Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

We visited for Easter and even with the chill it was a good trip. We were on the hill top, the view was limited but the night sky awesome. It was busy with many families but we had more then enough space to set up and plenty of privacy. 
The facilities were older but in good shape and well maintained. 
Plenty of activities to do around the park and on the water. Excellent family get away. Hot Springs is within easy driving distance. 

Girls weekend

We used this State Park as our base camp for visits to Hot Springs National Park and Garvan Woodland Gardens

We stayed in the walk-in section of the park.  It was not a far walk from the parking lot and easy to transport gear.  There was also a bathroom with-in close walking distance.

The campsites themselves had a tent pad, a table, and fire ring.  There were two communal water spouts along the path that were shared by the 12 sites.

The sites aren't too close to each other, which allows you to have some privacy.

Each site can have a maximum of 8 people on each one.

The walk-in sites are on a peninsula, which makes for great views, but the wind can be an issue.

The Park itself also has a play ground, a marina, a beach, a spring, cabins, and geocaching.


A Nice Hideaway

Nothing but great things to say about Lake Ouachita State Park. We were headed that direction to visit Hot Springs National Park, but chose to stay nearby at Lake Ouachita. It was phenomenal! The views were breathtaking, the bathrooms were pristine, the trails were glorious! We decided on a walk-up campsite and did not regret that decision at all. We brought our pup with us and she had a blast too! Next time, we'll be sure to bring kayaks or paddle boards and take off right from our campsite. We will for sure be back!

Amazing! Will be back soon! 

Headed back to Lake Ouachita State Park for the second time, even more beautiful than we remembered! We were able to score the exact site as last time, but site #T9 was fantastic. The lake was high, so the fire pit was fairly close to the water. Two perfect hammock trees were inches away from the crystal clear lake. Perfect for getting in and out of the kayak.

Stunning! 

A short drive from Hot Springs you will find this park with amazing views.
The best tent sites that are not close to the water are 82, 83 or 84; however,  we recommend the ones closest to the water.
The park has a marina where you can rent boats, kayaks and paddleboats.  
Our site had a fire ring, a few trees for our hammock and the bathrooms were very clean.  
We travel with our dog Lulu and she enjoyed the trails and the water too!

Firt time in Hot Springs

Camping in the state park of lake ouachita in a tent. never. been. better. was on site T04 for tents and basically sites t01-t11(maybe 12) are on a small peninsula with the lake on both sides. you can go swimming in the lake right off the back of your campsite. they have charcoal grills at each site as well as a fire pit that has a grill over itnfor cooking things over the fire. there is a concrete pad with a picnic table as well as a separate pad on compacted dirt for your tent and then plenty of space in your campsite for other things. you can’t beat the views. the bathrooms are the cleanest an moat upsated Ive seen in a camp ground (and I’ve worked in one) and the showers are great. never felt afraid of wild animals roaming the sites while walking to the bathroom in the dark or anything. the staff in the office is friendly. they offer boat rentals for cheap as well as expeditions to partake in. theres also camper and rv sites and cabIns available, a marina to bring your boat, and fun activities for kids! theres a few different trails to hike around the campground. we went on a moderate  4 mile hike and walked to the trailhead from the campsIte. a great hike with awesome views of the lake and you dont have to drive to the trailhead!  couldn’t recommend this place enough! 

perfection in the form of camping 

We had a lovely time tent camping at Lake Ouachita. It was a last minute Memorial Day weekend plan, so there wasn't much research before hand. The campsites were walk up, which was mildly inconvenient at first, but ultimately a big plus with no vehicles driving by the actual sites.

The park is pet friendly as long as they're leashed, and alcohol is allowed in moderation.

The campsites are on a small peninsula, so every site was right on the water. Being so close to the water kept the temperature comfortable, and having direct access to the lake was perfect for swimming. Ducks and geese also made appearances that thrilled the kids.

There were a few communal water spots located in the tent area. The bathrooms and trashcans were a bit of a walk, and shared with the RV sites.

The sites were pretty close to each other, and some people might not prefer that. There was a family reunion happening while we were there, so that feature was pretty convenient for them.

We brought tiki torches but were unable to use them due to the gravel terrain.

All in all, the sites were clean and comfortable and other guests were respectful. I recommend this park, and will definitely return.

Beautiful right on the water

A very nice place. Clean, nice showers, boating, swimming, hiking.

This campaite was very clean and nice, the morning sunrise and evening sunset was pretty. There were some close trails too. I didnt like how close other campsites were, not a lot of nature to provide privacy either. Bathrooms were clean, dog friendly!

Nice views but too close to other campsites

My four-legged tail-wagger and I just finished our second trip to Lake Ouachita State Park. We like the tent spots and so do the RVers who visit for the views of the lake.

Even in the rain...

So much to do at this beautiful campground. We stayed in A on the peninsula and in D campground. Camping on the peninsula was so much fun. The facilities at really nice and clean. The interpreter Jen is so knowledgeable. We went kayaking, snorkeling, and an evening star cruise.

Beautiful clear lake

Great on lake camping with lots of activities for everyone.

Beautiful clear lake with new clean facilities 

There is enough nature to make this campground worth a visit. Rent a canoe or kayak and get out on the water, and hopefully see some wildlife. My favorite sites in the tent loop (B) would be site numbers 71 and 73.

Worth a visit

Lake Ouachita is a great place to camp. Many of the campsites have views of the lake and are spacious. They all have a fire ring, grill and picnic table. They also have family bathrooms that have a private shower/sink area. They have a few hiking trails as well.

Great campground

One of the best lakes/ parks I’ve visited. I went to Arkansas to visit the Hot Springs National Park, and left wishing I had stayed longer in Ouachita rather than visit Hot Springs. Great camping site, enough space for two tents. Beautiful trails to hike and bike. The fishing was equally as good. 

Amazing state park!

This was our first trip here - brought our 23 Ft camper and stayed in Loop C. The well-Manicured and large sites under the tall trees and pines were Top-Notch! Many sites were on an incline, so there was a lot of terracing w great use of railroad timbers and crushed rock. Most sites were FULL HookUps. All had crushed rock pad for tent.  Loop A which was NOT waterfront was heavily tree’d and huge sites as well.  Restrooms were always clean and well stocked w TP and hand soap. 

Kayak rental was cheap (and didn’t charge extra for staying out longer!)

We were BLOWN AWAY and can’t wait to make the long drive from Austin Tx again :-)

A little slice of Heaven

We had a great time camping at lake oauchita state park. The water water wad beautiful and clear, the bath house was clean and the campgrounds were well maintained. We've already reserved a site for this summer. 

Crystal clear water

The cabins are beyond wonderful to stay in and well worth the price. Beautiful scenery and tons of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The rangers were great and offered a variety of informational classes and hikes. We will be back! 

So much beauty! 

Cabins were awesome, hiking was beautiful and kayaking the lake was fantastic! By far the best part of the trip was the events hosted by the Park... almost my whole family participated in eating mill worms at the edible bug workshop!

Great Park Programs!

This state park sits on one of the prettiest and clearest lakes in the state of Arkansas. The area that I will be focusing on is the primitive tent sites. There is a loop on a peninsula that are reserved for walking in your gear to a tent site. These sites have GREAT views of the lake. A few of the sites even have access to the water for swimming, fishing, or putting in your kayak. 

  

The sites are pretty close together and not very level. The more level sites are in the loop nearest the parking area. There are two shared water spigots. One near the parking area and one near the end of the peninsula. There is no electricity at these sites. The two best sites, in my opinion, are sites 7, 8, and 9. They have great access to the water and wonderful views of the lake. If you decide to camp here be warned that the sites are not very large. We typically bring a canopy for our outdoor kitchen, these sites are not large enough for a big canopy. Also, this lake tends to be very windy. There are trees around the sites, but the fire pits on sites 7-9 are very exposed. This poses are problem when trying to build a fire. 

  

There are plenty of activities to do while visiting this SP. Some of the activities may still be suspended due to Covid 19. In July they have a boat tour that costs $10 per person. They take you out to "Bird Island" to see the purple martins. It's a neat tour. There are also plenty of hiking trails, swimming, fishing, and other typical state park activities. You can't go wrong with the views here, but there are some things to consider.

Gorgeous views but close and windy

I've reviewed this state park before but this time we stayed at the walk in tent sites and it was even better. The campsite was perfect. Steps from the water and shaded. The bath houses were nice and clean. 

A great experience 

We stayed in Area A wjich was nice. We have a tiny RV compared to the giants in our area. The signage states the bathtooms would be closed from 10pm to 9am because of covid. That made me have a mini panic attack. I need avcess to a good bathroom. Turns out the host said that was not true. There is not a lot of privacy so if that is a requirement most Arkansas state park camping site are probably not for you. If you want to be on the swimming beach reserve areas B or C. The swim areas ate kind of small. They have plenty of tent camping as well. Its a beautiful site. If you are a boater, kiyak, jet ski or any other water device fan...this campsite is a must

Clean and safe

The lake was gorgeous! I wish we had more time to walk trails, but we were just stopping for the night. My only complaint is that the campground was crowded and the spots were all very close together.

Gorgeous, but crowded

There is SO for you to do here. There is all your usual lake activities with added snorkeling, bird watching cruises, and star gazing cruises.  We stayed in the tent only area. Loved it.

Park staff is the best!

The only reason I didn't give this park 5 stars was because we didn't camp overnight here, we only did a day hike, so I can't rate the park on EVERYTHING they have to offer. However, everything we did have the chance to explore was GREAT.  

  

From the visitor center, where everyone was very polite and eager to help to the hiking trails that were well maintained and clean. This park was beautiful. Plus, they didn't charge a day fee which was amazing since everywhere I usually visit has a fee to enter the park. That was great since we only wanted to do a short hike.

  

I did notice they also had a nice playground for the kids, as well as, a boat dock and pier. I definitely want to go back again sometime and actually stay a few days.

Beautiful trails with views of the lake. 

This is one of the nicest parks. RV camping with all hook ups avaliable and right on the lake with very scenic hiking. The entire park was very clean. The only con is the camping spots are very close together, but We had the whole camp ground to ourselves. Would be awesome summer hot spot

Great park

Definitely my favorite park in Arkansas so far. It’s a really big park at the lake with lots to do. I was there in the fall so I didn’t do any lake stuff but still had a great time tent camping. There’s a nice hiking trail to explore. Also, the bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen at a state park. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, grill, picnic table and fire ring. There are also walk in tent sites on the peninsula which are nice and quiet. If you get one at the end I’d say it’s probably 200 meters to the parking lot and bathrooms. I peeked into one of the cabins and they look really nice. They also have camper cabins that have heat/air but no bathroom. In all there are 93 RV/tent sites, 8 cabins and 4 camper cabins. The park is also near Hot Springs so there is lots to do. 


One of the best in Arkansas 

The tent camping is so beautiful right on the lake! Very calm and peaceful. Beautiful scenery and the lake is super nice

awesome and very nice

We stayed here for the entire feast of Sukkot and LOVED EVERY MINUTE!! Great hiking, water views, kayaking, and more!! Will definitely return!

BEST Sukkot to date!

Amazing place for all you kayakers if you enjoy your calm beautiful 40,000 acre lake with over 200 I’ll islands to explore the water is a good place to escape a lot of the mosquitoes here in the islands are nice and remote highly recommend spending some time here

Amazing lake a kayakers drea

Beautiful campground with spacious sites and easy walk to gorgeous waterfront views. Lots of trails. Very clean facilities and amazing staff. Loved this park. 

Gorgeous 

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Lake Ouachita State Park!  We stayed in space 55 and had a great view of the lake and the beautiful sunsets.  Our friends stayed in space 1.  It was more shady but didn’t have a view of the lake.  The cell service was minimal (1 bar) but a cell booster gave us full service.  Very clean park!

Beautiful lake and sunsets

This is an absolutely beautiful state park 30 minutes Northwest of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is massive with a Marina, multiple swimming beaches, RV and tent camping plus cabin rentals. 

We stayed in campground Area A, on a concrete pad with tons of space around the camper. Many RV sites overlook Lake Ouachita, though ours didn’t. 

If you are there over a weekend, I highly recommend taking the sunset tour by the park service at the marina. It is two hours, $10 per adult and stunning. With the recent heat wave it was also much cooler then the afternoon cruises. 

Glamping outside Hot Springs, Arkansas

Gorgeous lake front sites! This place is really popular in gluten summer time, so expect to book a year in advance. There are a couple of coves with waterfront sites that also have full hook ups. It was worth the year long wait! 

The water is crystal clear and we could swim right from our campsites! We also took a Ranger led sunset cruise on the water. Excellent $10 excursion! We normally like the hike the trails, but it was too hot for hiking during our visit. 

The also have cute camper cabins, an awesome walk in tent site area and clean bathrooms. 

Beautiful Lakefront Sites

We visited the walk-in tent sites for 5 days in late June and had a wonderful time. These sites are out on a peninsula and although the weather brought us 104° for a few days in a row, with the breeze on the peninsula and the lake water, it was manageable and even pleasant. All of the sites are beautiful and there is a cart provided to transport your gear from vehicle to your reserved spot. All sites appeared to gave direct lake access, some with a little steeper hill, but all manageable. The lake is a rock bottom entry so I'd highly advise to bring water shoes.  Entering the area, on the right, the sites are on the no wake zone but I felt comfortable with the kids swimming on either side safely.  The marina has kayak rentals and also canoes, boat rides, pedal boats, etc. Restrooms/bathhouse is a short walk with the parking lot in between the campsites and building. Each were clean and individual with a toilet, shower, sink combo in each. The camp hosts were so nice and friendly and the rangers were super helpful. The water was clear and you could see small fish swimming below. Firewood, ice, snacks, and bait could all be purchased from the check-in or marina. Hot Spring is a short maybe 15 min drive. Definitely check out Bathhouse Row, the national hot spring park and if you are into Star Wars, get tickets for a VIP tour of Galaxy Connections. Back at Lake Ouachita is the Three Sisters Springs which is a super cool little quick visit and you can fill up your own water bottles or jugs straight from the cold springs. We loved every minute at Lake Ouachita and were so sad to leave. 

Walk-In Tent Sites

The Hot Springs NP campground was closed for the season so we stayed at Lake Ouachita SP Campground for 3 nights. We are tent camper and this was the best it gets! The tent sites are well separated from the RVs and generators. The sit right on the lake so they can get windy but are peaceful and beautiful. Each tent site has a level pad for tents, picnics tables, and fire-ring. A small down-side, you have to park and walk your gear to your site but it's not terribly far or a big deal. The lake is beautiful and all tent sites have access to the water. It's a bit of a walk to the bathrooms but they are wonderfully clean (and heated). The camp store had decent wood for sale. The only thing to beware of is the crows. They are relentless and even took a bag of sealed, in it's original container, tortilla chips and tried carrying them away and pecking the bag open. So don't leave anything unsupervised (even in closed container or bags).