Best Picnic Locations in Richmond, KY

Richmond’s mild summer days are ideal for enjoying meals alfresco. A picnic is an inexpensive way to enjoy lunch with your loved ones and relax in some of the area’s best outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a couple seeking a romantic meal for two or a family hoping for a fun adventure with the kids, check out these picnic spots around Richmond, Kentucky.

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Camp Catalpa Park

Camp Catalpa Park is a picturesque picnic spot close to home for Richmond residents. Located on the eastern banks of Lake Reba, this designated bird sanctuary features several outdoor and covered picnic tables with convenient grills. After lunch, you can take a stroll around the 2-mile walking loop or play a game of disc golf. Keep your eyes peeled for beavers near the water’s edge and the abundant bird life that calls Camp Catalpa Park home.

Location: 2200 Camp Catalpa Loop Road, Richmond.

Lake Reba Park

Lake Reba Park sits on Lake Reba’s western banks, just across from Camp Catalpa Park. Like its neighbor, Lake Reba Park has picnic shelters with tables and grills. The whole family can easily spend a whole day in this 600-acre park enjoying fun in the water or on dry land. The inclusive Universal Playground allows children of all abilities to play together. Lake Reba Park also has an off-leash dog park, trails for walking and jogging, sporting fields, and an aquatic center. You can also go fishing in the lake or rent a kayak through Get Outside KY.

Location: 274 Lake Reba Drive, Richmond.

Dillingham Park

Spanning just one acre, Dillingham Park is relatively small. However, it ticks the boxes for most Richmond families. There’s plenty of grass for an old-fashioned picnic on a blanket and four undercover picnic tables with a nearby grill. Dillingham Park has two playgrounds: one for children aged five and under and another for bigger kids. The separate play spaces ensure all age groups have safe access to the equipment they love. If you love shooting hoops, bring a ball and enjoy a game on the half-size or full-size courts. They’re illuminated at night, so you can keep playing after sundown.

Location: 136 Pine St., Richmond.

Irvine McDowell Park

Irvine McDowell Park is best known as the site of the Richmond Parks & Recreation Department and Irvinton House, but you might not realize anyone can enjoy a picnic on these stunning grounds. The 20-acre park has two decorative shelters: the large shelter with six tables and a grill and the smaller gazebo with four tables and a grill. Both are close to the park’s playground, which has slides and climbing structures. Irvine McDowell Park also has four softball fields, which you can play on when the Richmond Girls Softball Association isn’t hosting games or practice sessions.

Location: 345 Lancaster Ave., Richmond.

Fort Boonesborough State Park

For a local picnic with a difference, head to Fort Boonesborough State Park. Volunteers have staged historical reenactments on this former frontier fort to teach visitors about its founder Daniel Boone and frontier life since 1963. Enjoy lunch in the picnic area, then check out displays of forgotten crafts, such as blacksmithing, woodworking, and weaving. The site also features a beach for fishing, a mini golf course, and a campground for extended stays.

Location: 4375 Boonesborough Road, Richmond.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Cost:  $8 for adults, $5 for children aged 6 to 12 years, and free for younger kids.

Memorial Park

A trip to Memorial Park in Berea, around a 20-minute drive from Richmond, is an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Kids love the well-maintained playground, which features slides, swings, and climbing structures. Catching a glimpse of a train as it passes a couple of blocks over is also a real thrill for youngsters.

The park’s war memorial, which honors local veterans from World War I to the Iraq War, is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice of Berea’s residents. Bring a blanket and enjoy your picnic under the shade of the park’s trees or sit at a table in the covered pavilions.

Location: W. Jefferson St., Berea.

Daniel Boone National Forest

Daniel Boone’s influence is also felt at Daniel Boone National Forest in Winchester, around a 25-minute drive from Richmond. The trails, which vary from half a mile to 10 miles, are the forest’s key attraction, but you can enjoy a picnic lunch before you set off. The picnic area, with tables and portable toilets, is just near the parking lot. Your meal will give you the energy to tackle the dog-friendly scenic trails, which bypass waterfalls, Cave Run Lake, and Red River Gorge.

Location: 1700 Bypass Road, Winchester.

Lykins Park

Also in Winchester, Lykins Park is another excellent option for families with kids. This 40-acre suburban park features a swing set for small children and a small skate park for older kids. The sporting fields and illuminated basketball court mean there’s plenty of space for the kids to play games and burn off energy while you finish your lunch. Lykins Park’s picnic tables are undercover, so no need to worry if the weather turns.

Location: 1601 Mount Sterling Road, Winchester.

Dupree Nature Preserve

The beautiful surrounds of Dupree Nature Preserve in Lancaster are worth the half-hour drive. This 300-acre sanctuary features picnic tables at some of its most scenic points. Sit by the water’s edge on the River Trail, under the shady trees on the Main Trail, or admire the stunning vistas from the Overlook Trail.

All trails are well kept and well marked, although you’ll find they suit different fitness levels. While the River and Overlook Trails are easy, the Cliff Trail provides more of a challenge. If you’re lucky, you may see some of the endangered bats this wildlife sanctuary aims to protect.

Location: 2991 Pollys Bend Road, Lancaster.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Richmond

Whether you love suburban parks with playground equipment for the kids or preserves and forests that let you reconnect with nature, the area around Richmond has the picnic spots you’re looking for. What’s more, they’re all within an easy drive of one another and Jack Burford Chevrolet. We’re open on Saturdays until 5 p.m., so come and visit our friendly team after your lunch to browse our selection of new and quality used cars and tell us how much you enjoyed these local picnic spots.