The most popular lake for hous boat vacations in Kentucky is Lake Cumberland in Russel County. Houseboats can be easily rented there. Many houseboat owners dock their boats at Lake Cumberland as well. Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake are also popular destinations for boating and fishing. The two lakes are connected by canal. The Ohio River runs along the North and Western border of Kentucky and is also a popular boating destination.
Lake Cumberland is the most popular boating destination in Kentucky. It is the 9th largest lake in the United States. It is 65,530 acres and its shores are 1,255 miles long. Lake Cumberland contains two state parks: Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and General Burnside State Park inside the lake on an island. Lake Cumberland is complete with secret coves, waterfalls and five major marinas. Burnside and Jamestown are the two larger ones and rent out houseboats and sell food and fishing supplies. State Dock is inside Lake Cumberland State Park. Houseboats can be rented at State Dock for three to seven days. No special licenses are needed for the houseboats. State Dock rents other boats and watercrafts, such as jetskis and pontoons. Lake Cumberland is a manmade lake; it was carved out on top of the existing Cumberland River in 1948.
Burnside Marina
680 W Lakeshore Dr
Burnside, KY 42519-9426
(606) 561-4223
burnsidemarina.com
Jamestown Resort & Marina Ltd
www.jamestown-marina.com
5380 Holmes Bend Rd
Columbia, KY 42728
(270) 343-5253
Lake Cumberland State Dock
6365 State Park Road
Jamestown, KY 42629
Toll Free: (888)782-8336
Local: (270)343-6000
statedock.com/contact.htm
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are located in Western Kentucky. Kentucky Lake is a manmade lake and is the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi. It is a gateway to the Tennessee River waterway and covers 160,300 acres when Kentucky Dam is at maximum normal operating level. Kentucky Lake has 2400 miles of shoreline with many boat docks and resorts. Lake Barkley is connected to Kentucky Lake and has a shoreline of 1,004 miles and is 58,000-acres. It is also a manmade lake. Houseboats can be rented on Lake Barkely at Green Turtle Bay Marina. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are popular fishing destinations with some of the biggest fish ever caught in Kentucky being recorded there.
Green Turtle Bay Resort
Cumberland River Mile 32
Grand Rivers, KY 42045
greenturtlebay.com
(270) 362-8364
There are quite a few marinas in Kentucky along the Ohio River. Most of them are near Louisville or in Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati. Not all are full-service marinas nor do they all rent out houseboats but many do dock them and offer storage. They also are good resting stops for houseboaters going on long trips up or down the river. Every year in April, Lousiville holds the Thunder over Louisville fireworks display over the Ohio. Boats line up everywhere to get a good spot on the river to watch the fireworks.
