Best Campgrounds near Elizabeth, AR

Camping options around Elizabeth, Arkansas center on the scenic waters of Norfork Lake, with several established campgrounds managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Hand Cove Resort RV Park, located directly in Elizabeth, provides lakefront access with RV hookups and cabin accommodations. Nearby alternatives include Jordan Campground, Panther Bay, and Robinson Point, all within a 10-mile radius. Most sites feature electric and water hookups for RVs while also accommodating tent camping. The region supports various camping styles from basic tent sites to developed RV areas with utilities, though few offer full sewer connections.

The camping season in this region typically runs from April through October, with many campgrounds closing during winter months. Flooding can significantly impact site availability, particularly in spring. Numerous reviews mention sites being underwater during rainy periods, requiring flexible planning. Campgrounds like Robinson Point, Bidwell Point Park, and Panther Bay operate primarily on a reservation system through the Corps of Engineers. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, making some shoreline areas inaccessible during high water periods. Visitors should verify current conditions, especially following heavy rainfall. "Arkansas is experiencing flooding at this time and we were fortunate that our site was not flooded. Many sites here are closed," noted one camper about Henderson Park.

Waterfront access represents the primary attraction for most campers in the Elizabeth area. The clear waters of Norfork Lake provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating directly from many campsites. Bidwell Point Park and Robinson Point receive consistently high ratings for their water views and lake access. Several campgrounds feature boat ramps and swim areas, though campers report varying levels of shade availability depending on the specific site. Facilities typically include basic amenities such as flush toilets, with some locations offering showers. Cell service is generally good throughout the area, with visitors reporting successful connectivity even for remote work. "If you own a boat, Lake Norfork is the place to be. It offers a big lake to boat on or fish. Or you can rent pontoons, boats, jet skis and accessories at any one of the multiple marinas located around the lake," shared one regular visitor.

Best Camping Sites Near Elizabeth, Arkansas (136)

    1. Dam - Quarry

    11 Reviews
    Norfork, AR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 499-7216

    $24 - $80 / night

    "Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower."

    "close the the river and next to the hatchery Great fishing and it’s neat to watch the water rise from the dam."

    2. Robinson Point

    8 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 492-6853

    $22 - $40 / night

    "I think, if they came and upgraded the site with better pad for the modem rvs, this could be a prime location."

    "There was a partial view through the trees of Norfork Lake from the backside of the site. Walked down to the bank of the lake to fish and caught a bass."

    3. Gamaliel

    8 Reviews
    Gamaliel, AR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 467-5680

    $22 - $50 / night

    "I have been camping at Fout's at Gamaliel Arkansas since I can remember. The sites are great but close to each other."

    "Close to water, critters, keep your foodstuffs put away. Bring the Deet."

    4. Bidwell Point Park

    4 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 467-5375

    $24 - $50 / night

    5. Jordan Campground

    3 Reviews
    Elizabeth, AR
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 425-2700

    "This is a nice campground right on lake Norfolk. Spaces are alittle close together. Staff at Marina go above and beyond helping you out. Beautiful views!!"

    "Awesome views of the lake and great swimming off the rock outcrops. Water is so clear the only downside is no showers"

    6. Henderson Park

    3 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 425-2700

    $22 - $24 / night

    "Arkansas is experiencing flooding at this time and we were fortunate that our site was not flooded. We are gets more rain this evening and tonight so many sites here are closed."

    "Beautiful site right on beautiful lake. Short distance from town. Small park mature trees."

    7. Panther Bay - Norfolk Lake

    3 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    9 miles
    Website

    $22 - $50 / night

    "I have camped at either Panther Bay or Robinson Point on Norfolk Lake every year for as long as I can remember."

    "Went on a hike of the short Panther Bay trail today.  Very disappointed to have two felled trees across the trail. "

    8. Blanchard Springs Recreation Area — Ozark St. Francis National Forests

    24 Reviews
    Fifty-Six, AR
    25 miles
    +1 (870) 757-2211

    $3 - $60 / night

    "I completed my undergrad and graduate degrees in Arkansas about 30ish miles north of Little Rock."

    "Blanchard Springs has great camp sites, great hiking, multiple access to swim/wade into water, plus great caving opportunities! There is NO cell service in the park. "

    9. Hand Cove Resort RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 488-5367

    "BBQ sat around the fire with the owner Greg is a very nice guy."

    10. COE Norfork Lake Panther Bay Park

    1 Review
    Norfork, AR
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 425-2700
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Recent Reviews near Elizabeth, AR

352 Reviews of 136 Elizabeth Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    North Fork

    Large sites, good separation

    Camped at site #4 in the Dogwood Loop in Oct 2025. Paid $5 with senior pass. Previous review applies. Trash service available. Vault toilets (3) were open; clean with tp. Water was turned off for the season. There are a couple of hiking trailheads in campground. The Blue Spring Trail was really nice; it was moderately difficult in a few areas. Nice views of the North Fork River along this trail. Bank fishing possible in the nearby day use area. The campsites were large with good spacing between them. There is no privacy, however, between sites. My site was level, but can't say that for all sites. The campsites and roads were paved. The campground appeared well maintained during my stay.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Spring Creek Campground — Buffalo National River

    Primitive camping along the Buffalo River

    Van-camped in site #3 in mid-October, 2025. Free National Park Service primitive campground along the Buffalo Ntional River. The property serves as a drop-off and pickup location for kayakers and canoers. Outfitters may be coming and going. Not all sites are level; varies from site to site. Some sites are walk-ins. Clean vault toilet, supplied with tp and hand sanitizer. No potable water. Sites include table, metal fire ring, and lantern pole. Dirt surface. Good separation between sites but no privacy. A handful of armadillos were scrounging around during the evening. There is a partial view of the river through the trees. The road approaching the campground, CR99, is about 3 miles long and gravel, narrow in places. The last 1.5 miles has some minor erosion and rocky in places. There are no hiking trails at this location. No cell service. Starlink connectivity possible depending on the site. Tent and hammock camping possible. Fishing along the river bank. Overall, this is not a bad campground in a beautiful area.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Noblett Lake

    No Camping - Day Use Only

    Camping is still not allowed here. The campground itself is overgrown. Did not see any dispersed campsites. This recreation area, however, is a beautiful day use area. Appears to be maintained. Vault toilets in the picnic area were open during my visit. Did not find any potable water. Fishing is permitted at the lake, but I had no luck.

  • Jennifer O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2025

    White Buffalo Resort

    Can’t beat this view!

    Amazing little Campground that backs right up to the light river with a fantastic bluff behind that. Beautiful! Would definitely come again, friendly staff, quiet, easy. I will say I like site 11, but if you are not camping and pears, you will be camping directly next to site 10. They are pull through sites that are connected basically. We had another couple with us and it a great set up. But if it had just been us it would have been weird.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Robinson Point

    Clean, well maintained campground

    Camped at site #8 in Oct 10-11, 2025. Our site was on a wooded loop, the first camping section on the left after entering the campground. Good spacing between sites. Our campervan fit nicely on the site; level. Shared water faucet between sites 7 & 8. Our site had 20 and 30 amp power. There was a partial view through the trees of Norfork Lake from the backside of the site. Walked down to the bank of the lake to fish and caught a bass. Sites 5, 7 & 8 are really nice on this loop. Campground is clean and well maintained. AT&T and T-Mobile service. I normally do primitive and dispersed camping, but occasionally use established campgrounds, such as this, for replemishing water and power, and to take a shower. I was very pleased with our campsite and the campground. Did some hiking on the campground trails. The person working the entrance gate wad very nice and helpful. I would stay here again.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    Beautiful National Forest Recreation Area

    Camped at site #3 for 3 nights in early October 2025. This site was really good for my camper van; just about level. The site backs up to a beautiful forest. The campground in this recreation area has  27 sites in 3 separate sections. There are some sites at the "pool" which are appropriate for car and tent camping. There is a section down a dirt road along the creek bottom that has a handful of sites; these sites are also good for car and tent camping. I camped in a wooded loop; the sites here can accomodate car, van and tent camping. A few towables may fit in this section. This is a beautiful wooded campground; clean and very well maintained. Most sites are level. Hammock camping is possible in some sites. Most sites have a table, tent pad, lantern pole, metal fire ring and a grill. Some sites are open, some shaded. No hookups. Potable water is located in a central area of the sections; the water was turned on during my visit. There are 4 vault toilets - clean and supplied with tp. Parts of the campground is prone to flash flooding. Very peaceful; the campground wasn't too busy midweek. The campground has access to the beautiful North Sylamore Creek trail. Access to campground on the gravel Gunner Pool Road from Highway 14 was very good during my visit. This forest road goes through the recreation area; it is busier than you would see on typical forest roads. Love this recreation area. One of the best that the Arkansas Ozarks has to offer for outdoor recreation.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Barkshed Recreation Area

    Mostly walkin tent sites

    Visited here on Oct 7, 2025. Did not camp here. There are a handful of first-come, first-serve primitive sites. I only saw one drive-in site down near the creek. There are about 4 walk-in tent sites up a driveway into a parking area. The walk-in sites are close to the parking area. One site, which is not quite level, has a picnic table. The walk-in sites have metal fire rings. There are 2 clean vault toilets with tp at the campground. No potable water. The tent sites have a dirt and grass surface. There are a few shade trees. Starlink connectivity is possible. No AT&T and T-Mobile service. Nice swimming hole down by the creek. Access to the North Sylamore Creek Trail is at this recreation area. Note that the unpaved forest road approaching the recreation area from highway 14 is sketchy in spots due to Spring storm damage. Sections were being regraded during my visit. Low clearance, 2wd passenger vehicles can make it, but should tread carefully. Also note that, due to storm damage, Tie Ridge Road between Barkshed and Gunner Pool Road was only open to 4x4 vehicles at the time of my visit.

  • Brian L.
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Wild Oaks Campground

    Close corner

    It was quiet,peaceful and nice. The entrance wasn't well marked and I had a hard time navigating the entrance with my bumper pull 36'

  • R
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Robinson Point

    Fantastic and beautiful

    We stayed for 3 nights on sites 64 and 65. Absolutely beautiful views. Some damage from flooding but didn't really notice. Bathrooms and bath house were clean. Stay if you get a chance.


Guide to Elizabeth

Camping spots near Elizabeth, Arkansas center primarily on Norfork Lake, with seasonal variations affecting access to many campsites. The region sits at approximately 700 feet elevation with water levels fluctuating substantially between spring and fall. Several campgrounds experience partial site closures during high water periods, particularly after heavy spring rains when lake levels can rise 15-20 feet above normal.

What to do

Trout fishing access: At Dam - Quarry, visitors can fish directly from the campground. "Beautiful waterfront camping! The water is clear and freezing cold, and the breeze off the water feels amazing! The sounds from the dam releasing water is so peaceful," reports one camper.

Cave exploration: Blanchard Springs Recreation Area offers unique underground activities. "There is a more extreme tour where you can crawl and squeeze through trails in the caves! Also lots of folk music festivals so check the calendar," notes a visitor who enjoyed the educational aspects.

Kayaking and swimming: The clear waters provide excellent paddling opportunities. "Kids had a blast here! Cliff jumping, great fishing, kayaking, swim beach, and even pizza from the marina!" reports a camper at Jordan Campground.

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Bidwell Point Park offers premium lakeside camping. "Our first time here. It is beautiful! Quickly becoming one of our favorites. We are in site 13 right on the water!" shares one camper.

Spacious camping areas: Many campers appreciate the well-designed sites. "I love the nice big, spread out campsites!" notes a visitor to Blanchard Springs Recreation Area.

Swimming options: The region offers various swimming access points. "There's a bluff in the camping area that's amazing for swimming and small jumping... however, I'm not sure that it's technically allowed but everyone seemed to be jumping safely," mentions a camper about Blanchard Springs.

What you should know

Flooding impacts: Water levels significantly affect site availability. "Arkansas is experiencing flooding at this time and we were fortunate that our site was not flooded. Many sites here are closed," reported a camper at Henderson Park.

Maintenance varies: Some campgrounds have maintenance challenges. "The campground is nice. The grounds are unkept this year. The grass is already tall and when we asked about it we were told it's only getting taller. The grass will not be cut at all this year," warns a Dam - Quarry visitor.

Limited shower facilities: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. "This would be five stars except for lack of showers. Beautiful site right on beautiful lake. Short distance from town. Small park mature trees," notes a Henderson Park camper.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Gamaliel Campground offers dedicated children's areas. "The park is clean and well maintained with a playground for the littles, and they have clean, full bathrooms on site," explains one regular visitor.

Educational opportunities: Family-friendly learning experiences abound. "Beautiful caverns with lots of hiking and water activities and a no-frills campground among rolling hills. Lots to do outside the park too," writes a visitor to Blanchard Springs.

Swimming beaches: Designated swimming areas provide safer water access. "This party is awesome for couples or families. Closer to the lake and had its own swimming beach. Nice bathhouses and grounds well kept," shares a Gamaliel camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Elizabeth, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, Elizabeth, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 136 campgrounds and RV parks near Elizabeth, AR and 7 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Elizabeth, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elizabeth, AR is Dam - Quarry with a 4.2-star rating from 11 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elizabeth, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Elizabeth, AR.

What parks are near Elizabeth, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Elizabeth, AR that allow camping, notably Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals Lake.