Stacie P.
Scout
ScoutLee Creek Public Use Area
A beautiful view
A beautiful place to relax, but very sketchy, wouldn't stay after dark. I've taken many pics down here, the scenery is beautiful.
Camping near Chester, AR
197 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The camping landscape around Chester, Arkansas encompasses a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed sites throughout the Ozark National Forest and nearby state parks. Devil's Den State Park Campground, located about 15 miles north of Chester, provides a variety of camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area offers more primitive camping with tent sites, small RV spaces, and rustic cabins with scenic mountain views. Lake Fort Smith State Park, situated to the northwest, rounds out the area's mixed-use campgrounds with additional glamping accommodations.
Road conditions vary significantly depending on the campground location, with some areas requiring careful navigation on winding mountain roads. Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences throughout the year, as most campgrounds remain open year-round but with varying amenities and conditions. "The drive to Rocky Branch is set in rural Arkansas in the rolling Ozark Mountains. It is narrow, winding, with a dense covering of beautiful trees giving a sense of peace and serenity," noted one camper. Cell service can be limited or non-existent in certain areas, particularly at Devil's Den State Park, though some locations offer paid Wi-Fi. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer months and weekends, with prices typically ranging from $10-21 per night depending on location and amenities.
The Ozark Mountains provide distinctive camping experiences with diverse terrain and water features. Campers frequently mention the scenic beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly deer sightings. A visitor described White Rock Mountain as "the most delightful treasure" where they could "watch the stars through our open tent" and hike along cliff edges with views of "miles of inviting green landscape." Water access is a significant draw for many campgrounds in the region, with several sites positioned near lakes or rivers. While some campgrounds offer modern amenities including showers, electric hookups, and water access, others provide more rustic experiences with vault toilets and limited facilities. Mountain biking trails, hiking paths, and fishing opportunities add recreational value to many of the camping areas around Chester.
Best Campgrounds near Chester (197)
1. Devil's Den State Park Campground
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability2. Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
"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."
from $23 - $163 / night
Check Availability3. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
"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."
from $15 - $215 / night
Check Availability4. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
"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!"
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
"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. Natural Dam
"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."
7. Shores Lake
"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."
8. Twin Creeks RV Park
"This campground is located in a great spot near the Ozarks."
9. Affordable primitive camping, near Lake Ft. Smith, south of Devil's Den State Park
from $10 - $40 / night
10. Dispersed Near Devils Den
"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."
Drive Time
- 23 min from Fort Smith, AR
- 23 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 38 min from Joplin, MO
- 1 hr 52 min from Tulsa, OK
Recent Camping Photos near Chester, AR
216 Photos of 197 Chester Campgrounds
Daniel D.
Twin Creeks RV Park
Donny S.
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Lauren
Dispersed Near Devils Den
Rebecca
Devil's Den State Park Campground
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
RACHAEL G.
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
846 Reviews of 197 Chester Campgrounds
Jenny
RangerSnake Creek
Decent place for lake stay
Quiet camping, restrooms are clean and have showers.
Site 10 was a nice site with 50 amp.
There was some sort of dumpster situation with new rollaways beside old dumpsters. Old dumpsters looked like were attempted to be taped up but they were used and overfilled with trash. So full that trash was flying around the park at times. Not sure what the situation was.
- JennyRanger
pathfinder rv resort
New, clean RV park
New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it. Large clubhouse is where the bathhouses are with four individual bathrooms with showers, laundry facility, propane for sale and a nice pool.
- JennyRanger
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
- J
Jon L.
GuideHog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort
Still a nice park, but...
We last stayed here five years ago when the park was new. Some of the areas and amenities that are now available were still under construction during our last trip. The bottom line… still a very nice park, but it's starting to show its age a little.
Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate, though several roads have asphalt failures that need attention. Even though it's not too far from Interstate 49, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 36. Most of the sites are gravel, but the pull-thru row that we were in had concrete pads. For the most part, all sites appear fairly level.
Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Two bathroom areas also have showers and laundry facilities- one at the front of the park and one in the rear. The pool area and playground are located at the front of the park.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, Cable, and OTA: there is Wi-Fi in the park, but the park info sheet that they provide you with notes that the Wi-Fi is spotty. We were able to get AT&T 5G with 4 bars. AT&T achieved 418 Mbps down and 21 Mbps up. Satellite reception should not be an issue at most sites, and if you do need clear access for satellite reception, there are plenty of sites available with no trees. There are plenty of OTA stations available, and they all had great reception with clear HD pictures. Cable was not available.
Dog Park: They have two nice fenced-in parks that are in great condition. The one in the front of the park is divided for big and small dogs, while the one in the back is larger but not divided. They both have benches, which are all in good shape. They also provide doggie bags and a trash can. NOTE: I've included a photo of the sign posted at the entrances to the park indicating that they might be shut down. So if having a fenced dog park is mission-critical for your stay, you might want to verify that they are still open when you make your reservation
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website, and you are only a few miles from Fayetteville, where you can find plenty of stores and restaurants. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. Although the park is starting to show its age, it still deserves a high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy your stay!
Headgear7GuideCookson Bend
Pretty good park
The campground is quite nice overall, but the bathrooms and showers need to be updated, as they are somewhat outdated. The tent sites are close to the bathrooms, and the pads are flat and framed with either wood or steel rails. They offer electricity but no water at the pad, although water is available at a central location. The travel trailer sites offer water and electricity, and you can park your boat on the shoreline.
- JJon L.Guide
Riverfront RV Resort
A Hidden Gem
We needed an overnight spot on our way from Oklahoma to NW Arkansas, and I'm glad that we picked this park. It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful.
The road from the highway to the park is fairly easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful. However, you will hear occasional train horns from the crossing a few miles away. You'll only hear them when outside your RV, never inside.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 44. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and 5 inches from front to rear. There are no shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, and the pool are all located near the registration office building and are in great shape. There are no trash cans by the sites- just a dumpster area near the dog park and playground. However, they do come by your site each morning to pick up any trash that you've set out.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is decent Wi-Fi in the park with repeater towers spaced approximately every four sites, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 9.52 Mbps down and 2.02 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 4 bars and achieved 512 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up plenty of OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is in great condition and is well lit at night. They provide doggie bags and a trash can, both in the dog park and along the walking paths.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. The park is only a couple of years old and is very well maintained. Only about 15-20 percent of the spaces were occupied. Note that sites 100- 115 are along the river. There is a concrete public walking path along the river, but those sites are elevated above the path, with a grass and tree buffer zone between them. There are a couple of covered pavilions in the park with built-in gas grills and comfortable seating areas. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it - enjoy your stay!
- JJessie H.
TravelerWolf Pen Recreation Area Campground
It Was Ok
Very flea infested when we went. Water was really low and kinda hot. But the camp ground was pretty and well maintained.
- Headgear7Guide
Cookson Bend
Great lake to be on
I enjoyed my stay, although I wish the bathrooms and showers were more modern. There is a swimming area and plenty of space to bring your boat ashore close to your campsite. They offer a few tent sites, but mostly RV sites.
Guide to Chester
Campsites near Chester, Arkansas range in elevation from 1,100 to 2,700 feet within the Boston Mountain region of the Ozarks. The terrain features distinctive sandstone bluffs and deep valleys where creeks flow toward larger waterways. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-50°F with summer highs reaching 85-95°F and high humidity from June through September.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Access dedicated trails at Devil's Den State Park Campground where riders find varied terrain options. "My favorite camping spot yet. Aside from the extreme humidity this was a great family getaway. Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" reports Melissa M.
Kayaking on Mulberry River: Paddle the class I-II rapids at Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures during spring high water season. "We had a great time here, just a day trip. Water was clean & refreshing. Hearing the water flow was relaxing. We're looking forward to going back & doing a weekend camp!" notes Tim P.
Cave exploration: Visit the limestone caves within a 30-minute drive from most Chester area campsites. "4 days of camping with the guys, exploring caves and trails, and overall having a blast!" shares Brian E. about his experience at Devil's Den State Park.
Wildlife photography: Early mornings provide opportunities to capture deer, wild turkey, and various bird species. "I usually like a more secluded area to camp but when I'm camping alone I love devils den, it's super safe, gorgeous, plenty of room, great hiking trails!" states Darbydarby D.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Campers prefer spots with direct water access for swimming and fishing. At Springhill, "My favorite part was the rock outcropping at the river by our site. It felt like we had our own little dock to cast off from," explains Rebecca H.
Natural swimming holes: Cool off in creek-fed pools during summer months. "The mulberry river is a hidden gem the runs through the Ozarks. It's just a quiet beautiful place to camp, ride ATVs, float the river or just hangout with friends and families," says Ty F. about Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures.
Star visibility: The limited light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. "We love camping at Devils Den every spring! The trails are great and have beautiful views. The rangers and staff in the shop are very nice. Bring what you need the nearest store is about 20 minutes out and the restaurant is not that good," advises tiffany H.
Fall foliage viewing: Mid-October through early November offers peak color displays. "January 31-Feb 3 2025. White Rock is a great little campground. With only 8 tent camp sites it is very quaint," notes Erin-Frannie R. about White Rock Mountain Recreation Area.
What you should know
Road access challenges: Many campgrounds require navigating narrow, winding roads. "Nice, quiet place. Great hiking! Not really a place for a quick overnight, the road in is steep and crooked," warns kcki M. about Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground.
Limited cell service: Prepare for connectivity gaps throughout the region. "There's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park. Make sure to stock up on supplies beforehand - there are not many options within that area as far as food and services," advises Gonzo A.
Supply planning: Nearest grocery stores can be 20+ minutes away from campgrounds. "Bring what you need the nearest store is about 20 minutes out and the restaurant is not that good," reminds tiffany H. about Devil's Den State Park.
Flash flood risk: Creek-side campsites can experience rapid water rise during heavy rains. "Campground is currently (April 7) closed for maintenance and flooding. Call before you go!" warns Jo about Devil's Den State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Best family campsites: Seek level sites away from cliff edges for safety. At Lake Fort Smith, "If you are a parent with small kids, sites 17-20 and sites 2-3 are better. The other sites are excellent, but not necessarily best for small kids," recommends Ryan S.
Playground access: Choose campgrounds with dedicated play areas to keep kids entertained. "There is a recreational area with a playground that is updated," notes Ryan S. about Lake Fort Smith State Park, though he adds "the playground requires that you drive to it which is inconvenient."
Swimming options: Look for campsites with both natural and developed swimming areas. "Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" shares Melissa M. about Devil's Den State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening hours provide best animal sighting chances. "This facility has everything you need. If you are a glamper there is a place for you, but if you like to primitive camping there is also a place for you. Great place to Hike and explore," writes Dam J. about Devil's Den.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Many RV sites require substantial leveling equipment. At Fort Smith-Alma RV Park, "Site A2 had fire pit, grill, picnic table was pretty level even with gravel," notes Craig E.
Access route selection: Choose approach routes carefully for larger rigs. "If you have a large rig - make sure to take the West Fork exit off I-49 vs. the south exit (Winslow)," recommends Gonzo A. about traveling to Devil's Den State Park.
Hookup limitations: Full-service sites are limited in national forest campgrounds. "Sites 1-20 have full hook-ups with sewer," notes Ryan S. about Lake Fort Smith State Park options.
Privacy considerations: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. "We had a spacious site with plenty of room between us and our friendly neighbors," reports Rebecca H. about Springhill campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chester, AR?
What camping is available near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chester, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 197 campgrounds and RV parks near Chester, AR and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Chester, AR?
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 88 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chester, AR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Chester, AR.
What parks are near Chester, AR?
What parks are near Chester, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Chester, AR that allow camping, notably Ozark Lake and John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake.
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