Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground

This park is a small, secluded gem in northwest AR right on Lake Fort Smith, about 30 miles NE of Fort Smith proper. The campground is practically brand new due to a flood a few years ago which caused the state to relocate the campground. The bathhouses are unbelievable (generally true of all AR parks), sites are immaculate, and views are amazing. The visitor center is also unbelievable. Our boys got to feed the snakes and turtles when we last visited. The park is small and there aren’t many sites. I found this to be a positive as you actually get the feeling you’re alone in nature. To that end, the only negative thing I can say about this park is that almost every site is elevated and has multiple levels due to retaining walls that were used to build up each site in the side of the mountain along the lake. The ledges of these retaining walls do not have any railing. So for us, having 3 small boys, this just meant toms of opportunities for them to fall and get hurt. Some of the drops from one level To the next were 6 ft or higher. This is the only reason I’m not giving the park 5 stars (though in fairness, I probably should). Beyond that small issue, however, the Park is absolutely gorgeous. The pool and splash pad are also very nice, though we weren’t able to use them because we went in January. There is a grill that serves food in the pool area which I think is really convenient. The playground is also nice, as is the marina and rental prices are very low, in my opinion. Also, I did not use them, but there are quite a few mountain bikers who visit this park and the trails were clearly well kept. In sum, beyond the beautiful scenery, the Park is generally very clean and new feeling. There’s not much I can say that would be negative at all. In my opinion, it’s a cant miss Park for anyone who enjoys camping.

Lake Ft. Smith State Park is a beautiful park in the Boston Mountains. We drove over from Memphis to meet my brother’s family (who lives in Tulsa). We stayed in campsite 9 which was a pull through site and had stunning views of the lake. My brother stayed in site 8. Sites 1-20 have full hook-ups with sewer. The bathhouse was clean and fully functioning.

Pros: Many activities at the Visitor Center for children. Ozark Highland Trail is directly behind the campsites on the lake side. Recreational area with a playground that is updated. Sites have gravel which limits how much dirt/mud you have to deal with.

Cons: Many of the campsites are on a grade. They all have multiple levels with stairs and have no railings. We had 5 children <6 years of age and the sites were somewhat perilous. If you are a parent with small kids, sites 17-20 and sites 2-3 are better. The other sites are excellent, but not necessarily best for small kids. Last, the playground requires that you drive to it which is inconvenient.

Overall: Great family park with updated amenities. We’d like to give it a try in the spring/summer when the pool and splash pad are open! If you’ve got small kids, Petit Jean State Park would be my suggestion in this area of Arkansas.

This is a nice modern park on the shore of the man made Lake Fort Smith. To me, the most interesting parts of the park were destroyed in order to make the lake (and thus, the park); the Works Progress Administration (WPA) had several cabins and shelters on the property from building the dam and surrounding areas. However, they were flooded under when the lake filled. The ranger in the visitor’s center said the buildings were not able to be moved. There was a nice exhibit about the building of the park and the role of the WPA in the surrounding area. The campsites are all really RV only with water and electric, although most sites also have a tent pad. There were no other tent campers while I was there. The campground is really clean and well maintained; it seemed that the trash cans were emptied almost hourly by the nice fellow buzzing around in his golf cart. The bath house was super clean, too. There are some nice hiking trails, although none very long. However, this park marks the western end of the Ozark Highlands Trail that stretches across northern-ish Arkansas for 150+ miles. This might be a good starting or ending spot. The boat ramp seemed quiet, but that might have been the weather. If you are into group glamping, there are several lodges that are available that could house a small family to a small army.

I have to say, Lake Fort Smith is Awesome! The State must have recently dedicated some very real resources to the facilities at this State Park. The tent/camper/RV sites are new. The shower house looks new. The cabins are big and look new. Everything about this park is clean and attractive.

The forests that surround the park create excellent scenery and the lake is gorgeous. There is a marina where you can rent boats and an awesome pool with a waterslide for the kids to play. This is where you can have the best of both worlds. An amazing outdoors experience with the comforts of home.

If you want more hiking trails Devils Den State Park is only a 30 minute drive. I am already looking at planning a family reunion and holding at Lake Fort Smith. If you have a large group, they have a dining hall and conference center for rent. This is a legitimate destination and has something for everyone. It is not ofter that you find a five star State Park, this is one of those rare moments.