S-Tree Campground In Kentucky

Date Stayed: January 8-16, 2020

Address:  Tussey Hill Rd, McKee, KY 40447

GPS:   37.3869,  -84.07377

Price: Free

Stay Limit: 14 days

Phone:  (606) 864-4163

Website:   USDA

Pets Allowed: Yes

Reservations: No reservations required

Restrooms: Vault Toilets

Trash Cans: No

Hookups: No

Water: No

Cell Service: Had 4G with Verizon & 4G with our AT&T booster.

ALWAYS research campgrounds before visiting.

Rules and regulations may have changed since we stayed there.

S-Tree campground is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest and has a 14 day stay limit. It is part of the London Ranger District near McKee in Jackson County, Kentucky.  A small picnic area at the entrance of the campground features a historic picnic shelter that was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

There are a total of 20 campsites in two loops at the campground located in a large wooded area. They have the cleanest vault toilets I have ever seen located centrally in each loop of the campground. Loop B is open all year and apparently Loop A is closed seasonally, but when we were there both were open. Each site has a picnic table, tent pad, fire ring and lantern pole.

There are no trashcans on site so ALWAYS follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. There are no hook-ups or dump station or running water available here. This is true primitive camping. Campsites and shelter are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ranger station advises that trailers over 25 feet long should not attempt to come due to one lane roads and no turn-outs.

When we were there it was free, but a notice on the board says there may be a charge in the future so make sure to check the website for confirmation. Camp in designated areas only and quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m..  Place campfires in rings only and please don’t leave them unattended.

The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, Section #25 and the Renfro Loop Trail may be accessed from the campground. We hiked the trails multiple days and really enjoyed it. The trails are also very popular with off-highway vehicle users. When we were there 75% of the people we encountered were there to ride their dirt bikes and ATV’s. They were always gone by dark and very nice. Maps of the trails are available from the London Ranger Station.

This is our second time staying at S-tree and we love it. It will always be a stop for us if even for a day or two while passing through. The campground was well maintained and hardly any trash was lying around. The sites were far enough apart that you weren’t right next to your neighbors.

We met a couple locals who were super nice and until our last couple days there we were alone. A group of a dozen guys showed up for their annual camping trip which was a tradition they had been doing for 20 years. The morning we were suppose to leave it was super cold the night before and the pop up wouldn’t close all the way. The guys fed us biscuits and sausage and warmed us up in their huge heated tents for the next hour till the canvas softened up enough. We keep meeting the greatest peeps while traveling.

From everything I’ve read in comments on various sites like Campendium and Free Campsites do not try to come into this campground from the south. The roads are apparently pretty bad. We came from McKee using the USDA directions and besides one section that looked like it had recently been washed out we had no problems.

Also there are a couple gas stations, fast food joints, a Walgreens and a Dollar General in the nearby town of McKee. There are no major stores, but more than enough to get you through a week.

Side Note:  The Jackson County Public Library has the fastest internet I have ever encountered in my life. If you need to download or do anything else on the internet stop on in. The librarians are super nice there.

Click on the links below to see some of the stuff we did nearby:

1. McCammon Branch Falls
2.  Flat Lick Falls Recreational Area
3. Big Turtle Trailhead
4. Jackson County Veteran’s Monument and Memorial