Bryan M.
Traveler
TravelerDaisy State Park Campground
Favorite place to camp.
This is our go to get out of the house and enjoy the piece and quiet of the area. Of you need a break this is a great spot. Always clean, great staff. Just a good place.
Camping near Dierks Lake
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Dierks Lake in southwestern Arkansas provides several developed campgrounds with facilities for various camping styles. Jefferson Ridge on Dierks Lake offers water and electric hookups for both tent and RV camping, with rates around $25 per night for water and 50-amp sites. Other nearby options include Cossatot Reefs on Gillham Lake and Shady Lake Campground in Umpire, both offering amenities for tent and RV campers. The Cossatot River State Park provides more primitive camping experiences with tent sites at Cossatot Falls, while Mama Gaia's Zen Garden offers unique glamping and yurt accommodations for those seeking a retreat-style experience.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from spring through fall. Jefferson Ridge typically opens from early April through late October, while Cossatot Reefs operates from early March to late November. "This campground was fantastic! I jumped on it, it was the last campground with availability in the Path of Totality for the Solar Eclipse," noted one camper about Jefferson Ridge. Access to some areas requires navigating gravel roads, particularly when visiting Cossatot Falls, where campers report rough conditions. Many campers recommend high-clearance vehicles when visiting more remote sites. Cell service varies significantly across the region, with limited coverage at many campgrounds, particularly those with T-Mobile service.
Waterfront access represents a common feature at many campgrounds in the region. At Cossatot Reefs, campers appreciate the proximity to water. "This was a perfect spot! Beautiful. Quiet. The River was crisp and clear and was just a few strides away. You can hear the tiny rapids over the rocks at night," one review mentioned. Showers and bathroom facilities vary considerably between sites, with Jefferson Ridge and Little Coon Creek offering more basic amenities while Cossatot Reefs receives praise for clean facilities. Wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities are abundant throughout the area, with Gillham Lake and Dierks Lake both offering good fishing. Campers frequently mention the peaceful setting and relatively quiet camping experience even during busy periods.
Best Camping Sites Near Dierks Lake (190)
1. Cossatot Reefs - Gillham Lake
9 ReviewsGillham, AR9 milesWebsite+1 (870) 386-7261$23 - $40 / night
"There's a canoe launch, volleyball, basketball, playground, horseshoes... showers and toilets are clean and there is easy access to hiking trails."
"Near Gillham Lake but on the river below the spillway."
2. Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area
13 ReviewsWickes, AR13 milesWebsite+1 (870) 385-2201"Awesome location right near and easy access to the falls. No water and there is a “out house” type of restroom."
"We take our border collies and they are able to follow with minimal assistance."
3. Shady Lake Campground
15 ReviewsUmpire, AR15 milesWebsite+1 (501) 321-5202$15 - $40 / night
"We have been coming to Shady Lake for decades and it is one of our most favorite places."
"Shady Lake is a great place to get away from it all. It has a beautiful lake, a creek and trails to hike on. There is tent and RV camping sites."
4. Daisy State Park Campground
29 ReviewsKirby, AR21 milesWebsite"Daisy SP is a fantastic SP located in the southwest corner of Arkansas. The Camper and RV sites are level and big for any size vehicle. The walk in tent sites are some of the best in the Midwest. "
"We are parcel to sites 95 and 96 due to their close proximity to the bathroom. The bathrooms are very clean and we have observed the camp staff regularly checking and maintaining them."
5. Crater of Diamonds State Park Campground
37 ReviewsMurfreesboro, AR25 milesWebsite+1 (870) 285-3113$15 - $50 / night
"This camp is ideally located in the Crater of Diamonds State Park with easy access to the Visitors Center by foot or car."
"The campground has 47 nicely shaded RV sites with water/electric/sewer hookup(many of which have tent pads and five walk-in tent sites."
6. Jefferson Ridge - Dierks Lake
2 ReviewsDierks, AR2 milesWebsite+1 (870) 286-3214$10 - $45 / night
"I jumped on it, it was the last campground with availability in the Path of Totality for the Solar Eclipse."
8. Mama Gaia’s Zen Garden
1 ReviewUmpire, AR9 milesWebsite+1 (417) 808-1123$20 / night
"Mama Gaia's Zen Garden & Yogic Retreat is a quiet place to relax and connect with nature in this great region of Arkansas! Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!"
9. Cossatot River RV Park
3 ReviewsWickes, AR12 milesWebsite+1 (479) 243-3525$25 / night
"It was off the beaten path. Very quiet and peaceful. It seemed most people were gone during the day, maybe working. We explored the state park down the road and went on some fun drives."
10. COE Lake Greeson Star of the West
5 ReviewsLangley, AR16 milesWebsite+1 (870) 285-2151$10 / night
"v=Hi2oXYKQ2ww&list=UUijzn2RV4Ma58cBAFBqz9MQ&index=2) Great campground just a short distance into Arkansas from Oklahoma."
"Couple downsides are that the bathrooms are pit style bathrooms and kind of nasty and unless you snag one of the sites far back in the woods you are pretty close to the highway so some noise."
Recent Camping Photos near Dierks Lake
148 Photos of 190 Dierks Lake Campgrounds
J.R. B.
Jefferson Ridge - Dierks Lake
Steph C.
Cossatot Reefs - Gillham Lake
Deb B.
Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area
Vanessa M.
Sandbar Area Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area
Julie D.
Shady Lake Campground
N I.
COE Lake Greeson Star of the West
Jo E.
Pine Ridge
Katie K.
Albert Pike Recreation Area
Paige P.
Self Creek
Jo E.
Parker Creek
Bryan M.
Daisy State Park Campground
natalie G.
Murfeesboro RV Park
Recent Reviews near Dierks Lake
602 Reviews of 190 Dierks Lake Campgrounds
Elise A.
GuideQuail Circle — Beavers Bend State Park
Small but Decent
Quail Circle is a small, quiet, and generally well-kept loop. The pavement’s a bit bumpy in spots, but most RV sites are level. Our site, unfortunately, sat near a washout that dropped off into the woods. The bathhouse is clean, but not close, maybe a football field away. There’s a dump station at the adjacent campground. It’s semi-wooded, not deep wilderness, but feels like being among trees. Beavers Bend is spread out. From here, trailheads are about seventeen to thirty minutes away, so plan on driving. That distance turned out to be a plus in peak summer. The main areas felt like a carnival and family cruise ship, but our loop stayed calm. Not my favorite ever, but a solid stay overall.
Bryce N.GuideCOE Lake Ouachita Little Fir Campground
Cute small lakeside campground
Spots have good room and most have water and electricity. Not as maintained as other campgrounds but the isolation and quiet area are nice
jaicie B.TravelerCottonshed Park (AR) COE
Quiet and Peaceful
We are here for the full 14 days. Park was pretty empty even with the 4th holiday. Quiet is an understatement. Speed bumps in and out are diabolical but bath houses are clean and operable. Dump station was easy to access in our 40' 5th wheel. We had electric but water was about 20 feet down the bank from our camper so our 50' hose came in handy. Trash area has two bear boxes and then 7 aluminum trash cans. We were in spot #7 which is waterfront. It was cool watching the boat traffic and Gator activity but its far from "town". The drive in was long. Camp host Stan is INCREDIBLE and Park Ranger Zach was helpful for food, sites and POIs.
- HH S.Traveler
Acorn Campground — Beavers Bend State Park
Acorn campground on river!
We spent the night at Acorn Campground, spot 5, in June. Hot but shaded. Space by the river. There was a grill, a fire pit, and a picnic table. It was easy to find our campground in Beavers Bend State Park. The heritage building is a good landmark. Loud Sirens went off twice during the day. When in the camper, though, they sounded quieter, and you could probably sleep through it. Sirens are to let you know to get out of the water because they are releasing water from dam. Can't swim in the river by our campground, but there is a swimming area to the north. This campground is on the lower level of the river, but there was no need to panic or move to higher ground when the sirens went off, even though it had been raining on and off as well. I’d been a little worried about flooding after reading about the 2015 flood, but the river remained beautiful and tranquil, offering us a stunning view—and even a playful sighting of deer paddling in the water. We left some trash on the campsite hook, only to find it scattered when we woke up. While picking up the trash, I noticed animal prints on our truck and camper. I went to the trash site to dump the trash, and a raccoon was staring at me when I opened the lid. The park staff assured us raccoons are common in the trash, so get ready to be startled. Watch out for poison ivy near the electrical outlets—bring calamine lotion—and note that mosquitoes, spiders, ants, and ticks are present, so pack accordingly. Didn't see snakes. A leaf blower is handy for cleaning off the RV pad. Gravel around the cement pad would have been nice because when it rains, it gets muddy, and there is poison ivy in the areas where you will need to hook up the RV to the electrical. Our spot was steps away from clean, air-conditioned bathrooms and showers. There were regular bugs in them, but not too many. The nicest bathroom for a campsite that I have been in. The park staff was welcoming, and there’s plenty to do—hiking trails, canoe or paddleboat rentals, and even a train ride, which I highly recommend if you love deer, as they’re abundant. You can buy ice at the train station too. Pack a life vest if traveling with kids, and if they want to experience water activities. We had reliable AT&T cell service throughout the park, so I was able to use Apple and Google Maps wherever we went. However, printed maps as well, and picked up a map from the heritage center. It’s a memorable spot for nature lovers and adventurers alike. It was peaceful.
- Joy J.Guide
Bois D'Arce Lake Peninsula
Quiet Seclusion
Lovely spot to recharge. I was only going to spend the night, but stayed 3 days. UPS driver arrives about 1:00 every day to eat his lunch. Fire pits and well-maintained road.
Almost H.GuideTalimena Scenic Drive
It is Dang Near Perfect!
Van: Promaster 3500 159 Ext
Company: Dog
Spot comes up on you Fast when driving: Tip if you come from Talihini: You'll see a very clear road on your LEFT (Another Spot) slow down and look on your Right. You'll see the Tree Pattern & the fire pit in the Pictures Posted
Road into Site: Slightly Rocky but w/ Quality Tires No Issue
Privacy Level: Medium-High (You'll see the road but I'd say 1-2 cars drove by every 3-4 hours and could hardly hear them.) The spot comes up so fast also that if you aren't looking for it you probably don't even notice anyone there.
Pros: 2 Man Made Fire Pits, Van Accessible. The view is good but it's not grand. For a free remote camping spot though, a perfect add-on. Mosquito Activity is almost non-existent.
Cons: Gnats were pretty consistent but it was Ticks that cut it short for us. Found 2 on me back to back: made an effort from that point on to be more aware: went to the restroom within 30 seconds, I had another one crawling up my leg. God knows how many are on the Dog 🐕 🫠
Recommended: 8/10. Eye shot of the Road is Nice: B/c if it starts raining the road in can get mucky but it did its jobs w/o issue.
- PPeter and Linda K.Guide
Fair Park RV Park
Good overnight stay
This is a city park. Nothing fancy, but good for a convenient overnight stay near I-30 (plentyfar enough away that there's no road noise). Water, 30A, 50A and a dump station.
- KKerri C.Guide
COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground
Beautiful location
I stayed 2 nights and it was a great location. I had water views on 3 sides. Site 20 is a good location for tenting, it has pretty good shade coverage. There is water and electric at the site. There are bathrooms and showers available to campers. There is a sandy beach area for swimming. The water is refreshing on a hot and humid day. The camp host is very nice and reassured me to reach out if I had any questions or problems. After dark it was surprisingly very quiet, there was a loud group camped 2 spots away from me but they were quiet after dark. The views around the lake are beautiful. I will definitely stay here again if I’m in the area. Just a side note, if the geese are troublesome, the park rangers will shoot off blanks to scare them out of the cove. This is done without warning, so it’s a bit startling.
Guide to Dierks Lake
Dierks Lake in southwestern Arkansas sits within the Ouachita Mountains region at approximately 600 feet elevation. The surrounding area features pine and hardwood forests with the lake spanning 1,360 surface acres and 29 miles of shoreline. Camping options near Dierks Lake operate primarily from early spring through late fall, with most facilities closing during winter months due to reduced maintenance and seasonal weather patterns.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: 4-5 miles north of Jefferson Ridge at Cossatot Reefs - Gillham Lake, where anglers report good results. "Great campground. Excellent bath house. Our spot had very weak Verizon service. Pretty busy campground but night's were nice and quiet. Fun fishing. Definitely will return," notes Ron P.
Diamond hunting: 25 miles east at Crater of Diamonds State Park Campground offers a unique experience. "The diamond field is a large, unshaded field. Rains cause the soil to cake up on shoes and make it difficult to walk in the field," advises Patricia C. The park allows visitors to keep any diamonds found while searching the public mining area.
Waterfront recreation: Multiple options available at Daisy State Park, located 30 miles east of Dierks Lake. The park features a swimming beach with designated areas for families. "This is a great park. It has a beautiful lake, a creek and trails to hike on. There is tent and RV camping sites," explains Julie D.
What campers like
Large campsites: Cossatot Falls Campsites offers spacious camping pads. "We typically don't camp in regular campgrounds, we prefer more separation. We also have a large 20' tent that makes it difficult to fit into regular square pad tent sites. These pads were huge and fit our tent," reports Summer H., noting the generous dimensions compared to standard sites.
Quiet camping environments: Many campers appreciate the peaceful settings. At Shady Lake Campground, visitors note the tranquility. "This was a wonderful place for a family getaway in the mountains. It's first come first serve but we secured a spot right up from the creek. It was so nice to listen to the running water while sleeping," shares J.R. B.
Water proximity: Access to creeks and lakes ranks high among camper preferences. At Shady Lake, Kevin reports, "This place is wonderful! Camping is spread out far enough that you're seldom bothered by others. We go often for the hiking, the views, and the ability to disconnect with it all."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to several campgrounds requires navigating unpaved roads. This is especially true for Cossatot Falls, where Summer H. notes, "These sites are now reservable, not first come. You can luck out, but I would recommend reservations... It's 5 miles to pavement. On a good day, depending what you're driving, that's 20 to 30 minutes of dirt, gravel, rocks, and washboards."
Limited amenities: Many campgrounds offer basic facilities only. At Cossatot River RV Park, Thomas B. observes, "We liked our week long visit here. It was off the beaten path. Very quiet and peaceful... Easy pull through sites with full hook up."
Cell service variability: Coverage is inconsistent throughout the region. At Cossatot Reefs, Steph C. reports, "Almost no cell service with T-Mobile for any interested parties." This pattern repeats across most campgrounds in the area, particularly those further from towns.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Cossatot Reefs, Brian B. notes, "Beautiful Campground. Large spots, Playground, Clean bathrooms." These facilities provide recreational options for children when not engaged in water activities.
Shallow water areas: Creekside camping at Star of the West provides safer water play options. "Near the waters edge you will find grouping of cypress tress which are interesting to explore when the water is down a bit like it was on my visit," mentions Crystal C., highlighting areas suitable for families.
Budget-friendly options: Camping costs remain reasonable throughout the region. At Star of the West, Alice S. advises, "The price here is now $10 per day but if you have America the Beautiful Pass it's half price." This makes extended family stays more affordable during peak seasons.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Jefferson Ridge at Dierks Lake provides water and 50-amp electric sites for approximately $25 per night. Jon D. reports, "This campground was fantastic! Sites are at perfect price points, you can get water/50a sites for $25/night, pretty darn good."
Pad dimensions: Some sites may challenge larger rigs. At Crater of Diamonds, Wayne J. cautions, "Most are level and plenty of room/parking length. This site 30 is cramped and has a passenger side tilt to it. I have a 26' (tip to tail) TT and a crew cab pickup… they will not fit in the campsite end to end."
Water connections: Check utility placement before arrival. At Cossatot Reefs, campers mention potential issues with hookups. "The only hitch was the water faucet at the site was so far from the RV pad we had to go into town and buy additional hose but that was just fine!" shares cindy W.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dierks Lake?
What camping is available near Dierks Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dierks Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 190 campgrounds and RV parks near Dierks Lake and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dierks Lake?
Which is the most popular campground near Dierks Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dierks Lake is Cossatot Reefs - Gillham Lake with a 4.8-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dierks Lake?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dierks Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Dierks Lake.
What parks are near Dierks Lake?
What parks are near Dierks Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 parks near Dierks Lake that allow camping, notably Gillham Lake and DeQueen Lake.
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