COLUMBUS-BELMONT STATE PARK CAMPGROUND

350 Park Road, Columbus, KY 42032

Date Visited: May 2019

Site: 25 (Back-In, Full Hookups)

We paid: $32 (includes reservation fee)

REVIEW: This park is a little off the beaten path, but well worth the drive and hassle to get to it. The state park and its campground sit right on the Mississippi River (on the Kentucky side), just across the border from Missouri. 

We had reserved Site 25 ahead of time, and I would choose it again, though Site 24 might be slightly more level. Our site backed onto a grassy area which backed onto the Mississippi River. It was a beautiful view of the river and the sunset. Our cats loved the open space with grass, trees and numerous birds.

The check-in process was a little confusing. The check-in sign seems to indicate a cabin on the main road, but that is not the check-in location. It is just a cabin that people can rent. The campground host is apparently the one to check you in, but no one was present at the host’s site when we pulled in. We had reserved and prepaid for site 25, but when I pulled up to it, there was no reservation sign indicated. We were lucky that no one else had taken that site, thinking it was available.

We went ahead and set up in our site, and never talked to any officials about being there, so I guess they had some record of our presence and pre-payment. Better signage would help, but we know state parks are usually strapped for funds.

There are Civil War earth works right next to the campground, and you can walk (or drive) a short distance through the state park to more Civil War artifacts and historical markers, including a museum that has a small entrance fee. The views of the Mississippi River and the lovely pastoral setting make this campground a definite WIN.

The roads getting to the state park are a little narrow and windy for a large RV (especially if you’re taking US Highway 60 from Missouri over the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers—very narrow!!!!!). Otherwise, there’s nothing bad to say about this campground. It was very tranquil and beautiful.