Best Tent Camping near Dardanelle, AR

Tent camping near Dardanelle, Arkansas provides access to both established campgrounds and primitive backcountry sites across the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests. Haw Creek Falls Camping in Hagarville offers tent campers a scenic setting with sites positioned near a waterfall, while Bayou Bluff Point of Interest in Hector features unique CCC-built rock shelters overlooking the Illinois Bayou. South Fourche campground in Plainview provides tent sites with river access, and Buzzards Rock offers dispersed tent camping in the Ozark National Forest for those seeking more isolation.

Most tent campgrounds in the Dardanelle area operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with fees ranging from free to $10 per night. Vault toilets are common at established sites, though drinking water is rarely available. Campers should pack in all water or bring filtration systems for creek water. Fire rings are provided at most sites, but firewood can be scarce and may require gathering or purchasing beforehand. Summer temperatures can be hot and humid, while spring brings potential flooding at waterside campgrounds like Haw Creek Falls. Cell service varies significantly by location, with T-Mobile and AT&T coverage spotty in more remote areas.

Primitive tent camping in this region offers unique experiences not found at developed campgrounds. At Bayou Bluff, campers can utilize historic stone shelters with functional fireplaces, providing weather protection while maintaining a rustic experience. According to reviews, "The stone buildings are nice to set up somewhat out of the weather and have functional fireplaces." Haw Creek Falls features tent sites with views of the falls and access to swimming holes during warmer months. The campground connects to hiking trails, including the popular Pam's Grotto trail. Backcountry tent camping options exist throughout both national forests, though campers should practice Leave No Trace principles as most dispersed sites lack trash facilities and require packing out all waste.

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Best Tent Sites Near Dardanelle, Arkansas (28)

    1. Delaware Park

    3 Reviews
    Dardanelle, AR
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 968-5008

    "We pulled in after a long drive through Arkansas, tired and chilly. We picked a random site as there were plenty to choose from since no one was in the entire park."

    2. Xtreme Paintball and Laser Tag

    1 Review
    Dover, AR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 280-4009

    $350 / night

    3. Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    10 Reviews
    Hector, AR
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 284-3150

    "This campground has no water or electricity but has 4 drive-up campsites with picnic tables, fire circle, and rock shelters that overlook the beautiful Illinois Bayou."

    "The stone buildings are so nice to set up somewhat out of the weather and have functional fireplaces.  The walk to the river is very easy.  "

    4. Haw Creek Falls Camping

    23 Reviews
    Pelsor, AR
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 964-7200

    "This is a pretty nice and quite camp site there is definitely traffic through here more than we’re use to but it’s a really nice spot, it’s all primitive camping, there is vault toilets on site we keep"

    "The campground is located in the Ozark National Forest. Beware of flooding during the rainy seasons. When it rains a lot, the creek floods and covers the road into the campground."

    5. COE Nimrod Lake Carter Cove Campground

    2 Reviews
    Nimrod Lake, AR
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 272-4835

    "Clean, kid friendly campground with RV and tent sites available, 30 amp electric and water, bathrooms are kept clean and have showers."

    7. South Fourche

    2 Reviews
    Nimrod Lake, AR
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 321-5202

    "It is located on a body of water (not the cleanest at least when I was there). It is a pretty small campground and I assume stays pretty quiet (so would be good for groups that want lots of privacy)."

    8. Fourche Mountain Campground

    2 Reviews
    Plainview, AR
    26 miles
    +1 (501) 321-5202

    "Small 5-site primitive campground. No water. No electric. Clean vault toilets with tp, and a trash barrel. Clean campground & campsites."

    "There are a few campsites with picnic tables and fire pits, and there are vaulted toilets (yay!)

    Highly recommend staying here overnight if you’re road tripping or vanlifing."

    9. Shirewood

    1 Review
    Morrilton, AR
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (501) 920-7895

    $125 / night

    "Check them out and share your trip on the Dyrt!"

    10. Carden Point

    Be the first to review!
    Plainview, AR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 272-4324

    $40 / night

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Showing results 1-10 of 28 campgrounds

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Tent Camping Reviews near Dardanelle, AR

862 Reviews of 28 Dardanelle Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Fourche Mountain Campground

    Free Overnight Stay in the Ouachita National Forest

    Stayed here on June 11, 2024. Small 5-site primitive campground. No water. No electric. Clean vault toilets with tp, and a trash barrel. Clean campground & campsites. Sites are small with reasonable separation, but no privacy. Sites have clean picnic tables, fire ring/grill. Some have lantern plies. Gravel drive. Sites nearly level. No tent pads, but tents can be set up. Sites may be able to accommodate a truck camper & smaller. Lots of highway noise from nearby Hwy 27, but not too bad overnight. There was logging activity elsewhere in the national forest, so log haulers were driving by during the day. Campground is located at eastbound turnoff onto Forest Road 83W - a well maintained gravel road. Pine & oak trees in the campground. Probably a beautiful view of distant mountains during the winter. This campground is good for an overnight stay when exploring the national forest or passing by on Highway 27. There is no recreation in this recreation area; no water access, no hiking trails. Good T-Mobile cell service. Despite some of the road noise from nearby Highway 27, I really liked this campground.

  • Amy W.
    Sep. 28, 2020

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    Small campground with CCC-built rock shelters

    This recreation area is as close to off-grid as you can get with so many great options right off the pavement. This campground has no water or electricity but has 4 drive-up campsites with picnic tables, fire circle, and rock shelters that overlook the beautiful Illinois Bayou. I only recall seeing trash receptacles on the lower loop.  An upper loop is accessible by hiking in. These are tent sites only with no rock shelters on the sites. The rock shelters have a large rock fire area.  There's also a vault toilet on the lower loop. A pavilion onsite is reservable and has electricity. There's also several small trails through the campground but it's most fun when the water is low enough, to go down to the water and walk along the creek. The area is close to many great hiking trails and dirt roads to explore around Hector and makes a great home base. Just up the road is a great area to explore with Jeeps or ATVs. Look up Lindsey Mtwy. This area is not on many people's radar so it's possible that you may only see a local or two while you're here. I still had cell service with my Verizon network while I was in the campground but I lost service when I went down by the Illinois Bayou.  Overall, this is a heck of a nice campground for the non-electric camper. If you visit the area, please leave no trace. :-)

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2022

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    The Bayou Bluff Recreation Area is now called the Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI). In summary, there are only 4 campsites, including a group site. Also, these sites are free, first come, first serve. Here's is info directly from the Bayou Bluff  page on the National Forst Service Web site: "Effective October 2021, Bayou Bluff became a Point of Interest. The fees are suspended for camping and day use and is now open all year. Upper loop is closed to camping and will be eliminated completely. Use of the vault toilet, large pavilion, three shelters, and a small pavilion will remain. The pavilions are managed on a first-come, first-service basis. Trash services are managed by visitors as "pack-it-in, pack-it-out," and Leave No Trace ethics are posted on information kiosks. Active partner groups and volunteers are helping extend the life of the current amenities, excluding trash services." Also: "Open all year. No fees. Upper loop closed. Pavilions available on a first-come, first-served basis only. No trash services. Pack it in- pack it out." The NF page also indicates that there is no water available, but there may water in the group site. The vault toilets are clean, and the campground grounds appear to be reasonably maintained. I recommend only tent camping here, as well as car/truck/van camping. Sites appear to be too small for RVs & trailers.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2024

    Spring Lake Recreation Area

    Beautiful Family Campground

    Camped here mid-week on May 28, 2024, just after Memorial Day weedend. The Spring Lake Receation Area is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The recreation area is gated between 10pm and 6am. It has a day use area, and a campground which is a long walk or short drive away from the day use area. The day use area has picnic tables, grills, beach and a central restroom/shower facility. Day use fee is $4. The small campgound is situated in the woods along Spring Lake across from the day use area. Camping fee is $15 ($7.50 for federal pass holders). Sounds from folks enjoying the day use area can be heard in the campground during the day, but it's very quiet during the night when the day use is closed. The campground has 13 sites. All of the sites can accomodate tent camping. Each site is unpaved and has a level tent pad, table, metal fire ring and lantern pole. Most of the sites are small with little privacy between sites. The sites are in the woods and have a view of the lake, with some actually on the lake shore. Our site, #8, has a short walking path to the shoreline - good for bank fishing. The campground has two single unit vault toilets which were reasonably clean. For showers and flush toilets, campers will have to use the central restroom/shower facilites in the day use area. The campgound has two water spigots, and trash reeceptacles. There is also a playground with swings and a group pavilion in the campground. There are no hookups at the campsites. I don't recommend this campground for RV camping; Cove Lake Recreation Area is a better choice. Because of the campsite sizes, levelness and ability to access, I believe sites 1, 5, 7 and 8 can accomodate van, RTT or SUV camping, and possibly small towables such as a pop-up or tear drop campers. In my opinion, all of the other sites are too small with tight access and not level enough for anything other than tent camping. Our site, #8, had a level pad which accomodated our camper van, plus a smaller seperate tent pad. The camp host was very friendly and provided good information. There is an iron ranger with payment envelopes at the campground entrance; cash and checks are accepted. There was no AT&T and T-Mobile reception, although cell reception may be possible at other locations around the lake. I came across three possible disperse camping spots around the lake (see separate listings). Overall, this is a beautiful campground. It was quiet and peaceful during the night. I would stay here again, especially in the Fall.

  • Bailey W.
    May. 14, 2022

    Toad Suck

    A good little campground

    Toad Suck is a great campground- with some caveats. All of the sites are reservable and have concrete pads. This makes it impossible to stake down a tent but also provides a great level spot. There's no foragable wood at the sites, but there's a quick stop type gas station very nearby that sells it cheap and locally sourced. The bathrooms can be a trek from your site or right next door, depending on where you're staying, but theyre immaculately clean. They service them twice daily. It's right next to the lock and dam at Toad Suck on the Arkansas River so there's a constant roar of water and the sound of barges throughout the night and day. I don't mind it but keep that in mind if you don't like those sounds. The campsite is peaceful otherwise. Dogs are allowed! ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL.

  • Richard
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Woolly Hollow State Park — Wooly Hollow State Park

    Nice little park

    This park is pretty much spotless. I tent camped in the fall and loved it. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, picnic table and fire ring. Lots of trees to set up your hammock. They have a swim beach and small boat rentals in the summer. There’s a nice paved walking trail too. I highly recommend.

  • Richard
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

    One of the best in Arkansas

    Definitely my favorite park in Arkansas so far. It’s a really big park at the lake with lots to do. I was there in the fall so I didn’t do any lake stuff but still had a great time tent camping. There’s a nice hiking trail to explore. Also, the bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen at a state park. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, grill, picnic table and fire ring. There are also walk in tent sites on the peninsula which are nice and quiet. If you get one at the end I’d say it’s probably 200 meters to the parking lot and bathrooms. I peeked into one of the cabins and they look really nice. They also have camper cabins that have heat/air but no bathroom. In all there are 93 RV/tent sites, 8 cabins and 4 camper cabins. The park is also near Hot Springs so there is lots to do.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2024

    Wolf Pen Recreation Area Campground

    Primitive Camping - Mulberry River, AR Ozarks

    Camped here on Sept 1, 2023. $10 camping fee ($5 with federal pass); pay station. Site sizes are okay; more than enough room for a single rig. The 6 sites are close to the unpaved campground road. Each site has a metal fire ring; most sites have grills. No tables. Campground road end at a loop. Some road noise from highway 215. Access to the Mulberry River for swimming & fishing. No water. Trash dispensers. Vault toilets were pretty dirty during our stay, so we set up our own toilet system at our campsite.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Wards Crossing Dispersed, Nimrod Lake Rec Area, AR

    Large dispersed site along Fourche La Fave River

    Large dispersed campsite along the Fourche La Fave River on US Army Corps of Engineers land in the Nimrod Lake area. A boat launch to the river is next to the site. Because of erosion, direct access to the river bank from behind the site is difficult. This site can accomodate multiple rigs. Tent camping is possible. The level site surface is a mixture of dirt, sand & gravel. A small rock fire ring, lantern pole and a broken picnic table is included. There was some trash at the site but not too bad. Access to the site is on River Road which is gravel and a little pot-holed. A small RV, small towable, truck camper and any rig smaller should have no problem accessing the site. Note that accessing it on Duck Pond Rd from the south, you have to cross the narrow Wards Crossing Bridge which has a 3 ton weight limit.


Guide to Dardanelle

Dardanelle, Arkansas, offers a variety of tent camping options that immerse you in nature while providing essential amenities for a comfortable stay.

Tips for tent camping near Dardanelle

Tent campers should check out these nearby campgrounds

  • Haw Creek Falls Camping is a beautiful spot right by the creek, perfect for swimming and enjoying nature.
  • For those who enjoy fishing, South Fourche provides access to the South Fourche la Fave River, making it an ideal location for anglers.
  • If you prefer a more secluded experience, Dispersed FR132 Ouachita National Forest, AR offers a peaceful setting surrounded by forest, perfect for hiking and exploring.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy a day of fishing and boating at North Shores Resort & Marina, where you can launch your boat and relax by the water.
  • Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity to trails at Jack Creek Recreation Area, which also features a scenic swimming hole.
  • Experience the beauty of the Ouachita National Forest by camping at Irons Fork Primitive Camping, where you can enjoy the tranquility of nature and explore the surrounding area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dardanelle, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dardanelle, AR is Delaware Park with a 3.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Dardanelle, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Dardanelle, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.