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Best Dispersed Camping near Dover, AR

86 Reviews

The Ozark National Forest surrounds Dover, Arkansas with numerous dispersed camping opportunities, particularly along forest roads and near waterways. Middle Fork Dispersed Site offers a large clearing along the Illinois Bayou about a quarter mile from Highway 27, while Adams Mountain Road Dispersed Campsite provides access to hiking trails with potential waterfall views. Most sites in this region feature basic rock fire rings and level areas for vehicles but lack amenities like drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Sam's Throne Recreation Area stands out with year-round availability and toilet facilities, making it one of the more developed options within driving distance.

Forest road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many requiring high-clearance vehicles during wet seasons. As one camper noted, "The forest road is in good condition, but access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion." Spring storms frequently cause road deterioration, particularly at creek crossings. Cell service is spotty across the area, with T-Mobile coverage reported at some sites but completely absent at others. Poison ivy is common at many locations, especially during summer months. Winter camping offers different advantages, as one reviewer mentioned: "During the summer, this site is overrun by high grass and weeds. When I visited during February, all of that was dead and matted down, with easy access to the fire ring."

Creekside camping locations receive the highest satisfaction ratings from visitors. The soothing sounds of flowing water enhance the camping experience, with one camper describing their stay as "peaceful at night, with only sounds from birds, breeze and the creek." Sites near Brock Creek Lake and Spring Lake offer fishing opportunities and water access. Fall foliage transforms many ordinary sites into spectacular settings, particularly along Charleston Road. Weekday visits typically ensure greater solitude, with reviewers frequently mentioning minimal traffic on forest roads during midweek stays. Hunters frequent these areas during season, so awareness of hunting schedules is advisable. Most dispersed sites accommodate small to medium-sized vehicles, with reviewers consistently noting limitations for larger rigs: "Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site."

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Dover, Arkansas (53)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Dover, AR

55 Photos of 53 Dover Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Dover, AR

86 Reviews of 53 Dover Campgrounds

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 12, 2022

    Dispersed FR132 Ouachita National Forest, AR

    Dispersed Camping near Ouachita National Recreation Trail, AR

    Located along Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) in the Ouachita National Forest, Saline County, Arkansas. Flatside Wilderness Area located across the road from the site. Access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail located nearby. Free dispersed site, no facilities. Rock fire ring. Should be enough parking for 2 vehicles. Suitable for tent camping, car camping, truck camping & van camping. Mostly level. There was plenty of firewood left by the fire ring. Camped here in February; very quiet. Only 2 vehicles drove by. Had a few bars of T-Mobile service.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2022

    Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite

    Free dispersed camping in the Ouachita National Forest

    Popular dispersed campsite in the Ouachita National Forest. Only one site; not a campground. Located on the gravel Brown Creek Road in Perry County, Arkansas. The South Fork of Brown Creek runs behind this campsite. Located next to the trailhead for Brown Creek Cascade - a short 1/4 mile hike (includes a creek crossing). This campsite is suitable for tent camping, car camping, camper vans & truck campers. Two vehicles can easily fit on this level site. There are other dispersed sites along Brown Creek Road. The site is close to the road; there's a large mud puddle covering one of the 2 entrances to this site. 2-wheel drive passenger cars can make it to the site. Large pine trees on the site. Hammock camping is possible. No water (except for creek). No toilets nor showers. No trash - take out what you bring in. May need to hike a ways in the woods to find firewood. Large rock fire ring on site. No AT&T and T-Mobile cell service. Very quiet; no vehicles passed by during the night. The sound from the creek was soothing.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Nice Dispersed Site Above Brock Creek

    Not sure if the location pin is correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.49995, -92.80930. A large, wooded dispersed site situated above Brock Creek off of Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trail area. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road. The dispersed site can accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles - campervan size and smaller. There are 2 access driveways into the site. Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site. Access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion. The dispersed site is a dirt surface with some embedded rocks jutting out. Some leveling may be required depending where the rig is parked. Tent camping is possible. There is a vehicle turnaround at the rear of the site. The site is shaded, so solar charging is limited. Except for a little bit of glass and some bullet shell casings scattered about, the site was clean at the time of my visit. The site has a large rock fire ring. There is a wide track that leads off the site toward the south along and above the creek. This track does not appears on any of the current forest service maps (including MVUM) that I have, so I'm assuming that it is not a legal motorized vehicle track. The track is hikeable. The site is convenient to OHV and multi-use trails. It was a pretty site during my summertime visit, but I bet it's beautiful during the Fall season. It is set back from Charleston Road. It is a really nice spot.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2025

    Brown Creek Rd/FR805 Dispersed

    Nice wooded dispersed site above a small creek

    Coordinates: 34.87057,-92.89844. Camped here on April 20, 2025. Located along Brown Creek Road (Forest Road 805), appoximately 1/2 mile west of the Brown Creek Cascade dispersed site and trail head (see separate listing). Large, level site with a dirt surface. Should easily accomadate 2 or 3 rigs and tents. Recommend campervan and smaller rigs. Due to the trees on the site, a truck camper will have a difficult time pulling all the way into the site (although it can park on the access driveway). Easy access from the forest road. The site is clearly visable from the forest road; no privacy, and dust may be an issue during the dry season. Only 6 vehicles passed by during my stay (which was on a Monday evening). There is a large, nicely constructed rock fire ring on the site; other than this, there are no amenities at the site. A small creek is down the hill behind the site; the creek is dry during the dry season. A beautiful wall of trees is across the creek. The site is shaded; solar charging and Starlink connectivity may be difficult. Hammock camping is possible. No T-Mobile cell service. No access to hiking trails at the site; trailheads for Brown Creek Cascade and the Ouachita National Recreation Trail are a short drive away. Loved this site. Peaceful at night. The only sounds came from the birds, the breeze and the creek. Note that due to recent severe Spring storms, portions of Brown Creek Road have some erosion. The rocky surface is moderately rough in places, although a 2WD passenger car can make it if driven carefully through the rough spots. No issues for high clearance 4x4 vehicles.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 6, 2025

    FR1802A, Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed

    Secluded, Light Usage, Dispersed Camping in the Ozarks

    Coordinates: 35.58695,-93.20723. Camped here Dec 29, 2024. Set well off of Meadows Knob Rd. Expect pinstriping along the access track to this secluded dispersed campsite. FR1802A toward the site has some erosion; low clearance vehicles may high center in one or two spots. The main forest road into this part of the Ozark National Forest is okay. The campsite is in open area, located in an old clear cut area. There is a partial view of the distant mountains. The site is a level, dirt surface. Not a large site; okay for one rig. Tent camping possible. No nearby mature trees for hammock camping. The site is overgrown with grass and weeds; a weed whacker is needed to clear the rock fire ring. There is a spot on the ground where a previous campfire was made. Good AT&T and T-Mobile 5G service. No shade; access to Starlink is possible. No hiking trails, although there is a 2-track for hiking that leads down into Graves Creek Canyon and some unnamed waterfalls. The hike along this trck is nice. This is not a pretty dispersed site, but it is well off of the main forest road; very private. Access to the site may be difficult for some vehicles. High clearance 4x4 vehicles should have no problems.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2022

    Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks

    Creekside Dispersed Site, Middle Fork Illinois Bayou

    Large clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou. Located on Middle Fork Road, about a 1/4 mile in from AR Hwy 27, near Hector, AR. The site is on national forest land and appears to be popular. It's large enough for 3 car/truck/campervan rigs. Area is level for rigs & tents, although the ground is mostly hard buried gravel - maybe uncomfortable to sleep on without pads. Three large puddles on the site. Three ways to enter the site from  Middle Fork Road. Middle Fork Rd itself can easily accommodate 2wd passenger vehicles. Other dispersed sites further down the road along the creek. The site is not pristine, but it's nice to camp close to the bayou. Very peaceful, but there is occasional faint truck noise from Hwy 27. A half dozen or so vehicles passed by, some were residents who live further down the road. No facilities; need to bring your own water. No trash pickup; pack in, pack out.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Group Dispersed, Charleston Road, Ozark NF, AR

    Large Group Dispersed Camping

    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.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2024

    Charleston Road Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Convenient to National Forest OHV Area

    Pin location may not be correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.52534, -92.83158. Located on Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV area - 1/2 mile southeast of the Mountain Man Trailhead. Charleston Road is a well maintained gravel road. The site is at the beginning of an old unnamed, closed, dirt track - close to Charleston Road. The site has a dirt surface; not quite level, but more level toward the rear. It is a pull-in site which can accommodate one campervan and smaller. Tent camping is possible. The site is mostly shaded. There is poison ivy around the perimeter of the site. The site includes a large rock fire ring. Except for a little bit of trash in the fire ring, the site was pretty much clean. The old track is gated just past the site,; the track is hikeable, leading up to the northern-most Stoebuck Mountain (there are two "Stoebuck Mountains" in this area). Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site. It is good for an overnight stay.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Austin Trailhead Dispersed, Wilderness Trail Rd, Ozark NF, AR

    Dispersed camping convenient to OHV/multi-use national forest trails

    Not sure if the pin location is correct, so here are the exact coordinates: 35.53654, -92.80322.  Small dispersed campsite just off Wilderness Trail Road. Wilderness Trail Road is a wide gravel country road located in a popular national forest OHV area. More specifically, the site is located on multi-use/OHV trail Brock Creek #42, Forest Road 2321 - just a few hundred feet south of Wilderness Trail (not in the trailhead parking lot, where camping is not allowed). Its a small, level dirt site, mostly shaded in a small clearing in the trees, close to the track - not private. It has a small rock fire ring. Tent camping is possible. It's a pull-in site which can accommodate one vehicle - truck camper and smaller. Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site.

Guide to Dover

Dispersed camping areas in the Ozark National Forest near Dover, Arkansas occupy an elevation range of 900 to 2,500 feet. The region features numerous small waterways, limestone bluffs, and hardwood forests dominated by oak and hickory trees. Spring floods frequently render forest roads impassable between March and May, while summer temperatures averaging 85-95°F from June through August create challenging camping conditions.

What to do

Waterfall hiking: At Adams Mountain Rd Dispersed Campsite, access hiking trails leading to seasonal falls. The site serves as a starting point for waterfall exploration during wet periods. "A 1 1/4 mile hike takes you to a small unnamed waterfall, which may not be running during the dry season," notes one visitor.

Rock climbing: Sam's Throne Recreation Area attracts climbers year-round. The area offers numerous routes suitable for various skill levels. "Amazing peaceful campsite. Can be eerie pulling up at night but is so beautiful and peaceful. On the right dark night you can see every star in the sky," shares one camper.

Fishing opportunities: Visit Cane Creek Recreation Area for lake access and fishing. This free campground provides a boat ramp for water entry. "Excellent free campground if you are self contained. No water/electric or toilet. Secluded and safe. There are picnic tables, fire pits and a boat ramp," reports a visitor.

What campers like

Isolation and quiet: Most primitive camping near Dover provides significant privacy between sites. Weeknight visits typically ensure solitude. "Camped here on Wednesday May 15, 2024. In the Piney Creek WMA, part of the Ozark National Forest north of Hector, Arkansas. Large camping area at a high clearance ATV trailhead," states one reviewer.

Night sky viewing: Clear skies offer exceptional stargazing at Tackett Mountain Road Dispersed. The limited light pollution creates opportunities for astronomy. "Even though there is not much to do around here, it's a nice place to simply hang out in," notes a visitor.

Wildlife encounters: Dawn and dusk bring opportunities to observe local fauna. Deer frequently visit camping areas throughout the region. At Sam's Throne, one camper mentions, "Bambi and her mom also seem to live here."

What you should know

Access challenges: Many sites require high-clearance vehicles. Roads deteriorate significantly after rainfall. At Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed, "Expect pinstriping along the access track to this secluded dispersed campsite. FR1802A toward the site has some erosion; low clearance vehicles may high center in one or two spots."

No amenities at most sites: Bring all necessary supplies. Primitive camping areas typically lack water, trash service, and toilets. "No water, trash, or toilets. Town is a nice 15 minute country drive, minimal amenities there but freeway is only another 10 minutes," notes a Cane Creek visitor.

Cell service variability: Coverage differs significantly between carriers. Some sites offer surprising connectivity. Near Meadows Knob, one visitor found "Good AT&T and T-Mobile 5G service. No shade; access to Starlink is possible."

Tips for camping with families

Pack extra water: No potable water exists at dispersed sites. The nearest water access often requires a 15-20 minute drive to towns. At the Middle Fork Dispersed Site, a camper notes, "No facilities; need to bring your own water. No trash pickup; pack in, pack out."

Plan for bathroom breaks: Only developed recreation areas have toilet facilities. Sam's Throne offers basic accommodations. "There are more than one compositing toilet on site & they are cleaned regularly," reports one camper.

Identify poison ivy before arrival: The plant grows abundantly throughout the area. Children should be taught to recognize and avoid contact. At Charleston Road Dispersed, "There is poison ivy around the perimeter of the site."

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions limit larger vehicles: Most sites accommodate smaller rigs only. Standard-size RVs face significant access challenges. At Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed, "The dispersed site can accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles - campervan size and smaller. Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site."

Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven ground. Few sites offer naturally level parking. "Some leveling may be required depending on the spot the vehicle is parked," notes one camper at another Brock Creek location.

Self-containment necessity: No hookups or dump stations exist at primitive sites. RVers must bring all water and manage waste independently. "This is a great, and free, campground. Lots of sites, all are good," reports a visitor to Sam's Throne.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Dover, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Dover, AR is Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Dover, AR?

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