Cowhide Cove Campground, near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is a fantastic spot for families and outdoor lovers alike. With its picturesque lakeside views and spacious sites, it’s a great place to kick back and soak in the natural beauty.

The campground offers amenities like electric hookups and picnic tables, making it easy to set up camp and enjoy meals outdoors. Visitors rave about the clean facilities, especially the bathrooms, and the friendly hosts who are always ready to help. One camper noted, “We loved watching the sun go down over the lake,” highlighting the stunning sunsets you can expect here.

For families, the nearby playground is a big hit, allowing kids to burn off energy while parents relax. The campground is also close to Crater of Diamonds State Park, perfect for those looking to dig for gems or explore hiking trails. While some sites are a bit tight, the overall vibe is welcoming, with plenty of space for tents and RVs.

Whether you're planning a quick overnight stay or a longer retreat, Cowhide Cove Campground has the charm and amenities to make your visit enjoyable.

## Overview

 Cowhide Cove Campground is located on Lake Greeson on the beautiful Little Missouri River in Pike County, Arkansas. The lake is approximately 12 miles long with 7,260 surface acres of water for water sports, picnicking and hiking along the forested lake shore.
## Recreation

 Lake Greeson is recognized for its rich variety of game fish, including large mouth, stripped, spotted, small mouth and white bass, as well as flathead and channel catfish, black and white crappie, walleye and blue gill. The tail-waters of the Little Missouri River below the dam also support a healthy population of rainbow trout and small mouth bass. Boating is another popular activity. The beautiful clear waters offer an excellent opportunity for many boating activities including water skiing, tubing, cruising and fishing. Four marinas at Lake Greeson offer boaters fuel, boat rentals and picnic and fishing supplies. Lake Greeson offers 30 miles of walking, nature and cycling trails for public use. There is a short nature trail in the campground for naturalists, birders and families to enjoy. The best opportunity for hunting lies within the Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area. Deer, quail, turkey, squirrel and rabbits are the primary game.
## Natural Features

 Central Arkansas is mild and somewhat humid in spring and fall, hot and very humid in summer and variable in winter, where temperatures may range from below freezing to the 60s. Loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, sweet gum and oak are the dominant tree species on upland areas of the lake, while bottomland hardwoods are common along rivers, creeks and streams that enter the lake. The public lands around Lake Greeson provide a variety of habitats for numerous species of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, geese, southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl and songbirds. Bald eagles are an attraction for visitors each winter. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Ouachita National Forest and Hot Springs National Park are within a two-hour drive from the campground. Crater of Diamonds State Park is within 30 miles of the campground. It is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public.

Cowhide Cove Campground

Join the fun near Kirby. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Kirby is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Kirby, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

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The Best Camping Near Kirby, Arkansas

Rustic camping near Crater of Diamonds Park. Camping spaces are tight

Rustic camping

I will be visiting this campground in a few days and will post a more complete review, but I ran into a problem even before I have arrived.

  

My reservation confirmation indicates a check-in time of 6:00 pm (almost dark) after a check-out time of 4:00 pm.  These are most awkward times for arrival and departure. I am more accustomed to check-out around 11:00 am and check in around 1:00 pm. I don't know what I can do about this -- if anything.

Good campsite but terrible check-in time

This is to update my previous post. We are now in the Old Cowhide Cove Campground. We have a beautiful spot backed up to the lake with a wonderful view. There are two widely separated camping areas: New Cowhide Cove and Old Cowhide Cove. We ae in OLD Cowhide Cove so this review is specific to that area. Very adequate campsites are well spaced with picnic table, fire ring., 50 amp electric and water. There is a well situated dump station right on the way out. Even though the sites are long enough for most rigs, there is a paved parking area between most sites. Old Cowhide Cove Campground is a small area with only a few sites--a plus for me.

  

I highly recommend this campground. The unreasonably late check-in time is a responsibility of the COE. There was no one to check us in which was no problem for us as we had advanced reservations and an assigned site which was easy to find and presented no difficulty in backing in.

Really nice small campground at OLD Cowhide Cove

Old Cowhide Cove campground has 9 sites,  6 are well spaced, level sites spread out along a lake just inside the trees, remainder are placed upon the hill overlooking those sites.  Campground road is paved with gravel parking pads.  Each site has a picnic table, metal fire ring,  BBQ grill and a small table near the BBQ grill.  Plenty of room for a tent on the grass.  Sites have electric and water hook ups.  Cost is $20.  Campground has a restroom but no showers (showers can be found at the more modern New Cowhide Cove campground located on the other side of the lake from old cowhide).  Campground does have trash service and a dump station.  Their is also a small day use area available.

Quiet camping at Old Cowhide Cove 

Beautiful area, super nice and helpful host! Enjoyed swimming and views. Full hookups easy back in site and very roomy; plenty of move for grand-babies to be play, even setup a little pool. 

Summer 2022 

There's a lower loop near the playground that is perfect for families with kids. The only con is you have to walk up the hill to the bathrooms. You have a perfect line of sight to the large playground from sites 3, 4, and 5.   
  
The upper loop is a little tight in some spots, as the campground is on a hill, but the views are out of this world.   
  
I felt extremely safe here. The gates are great, but there are also hosts, and I saw park rangers do some laps and a sheriff's deputy do a lap just waving and nodding to campers. Lots of families with kids riding bikes and retirees getting their steps in.   
  
Very cool little campground.

Nice Campground - Immaculate bathrooms and showers!

We booked a site for 1 night only because it was close to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. We were at site 4 on the bottom loop and it was beautiful. We loved watching the sun go down over the lake. Also, we have 3 boys so being close to the play ground was awesome. We will definitely be back!

Photos of Cowhide Cove Campground

Real photos from real campers