Best Tent Camping near Arkansas River - Wilbur D. Mills Pool
Several tent campgrounds are located near the Arkansas River - Wilbur D. Mills Pool area in Arkansas, with options primarily centered around the Delta Heritage Trail State Park system. Arkansas City Trailhead offers tent camping in a convenient location near the levee with clean flush toilets and a grassy area adjacent to the parking lot. Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground provides primitive tent camping with basic amenities including drinking water, fire pits, picnic tables, and toilets, making it suitable for tent campers seeking a more established site.
Most tent sites in this region feature minimal improvements with grassy or dirt surfaces. Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground maintains ten primitive tent sites available on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per night. Sites include fire pits, picnic tables, and access to a bathroom at the visitor center with a cold water fountain. Ste Marie Park technically allows tent camping with water hookups and electric hookups, but reviews indicate access issues with gates frequently locked, particularly during winter months when the park closes until March 1st.
Shaded campsites characterize most of the tent camping options in the region, providing relief during hot Arkansas summers. The Delta Heritage Trail system includes multiple trailheads with camping opportunities, including Arkansas City Trailhead and Barton Trailhead, though amenities vary by location. Insect protection is essential for comfortable camping experiences, as mosquitoes can be abundant. "This place has nice pads to put tents on and picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Only 10 sites though and it is first come first serve. All campsites are shaded, but have bug spray ready because there is a ton of mosquitoes," noted one camper about Delta Heritage Trail State Park.
