Dardanelle Campground — Lake Dardanelle State Park
Awesome stay - friendly and helpful staff
Had a large time here!! Great staff, park and marina! Will definitely be back!
198 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"_ There are several viewpoints/vistas that you can access from roads (just two close together that involve some driving on gravel)."
"Super cool paths, views and community. Tons of historical value and it's obvious that Arkansas cares about it's forests, natural resources and outdoor communities."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Reservable sites are nearly on top of each other. Might be good if you have kids with you. There is a playground adjacent and a pool/bathhouse close by."
"A great Arkansas destination for outdoorsy people.The steep road climbing to the top of Mount Nebo keeps the big RVs away. Stop your car at the lookout point before you reach the top."
"The State Park systems in the US are some of our favorite places to find beautiful camping spots, but Lake Dardanelle State Park in Arkansas tops most of them all."
"Pretty campground on the lake. You can see Mount Nebo in the distance. Not much in the way of hiking trails. They have a short loop trail near the visitor center that is good for small children."
"You can drive up to the less attractive and less conveniently located RV loop to use the showers, if you need them."
"Access to the creek is nice and plenty of space even on busy days. No cell service which was nice to get disconnected."
"General: Two things you can count on in a Corps of Engineers campground: very reasonable rates and near water. This is a fairly large Corps of Engineers campground on Piney Bay."
"A great little Corp park right off the Arkansas River. Sites are mostly level with water and electricity. Dump station in park. Nice clean bath houses."
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability"This recreation area is as close to off-grid as you can get with so many great options right off the pavement."
"Swimming is a small but slightly difficult walk down a steep Rocky path. It's rarely crowded which is why we like it."
"Mount Nebo State Park and Lake Dardanelle State Park are very short drives from the campground as well as the town of Russellville with Arkansas Tech University."
"Peaceful spot on the river with places to walk and enjoy your surroundings."
from $26 - $75 / night
Check Availability"campers in the area but during the day LOTS of people coming to swim ( and leaving trash 🤮 ) The water was beautiful, eating dinner by the falls has become one of my new favorite camping memories in arkansas"
"Lovely area but you can hear the vehicles that drive by on the highway plenty of hiking nearby"
from $40 / night
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Had a large time here!! Great staff, park and marina! Will definitely be back!
This is a long review but please read it. It is a public service announcement. Camp Conway greenbrier. Landlord Burt Zinser. Where to begin.. Let start with Ameneties. The website states Each site has full hook ups including 20/30/50 amp electric, clean city water, city sewer and fiber-optic high-speed WiFi. Guests at Camp Conway have the option of porches, sheds and gazebos with management approval. We also offer a bath house and a laundry. 1. Clean city water- it taste like plastic and chlorine. Must have a water filter if you actually want to drink it or give it to your pets. 2. Fiber optic high speed wifi. That's a joke. Shoddy at best. TCW repeatedly has to come out to fix it and it's still garbage. If you are okay with internet dropping in and out every 5 to 10 min, then it's great. Save yourself the headache and get your own, but don't expect Burt Zinser to reduce your rent for services he offers but you can't use. Here at camp conway you can expect to pay for services unrendered.(Not the only one that has this problem in the park) 3. Porches, sheds or gazebos. 100%, as long as you are one of his favorites, like the people in the pictures he uses on his website. The beautiful two story rv with full front porch, likes to watch what everyone else is doing and then go complain to Burt if she doesn't like how your lot looks or what your doing. Burt will be sure to tell you it's too much, or beauty is sometimes only in the eye of the beholder. 4. We also offer a bath house and a laundry. The"Bath House" is one shower, without a bathroom vent, a toilet and sink, in the laundry room and is always disgusting. Hair on the floors, wall, drain, soap scum, ect. The toilet has pubic hair and feces on and around it. No one cleans it, nor cleans up after themselves. Not sure who replaces the toilet paper but half the time it's empty. The laundry is two household washers and dryers. Costing 2.50, which isn't bad. Just don't run the washers at the same time or they flood the room(you will be blamed for over loading it) and expect to dry your clothes for an hour or so, or they will be damp. The state of the laundry room is horrible. Trash overflowing, dog hair, and random debris all over the floors. Again no one cleans them.( you think well I'll just get compact washer, expect to be charged extra for water and don't you dare hang clothes outside to dry, that includes beachwear and towels). It's not visually appealing. 5. Spacious lots. The outer lots are 600 and the other lots 565(it was 550 back in Feb, this is important to note). Price subject to change without a notice. Do Not expect Burt Zinsers crappy memory to remember not to over charge you(text wont help you either). Honestly, don't bother to ask Burt about it, or he will get annoyed and either kick you out or threaten to. I'll get to that later. The lots flood when it rains, grass is almost non existent, scorching heat from lack of trees and of course you have to love the red clay that gets over everything. Lots are suppose to mowed by him, but he hasn't mowed in the 5 months we've been here. He sends his child out, who does a half ass job weed whacking around the pedestals and mows part of the big field. If it wasn't for one of the permanent resident here mowing for people that ask him, it would be horrible. 6. Someone pointed out they have a huge open field with plans to extend the park, but currently it's a great dog area to let your dogs off leash to play. WRONG. DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE OFF LEASH. Expect to be harassed about picking up your dog poop. Even when you do, other people do not, while letting their dog roam free and you will be blamed. He has plans to extend the park, true, but until then expect for Burt to constantly remind you that until the park fills up, it all comes out of his pocket, so he's loosing money. You can rent one of his tiny homes if you want to pay near 1,000 for a studio apartment, open floor plan, with a 500 dollar, per pet, fee. You will be secure too as one of his security cameras point directly in the front windows of the current one and only tiny home he has on the premises. 7. Rules. It all depends which of his rules and who you are. If he tells you no AC units in the windows of RVs. There are currently 5 RVs that have units in the windows, so he doesn't really give a crap about that rule. I personally don't care but it was one of the things he stated when we called. No agressive dogs. His example, like pitbulls. Hey as long as you tell him it's another breed he doesn't know the difference and isn't bothered to check. I see nothing wrong with pitties, he's just the type that believes in bad dogs, not bad owners. Oh and on that note you will be sure to hear or be told, that you don't need another mouth to feed, or straight up told you can't keep another pet if you get one. 8. Privacy. Don't expect it. Burt Zinser likes to meddle in people's business. He gives unsolicited relationship advice, opinions on how you should decorate, how your vehicle looks, if your working or not(regardless if you pay rent on time, he doesn't like it if you are a stay at home person). Our experience here has been crap. We moved into the park on Feb 3rd. The lot was one giant mud pit. We asked if he would buy grass seed and we'd care for the lawn until it fully grown. We were told yes at first then the next day we received a text staying no because then he'd have to do that for everyone. We bought grass seed, tilled the land by hand and grew grass. We called about the internet 3 different times. The first time he handed us a wifi extender, that didnt work and TCW said it was pointless since it wasnt hooked into landline nor had bluetooth capabilities. He then had TCW come out two more times to"fix" it, before we said screw it and got starlink. When asked if he would remove the fee for the interent we can't use. He said no. When we asked why are we paying for something we can't use, he stated it was our problem, not his. For the month of Feb rent was 550. March 550. April we TEXT him after hours and asked him to gIve us a call so we could pay rent. HE CALLED US, did the transaction and got off the phone. We checked and noticed he overcharged us, 565. We TEXT him again and pointed out he over charged us. HE CALLED US BACK. He asked when we had moved in, we told him Feb, he apologized and refunded the 15 dollars. When asked when he was going to raise the rent if he would be notifying us. We asked if we would still be paying 550 until then. He called us nieve to think rent wouldn't change. When we explained that we didn't think it would stay 550 forever, but that we would be notified and not just him taking whatever amount he decides he wants. He got irritated said we were busting his balls and he hadn't eaten dinner yet but instead dealing with this crap, and that we were temporary visitors(i didnt know 5 months of renting was temporary). He belittled a person that has autism and learning disabilities when he was the one to CALL US BACK and interupt his own supper. We called during business hours and informed him of the condition of the shower being filthy and smelling of cat urine, because everyone closes the door behind them after a shower and there is no vent( burt decided it wasn't needed, told to us by someone else). We were told people are supposed to be cleaning up after themselves. We asked if he would get a deck brush, hose and cleaning supplies for us and we would clean it for free, once a week. He said sure. A week later we saw him on the property asked about it again. He got annoyed, we dropped it and bought an external on demand hot water heater to be able to shower and feel clean. Once again it was time for rent to be paid. I noticed he had been over charging us again for may and June, not even a week after he told me that August 1st was when the rent would be raised. I saw him on the property and walked over to bring it to his attention. He got irritated and told me that it was becoming a bit much. When asked what he was talking about he stated that no one else bothers him as much as we do, and it's overwhelming. I stated to him that we haven't been unreasonable in holding him accountable for his property. I had explained previously about my husband being autistic with learning disabilities that sometimes effect how he understands things. I brought up that he stated he thinks he's autistic and his wife has told him thay his facial expressions and attitude towards people can be offputting and misinterpreted. I would think he would be more understanding. I told him he obviously has an issue with my husband and that from now on he will be dealing with me since my husband irritates him so much. He tried telling me no that wasn't the issue. I cut him off and said that was exactly the problem or it was holding him accountable, or both. He asked if we be out by then end of the month and I said no, as we have done nothing wrong. Rent is never late. Always paid. Our site is clean, we follow the rules. The next day we received a text from him telling us to be out by the end of the month and he was sorry it didn't work out. Retaliation for a woman speaking to him. Burt Zinser is a horrible business man, landlord and human being. He has issues with speaking too and dealing with woman if they try to be an equal. I truly believe he's sexist and I'm not the only woman in this park that thinks that. If you and your husband are speaking to him, you ask him a question he will disrespect you by looking at your husband and answering. Ask around, talk to people in the park, and not his favorites. I'm hoping I can attach the photos I've taken around the park and facilities but if I can't, feel free to reach out. I have no problem sharing them, in hopes you won't support this man and his park. I will be posting this in every RV group I'm a member of, local community pages and restaurants. Let's hold this man accountable for his disrespect, horrible ethics, and business. Greenbrier is a better community then this man deserves and he shouldn't be allowed to continue this way.
Staff at gate was very k8nd and helpful. Grounds well kept and manicured. Camp sites under trees for,shade with water, electricity, picnic tables and fire pits. Needed to use levelers to get trailer leveled. Campground on Arkansas river at the dam and locks. Bathhouse was clean, looked like painted for this season. Only issues was heater running in shower, it was 80+ degrees didn't need more heat. I'd stay here again.
I grew up around this area so Waveland is always a safe choice for some casual casual camping. We chose site 06 because it’s a bit separated from the other areas and since there was hardly anyone there, it was almost dead quiet. Very private and peaceful. My only complaint is that there was no one working the station where you’re supposed to check in— we tried three separate times thinking maybe they were on break or at lunch, but no luck. We also tried calling several times but no one picked up. It rained quite heavily and stormed in the area, and a part of me wonders if it got bad enough, would anyone have come notified us to leave? The lake is currently closed to swimming and most everything except fishing/boating and in a certain area— but it’s in an effort to improve wildlife and fish populations, which was already quite noticeable!
Most sites are levelish side to side with down hill slope. There appears to be no supervision in this park. We have stopped here on our way out west then on our way back. No one has checked us in or made sure we were supposed to be there. Traffic moves from the boat ramp until late at night. Still a good stopover when traveling Verizon worked well.
Nice spot, especially if you get one of the old campsites. However those were taken by long term folks who either just left their trailer there with no one in it, or they ran generators through the night. The remaining campsites were inaccessible by car, so we ended up staying in the bathroom parking area. Bathrooms boarded up, no trash cans, a fair bit of trash lying around.
Well kept camsites. Clean and right on the beautiful Arkansas river. Would definitely come back.
Very nice park and clean bathrooms. The cedar falls are wonderful when it has been raining a lot. RV sites are spacious and a lot of locals like to stay there for short vacations.
It was awesome, the campsites were nice and so many beautiful sights to see and so much exploring to do. If you have a sedan or a smaller car it is very difficult and risky getting to the campsite, so I would recommend bringing a very capable offroad vehicle. Going around May the weather is perfect!
Dover's camping options feature significant elevation changes, with sites ranging from 330 feet along the Arkansas River to over 1,800 feet on Mount Nebo. The region's forested campgrounds create their own microclimate, often 10-15°F cooler than surrounding areas during summer months. Campsites near Dover typically see peak usage in April through October with full bookings on weekends.
Swimming at natural pools: Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area provides excellent swimming holes directly adjacent to primitive campsites. One visitor noted, "The water was beautiful, eating dinner by the falls has become one of my new favorite camping memories in arkansas."
Explore CCC history: Bayou Bluff Point of Interest features historic Civilian Conservation Corps structures including stone shelters with functional fireplaces. A camper described, "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."
Fishing opportunities: Many campsites provide direct water access for fishing. At Old Post Road, one camper mentioned, "The lock and dam was a neat site to look at along with the view of Dardanelle Rock across the river."
Hiking trail access: Several campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. One visitor at Petit Jean State Park shared, "We spent most of our days hiking the many trails the park is known for. It was at peak Dogwood season, so the understory of the Forest was beautiful!"
Private waterfront sites: Piney Bay offers lakeside camping with excellent spacing. A camper noted, "Most of the sites in Loops B and E are waterfront sites and are spectacular" and another mentioned it was "Super quiet, excellent access. Great place to relax!"
Unique bathroom facilities: Lake Dardanelle State Park receives consistent praise for its shower facilities. One camper was pleasantly surprised: "Not only was it clean but it had six doors. Behind each door was a shower room complete with a toilet and lavatory and guess what??? It was air conditioned!!!"
Small, secluded camping areas: Many campers value the intimate settings of smaller campgrounds. A visitor to Long Pool Recreation Area shared, "Long Pool Recreation Area is at the end of the road. There are three camping loops with a total of about 50-60 sites. All the sites were roomy and separated from each other."
Wildlife encounters: The region hosts abundant wildlife. A camper at Mount Nebo State Park mentioned, "The deer will walk up to you and you can pet them awesome park highly recommended."
Bathroom availability varies: Facilities range from none to full-service. At Piney Bay, a visitor warned, "The bathrooms are a bit of a hike from the campsites."
Water safety concerns: Some campgrounds have water-related issues. One visitor to Piney Bay noted, "It's close to a nuclear plant (there's evacuation signs at the campsite just in case) - personally, I didn't trust swimming or fishing in the water."
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. A visitor to Bayou Bluff explained, "There is no cell service on ATT - it showed only 'SOS' but the town of Hector is nearby if you need to check your phone in a pinch."
Weather impacts: The region experiences significant flooding during heavy rain periods. A visitor to Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area warned, "Beware of flooding during the rainy seasons. When it rains a lot, the creek floods and covers the road into the campground."
Swimming opportunities: Natural swimming areas provide family entertainment. A camper at Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area said it's a "Great Campground w/Swimming Hole" and that the "Swimming area is fantastic, a much needed relief after a hot day of hiking!"
Nature learning centers: Petit Jean State Park offers educational facilities. A visitor recommended, "A must see is the visitors center!!!" Another camper mentioned, "Great welcome center with aquarium displays that are quite informative."
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds include play structures. As one camper at Lake Dardanelle noted, "This was a beautiful park with lots to do, especially for kids. The information center was large and the employees were very friendly."
Loop selection matters: Different camping loops offer varied experiences. A Petit Jean visitor advised, "My 1st suggestion: RESERVE EARLY to get a spot in Loop A or Loop B. We stayed in Loop C and I felt a little too secluded. The sites in C & D appeared to be a little smaller."
Limited access for larger rigs: Several of the best places to camp near Dover, Arkansas have size restrictions. At Mount Nebo State Park, the road presents challenges as one camper described: "My camper was too long for the road up so we stayed at a hike in site it was great quiet and remote."
Electric hookup locations: Power connections can be inconveniently positioned. At Outdoor Living Center RV Park, a visitor noted, "Spacing is typical for a campsite built some years ago, but we had a site on the end so we didn't feel too close to anyone."
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment for proper leveling. At Long Pool Recreation Area, an RVer reported, "Sites are mostly level with water and electricity. Dump station in park. Nice clean bath houses."
Check layouts before booking: Some campgrounds have difficult site configurations. One camper at Piney Bay warned, "Roads are narrow as are spots. The spots also say they're 'big/long enough' for a 42' rig but in reality it's super tight."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dover, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dover, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 198 campgrounds and RV parks near Dover, AR and 54 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dover, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dover, AR is Petit Jean State Park — Petit Jean State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 108 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dover, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 54 free dispersed camping spots near Dover, AR.
What parks are near Dover, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Dover, AR that allow camping, notably Lake Dardanelle and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests.
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