Planning a dispersed camping trip near Cabot? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Cabot's most popular destinations.
If you are one of those folks who prefers a different, more rugged camp experience, primitive camping is allowed almost anywhere in the Ouachita National Forest unless there is a sign stating otherwise, or it is a wildlife food plot. Located throughout the Forests are areas that have been campsites for many years. These are located along roadsides, trails, mountain tops, or near streams. Camping at dispersed locations have additional responsibilities: "Leave No Trace" so others can have a similar backcountry experience, pack out any trash or litter, scatter campfire ash around so it doesn't pile up, and leave the area better than you found it.
Please filter water before drinking! Beware of stream crossings after heavy rains. Please read the Dispersed Camping guidelines before heading out. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ouachita/recreation/?cid=fseprd727994
Legend
Coordinates: 34.82029,-92.82184. Large creekside dispersed campsite located on a rocky, bumpy track, about 150 yards east of Forest Road 179 (aka Wildcat Mountain Rd). If going southbound on FR179, the track is on the left immediately after crossing a bridge. The track may look sketchy to some drivers, but I drove down it okay in my Subara. Good spot for car camping. The site itself is very rocky, so it may be uncomfortable for tent camping. There are trees for hammock camping. There are 3 large rock fire rings. This site is prone to flooding. The site appears to be popular and well used. There are no hiking trails, but the access track passes the site and continues along the creek - good for an easy stroll. Tried fishing here, but no luck. I do know from previous experience that there is fish in the creek. The creek is nice for a summertime dip when its running high. The site is mostly shaded; may be difficult to get a Starlink connection. I received no cell service. This is a pretty nice site, offering some privacy from the forest road and a wonderful sound of the creek.
Legend
Coordinates: 34.84016,-92.82538. Located along unpaved Forest Road 179 (Wildcat Mountain Road), about 3/4 miles south of junction with Forest Road 132. The forest road was in good condition during my visit. A 2-wheel drive passenger car should be able to reach this site. It is a large campsite, close to forest road; no privacy from the road. The site is a dirt surface with a very large rock fire ring. Mostly level. Tent and hammock camping possible. No T-Mobile service. Has AT&T 5G service. Shaded; connection to Starlink will be a challenge. Beautiful forest with a very small pond behind the site in the woods. May be able to back a truck camper into the site; I don't recommend anything larger. Pretty area; nice area for a stroll in the woods. There is a hiking trailhead near FR132 with a dirt parking space. This is a really nice, clean site if one doesn't mind the lack of privacy from the forest road.
Guide
We arrived late at night, and I'm glad we had our lightbar. It's dispersed camping, so no dumpster, no gray water dump. It does have a picnick table, though.
Legend
The site itself isn't bad. It is very well shaded with 8-10 concrete pads. There are a few concrete benches and a water spigot. There is a huge parking lot next to it for trucks with boats/trailers to park.
This site is normally used for hunting and fishing. There is a shooting range on the road before you get to the site.
I'm here I October and there are still quite a few mosquitoes. I imagine in the warmer months they would be unbearable. Also the cell signal is pretty spotty.
Overall, nice for a free spot but not the greatest.
Traveler
Didn’t have to drive too far down the road found a spot on the left. Nice stone camp fire circle, good flat spot for my tent, which is a four person. Bring a chair if you want a comfortable seat, also hard to find decent wood to burn, had to walk a bit to find. Not many cars drive down the road, saw some people hiking, also Sunday morning there were hunters out, so hearing gunshot pretty close to camp. All in all though it is good to be with nature and I’d go back to this spot or find another one on the road. I didn’t go very far down the road have more to explore!
Legend
Large dispersed campsite located 2 miles west of Lake Sylvia State Park, where Forest Road 152 meets Forest Road 132. Clean site with one rock fire ring. Can fit a couple of vehicles. Because of the position of the trees on the site, maneuvering a truck camper into the site may be a challenge; don't recommend anything larger. Tent camping is possible. This is a level dirt site with some embedded rocks jutting up. Nice wooded area around site to stroll through. Seasonal track FR132C is adjacent to the site; this track is hikeable. Since the site is at the intersection of popular forest roads, there will be vehicles driving by. The site is set back enough that dust may not be a concern. No T-Mobile cell service. This is convenient, pretty campsite.
Legend
Coordinates: 34.85431, -92.88115. Small dispersed campsite in the woods just off of Forest Road 132. Close to the forest road; easy access. There is a clean rock fire ring. Good campsite for a quick overnight stay. The surface of the site is dirt with a little bit of pea gravel. This site is only big enough for one rig, truck camper and smaller size. Pitching a tent is possible in a small clearing to the left of the rock fire ring. Slight downward slope but not bad. Shaded in summer. Nice wooded area. No T-Mobile cell service. There are no hiking trails nearby or remarkable natural features here, but the forest at this site is pretty. This is a nice site in the autumn.
Traveler
Thank goodness there is a slight breeze. 90 degrees. Summer swampy area. Picked up a med bag of trash; cans, bottles, and paper. Looks better now. I definitely put on bug spray right away. Nice place to sleep and get back on 40East in the morning. Doing a cross country from San Francisco to Pennsylvania.
Traveler
Not much too it. Basically just two relatively small parking lots in the woods, past some houses off the highway. Would only be good for a super quick over night.
ScoutThe lake has been partially drained to allow work to be done on stumps. The road back to it is well maintained and we had good cell reception with AT&T and Spectrum. The sunset was beautiful. Peaceful and quiet. The birds and frogs sang all evening.
Legend
Camped here on Dec 13, 2023. Along well maintained gravel forest road, FR 179 in the Ouachita National Forest, Saline County, Arkansas. Really nice large site with a creek that flows into the North Fork of the Saline River was behind the site. Site appears to be large enough for 2 rigs no large than a truck camper. Multiple tents can be set up here. Did not have a problem parking our camper van on a level spot. The dirt surface is level. The site has a rock fire ring. Only a few vehicles drove by the site on FR179. Lots of trees surrounding the site with an open sky above for star gazing. Fishing is possible in the North Fork of the Saline River a short walk south of the site. No hiking trails nearby. No T-Mobile or AT&T cell service. Love this spot!
RangerSpent just one night here. Easy to find and has a water spigot. Noticed a sign in the morning that said hunting, fishing, or camping permit required but no one came by to check. One other person here. A bit buggy but otherwise a quiet spot to get some sleep!
ScoutGreat spot to pitch a tent by lake Conway. Isolated but not too far out.
TravelerWhile this spot is gorgeous You must be able to sleep through barking dogs. I sleep inside my vehicle so it wasn't as bad but I couldn't imagine anyone in a tent Getting much sleep at all. the neighbor dogs bark non-stop about everything. Any movement on the site they go crazy it is really really loud.
TravelerSolid site minus the heat and bugs this time of year. I was greeted with a sign at the entrance saying that a hunting/ fishing license or land pass was required to camp. There was no one else there and I wasn't bothered, but keep in mind you might get a wake up call from a ranger. Neither the dyrt or the WMA website said anything about this so that would've been my alibi. Great location with a beautiful sunset on the lake.
GuideIt was gorgeous and obviously well taken care of. we were by ourselves the whole night! Designated fire pits and an awesome view of the lake. However, there were two reasons for the four stars. 1) a little deeper into the woods, there were telltale signs for this camping site being a storage spot for people without houses. we had no issues but as two girls camping in a new state, it def made us a bit nervous. 2) there were two relatively major roads running right next to the site, so we got all of the sounds and the lights that come with that. we also got several curious individuals that drove down through to see what it was. but it was free!!! so definitely no major complaints here.
ScoutI really enjoyed this site. I stopped on a weekday and I was the only one there. It was nice watching the sun set over the lake.
LegendPopular dispersed campsite in the Ouachita National Forest. Only one site; not a campground. Located on the gravel Brown Creek Road in Perry County, Arkansas. The South Fork of Brown Creek runs behind this campsite. Located next to the trailhead for Brown Creek Cascade - a short 1/4 mile hike (includes a creek crossing). This campsite is suitable for tent camping, car camping, camper vans & truck campers. Two vehicles can easily fit on this level site. There are other dispersed sites along Brown Creek Road. The site is close to the road; there's a large mud puddle covering one of the 2 entrances to this site. 2-wheel drive passenger cars can make it to the site. Large pine trees on the site. Hammock camping is possible. No water (except for creek). No toilets nor showers. No trash - take out what you bring in. May need to hike a ways in the woods to find firewood. Large rock fire ring on site. No AT&T and T-Mobile cell service. Very quiet; no vehicles passed by during the night. The sound from the creek was soothing.
TravelerOverall a great site. Big trailers, no problem ..... No amenities. Great view. Great fishing lake.
Attempted to have a fire one night and the neighborhood dogs literally never stopped barking... Never.
TravelerWe had a really great night here. The place was mowed, there was a picnic table and firepit and the previous occupant left us some gathered firewood. This is small as far as public land goes; more like a little park. Very pretty however, and lovely view of the lake!
I am towing a 19' travel trailer. And someone else is here with a 22'. There are a few places to park with no need to backup.
My coordinates: 34.9831627, -92.7626397
ScoutNo amenities but it’s quiet and pretty and free. The sunset was gorgeous. A little bit of a drive off of I40 but it’s a fantastic spot. We are the only ones here
GuideGot here during sunset and it was beautiful but the gravel roads are invisible at night so definitely have some daylight ahead of you. We have a 25’ travel trailer and didn’t need to do any backing up to get in or out. Full cell signal with XFINITY mobile. 2 picnic tables and spots for fire overlooking lake. Ample places to park
TravelerWe stayed here with our dog on our drive west! It’s a great little spot, fairly quiet and secluded. Some car traffic on a nearby road but not bad. There are only picnic tables and small spot for fire, so we just picked a spot near the lake. We had a gorgeous sunset and wonderful view of the lake!
Travelerabsolutely beautiful place the fireflies here are amazing! Nobody else was camping here which made for some quiet nights :) the locals fish and swim in the lake so light traffic. There is a lot of ticks here i pulled 7 off of me and my dog in one night. other than that it was wonderful.
GuideJust a picnic table no other amenities and the view is amazing great place to stay for free
ScoutBeautiful free camp ground but.......loud screaming kids and dogs barking...accessible lake and picnic table chained to tree. Light traffic at night.
GuideThis site is a wonderful place to camp because it is free. There was a ton of trash, including broken bottles and broken pans, near each site which was very unpleasant to see and camp near. There seems to be more spots to camp other than where the obvious drive-in sites with a picnic table were. We did not swim or fish in the water, but the lake is beautiful and there is a decent looking boat launch on the property. Our night was interesting because we had heard two gray foxes screeching ALL NIGHT LONG. We hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep that night, along with the dog barking from the very-close nearby houses. No one else was around us though. Overall not terrible, would recommend if anyone is looking for a quick place to swim/fish/sleep.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cabot, Arkansas, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots to pitch their tents and enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, campers can immerse themselves in the natural landscape while enjoying the freedom of dispersed camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cabot, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cabot, AR is Camp Robinson Dispersed Site with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cabot, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 dispersed camping locations near Cabot, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
