Best Campgrounds near Chester, AR
Searching for the best camping near Chester, AR? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Chester. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Camping Sites Near Chester, Arkansas (183)
1. Devil's Den State Park Campground
86 ReviewsWinslow, AR8 milesWebsite+1 (479) 761-3325$20 / night
"Devil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas. The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen. The facilities and amenities have been great. "
"The trails are great and our campsite had a path right down to the river. The water hookup was a bit tricky, it leaks all over the place until you turn it all the way."
2. Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
24 ReviewsChester, AR3 milesWebsite+1 (479) 369-2469$23 - $163 / night
"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)."
"This is a nice modern park on the shore of the man made Lake Fort Smith."
3. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
26 ReviewsCombs, AR12 milesWebsite+1 (479) 369-4128$15 - $215 / night
"Located beyond a perfectly canopied gravel road and surrounded by miles of mostly uninhabited forests White Rock Mountain has been the most delightful treasure of 2016."
"The views, as other reviewers have said, are impressive and the Rim Trail is worth doing any time of day and any season."
4. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
23 ReviewsMulberry, AR12 milesWebsite+1 (479) 462-4961$15 - $35 / night
"Simply put, this is a great little rustic place to get away from the hustle and bustle. The sites offer 20/30/50A hookups with water and septic."
"Very close to off-road trails and river float activities .. the owners are super nice and we liked hanging out with them. We’ll be back!"
5. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
8 ReviewsAlma, AR11 milesWebsite+1 (479) 632-2704"It’s just far enough away from the highway so you have a quiet nights rest without hearing the traffic. The pond on the property has soothing sounds of peepers to fall asleep too."
"Was headed to Lake Fort Smith but area was booked so we stopped here and was pleased with our stay. Spaces are quite small but it has become the norm everywhere."
6. Shores Lake
5 ReviewsMulberry, AR12 milesWebsite"Campground road is paved as well as Highway 215 from I-40 accessing the campground. Sites are mostly shaded, but there is no privacy between sites."
7. Natural Dam
5 ReviewsNatural Dam, AR13 milesWebsite"We found this quiet spot with a small waterfall on Mountain Fork Creek that has a fairly large (semi-level) gravel parking lot right next to the natural waterfall which gives good noise cover for the road"
"A little road noise off in the distance but the waterfall all but drowned it out."
8. Twin Creeks RV Park
1 ReviewMountainburg, AR2 milesWebsite+1 (479) 262-1918"This campground is located in a great spot near the Ozarks."
9. Dispersed Near Devils Den
2 ReviewsChester, AR8 miles"Would’ve been a nearly perfect campsite. Had it not been for all the trash left by others. Nice walk trails along the water. Local stop in for swimming and fishing."
10. Springhill
21 ReviewsBarling, AR24 milesWebsite+1 (479) 452-4598$16 - $75 / night
"Really nice campground you have two options in the A section you are right one a small river and one the B side it’s more of the wooded option but most sites have the Arkansas rive close by with mountain"
"It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass."
Recent Camping Photos near Chester, AR
206 Photos of 183 Chester Campgrounds
Daniel D.
Twin Creeks RV Park
Steve L.
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Lauren
Dispersed Near Devils Den
Lacey C.
Devil's Den State Park Campground
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
rose
Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
Cyndy & Selena R.
Shores Lake
Brittany P.
White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
Kat M.
Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
Chris C.
Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events
Matt
Redding Campground
Lacey T.
Riverfield Acreage- White River
Recent Reviews near Chester, AR
777 Reviews of 183 Chester Campgrounds
Lauren
TravelerDispersed Near Devils Den
Be careful!
I just got back from staying here for a night. For one, it is a very narrow road but my minivan got through just fine. UNTIL I made it to a puddle of water (that I highly underestimated), got stuck in the mud immediately and had to call a tow company (by walking 15 minutes down the highway to get signal; no signal at all at the sites) to help pull me out for $400. The people at the tow company warned me that the forest service does NOT allow cars to drive on these roads anymore, and that is why they added guard rails. They told me that had I gotten caught with my car in there I would have had to pay a big fine. He said camping is fine as long as you park on the turnout by the highway and walk in. Saying all of that, there are still multiple really nice and spread out spots with nice huge firepits. I would have been fine with parking and walking in. Also, I was in pretty deep and could still hear the cars on the highway, but not many come by (at least not on a Tuesday night). The creek is nice. Also tons of fireflies which was cool.
- B
Beverly W.TravelerLove's RV Hookup-Clarksville AR 822
Convenient Layover
We stayed for one night heading west and due to the extreme heat Cracker Barrel w/ no electricity was out of the question. We reserved & paid online without a hitch and the power was switched on when we checked in. Ample room between sites and full hook-up available. It was our 1st time at one of these and would stay again if in a similar situation. Reserve ahead though as all 4 sites were taken by 3pm on a Sunday.
Ryan L.
GuideDispersed Near Devils Den
Great hidden spot by the water
The coordinates are fairly accurate. The entryways are a little tight for vehicles, but I made it in my sprinter van so everything else should be just fine. Would’ve been a nearly perfect campsite. Had it not been for all the trash left by others. Nice walk trails along the water. Local stop in for swimming and fishing. Insect surprisingly weren’t that bad. Traffic from nearby road is almost nonexistent. Stay two nights no issues.
Headgear7
ScoutSpringhill
Close to home but well worth it
I have been camping out here for years but never took advantage of the A side. A12-14 are premian spots to camp. I tent camp and the view is amazing. It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass.
- MMeghan C.Scout
Gypsy Camp Ground
Nice campground close to the Woka Whitewater kayak park
Very nice people. Pet friendly. Parked the van for the night while paddling the Woka Whitewater Park They said they require 2 night minimum stay on the weekends
- Reed C.Scout
Rivers Edge RV Park
Says only newer models but anyone can stay here
This is more of a month to month rental place than it is for overnight stays and stops. The Wi-Fi is horrible here You cannot watch videos or anything like that on it. They charge you over the electrical limit but we used electricity all the time and never went over it. They have big pull through sides they have big park sides the picnic tables and some pretty good amenities there. But they didn't give you a deposit back. They're really bad about that. They stiff me on a $1,000 deposit even though I had a month to month rental. It was paid over that month and left two weeks early. Said that I had broke my lease. Laundry room is decent priced. Showers are great They only have hot water for about 15 minutes. It's in Sonora which is outside of Springdale, but convenient to Fayetteville.
- CCaitlin F.Traveler
Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed
Awesome site
GPS brought us directly to the site. The gravel road has some ruuts but it you take your time small SVUs can make it fine. Beautiful over look and clean campsite. Spy rock is gorgeous, the trail is a little rough but totally worth it. Trail head is on the right about a mile past camp.
Jenny
RangerSpringhill
Clean
Right off the highway, this is a clean and convenient spot to camp.
- JennyRanger
Byrd's Adventure Center
Nice location
Stayed here for a four wheeling trip. Was a decent location - sites were mostly dirt/gravel.
Guide to Chester
Camping near Chester, Arkansas, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to explore.
What to do:
- Hiking: There are numerous trails to explore. At Devil's Den State Park Campground, one visitor said, "The hikes are short and just amazing!!!!!" Another camper noted, "Hiking was fantastic, with each trail being dramatically different than the one before."
- Fishing and Swimming: Many campgrounds, like Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground, offer fishing opportunities. A reviewer mentioned, "You can’t swim or paddleboard but can kayak or fish here."
- Wildlife Watching: Campers at Redding Campground enjoyed spotting wildlife. One camper shared, "We saw deer, armadillos, and skunks," making it a great spot for nature lovers.
What campers like:
- Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the large, well-spaced sites at Devil's Den State Park Campground. One review highlighted, "LARGE, well spaced sites with two bath houses within 50 yards in either direction."
- Clean Facilities: Many visitors rave about the cleanliness of the restrooms. A camper at Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground said, "The facilities are super clean and well taken care of."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures noted, "Owners are great and helpful."
What you should know:
- Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds, like White Rock Mountain Recreation Area, have poor cell reception. One camper mentioned, "They did offer ViaSat WIFI for a fee, but I love to unplug when I get the chance."
- Reservations Required: Some sites, such as Springhill, require reservations in advance. A camper noted, "You have to reserve your site in advance via Recreation.gov."
- Seasonal Closures: Be aware that some campgrounds, like Lake Wedington, are temporarily closed, so check ahead before planning your trip.
Tips for camping with families:
- Choose Family-Friendly Sites: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. At Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "Nice large pool area with a water playground/splash pad."
- Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A family at Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures enjoyed, "Camping, buggy riding, swimming, and fishing."
- Pack for Bugs: Be prepared for insects, especially in warmer months. A camper at Redding Campground warned about horseflies, saying, "They attacked me as soon as I got in the water."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Fort Smith-Alma RV Park mentioned, "Spaces are quite small but it has become the norm everywhere."
- Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A camper at Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures appreciated the "Full hookups, 50 amp to primitive camping right on the river."
- Be Mindful of Check-In Times: Some campgrounds have specific check-in times. A camper at Byrd's Adventure Center noted, "They called to check on our arrival and have our registration ready for us."
Camping sites Chester, AR, and the surrounding areas provide a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just relaxing, there's something for every camper to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chester, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 183 campgrounds and RV parks near Chester, AR and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chester, AR is Devil's Den State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 86 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Chester, AR.
What parks are near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Chester, AR that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring