Turkey Foot Campground

National Visitor Use Monitoring, Oct 2026-Sept 2027

From October 2026 through September 2027, survey interviewers will be conducting National Visitor Use Monitoring surveys of Daniel Boone National Forest visitors around the Forest. Surveys are voluntary and all responses are confidential. Surveys take roughly 15 minutes to complete. Survey sites will be clearly marked by orange survey signs and traffic cones. Survey results help us and our local tourism partners better understand our visitors' needs and more effectively plan our recreation offerings.

National Visitor Use Monitoring is a Forest Service program designed to estimate how many people recreate on national forests and grasslands, what activities they engage in while there and how satisfied people were with their visit. These surveys are conducted on a national forest every five years. Results from these surveys help show the characteristics of recreation-related visits to national forests and the benefits recreation brings to all visitors.

Turkey Foot Campground is nestled along the banks of War Fork Creek in Jackson County. The gravel road into the campground is fairly steep and may be unsuitable for vehicles towing large trailers. A playfield with a horseshoe pit is located at the end of camping sites alongside the creek. All of the campsites are wooded.

Directions: From US 421 take KY 587 north and turn left onto Forest Road 4 (Turkey Foot Road). Follow FR 4 to FR 345 (Elsam Fork Road). Turn right onto 345 and follow signs to the campground. From Arvel take KY 587 south and turn right onto Forest Road 4 (Turkey Foot Road). Follow FR 4 to FR 345 (Elsam Fork Road). Turn right onto 345 and follow signs to the campground.

From Berea: From I-75, take Berea Exit 76. Head east on KY 21. Stay on KY 21E (Big Hill Road) approximately 5 miles until it ends at US 421. Turn right (south) on US 421. Take US 421 west for approximately 18.4 miles to McKee, KY. Turn left onto KY 89. Travel approximately 3 miles on KY 89N and turn right on Macedonia Road for 0.5-mile. Turn left on Forest Service Road #4 (Turkey Foot Road) for 1 mile. The road turns to gravel. After 1.9 miles, turn left onto Forest Service Road 345 (Elsam Fork Road) and follow signs to the campground.

Each site is equipped with picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and lantern pole. There is no water, electric or dump station available in the campground. Pack out your trash. All of the sites are within easy walking distance of the creek.

Use caution at the low water ford across the creek at the campground entrance. Do not cross if flooded. Low lying areas are prone to flooding, so be alert for flooding when driving, camping or crossing streams in this area.

Campfires are permitted in fire rings only. Make sure fires are out before retiring at night or when leaving your campsite.

View Turkey Foot Campground Guide & Map (pdf)

Trails nearby:
Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail #100. A portion of Section 19, from Turkey Foot Campground to Jackson County Road 376, is open to off-highway vehicles less than 50" wide.
Turkey Foot Loop Trail System #303 (4.5 miles) - hiking only

Directions

From US 421: take KY 587 north and turn left onto Forest Road 4 (Turkey Foot Road). Follow FR 4 to FR 345 (Elsam Fork Road). Turn right onto 345 and follow signs to the campground. From Arvel take KY 587 south and turn right onto Forest Road 4 (Turkey Foot Road). Follow FR 4 to FR 345 (Elsam Fork Road). Turn right onto 345 and follow signs to the campground. From Berea: From I-75, take Berea Exit 76. Head east on KY 21. Stay on KY 21E (Big Hill Road) approximately 5 miles until it ends at US 421. Turn right (south) on US 421. Take US 421 west for approximately 18.4 miles to McKee, KY. Turn left onto KY 89. Travel approximately 3 miles on KY 89N and turn right on Macedonia Road for 0.5-mile. Turn left on Forest Service Road #4 (Turkey Foot Road) for 1 mile. The road turns to gravel. After 1.9 miles, turn left onto Forest Service Road 345 (Elsam Fork Road) and follow signs to the campground.