentucky
Trace Branch Campground
Overview The Trace Branch Campground, located on Buckhorn Lake, is a great launchpad for outdoor activities in Kentucky's lush Cumberland Plateau.
Sites2925 reservable
Elev.968ft
Comf.Mar-Nov9 months
Max rig55 ft1 pull-thru
Electric2828×50-amp
From Lexington2h32real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 968 ft, Trace Branch Campground has a 9-month comfortable window (Mar-Nov). Winter nights average around 30°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 29 sites total: 25 reservable and 4 first-come, first-served. Of the sites, 1 pull-through, 1 walk-in, 28 with 50-amp, and the longest takes a 55-ft rig. Within about 4 miles: 1 peak, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and reservability. Softest on roomy sites.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Sep
Mar-Nov
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
71%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 16
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 4.
68°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Lexington
123 mi
2h32
02
Louisville
196 mi
3h50
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 1.5 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 29 SITES
Color byShow only
29 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
1
Walk-in
28
50-amp
1
Accessible
18
Prime
29
Sites
★ The standout
Site S-28
CMPG · prime location · pull-through · shaded.
To neighbor
71 ft
Location
Prime
Max rig
30 ft
Type
Pull-thru
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Peaks
1
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
1.5 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.