As the weather is beginning to cool down, these days between summer and fall are some of the most beautiful in Louisville. It's the perfect time to take the family out camping near Louisville, KY for some outdoor exploring! Get your gear together and check out these 9 amazing campgrounds near Louisville, KY that you need to visit the next time you need to escape into the Great Outdoors. Here are some of the best places for Louisville camping:

1. Jefferson Memorial Forest

One of the closest and most beautiful campgrounds around Louisville is the Jefferson Memorial Forest, located a mere 20-30 minute drive from Downtown Louisville. This forest has many trails to explore and Tom Wallace Lake to fish on. Take your family out to enjoy the beauty of Kentucky nature without driving hours away to experience it!

2. Hoosier National Forest

While Hoosier National Forest is a little farther away, it's still under an hour and a half away from Louisville and it's a massive park to explore. Pakota Lake is located in the forest, which offers boating, fishing, and even swimming on the designated beach.

3. Charlestown State Park

Charlestown State Park is also located in Indiana, but is right across the river and about 30 minutes away. Here you can find beautiful trails, amazing views of the Ohio River, and even the remains of the abandoned Rose Island Amusement Park.

4. Lake Jericho

Lake Jericho is located 30 to 40 minutes from Louisville and is another amazing area to camp in near the city. It's the perfect lake to take your family fishing.

5. O'Bannon Woods State Park

Located 45 minutes out in Corydon, Indiana, O'Bannon Woods State Park is a beautiful place to explore. Check out Wyandotte Lake for fishing and the Wyandotte caves, which recently reopened to offer guided tours.

6. Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave offers tours that make for an amazing day trip, but many people don't realize that it's also a great park to go camping. It makes for the perfect location to take a weekend trip, as you can explore the beautiful forests and take a guided cave tour through the longest known cave system in the world.

7. Taylorsville Lake

Taylorsville Lake is one of the best places to camp around Louisville and there are so many activities to do here! There are trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and of course, the gorgeous lake to boat and fish on. You'll have the perfect camping trip at Taylorsville Lake, and you won't have to do too much driving as it's only an hour away.

8. Deam Lake

Deam Lake is located only about 30 minutes away. For those who want to swim, Deam Lake is the closest place to camp. The sandy beaches are the perfect place to relax on a warm summer day.

9. Red River Gorge

Although this beautiful site is located two and a half hours from the city in the Daniel Boone National Forest, I encourage everyone to make the drive out to this location before the weather becomes too cold to camp. This location is a prime example of the natural beauty that Kentucky has to offer. Wake up to the sight of these amazing canyons filled with tall tree canopies from your tent!

There's still time to head out, build a campfire, and roast some s'mores... just don't put it off for too long, or you will be waiting for a whole year to get back out there! Where is your favorite place to go camping near Louisville, KY? Let us know in the comments! During your Louisville, KY camping trips, you'll likely want to get some hiking in. Here are some of the best hiking trails in Kentucky:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/best-hikes-in-kentucky/