About Rough River Lake
The 5,100 acre Rough River Lake provides a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, manages Rough River Lake's land and water for wildlife, fisheries, and recreation. The lake is situated in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Grayson counties in south central Kentucky. The dam is located on the Rough River near the community of Falls of Rough, about 20 miles from Leitchfield and 95 miles southwest of Louisville. Many visitors enjoy seeing the historic Green Farm nearby, consisting of about 3,000 acres, a large ancestral home, an old water-powered mill and store, and a new 18-hole golf course, Lafayette Green. The original land grant was to former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Sebastian, who was a co-conspirator with Aaron Burr. George Washington, who traded it for a horse, once owned part of the land.
How to Get There
From Louisville, KY: Option 1: Begin at ramp onto I-64 West toward New Albany/St. Louis, traveling 22.3 miles. Take the IN-135 exit- Exit Number 105- toward Palmyra/Corydon, onto IN-135 South toward Corydon, traveling 16.7 miles. Continue on Bypass Road KY-79 for 2.1 miles. Turn right onto KY-79, traveling 10.1 miles. Continue on 1st Avenue, KY-79S for 495 feet. Turn a slight right onto US-60, traveling 11.8 miles. Turn left onto KY-259/KY-79, traveling 9.7 miles. Turn right to stay on KY-79, traveling 3.4 miles. Turn left to continue on KY-79, traveling 1.9 miles. End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 78 miles with an approximate travel time of 1.5 hours. Option 2: Begin at ramp onto Gene Snyder Freeway KY-841W toward US-31W/US-60, traveling 5.8 miles. Take the US-31W/US-60/Fort Knox/Louisville exit-Exit Number 1-traveling .3 miles. Turn left on Dixie Highway US-31W S/ US-60W, traveling 14.8 miles. Turn right onto US-60, traveling 29.4 miles. Turn left onto KY-259/KY-79, traveling 9.7 miles. Turn right to stay on KY-79, traveling 3.4 miles. Turn left to continue on KY-79, traveling 1.9 miles. End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 65 miles with an approximate travel time of 1 hour, 20 minutes. Option 3: Begin at ramp onto Gene Snyder Freeway KY-841W toward I-65, traveling 6.5 miles. Take I-65/Louisville/Nashville exit-Exit Number 10- onto I-65 S toward Nashville/Elizabethtown, traveling 34 mil
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Rough River Lake
Heading to Rough River Lake? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Rough River Lake?
No central reservation system listed for Rough River Lake. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/373) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Rough River Lake?
From Louisville, KY: Option 1: Begin at ramp onto I-64 West toward New Albany/St. Louis, traveling 22.3 miles. Take the IN-135 exit- Exit Number 105- toward Palmyra/Corydon, onto IN-135 South toward Corydon, traveling 16.7 miles. Continue on Bypass Road KY-79 for 2.1 miles. Turn right onto KY-79, traveling 10.1 miles. Continue on 1st Avenue, KY-79S for 495 feet. Turn a slight right onto US-60, tra…
How do I contact Rough River Lake?
You can reach the park at phone: (270) 257-2061.
References & Official Resources
