Lake Cumberland
Lake Cumberland is a reservoir in Clinton, Russell, Wayne, Pulaski and Laurel counties in Kentucky. Its address puts it 7 mi south of Jamestown. Look also at Mill Springs Battlefield, 18 mi away.
A lake, 7 mi south of Jamestown
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Columbia, 21 miles northwest. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Louisville
Louisville is about 96 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 69–84°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Month by month
Here are the months at Lake Cumberland, with their weather.
Lake Cumberland
Lake Cumberland is a reservoir in Clinton, Russell, Wayne, Pulaski and Laurel counties in Kentucky. The primary reasons for its construction were a means for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power. Its shoreline measures 1,255 miles (2,020 km) and the lake covers 65,530 acres (265 km2) at the maximum power pool elevation. The reservoir ranks 9th in the U.S. in volume, with a capacity of 6,100,000 acre-feet (7.5 km3) of water, enough to cover the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky with 3 inches (76 mm) of water. The main lake is 101 miles (163 km) long and over one mile (1.6 km) across at its widest point.
The lake has become a major source of tourism and an economic engine for Southern Kentucky.
- Type
- Lake
- Wikipedia readers
- 22K a year
A base for Lake Cumberland
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Jamestown (3) and Russell Springs (3).
Jamestown
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,901 people
7 mi north of Lake Cumberland
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Lake Cumberland | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown | 7 mi north | 10 min | 3 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 1,901 | $122K | A− |
| Russell Springs | 11 mi north | 15 min | 3 2 hotels · 1 RV park | 2,828 | $170K | B |
| Monticello | 12 mi east | 15 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 RV park | 5,721 | $132K | B |
| Burnside | 24 mi east | 35 min | 11 3 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 733 | $167K | — |
| Columbia | 21 mi northwest | 30 min | 7 4 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 4,680 | $144K | A |
| Somerset | 28 mi northeast | 40 min | 13 10 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 12,695 | $144K | C |
| Burkesville | 19 mi west | 30 min | 4 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 1,389 | $117K | A+ |
| Byrdstown | 22 mi south | 35 min | 4 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 823 | $163K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Pair Lake Cumberland with these
Each of these is within 67 miles.
Big draw62 mi National ParkMammoth Cave National Park661K visitors a year
58 mi National Historical ParkAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park213K visitors a year
39 mi WaterfallCumberland Falls
61 mi State parkFrozen Head State Park
34 mi National RiverBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area774K visitors a year
66 mi WaterfallBurgess Falls
118 mi National MonumentMill Springs Battlefield National Monument11K visitors a year
66 mi Ancient sitePleasant HillPhoto credits
Mammoth Cave National Park: Willis Thomas Lee, Public domain · Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park: Jamie from Toronto, ON, CC BY 2.0 · Cumberland Falls: ChrisKuehl, Public domain · Frozen Head State Park: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · Burgess Falls: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument: C. Bedford Crenshaw, Attribution · Pleasant Hill: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Lake Cumberland, answered
What town is Lake Cumberland near?
Jamestown, KY, about 7 miles north.
When is the best time to visit Lake Cumberland?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 69–84°.
How far is Lake Cumberland from Lexington and Louisville?
About 86 miles north of Lexington and about 96 miles north of Louisville, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Lake Cumberland?
Blue Grass (LEX), about 83 miles away. The nearest big hub is McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 95 miles.
Where should I stay near Lake Cumberland?
Jamestown (7 mi, 3 places to stay), Russell Springs (11 mi, 3 places to stay) and Monticello (12 mi, 3 places to stay).
Tips from Jamestown
What people nearby have posted about Lake Cumberland.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.