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Best Tent Camping near Bella Vista, AR

744 Reviews

Tent camping around Bella Vista, Arkansas gives you several good options within a short drive. Natural Falls State Park has tent spots not far from the bathhouse, which helps when you need a shower after hiking. You can walk right to the trails from your site and see the waterfall without a long trek. About 31 miles from town, Flint Creek's tent pads are big enough for multiple tents, which works well if you're camping with friends. The ground is flat and smooth there, making tent setup pretty easy. If you want more privacy, Pigeon Roost Primitive Campsites in Hobbs State Park (about 21 miles away) has well-spaced sites with good tree cover for shade. You can park fairly close to these sites, so you won't have to lug your gear too far. Karst Loop Trail Campsites, also in Hobbs State Park, has clean tent sites in a quiet area. Bathrooms are a short walk away from the camping spots. The trails to reach these backpacking sites are clearly marked and not too difficult. You can book most tent sites online ahead of time. Deer and many birds are common around the campsites, but keep your food stored properly so you don't attract them to your tent. Most places have water available, though bringing extra is smart for longer trips. Spring and fall are the best seasons to camp near Bella Vista when it's not too hot or cold. Summer gets pretty hot, so bring extra water and shade if you camp then. The area has everything from group camping to quiet, tucked-away spots.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bella Vista, Arkansas (11)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bella Vista, AR

3 Photos of 11 Bella Vista Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Bella Vista, AR

744 Reviews of 11 Bella Vista Campgrounds

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Devil's Den State Park Campground

    Ranger Review of Banner & Oaks Bull Tan Hat at Devil's Den State Park

    Amazing State Park with something for everyone

    I have been to Devil's Den State Park twice now and this is my favorite state park in Arkansas. Devil's Den State park has something for every camper, no matter how you prefer to camp. Tent camping, hike in camping, RVs, cabins, they have it all. Want to bring your horse, you can do that as well. Devil's Den has some great hiking and mountain biking trails, from short to long. If you only do one trail be sure that is the Devil's Den Trail, you won't be disappointed on this 1.5 mile trail. If you want a longer trail there is the 15 mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. Devil's Den campground includes 135 campsites ranging from basic tent sites to full hookups for the RV crowed and horse sites. Campground are all paved with paved parking pads. Individual sites have tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings and a first for me, hooks for hanging your lantern. Flush toilets and showers are included. If you like to swim they even have a pool. Park has a store to provide your food needs. Sites all appeared to be well spaced. If you want complete privacy the word is get one of the walk in sites, you will have a bit of a walk but the reward is complete solitude. Lee Creek runs through the park and a 8-acre lake which allows fishing and boating with canoes and pedal boats. You need to reserve your site before hand or at the visitor center. One thing I do like is if you arrive to late to register at the visitor center, then you can just grab an empty site for the night, you just have to register the next day by 10am.

    Ranger Review of Banner& Oaks Bull Tan Hat

    Got the Bull Tan hat and have been wearing it for about a month now. Hat fits great, looks great. This is a very well made hat with quality materials and made in the U.S.A. It has held up amazing well in all weather conditions, sun, heat, rain and even snow and continues to hold its shape. I have a lot of hats and this one is one of my favorites.

  • Matt S.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Lost Bridge South

    Stay at South Bridge for Lakeside camping and beautiful scenerey

    I really like Lost Bridge South and Lost Bridge North. They are on the banks of Beaver Lake and are beautiful. The only downside is both campgrounds are built on the slopes of a hill. The RV and camper pads are level with asphalt, but to pitch a tent can be a bit tricky to find level ground.

    Personally I do not like pitching my tent on concrete or rock pads, I prefer good old grass and dirt. Both my tent and my back last a little bit longer when on soft ground versus rocks.

    The facilities were clean nice. The showers and bathrooms were pretty good. The only problem was there were no soap dispensers, so bring your own if you like clean hands.

    This is a solid four star campground. I highly recommend getting a campsite next to the lake. We had a lot of fun with some great views.

  • M
    Mar. 6, 2022

    Lost Bridge North

    Off Season Perfection

    Visited here in early spring and were spoiled with amazing lake views and not many neighbors. When the trees leaf out I’m guessing you still would have good privacy. No water hook ups at the site (if you need to fill your tank the water next to vault toilet by the lake is the most flat) but 30 amp hook up made it very comfortable. Large concrete picnic tables and fire rings (some also have grills) at each site. Close enough to Bentonville to spend a day in town or exploring Crystal Bridges!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Gopher Valley - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Pleasant RV/Tent campground

    Gopher Valley campground in on of several campground in the Twin Bridges area of Grand Lake State Park.  This campground is fully paved with both full hook up RV camping area, tent camping area and areas that work for both.  Campground have drive through and pull in sites.  Sites all have picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Campground has a large pavilion which can be rented.  The pavilion has a huge BBQ grill.  Campground has a small playground for the kids.  Small restroom with showers is available.  With the exception of the RV pull through sites all the other sites have plenty of grass to set up a tent.  Sites can be reserved.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Eagle Bluff - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Tent camping with covered picnic tables

    Eagle Bluff campground has both RV and tent camping spots.  Drive in sites have electrical, picnic tables, metal fire rings, BBQ grills and paved parking pads.  The nice part of this campground is the undeveloped camping area for those tent campers, the sites while close together have Shelters over most of the sites picnic tables as well as BBQ grills.  Sites with electricity have plenty of room for setting up tents.  Campground has a new playground for the kids.  Rest room has showers as well.  Horseshoe pits and a basketball hoop are also available.  Sites can be reserved.  A Pavilion is available.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2018

    Natural Falls State Park Campground

    Where the Red Fern Grows

    This State Park is best known for the filming of the movie Where the Red Fern Grows and it's understandable why. The falls and the trails/nature walks are beautiful. Very easy hiking/walking with a nice reward on views of the falls and river/stream.

    Now the camping. There is an RV area and a Tent only area. When we arrived (Oct) the RV area was pretty filled up and we prefer less neighbors, plus we were tent camping. So off to the Tent camping area. The sites were nice and level but no real break up/divide between sites. Luckily there was only 2 other Tent campers when we showed up so we chose the opposite side of the area. There were fire rings, grills and cement picnic tables.

    There are full facilities and the camp host does a great job keeping them maintained and also checking in on all the campers/RV'rs.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2017

    Lake Wedington -- Temporarily CLOSED

    Picture Perfect camping

    A gorgeous park in the Ozarks National Forest close to the civilization in Fayettville Arkansas. This place reminded me of Lake Lure from “Dirty Dancing” with its historical buildings and beautiful lake. Super quiet at night, there were about 18 campsites in the campground (none with electric or hookups), all reservable. This was somewhat a problem as I lacked reservations. While the campground was almost empty (there were only 5 other campers), there were only two sites that were “open” for the night. An impending storm kept many from showing up, and by morning there were only 3 tents still set up. Each site had a nice tent pad that according to the campground host drained well (except for one site on the hill, can't remember which site number, which fortunately wasn’t available), grills, and fire rings. I ended up with site #10 with a great view of the lake. In fact the only thing really separating me from the lake was a nice bit of lawn and the lake trail. The hosts had put up solar lights along the path through the trees to the bathroom, which would have been helpful if not for the relentless rain that kept everyone from wandering about in the dark. In the morning I didn’t have to share the shower house with anyone except the spiders as only 3 other campers stuck it out through the night and their sites were closer to the other shower house. While not modern by any means, the shower house was clean and the water was hot. Just know that you will need to push the water button several times to get a good rinse as it only seemed to run the water for about 2 minutes a push. I didn’t drive over to check out the cabins, but I understand that you can rent a historical cabin if tent camping isn’t your thing.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 17, 2018

    Devil's Den State Park Campground

    Back country review - Butterfield Trail

    This review is for the Butterfield Trail in Devils Den. You have to hike in to get to theses spots. If you start at the traditional Devils Den and park at the pedestrian bridge you have a nice challenging hike up to the back country portion of the park. You start hiking along a river and after a mile or so you start your upward journey. The trail is generally in good shape but if it has been raining, beware as some of the trail is also used for horses which makes the trail sometimes tough to make it through as it gets pretty mushy. My favorite spot is about halfway through right on a river that flows a blueish color that doesn't make you want to even filter and drink the water. The spots are level and secluded but you sometimes find trash as people don't abide by the leave no trace principle. I bring all my own water on the trail but there are a few spots you can filter. We have found many snakes here and some are poisonous. BEWARE! The geography has is pretty unique and flash flooding is common. Be very aware of your surroundings and watch the river if you are in a rain storm. You must check in at the ranger's station before you do any back country camping in the park. The trail is a pleasant longer trail in the area and is a must but I would recommend trying this trail in the Spring or late fall.

  • S
    Oct. 21, 2019

    Natural Falls State Park Campground

    Great for small family

    We chose the rv site 16 from their website before ever seeing what the campground looked like in person. It is the site toward the back of the rv park overlooking the bluffs. 

    Our site had plenty of tree cover that kept us from seeing the bluffs; but it also provided for a cool experience looking out of the back windows of our camper, especially at night. 

    The sites are a bit too close to one another. But our neighbors in site 15 were super cool. We came with only one bundle of firewood and they quickly provided us with more than enough to have a great time, and more than enough for the next morning. 

    The reason it gets 4 stars is because the sites are too close to one another. What was especially strange is that the fire ring that belongs to site 15 was actually directly behind our pad on site 16. Our fire ring was located between our site and the other neighbor's site (17) next to us. Very strange.

    The campsite otherwise was wonderful. Our kids loved the two playgrounds. The weather was great. So we took a quick stroll through the woods and to the small waterfall nearby. Would definitely go again, maybe even to book two or three sites next to one another, being so close. That would be fun for a larger group.

Guide to Bella Vista

Tent camping near Bella Vista, Arkansas offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the scenic trails at Karst Loop Trail Campsites, where you can immerse yourself in the lush surroundings.
  • Experience the tranquility of Pigeon Roost Primitive Campsites, accessible only by hiking, making it a great spot for solitude and nature appreciation.
  • Spend a day fishing or kayaking at Table Rock Lake, just a short drive from Holiday Island Camp Ground, where you can also enjoy a peaceful walking trail.

Local attractions to explore

  • Visit the charming town of Eureka Springs, located only 10 minutes from Holiday Island Camp Ground, known for its unique architecture and vibrant arts scene.
  • Discover the stunning Natural Falls State Park, perfect for a day hike and picnic, situated near Flint Creek, which offers a refreshing swimming area.
  • Explore the multi-use trails at Fort Crowder Conservation Area, where you can hike, bike, or horseback ride, and camp at the well-reviewed Gibson Spring Back Country Site.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $30

  • Camping at Gibson Spring Back Country Site is free, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious campers.
  • Rates at Mountain View Camping start around $30, offering amenities like drinking water and showers for a comfortable stay.
  • Tent camping at Flint Creek is affordable, with prices typically around $20, providing access to a beautiful swimming area and electric hookups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any seasonal restrictions for tent camping in Bella Vista?

Tent camping in the Bella Vista area typically has seasonal variations. Big Bay has occasional closures throughout the year, so it's advisable to check availability before planning your trip. Flint Creek is particularly popular during summer months when its swimming areas provide relief from the heat. Generally, the best tent camping season in the Bella Vista region runs from late spring (April-May) through early fall (September-October) when temperatures are moderate and rainfall is less frequent.

Where can I find tent camping in Bella Vista, Arkansas?

While Bella Vista itself has limited tent camping, nearby options provide excellent alternatives. Pigeon Roost Primative Campsites in Hobbs State Park offers secluded hike-in tent camping within a short drive. For those willing to travel a bit further, Riverfield Acreage- White River provides a secluded tent camping experience with riverside sites that are perfect for anglers and paddlers. These campgrounds provide natural settings while still maintaining reasonable proximity to Bella Vista's amenities and attractions.

What amenities are available at tent campsites in Bella Vista?

Amenities at tent campsites near Bella Vista vary by location. Gibson Spring Back Country Site offers basic facilities including picnic tables, trash cans, and a BBQ grill in a backcountry setting. For more facilities, Mountain View Camping provides community meals (Friday dinner and Sunday breakfast) along with standard campsite amenities. Most primitive sites in the area typically have limited facilities (vault toilets or portable restrooms), no hookups, and may require you to bring your own water. For swimming opportunities, several campgrounds feature water access for cooling off during hot weather.

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