Horse Cave KOA Review: Camping in a Covered Wagon

The kids have been wanting to go camping for a while now, but the idea of sleeping on the ground doesn’t sound appealing. I researched our local camping options and found out about an awesome experience where you can stay in a Conestoga Wagon in Horse Cave, Kentucky. The area is wildly popular for its caves that you can explore, animal attractions, and beautiful countryside. In this Horse Cave KOA review, I’ll share how we stayed in a covered wagon and help you decide if it is worth it to stay here.

Our stay was complimentary as part of our visit to Hart County, Kentucky. While this was a sponsored stay, we’ll share both the good and the bad of our stay at this Horse Cave KOA campground.

What is Horse Cave KOA?

Horse Cave KOA is a private campground that is owned by the Gedda family. It offers a variety of camping options and amenities for travelers of all budgets. The campground is full-service with a small convenience store, full laundry facilities, hot showers, and so much more.

While this was my first camping experience since college, I love that the campground has something to offer for everyone. Campers can stay in tents, covered wagons, treehouses, or their own RV. And there are numerous complimentary activities on-site and in the local community to keep you entertained.

Where is Horse Cave KOA?

The campground is in the middle of Kentucky, about 90 minutes south of Louisville and about 30 minutes from Bowling Green. From our home in Nashville, it is about 90 minutes north, which makes it perfect for a weekend getaway. The campground is located at 489 Flint Ridge Rd, Horse Cave, KY 42749, about a quarter-mile off I-65.

On the other side of the freeway is Kentucky Down Under, the Farmwald Dutch Bakery & Deli, and McDonald’s. Kentucky Down Under is a petting zoo where you can pet a wide variety of animals, including kangaroos, ostriches, camels, and more. Farmwald Dutch Bakery offers delicious meals and is run by local Amish families. And, of course, McDonald’s offers fast food when you’re in a hurry.

Types of lodging available

There are numerous types of lodging available at the Horse Cave KOA. Depending on your style of camping and budget, there are plenty of choices available. I chose sample dates this winter and next summer to provide an estimated range of nightly rates.

Camping Cabins ($70-$80 per night)

This is a one-room cabin with a porch. It can accommodate a family of four with two bunk-bed sets. It does not have its own bathroom and you have to bring your own linens for the beds. Pets are allowed.

Conestoga Wagon ($135-$175 per night)

Travel back in time to the pioneer days with this unique experience. Each wagon has its own private patio, firepit, BBQ, and picnic table. There’s a king-size bed and twin bunk beds to sleep on. Bedding is provided, but it does not have a bathroom. It also includes a small fridge, microwave, Keurig coffeemaker, and a heater/AC unit to control the temps. No pets are allowed in the covered wagons.

I’ll share more about our covered wagon experience further down in this Horse Cave KOA review.

Deluxe Duplex ($100-$140 per night)

The Deluxe cabins have room for four, a partial kitchen, and a full bathroom with a shower. There’s a queen bed and a sleeper sofa (or futon) and linens are included. The queen bed is in a separate bedroom to provide privacy. Amenities include a fridge, microwave, flat-screen TV, and heater/AC unit. Pets are allowed.

Vacation Rental ($180 per night)

A two-bedroom cabin that is perfect for larger families or groups of friends. It is a two-story unit with two bedrooms upstairs and living quarters downstairs. One bedroom has a queen bed and the other features a queen bed and a queen bunk. Linens are provided. There’s a full bathroom upstairs and a half-bath downstairs. It also has a kitchen to cook meals and a living room to relax with your party. No pets are allowed.

Treehouse ($200 per night)

The treehouse rentals are situated 20-feet up in the air to offer tremendous views of the hills and valley through the treetops. It has three queen beds within two bedrooms and a sleeping loft. Linens are provided. There’s a full bath with a tub and shower and a full kitchen for your meals. A major feature is the 20×20 deck where you can relax and enjoy the sounds of nature with your friends and family. No pets are allowed.

RV Sites ($38-$42 per night)

Horse Cave KOA has many different types of campsites for mobile homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and more. You can book campsites where you can back-in, pull-in, or pull-through, depending on your set-up and preferences. The RV site options include:

• Full Hookups, Back-in, 50/30 Amps
• Water/Electric, Pull-in, 30/20 Amps (great for smaller RVs)
• Full Hookups, Pull-through, 50/30/20 Amps
• Full Hookups, Pull-through, 50/30 Amps
• Water/Electric, Pull-through, 50/30/20 Amps

Tent Sites ($32 per night)

There’s only one type of tent site at Horse Cave KOA. It is an individual tent site on a grass tent pad for up to 6 people. There are no hookups for your vehicle. Pets are allowed.

*All of these prices were correct as of October 5, 2021. Prices may change based on the season, dates of travel, details of your trip, and when you book. Check the Horse Cave KOA

About The Bald Thoughts Team

BaldThoughts.com is a travel blog showing readers how they can take fantastic vacations using very little of their own money.

About Lee: As you can see, I don’t have any hair. Being bald and having thoughts on a lot of topics, especially Travel and Personal Finance led me to create this site. I’ve been married for a few years, and we have a couple of kids and a dog. I used to work in corporate finance for a regional bank in Los Angeles. When it was made clear that it was time to leave, I quit my $200,000 job and moved to Nashville. Now, I write travel and personal finance articles full time and host the weekly We Travel There with Lee Huffman podcast.