Best Tent Camping near Deer, AR

We have debated staying here for years but with the cost for an RV spot at $30+ per night, we were priced out. However, last fall they opened 10 walk in tent camping spots and we were sold. The cost is the normal amount of around $12 a night for a tent site and each comes with a great spot for the tent, a fire ring, and a table. The campground gets loud but it is always enjoyable. The grounds have hiking trails and a pool. We have never been on the War Eagle River to float as it is only seasonal.

January 31-Feb 3 2025. White Rock is a great little campground.  With only 8 tent camp sites it is very quaint.  The cabins were packed and there were many people visiting the overlook but my partner and I were the only tent campers. We arrived late, after sunset, and the host recommended tent site #1.  From the pictures we really wanted to set up in #5 but he insisted on #1 and recommended looking around in the morning if we wanted to move.  I'm thankful for his knowledge because sites 5-8 were juicy from the previous days rains. All of the sites are well maintained and within a short walk to the water spigot and vault toilet.  Sites 1-4 are well spaced and have large tent pads.  Sites 5-8 are smaller with smaller tent pads and the view from these sites is AMAZING!  Just know that with the view comes the wind and less space to stretch out.  We ended up staying in site #1 so our old hound dog could saunter around.  

It's a slow, beautiful drive.  The reviews are correct that the last hour of the drive is only 20 miles.  Make sure to stop for gas! It is an unpaved road that in some spots is maybe wide enough for 2 small vehicles to pass each other.  My AWD Mazda made the trip just fine and I saw a Toyota Camry at the overlook. Whenever you feel comfortable going over 15 MPH there will be a heavily rutted 180° hairpin turn.  If you forgot to bring something you'll probably find it or a substitute in the Office/General Store.  

Overall I loved this campground.  I will definitely be back in the spring or fall.

This is one of our favorite state parks in Arkansas. Great full hook up sites and tent sites.

This small State Park just outside Huntsville Arkansas has many amenities. Family friendly handicap accesible. I has 30 tent Rv and walk in tent camping. There is a very nice playground for the kids, a swimming pool in the summer months. Campgrounds are very clean clean and have full bathrooms and showers.

Even though their website says they have tent camping they DO NOT

We went to this quaint little park for a quick weekend getaway. Two families with kids met up and tent camped in sites next to each other. Clean campground, beautiful dogwoods, cute little spring.

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area, in the western Arkansas Ozarks, has a campground with 9 tent sites. One of these is a large group site. 8 sites are arranged along a gravel loop road. In addition to tents, these tent sites will accommodate a camper van; the best sites for vans are #1 thru 4. These are level. Sites 5 thru 8, on the west side of the loop, have great views, but are probably not level enough for van, truck and car camping. Each site has a level gravel tent pad, grill, table & fire pit. The sites are not large enough for RVs. The forest roads leading to the recreation area are rough in places, but passenger cars can make it. Amber, our host, is fantastic. She delivers firewood to your site after purchase. The vault toilet is clean. Pump water is available. No hookups. The campground appears well maintained. The OHT runs though the recreation area. There is a really good hiking trail that loops around the rim of the mountain, offering fantastic views of the Ozarks. T-mobile cell service is available with sporadic LTE data service.

This a a great park with direct access to the Buffalo River and hiking trails including one with a cave to explore. The Rangers are very helpful and a great resource for new visitors.

The park has RV sites, walk-in tent sites and group sites.

Beautiful river among bluffs and forests. This campsite does allow reservations so it’s the safest bet for your trip through the park in the summer. There are some walk-in tent sites too but you won’t be very far from your car. Nice and simple campground, clean, actual hot showers.

This is primitive camping at its best. They have one vault toilet, 12 tent sites, and a water spigot. Right on the beautiful buffalo river. The sites were patrolled by rangers on a regular basis. However, the rangers were great and knew a lot about area. I can’t wait to go back.

There are a handful of tent sites, a primitive bathroom, and direct access to the Buffalo River. 

There is limited shelter during bad lightning storms.  The road in is very dicey and a long way off the main road. Does provide a good place to take out or start a canoe trip and it is free.

Typical State Park Campground. They have 3 separate loops with approximately 15 sites in each. The sites are shaded, but VERY close together without anything in between.

They also have a late check-in box, in case you arrive after hours without reservations (us).

Minus our tent camping neighbors arguing into the night (not the campground’s fault) it was a nifty last minute spot to sleep for the night!

the drive in is something you have to be thoughtful about. I went with a group from my school and we had vans and it was a very rough gravel road. so this is definitely more of a tent camping spot. It is in a valley and is quite beautiful. we stopped there on our way from backpacking the buffalo river trail and it was a great stopping point. There are bathrooms but no showers. there is a fee to stay in the camp but is not ridiculous.

This park was amazing! It had something for everyone in the family. The tent sites were nice and private. They have a pool, great hiking trails, and there is a float service nearby in Huntsville call Ozark Adventure & Recreation and they were so nice and helpful over the phone. We had planned on floating but decided against it because of recent rain and an unexpected drop in temperature. Overall we had an amazing trip and we will definitely be going back.

The staff here goes above & beyond! The campsites are close together but the amenities are worth it. Very family friendly. Right on the White River with easy access to the Buffalo River by boat, canoe, or kayak. Pool, playground, small store with essentials, boat rentals, ping pong, & more. Tent sites are mixed with smaller travel trailers. We would definitely recommend reserving a River front site! We rented a boat and explored the Buffalo River - it was very relaxing & amazing views.

This is an incredible place to camp. Your camp is where the White River and Buffalo rivers merge. If you enjoy fishing this has some of the best trout and bass fishing in the area. The resort has cabins, full hookup sites , tent sites, pool and play area for the kids. If you like to just float or fish they can help you with what you need. There is also boat rentals , fishing guides, just plain relaxing. The resort is family owned,

Aux Arc is clean and well maintained by the Corps of Engineers. It is in a weird location literally next to the Ozark Powerhouse.

The campground is modern and each site has some nice upgrade with pave spaces and table with small pavilions. Personally I would camp towards the bottom of the campground to try and avoid being forced to stare at the dam.

If there was better scenery this would have a higher ranking. Also, it tends to be geared more towards RVs and Camper Trailers rather than tents, but you can tent camp if you want.

The showers and bathrooms are clean and they have a good crew driving around in thier golf carts keeping everything maintained.

Coordinates: 35.50873, -92.81549. Group dispersed site located less than a 1/4-mile south of the Zing Trailhead on Charleston Road. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road located in a popular national forest OHV area. This dispersed site is a level with a dirt and grass surface. The site can accomodate multiple vehicles; tent camping is possible. There is a large rock fire ring at the rear of the site. The site is open with little shade, making recharging with solar panels possible. Other than accommodating a group of OHV and offroad enthusiasts, and stargazing at night, there is nothing remarkable about this campsite.

We came to this state park after hours without a reservation and grabbed our site. We wer the only tent campers, and there were only a few RV’ers. The next morning we went to the camp office and paid our nominal fee (senior discount). The camp is beautifully maintained, great bathrooms and shower facilities. We chose this site to make day trips to War Eagle mill and Eureka springs, so it was a great location. The tent sites were some of the best we have seen, so perfect for tenters! We hiked the premier hikeand dispite fighting spiders the entire trail it was beautiful with caves and river views.