Best Campgrounds near Dover, AR
The Arkansas River Valley surrounding Dover features diverse camping opportunities within the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests. Long Pool Recreation Area, located directly in Dover, provides year-round tent and RV camping with basic amenities including drinking water and toilet facilities. Within a 30-mile radius, Mount Nebo State Park in Dardanelle offers spectacular bluff views from its elevated position, with both standard sites and hike-in camping options. Lake Dardanelle State Park's Russellville Campground provides full-service sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups for those seeking more developed facilities. Piney Bay, managed by the Corps of Engineers, features waterfront sites with partial hookups open from March through October.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many forest service roads requiring careful navigation during wet weather. As one camper noted about Mount Nebo, "The steep road climbing to the top keeps the big RVs away." Cell service remains spotty in more remote areas, particularly in dispersed camping locations. According to a visitor at Richland Creek Recreation Area, campers should "be prepared for limited or no cell service and miles of gravel roads - download or print your driving and hiking maps ahead of time." Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while spring brings potential for flash flooding along creeks and rivers. Many campgrounds require reservations during peak season (April-October), particularly on weekends.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with several Corps of Engineers sites offering direct access to lakes and rivers. A reviewer of Piney Bay noted, "Most of the sites in Loops B and E are waterfront sites and are spectacular." Elevation plays a significant role in comfort during summer months, with Mount Nebo campers reporting "so much less humidity" than lower elevations. Tent campers often prefer the more secluded hike-in sites at Mount Nebo, where one visitor found them "perfect for us" compared to the reservable sites that are "nearly on top of each other." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region, with deer frequently spotted near campgrounds and bald eagles occasionally seen along the Arkansas River.
