US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 37899857).
The red circle marks Herb Smith Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Kentucky: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official KDFWR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 37899857), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 10 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Herb Smith Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Kentucky
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Herb Smith Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:
Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (36.7457, -83.2306). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Herb Smith Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.
2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 36.7381, -83.2372 |
| Cr-1171 | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 36.7501, -83.2175 |
OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Herb Smith Lake covers about 186 acres in Harlan, Kentucky (Harlan County).
Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp and Cr-1171. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 10 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Herb Smith Lake touches Harlan in Harlan County, Kentucky.
Know Herb Smith Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Kentucky lakes & ponds · All waters in Harlan