Can you reserve a site at Old Kuttawa?

Yes, Old Kuttawa is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Old Kuttawa, Kentucky — 3 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Old Kuttawa Recreation Area is on the northern shores of Lake Barkley, near the narrow canal linking it to Kentucky Lake. Together, these two reservoirs combine to create one of the greatest freshwater recreation areas in the country.

Take pleasure in a day of picnicking or soak up the sun at the swimming beach, either way Old Kuttawa provides an ideal setting to enjoy nature at its best.

Recreation

The half-mile Anderson Woodland Trail is an enjoyable footpath for birding and viewing the great tall trees of the region. Other activities include swimming, fishing and boating.

Facilities

Two large picnic pavilions, an ampitheater, a playground, restrooms and paved parking are available. Plenty of picnic tables and grills are scattered around the recreation area, with ample shade for sunny summer days. **In order to reserve the ampitheater, you must reserve site 1 (large shelter).

Natural Features

Lake Barkley spans 57,900 acres with 1,004 miles of shoreline and offers warm water temperatures during summer months that make for comfortable recreation.

Running parallel to Barkley Lake is its neighbor, Kentucky Lake, with the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area nestled between.

Nearby Attractions

See the astonishing Floodwall Murals in the town of Paducah. It is a gallery that captures Paduca's rich history.

The facts

3 bookable sites
3 sites for day use only
1 accessible site
Up to 100 people per site
Loops: OKUT

Site types

3 Group Shelter Electric

Amenities

Electric hookups
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade

Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, pets allowed.

Book on Recreation.gov

3 campsites at Old Kuttawa

Check-in 8:00 AM · Check-out 8:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
1 LG	OKUT	Group Shelter Electric	—	Paved	—	100
2 SM	OKUT	Group Shelter Electric	—	Paved	—	50
AMPHITHEATER	OKUT	Group Shelter Electric	—	—	—	—	♿

Getting there

From Nashville, take I-24 West to Exit 40. Turn left on 62 and then right on Highway 295. Follow Highway 295 to recreation area entrance.

37.05718, -88.11244 · 37°3'25.9"N 88°6'44.8"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, 2.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Old Kuttawa

Can you reserve a site at Old Kuttawa?: Yes, Old Kuttawa is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Old Kuttawa have?: 3 sites.
Does Old Kuttawa have hookups?: Electric.

Camping near Old Kuttawa

Eureka 5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Canal 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Hurricane Creek 12.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cadiz 20.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Linton 27.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bumpus Mills 32.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dyers Creek 41.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dover 41.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Underground Railroad: Pope County Courthouse 29.6 mi · Facility
Camp Cadiz Campground 36.7 mi · Campground
Underground Railroad: Crow Knob 41.9 mi · Facility
Fort Donelson Visitor Center 42.1 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone LAKE BARKLEY RESOURCE MANAGERS OFFICE: 270-362-4236
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Old Kuttawa