Can you reserve a site at Canal?

Yes, Canal is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Canal?

99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Canal?

Yes, pets are allowed at Canal.

Are campfires allowed at Canal?

Campfires are allowed at Canal. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Canal

Campground · Kentucky · 115 bookable sites ·

Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers

Barkley Recreation Area (Recreation Area) · Open Access

115
Bookable sites: 99 ft
Max rig length: up to 64
People per site: 22
Accessible sites: 411 ft
Elevation

Overview

Situated along a peninsula between the lush shorelines of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, Canal Campground offers modern camping and provides the ideal setting to enjoy nature at its best with family and friends.

Visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the Barkley Dam and boats traveling through the canal from the comfort of their campsite. The campground faces Barkley Lake, and the shore of Kentucky Lake is a brisk one-mile walk across the canal.

Recreation

From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Eagle nests can be spotted throughout the grounds, and its not unlikely for visitors to encounter deer and other wildlife. A short hiking trail allows campers to enjoy the outdoor scenery at their leisure.

Fishing is also a popular pastime, and during warm months bass and catfish are plentiful in both lakes.

Facilities

A designated swimming beach and a boat ramp help campers enjoy the lake. Picnic pavilions and a playground create a perfect setting for a party or family get-together. For group camping, several sites surrounding the pavilion can be reserved, and a fishing float nearby allows groups to go out on the lake together.

Electric hook-ups, showers and flush restrooms create a comfortable camping experience.

Natural Features

Lake Barkley, as part of a dam project at the Cumberland River, spans 134 miles along the Kentucky landscape, offering countless recreational activities to visitors. The canal connects Lake Barley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country.

Nearby Attractions

Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.

The facts

115 bookable sites
22 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 99 ft
Up to 64 people per site
Loops: BRPT, Beach, CANA, Fisherman's Row, GRUP, Hill, Primitive, The Flats, VIEW, Woods

Site types

113 Standard Electric
1 Group Standard Electric
1 Tent Only Electric

Amenities

Electric hookups
Water hookups
Sewer hookups
Campfires allowed
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

115 campsites at Canal

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Max rig	People
085	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
086	BRPT	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Gravel	—	25 ft	8	🐾
087	BRPT	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Gravel	—	45 ft	8	🐾
088	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	43 ft	8	🐾
089	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	53 ft	8	🐾
090	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	57 ft	8	🐾
091	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	69 ft	8	🐾
092	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	99 ft	8	🐾
093	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	92 ft	8	♿ 🐾
094	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	59 ft	8	♿ 🐾
095	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	63 ft	8	♿ 🐾
096	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	46 ft	8	♿ 🐾
097	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	51 ft	8	♿ 🐾
098	BRPT	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	62 ft	8	🐾
053	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	34 ft	8	🐾
054	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	34 ft	8	🐾
055	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	50 ft	8	🐾
056	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	38 ft	8	🐾
057	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
058	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
059	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	42 ft	8	🐾
060	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	50 ft	8	🐾
061	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	36 ft	8	🐾
062	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
063	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
064	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
065	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
066	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
067	Beach	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	34 ft	8	🐾
084	CANA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
021	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
022	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
023	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
024	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
025	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	67 ft	8	🐾
026	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	48 ft	8	🐾
027	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
028	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
029	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
030	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
031	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	33 ft	8	🐾
032	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
033	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
034	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
035	Fisherman's Row	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
NASH1	GRUP	Group Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	45 ft	64	♿ 🐾
068	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	36 ft	8	🐾
069	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	44 ft	8	🐾
070	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	36 ft	8	🐾
071	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	37 ft	8	🐾
072	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	47 ft	8	🐾
073	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	42 ft	8	🐾
074	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	45 ft	8	🐾
075	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
076	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	32 ft	8	🐾
077	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	38 ft	8	🐾
078	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	42 ft	8	🐾
079	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
080	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	32 ft	8	🐾
081	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	50 ft	8	🐾
082	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	38 ft	8	🐾
083	Hill	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	52 ft	8	🐾
001	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	32 ft	8	🐾
002	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
003	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
004	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	20 ft	8	🐾
005	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	22 ft	8	🐾
006	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Gravel	—	20 ft	8	🐾
007	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	18 ft	8	🐾
008	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	35 ft	8	🐾
009	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
010	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	22 ft	8	🐾
011	Primitive	Tent Only Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	—	8	🐾
012	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	22 ft	8	🐾
013	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	22 ft	8	🐾
014	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
015	Primitive	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	20 ft	8	🐾
016	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
017	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
018	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	—	22 ft	8	🐾
019	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	24 ft	8	🐾
020	Primitive	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
103	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
104	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
105	The Flats	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
106	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
107	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
108	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
109	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
110	The Flats	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
111	VIEW	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	—	30 ft	8	♿ 🐾
112	VIEW	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	—	35 ft	8	♿ 🐾
113	VIEW	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	55 ft	8	♿ 🐾
114	VIEW	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	45 ft	8	♿ 🐾
115	VIEW	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	46 ft	8	♿ 🐾
116	VIEW	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	—	50 ft	8	♿ 🐾
117	VIEW	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	—	35 ft	8	♿ 🐾
036	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	42 ft	8	🐾
037A	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	34 ft	8	🐾
037B	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	37 ft	8	🐾
038	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	30 ft	8	🐾
039	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	45 ft	8	🐾
040	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	48 ft	8	🐾
041	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	41 ft	8	🐾
042	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	36 ft	8	🐾
043	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	37 ft	8	🐾
044	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	37 ft	8	🐾
045	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	37 ft	8	🐾
046	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	40 ft	8	🐾
047	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	26 ft	8	🐾
048	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	31 ft	8	🐾
049	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	28 ft	8	🐾
050	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	8	🐾
051	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	31 ft	8	🐾
052	Woods	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	—	36 ft	8	🐾

Getting there

Physical Address: 1010 Canal Campground Road, Grand Rivers, KY 42045. From Interstate I-24, take Grand Rivers Exit 31. Drive south on Highway 453 for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto J.H. O'Bryan Avenue for .1 miles. Turn right onto Canal Campground Road for .5 miles.

36.99556, -88.20972 · 36°59'44.0"N 88°12'35.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 90°F in Aug, down to 48°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	48	52	62	72	79	87	90	90	85	74	61	51
Low °F	30	34	41	50	59	67	71	70	62	52	42	34
Precip in	4.0	4.5	4.4	5.2	5.0	5.3	4.0	3.8	3.7	4.0	4.2	4.9

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Canal Campground 2026 Map — Photo: Lake Barkley · Recreation.gov

Playground and swings — Photo: D Landis · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Canal

Can you reserve a site at Canal?: Yes, Canal is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Canal have?: 115 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Canal?: 99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Canal?: Yes, pets are allowed at Canal.
Does Canal have hookups?: Electric, Water, Sewer.
Are campfires allowed at Canal?: Campfires are allowed at Canal. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Canal

Eureka 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Old Kuttawa 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Hurricane Creek 13.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cadiz 22.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Linton 27 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bumpus Mills 31.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dyers Creek 40 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dover 40.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Underground Railroad: Pope County Courthouse 29.8 mi · Facility
Camp Cadiz Campground 40.3 mi · Campground
Fort Donelson Visitor Center 40.3 mi · Facility
Underground Railroad: Crow Knob 41.9 mi · Facility

Comments

Contact

Phone 270-362-4840
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-09.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.