Kentucky Department of Parks

John James Audubon State ParkEnjoy walking through the woods where famed artist John James Audubon studied and painted birds from 1810-1819.

Along the banks of the Ohio River just north of Henderson, KY, John James Audubon State Park houses the world's largest collection of Audubon artifacts and offers exhibits on the artist's life.

Here, nearly two centuries ago, John James Audubon, renowned naturalist and artist, came with his family to operate a small mercantile business and to explore the surrounding wilderness in search of wild birds to study and sketch.

Cottages

Typical two-bedroom cottage available at John James Audubon State ParkThe park has 5 1-bedroom cottages and one ADA-accessible 2-bedroom cottage with double beds a living room, fully-equipped kitchen and a bath. Each of the 1-bedroom cottages has a hide-a-bed and a fireplace. Tableware, cooking utensils and linens are provided, with fresh linens available daily. Cottages are available by late afternoon. Check out by 11AM, Central Time.  Contact park for cottage reservations. Price ranges are seasonal from $80.00 - $160.00 per night. Cottages open year round.

Camping

Campground shower and laundry room at John James Audubon State ParkSurround yourself with unspoiled, natural beauty in the 69-site campground. A central service building has showers and rest rooms. Picnic tables, grills and a playground are also available in the camping area. Pets are allowed if restrained. The campground will close for the season on November 30th, 2009.

Museum & Nature Center

A few of the exhibits at the museum at John James Audubon State ParkThe museum interprets Audubon’s life through his art and personal memorabilia, framed within a timeline of world events. The Nature Center comprises three areas: a wildlife Observation Room; the Discovery Center with hands-on exhibits; and the Learning Center, where the park naturalist and art educator conduct environmental and art programs. And a giant bird’s nest is the centerpiece of the Discovery Center, with hands-on exhibits and educational programs.

 
High speed wireless internet service available at the museum.

Shelter Rental

Four picnic shelters (one with restrooms), offer tables, grills and a playground for the perfect family outing. Shelters may be reserved up to one year in advance.

Hours of Operation

  • Grounds and Cottages: Open all year.
  • Campground: Open March 16 to November 30.
  • Museum/Giftshop: April - November, 10 am - 5pm Daily
    December - March, 9am - 4:30 PM Thursday - Sunday

    Closed on New Years Eve and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Holiday, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, and a week during the Christmas Holidays.
  • Meeting Facility: Available for rental.

Things To Do

Naturalist/Recreation Programs

View calendar of recreation and naturalist programs, and other happenings at the park. This calendar will help you plan your trip based around your favorite park activities!

Please be sure to check out the Special Events section of the web site for annual park events.

Cast away your cares at Audubon! The fishermen in your family can cast for largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish from the banks of the 28-acre lake.

Fore! On the nine-hole golf course you can enjoy beautiful scenery as well as a challenging game. A pro shop with rental clubs, riding carts, and pull carts, caters to the golfer’s every need. Open year round, weather permitting. More information.

The Challenge Course is a combination of activities designed to develop self confidence and team awareness. The course is available for groups and must be scheduled through the park naturalist.

The conference room at John James Audubon combines an incredible outdoor environment with interior museum, art gallery and nature center. The 1,556, square foot conference room can accommodate 200 guests lecture-style and 80 people classroom style. For a unique experience , schedule the Challenge Course, a combination of activities designed to develop self confidence and team awareness. The course is available for groups and must be scheduled through the park naturalist.

Please review the Meeting Space Matrix on the Meetings & Event Page for exact capacities, dimensions and square footage of the meeting rooms.

You will "love" the game "advantage" of a tennis court at Audubon. The outdoor court is open March-October.

Whether you're out for a leisurely stroll or really want to work up a sweat, you're sure to find the 6.5 miles of trails at Audubon State Park to your liking. Trails wind through the nature preserve with variations in difficulty and length, including 2.7 miles of back-country hiking.

The trails also provide an opportunity to observe over 20 species of warblers that visit Audubon every springtime. The Eagle Glen Pet Trail is a one-mile trail where dogs on leashes are allowed with their owners. View trail information.

John James Audubon State Park Wilderness Lake Trail

Planned Recreation

Enjoy year-round, interpretive programs under the direction of a full-time naturalist and museum educator. Programs focus on art history, as well as native plants, animals, conservation and recycling. Daily summer activities are conducted under the guidance of recreation staff. The Challenge Course may be reserved for groups.

Pedal Boats

Enjoy a day on the lake with either a two or four-seat pedal boats. Pedal boat rental available daily Memorial Day-Labor Day. Open most weekends in September.

Gift Shop

A museum store features unique gifts to explore the mysteries and wonders of nature.

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Make A Reservation

Camping Reservations

 

Cottage Reservations

Please call the park at 270-826-2247 for cottage reservations.

Gift Card

Maps & Directions

              Interactive GIS Map
Visit our Maps page for facility maps and directions to the park.

Naturalist & Recreation News

Through the dedicated work of our state park naturalists, Kentucky State Parks protect and preserve the natural beauty of Kentucky. Check out our Naturalist & Recreation News for more information.

 

Visual Arts & Museum News

Please visit our Visual Arts & Museum News  to view scheduled camps, classes, exhibits and retreats for both children and adults.

More Information

Contact Information

John James Audubon State Park
3100 US Highway 41 North
Henderson, KY 42419-0576
Telephone: 270-826-2247
Email: Audubon@ky.gov
Park Manager: Mark Kellen