Kentucky Horse Park – Great RV destination
Just north of Lexington, right off I-75, is a world-class attraction and superb campground that needs to be a must-visit on your next RV trip through the area.
The Kentucky Horse Park, with 1,200 Bluegrass acres bordered by crisp and clean white fencing, is recognized around the world as the epicenter of equestrian life, sports, and business. If it has to do with horses – raising them, racing them, jumping them, tending them, trotting, walking, and showing them off – this is the best and most accessible place to see them. Just about every horse association in the world is headquartered here and competitions, exhibitions, and educational events are held year-round.
We've visited the park's adjacent campground a half dozen times. It's open year-round and we've found it a great place to overnight on the way south from our Michigan home, or back north again after trips to Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. Usually, we arrive late and leave early.
Get free admission to the Kentucky Horse Park
But this week, as we were returning from a late summer trip south, we were able to experience the Kentucky Horse Park itself and see some of the many magnificent animals that live there or compete there.
If you camp there, you get free admission to the park itself. Discounted tickets to the barns can also be bought in the campground store.
Owned and run by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the park is home to some 115 horses representing more than three dozen different breeds during the summer season. Most of these horses are housed in barns throughout the main “tourist attraction” area of the park including the Hall of Champions, Horses of the World Barn, Kids Barn, Mounted Police Barn, and Big Barn – home to draft and carriage horses, as well as a riding concession.
But on many weekends during the warm weather months, dozens of additional horses ship in to the park to compete in horse shows. The weekend we visited the park hosted a Dressage competition as part of the prestigious National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC), which has an offering of $10,000 in total prize money.
The grounds are beautiful and offer lots of opportunities to see horses at pasture, in corrals, and being taken to and from various events by their handlers. There's also a Visitor Information Center (with gift shop and movie theater), the International Museum of the Horse, the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop, the Bit & Bridle Restaurant, and the Farmhouse Cafe are all indoor facilities with air-conditioning, sitting areas, and restrooms.
Allow a full day to experience the horse exhibits and grounds.
The park does not have a boarding facility for pets. But it's still pretty pet-friendly. Pets are allowed to accompany their owners on the park grounds as long as they are on a leash. Pets are only allowed in the museum lobby and not in the museum exhibits, so visitors will need to take turns staying with their pets outside of these areas. Pets are not allowed to be left unattended in vehicles, roam without a leash, or tied-out on the grounds.
The adjacent campground boasts 260 55-foot paved back-in spots, 20/30/50 amp electric service, a picnic table, fire pit, and water hookups. And two dump stations. There is a swimming pool – it closed right after Labor Day – as well as tennis and basketball courts and several playgrounds. The restrooms and showers are neat, clean, and spacious.
If you camp there, try to get one of the spots on the outer loops that back up to the grounds of the horse park. There, you can often see horses right from your campsite.
We've stayed there in the winter, though the water is turned off during the coldest months.
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One of the best campgrounds we’ve been to.
<3
Been there…. Loved it, didn’t stay long enough!
The beauty of a horse 😉
Love it!! Haven’t been in years!!
we stayed there great park
My friend and I had stayed at a KOA not really that far from the horse park. We had a great time visiting the park and also the farm of friends for retired horses somevery famous horses there too.
We stayed there in May. Very nice park
Cheryl Foreman
Doug Dring was this where you stayed
nope…. we were in a park in Ohio
oh yes i remember now
I love seeing horses, I think there pretty cool to look at.
Been there. Nice place.
Good place to camp
Nice park.
now on my bucket list
I love love love KY Horse Park
Stayed there both times we went to Lexington, loved it!
Stayed. There nice park.
We stayed there for one night in November. It was our very first trip south in our new 190 Popular. We took the time to see the exhibits before we left the next morning. Our little dog was welcome almost everywhere. It was a very welcoming lovely place and we plan to make it an annual stop.
Directly across Ironworks Pike from the park is the northern trailhead to the Legacy Trail, a 7.5 mile paved trail for walking, jogging or cycling into the Lexington area. Also the historic city of Georgetown, known for antiques and its old jail Art Center, is only 10 minutes to the north via I-75 or KY 25.
Great place!
Beautiful
make sure you make reservations in advance. It is a wonder campground and beautiful area. We live 20 minutes away and go for nice weekends away. Due to many horseshows and other activities it books up quickly. Only campground in the Lexington area.
Je suis fascinée par les chevaux!!!C’est majestueux !!!
I loved that place.
I loved that place.
I loved that place.
I loved that place.
I loved that place.
I loved that place.
Dave and Traci – I say we check this out this summer.
doesn’t exactly look like that now… lots of snow!!!
Wonderful place. We were there far a three-day event many years ago and again in 2002 and spent a week at the campground in our Roadtrek. It was wonderful!
Beautiful!!
We went 3 yrs ago and felt so relaxing
I love to live therein
Katherine Hardessen Roa mira esto
So peaceful
Been there it is awesome……
Was there in 2008!!!
That where I live…the horse park is wonderful
Penny, I think you can find my contact info on the RT owners website…member list. Call me and let me know when you will be there.
Hi Mike thanks for the review of the Kentucky horse Park.
I was looking for a place to stay between Memphis and Ohio and found this place on their website last week. With this being my very first trip in my 2002 roadtrek and on my own I was a little worried about stopping there or anywhere for that matter.
Your review confirmed for me that it was a good place to stay.
Can’t wait to go, I’m so excited!
Blessings,
Penny
It is also a must see during the Christmas holidays. All lit up! One of the top in the South…
If we had known you would be there the next day, we would have come to meet you. Let us know next time…
How beautiful! One of my dog-walking friends is from that area and returns every year to visit family. I’ve always enjoyed her descriptions of her beloved home and this is definitely on my longgggggg list! Jody, I’ve never used bark collars on my dogs and am interested in the do’s and don’t’s.
Mike, this sounds like a place we need to visit. We are currently planning our Fall Snowbird Trail South. This year we’ll trek through a bit of Ontario, Canada re-entering in the UP and South on (or near) I-75 to the Gulf. It’s our first time down I-75 and we are always looking for new things to “discover” along our routes.
Thanks for a great article,
Adirondack Jack & Niki
Mike, when you say pets cannot be left in vehicles, do you mean they can’t be left in your camper either? When our dogs aren’t allowed to go somewhere, we put them in their kennels with bark collars on. They sleep until we come “home” but we also give them a toy and a chewbone. Thanks!