Our Mammoth Cave Horse Camp Vacation in Kentucky

In 2013 we promised some of our NJ horseback riding friends, Deb & Rich, that even though we were moving to Texas we would meet them somewhere and go ride with them again. We had original met them at Artillery Ridge Campground in Gettysburg, PA. We were admiring their horse trailer with Living quarters–and then had discovered they only lived about 12 miles away from us!

So in 2014 we decided to find a horse campground in the middle—and that wound up being in Tennessee. Google maps said that it would take us both about 12 hrs to travel there. Mammoth Cave Horse Camp had 5 star reviews so we made reservations. My husband and I realized we didn’t want to tow both the RV & the horse trailer so we traded in the 2 horse trailer and got a ‘new to us’ 2005 Keifer horse trailer w/LQ that had seen some better days. We worked on the trailer every weekend in July so it would be ready for the trip.

Nugget was thrilled to get into the trailer–she hopped right on. Bandit was more careful, but with her nickering to him–he got aboard. We got an early start–it was August in Texas–which as they say: “you’re 6 degrees from the sun!” LOL

Of course, in Arkansas we hit traffic which turned out to be construction… and we crawled along for miles. Fortunately we had decided to do 2 days of 6 hrs each day so we were able break it up even though that day wound up being 8+ hours. The place we had made reservations at was called Bar Fifty Guest Ranch. Very pretty and very quiet. The horses loved getting out of the trailer and relaxing. They had lots of RV hookups, pens for the horses and trails. Definitely would be nice to come back too someday. Address: 18192 AR-84, Bismarck, AR 71929.

Next day we were up early and back onto Route 30. We traveled thru Little Rock and Memphis and finally got off the highways to the back roads of Kentucky. Finally got to Mammoth Cave Horse Camp and called our friends to find out where they were–they were already there and set up! We had the entire campground to ourselves. Wow.

Beautiful barn and stalls for the horses and the campground is up a hill a bit away. There’s an outdoor riding arena and outside wash stalls for the horses. Tons of trails in Mammoth Cave National Park some of which are a bit rocky and some softer. Our horses were not shod and our friend’s were but none of us had problems with hoofs getting chewed up. Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table, full hookups and trees galore if you want them… some sites are in the sun. Since it was August and 90 degrees–Deb and Rich decided on a site with trees and we gladly joined them.

It was a glorious week–sunny with some afternoon thunderstorms–but nothing could bother us. Nothing as wonderful as camping with friends. Later in the week another horse trailer w/LQ pulled from Illinois and of course we all wound up chatting and trading places to ride.

Definitely Mammoth Cave Horse Camp is one of the most beautiful places to stay and ride with your horses. Sadly, our friend Rich passed away last fall from cancer. We are so very glad we got to spend some wonderful vacation time with him and his wife horseback riding in the woods of Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave Horse Camp

Highlights: Has tent sites · Has RV electric hookup · Has RV water hookup

2578 Ollie Rd, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Phone: (888) 682-3958