172 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Benton, Arkansas spans tent sites and full-hookup RV parks to cabins and glamping, with options within an hour's drive of the city. Lake Catherine State Park, located about 25 miles southwest of Benton, provides camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping opportunities. Other nearby camping areas like Maumelle Park and Gulpha Gorge Campground at Hot Springs National Park offer riverfront camping with various accommodation types. The region features both public and private camping facilities with many offering water views along the Arkansas River or nearby lakes.
Access to most campgrounds near Benton requires reservations, particularly for weekend stays and during summer months. Many sites provide electric hookups, water access, and modern amenities like showers and flush toilets, though availability varies by location. The camping season extends year-round at most facilities, with temperatures generally mild in spring and fall, hot and humid in summer, and occasionally freezing in winter. Sites with water views tend to fill quickly, especially at Maumelle Park. As one camper noted, "Maumelle has many good sites from tent to 50amp and some nice fishing opportunities."
Several visitors highlight the natural settings and proximity to outdoor recreation as standout features. At Maumelle Park, campers mention the spacious, shaded sites and river views as primary draws. One camper shared that it's a "beautiful campground located on the Arkansas River with river access and lots of campsites." Many campgrounds in the area serve as convenient bases for exploring nearby attractions like Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Tent campers should note that some facilities primarily cater to RVs, with limited tent-specific amenities. Reviews consistently mention clean facilities but varying levels of privacy between sites. Riverside and lakefront camping areas receive the highest ratings, with campers appreciating the combination of natural settings and convenient access to urban amenities in Little Rock and Hot Springs.
"Lake Catherine State Park, like all Arkansas state parks, is immaculately clean! Most RV sites have close access to the water and there are small stationary docks to park your boat. "
"We stayed in site 54 (w/e/s) that was right on the lake. We could walk to the dock right behind the site to fish, although did not have very good luck."
from $15 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Stayed 6 nights at Maumelle COE campground next to Arkansas River. Nice and quiet especially after the weekend crowd left. Nice walking trails and still close to major conveniences."
"Beautiful panorama view of the Arkansas river. Amenities are great. Friendly staff and clean park. Close to restaurants, shopping and services. Full year round so make a reservation!"
from $28 - $75 / night
Check Availability"There are many positives to this campground well beyond the proximity itself. With electricity at all sites and a flat rate it seems to have a lot of positives to check off."
"With close proximity to the town of Hot Springs, AR, this campground is well maintained and convenient but lacks in privacy. I stayed here as an overnight while driving north through the Midwest."
from $34 / night
Check Availability"The location is truly excellent with easy access to the Arkansas River Trail, the Clinton library, restaurants and other attractions."
"Not a resort but right next to the foot bridge that accesses parks on the other side of the Arkansas River. Traffic noise is minimal."
"We landed a pull through just behind the office and on way out of curve in road so we slide right in. Neighbors are close but nice as was the staff."
"Location good. Site: one tent camp site. Which was Off to self. Had covered picnic table (all of which was positive to us) Power and water. Bathrooms; great."
"Situated between the Arkansas River and Willow Lake, every site is waterfront. Showers and bathrooms were clean and in good condition. Sites were close but in good repair."
"This is a great RV campground right on the Arkansas river. The sites are large and mostly level."
from $26 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Laundry was a bit small especially in a world of social distancing but clean. You have to drive through the entire campground to get to the lower sites."
"The sites are close to each other, but they are stair stepped, so you feel like you have more privacy which was really nice."
"Gorgeous setting on pristine Lake Catherine close to historic Hot Springs. I was in lakefront site 123 for one night but would have liked to stay longer."
"The lake was beautiful and very natural. However if you like roughing it and being close to the water, you better have an RV of some sort or you'll miss the good spots."
"_ There are several viewpoints/vistas that you can access from roads (just two close together that involve some driving on gravel)."
"Super cool paths, views and community. Tons of historical value and it's obvious that Arkansas cares about it's forests, natural resources and outdoor communities."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"This was our second stay here, and it confirmed what we’re starting to realize: Arkansas state campgrounds are next level."
"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."
ScoutThis is a great quiet spot to pitch a tent or bring a moderate sized camper in. Whoever was here last supplied the fire pits with kindling, there is plenty of wood from fallen trees around to build a nice campfire. Not a single person hiked or drove by in the roughly 16 hours I was here. Would recommend!
GuideWe liked Lake Catherine State Park. My husband tried fishing, to no avail. I chose swimming and was also a little let down. The water by camp is extremely shallow. Even 50 ft from bank youre only in 2 ft of water.. so I opted for floating and it was perfect. My husband had my float tied around his waist while he waded around trying to fish. It was honestly magical. The bathrooms, which contain a couple of stalled showers, are some of the cleanest we've seen in all our travels. A lot of the sites are directly on the water and it looks like each group of sites has its own dock, so thats really cool. The waterfall had no falls bc it hasnt rained here in some time. There was a really nice shop that had ice, wood, souvenirs, a few groceries, and practical items like sunscreen and bug spray as well as rv stuff, like pipes and hoses. There is watercraft rental here but we didnt check that out. 2 nights cost us $52 for 30 amp, water hookup, right by the bathhouse and a site on the water. It was honestly worth it. Probably would have stayed longer if it had been a little cheaper though.
GuideHere for an overnight and it was a great night at this KOA. Pool, trails, lake were fantastic. In a camper B RV so no issues navigating to the camp using the Google Maps way. If you are in a big rig RV, it’ll be tight.
ScoutReally nice spot. With good swimming hole. Flush toilets were clean. No lights though but had power. Camping only no rvs or campers. Super peaceful. Water on site. Nice Boat launch
ScoutStayed on site E4 level site with 50 amp hookup water and no sewer. Camp staff was friendly and helpful. No problems with bugs or mosquitos. Bath house very clean. Grocery store and restraunts within 10 minute drive.
LegendSuch a great place. The staff here are amazing and so friendly. You cannot go wrong here.
GuideGreat spot right on the river. Clean and well maintained.
GuideVehicle : Ram Promaster
Pros: A Shower room that is 30 degrees A/C Controlled with Incredible Shower Pressure, Water & Power Hookups & Extremely Easy Access to Trails (Goat Rock -View in Pictures) , 5 minutes out Main National Park Area.
Cons: Lots close together, public access, a lot of flies but as expected.
$34 /Night
Absolutely would recommend & stay again if Hots Springs NP was ever worth going to twice! (The Sign when you drive in will say NO SHOWER FACILITIES, it is a trick to prevent Gen Pop from trying to sneak a shower & slurp up the greatest temperature controlled bathroom on the planet)
ScoutI visited this property a year ago and came back after I heard it had new ownership and had been updated and remodeled. WOW, I was so impressed with it! We will be coming back again.
Camping spots near Benton, Arkansas range from waterfront locations along Lake Catherine to urban sites with direct river access. The Benton region sits in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains with elevations between 300-600 feet, creating varied terrain for camping. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter nights can drop below freezing, affecting water availability at some campgrounds.
Hiking trails year-round: Lake Catherine State Park offers multiple hiking options with varying difficulty levels, including the Falls Branch Trail. "The park has a couple hiking options along with the lake activities. This SP will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend," notes one visitor at Lake Catherine State Park Campground.
Kayaking on calm waters: Paddlers find Lake Catherine ideal for beginners due to limited boat traffic. "It's a great lake for kayaking as the water was calm and there were only a couple of boats on the water," reports a camper who visited Lake Catherine State Park twice.
Disc golf course: Catherine's Landing offers an on-site disc golf course surrounded by natural hiking trails. "The property is so peaceful and quiet. We came with little kids and they explored their hearts out," shares a visitor at Catherine's Landing.
Presidential Library visit: Downtown camping provides easy access to cultural attractions. "We usually do not like camping in cities this big but wanted to come here to visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. And what a great location this park is to downtown Little Rock and the library," explains a camper.
Waterfront sites with privacy: Maumelle Park features spacious camping areas along the Arkansas River. "We got lucky with our spot, only 1 direct neighbor. Beautiful view of the Arkansas River. Busy park," mentions a visitor at Maumelle Park.
Pedestrian bridges to urban areas: Downtown camping options connect directly to city attractions. "You can take a walking bridge across the river directly into downtown Little Rock," notes a camper at Downtown Riverside RV Park.
Well-maintained shower facilities: While not all campgrounds offer showers, some provide exceptional bathroom amenities. "The shower rooms are large and stone tiled," reports a visitor to Catherine's Landing, though they noted some ceiling maintenance was needed during their stay.
Dog parks for pet owners: Several campgrounds accommodate pets with dedicated areas. "Loved the dog park! We are just starting to travel with our 2 boxers and was so nice to have an area for them to run a bit," says a visitor to Hot Springs National Park KOA.
Reservation timing matters: Many popular sites book quickly, especially waterfront locations. "The park was opening back up slowly with COVID-19 closing many of the facilities, but it was almost back to 'normal'...A loop stays booked 93% of the year - Park Office. It's really hard to get a reservation if you don't book at least a year out in A loop," advises a camper at Petit Jean State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require equipment for leveling RVs and trailers. "Many sites are unlevel and require significant leveling chocks to get it truly level," warns another Petit Jean State Park visitor.
Wildlife considerations: Snake encounters occur at some locations near water. "We encountered lots of snakes. I shooed a few off the road and they disappeared as soon as they slithered into the grass, so to me it's pretty risky walking around or letting kids play in the grass," cautions a visitor to Willow Beach.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies widely across camping areas. "The cell service was minimal (1 bar) but a cell booster gave us full service," reports a visitor to Lake Ouachita State Park.
Ropes courses and zip lines: Adventure activities appeal to older children. "The climbing and ropes course is enormous and will make any kid's jaw drop in disbelief. There's an affiliated zip line just outside of the park," explains a visitor to Catherine's Landing.
Fishing opportunities for kids: Several locations offer accessible fishing for beginners. "D26 Back-in full hook-ups, fire ring & picnic table...Sits on the bank of the Arkansas River so fishing and water sports are available from the bank or boat," notes a visitor at Hot Springs National Park KOA.
Wildlife spotting: Waterfowl and other animals attract younger campers. "Sites are very well spaced and you can take your chairs to the river or use the picnic benches scattered along the river full of waterfowl and occasional boaters and huge barges," shares a visitor to Maumelle Park.
Playground quality: Facility amenities vary significantly between locations. "Nice playground but it was taped off during our stay due to covid," reports a Willow Beach visitor, highlighting the importance of checking current status.
Site selection strategies: RV campers recommend specific areas for maximum comfort. "If we return, I'd choose a river site but this was nice too except our 34 ft class A FDDS opened right onto a silty patch that forced us to navigate our entry into our motorhome," advises a visitor to Maumelle Park.
Hookup configurations: Be prepared for unusual utility layouts at some campgrounds. "Some sites have water and the picnic table on the opposite sides of the camper. It's purely inconvenient and I'm not sure why this is this way. Pay attention when you book your site to campsite photos," warns a Petit Jean State Park visitor.
Pull-through availability: Larger rigs benefit from specific site types at Willow Beach. "Large sites, not piled in on each other like RV parks. It's a clean campground outside the city, can't beat it for the price. Waterfront. Covered picnic benches. 50amp + water," shares one RVer.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "NO SEWER (EXCEPT FOR SITES 47 & 48)," notes a Petit Jean visitor, highlighting the importance of planning for waste management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RV parks in Benton, Arkansas offer full hookups?
Sweet Escape RV Resort in nearby Austin provides full hookups along with amenities including a large dog park and fishing opportunities. It's conveniently located near Highway 167 with easy access to Benton. Downtown Riverside RV Park offers full hookups with an excellent location along the Arkansas River Trail, providing easy access to Little Rock attractions like the Clinton Presidential Library and downtown restaurants. For those willing to drive a bit further, Little Rock North KOA and Hot Springs National Park KOA also offer full hookup sites with additional resort-style amenities.
What are the best campgrounds near Benton, Arkansas?
The Benton area offers several excellent camping options. Caddo Drive - De Gray Lake is a clean Army Corps of Engineers site on a beautiful peninsula overlooking the lake with separate areas for tents and RVs, hot showers, and a swimming beach. Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park provides a unique opportunity to camp near the historic downtown area with easy access to the park's attractions. Other notable options include Petit Jean State Park for its scenic viewpoints and Lake Catherine State Park for a more intimate camping experience.
What camping is available near Benton, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Benton, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Benton, AR and 31 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Benton, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Benton, AR is Lake Catherine State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 86 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Benton, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 31 free dispersed camping spots near Benton, AR.
What parks are near Benton, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Benton, AR that allow camping, notably Arkansas River - Terry Lock and Dam and Arkansas River - Pool 5.
Keep Exploring
