Stacie P.
Scout
ScoutLee Creek Public Use Area
A beautiful view
A beautiful place to relax, but very sketchy, wouldn't stay after dark. I've taken many pics down here, the scenery is beautiful.
Camping near Fort Smith, AR
165 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping near Fort Smith, Arkansas encompasses a mix of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites, state parks, and private RV resorts along the Arkansas River. Springhill Park in Barling provides well-maintained campsites set among tall trees adjacent to John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake, just a short drive from downtown Fort Smith. Lake Fort Smith State Park, located about 30 miles northeast of the city, offers modernized facilities following significant renovations. Devil's Den State Park, recognized in National Geographic's Guide to State Parks as one of the top parks in the South Central region, provides additional camping options within driving distance. The area's campgrounds range from basic sites with minimal amenities to fully developed facilities with hookups, showers, and recreational amenities.
Most campgrounds in the Fort Smith area are open year-round, though some facilities like Springhill Park operate on a walk-in basis during the off-season from November through February. Summer temperatures can be hot and humid, with occasional thunderstorms. Winter camping is available but can bring cold temperatures and occasional snow. Reservations are recommended for most established campgrounds, particularly during peak summer months and weekends. Many sites can be booked online through recreation.gov or state park reservation systems. Cell service is generally reliable at campgrounds closer to Fort Smith but may be limited at more remote locations like Devil's Den.
The camping options near Fort Smith accommodate various preferences and equipment needs. RV enthusiasts will find several parks with full hookups, including the newer Riverfront RV Resort located adjacent to the Arkansas River and less than two miles from the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Big-rig friendly sites are available at multiple locations, including William O. Darby RV Community and Fort Smith-Alma RV Park. For tent campers, options include designated tent pads at Lake Fort Smith State Park and primitive sites at Lee Creek Public Use Area, which offers a quiet experience with views of the Arkansas River despite being surrounded by the city. Mountain biking is popular in the area, particularly at Springhill Park, which features a 10-mile trail system frequently used for races.
Best Campgrounds near Fort Smith (165)
1. Springhill
"Love the area, really feels like youve left fort smith and entered a little bit of utopia!"
"Really nice campground you have two options in the A section you are right one a small river and one the B side it’s more of the wooded option but most sites have the Arkansas rive close by with mountain"
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability2. Devil's Den State Park Campground
"Devils Den has great views and great hiking trails. It's listed in National Geographic's Guide to State Parks as one of the top parks in the South Central region. It is pretty good."
"Devil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas. The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen. The facilities and amenities have been great. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability3. Riverfront RV Resort
"Campground is adjacent to the Arkansas River (thus the name) and less than 2 miles from the Fort Smith National Historic Site."
"It is located right along the river and is close to other attractions like Fort Smith and the US Marshall’s Museum (literally down the block)."
4. COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
"The campground is set among tall trees adjacent to the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake and James W. Trimble Lock and Dam of the Arkansas River."
"Nice area with many spots that back up to an outlet of the Arkansas River. Great bank fishing! Friendly staff. Highly recommend."
5. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
"Simply put, this is a great little rustic place to get away from the hustle and bustle. The sites offer 20/30/50A hookups with water and septic."
"Very close to off-road trails and river float activities .. the owners are super nice and we liked hanging out with them. We’ll be back!"
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability6. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
"Was headed to Lake Fort Smith but area was booked so we stopped here and was pleased with our stay. Spaces are quite small but it has become the norm everywhere."
"It’s just far enough away from the highway so you have a quiet nights rest without hearing the traffic. The pond on the property has soothing sounds of peepers to fall asleep too."
7. Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
"This park is located on the Arkansas River. There’s a boat ramp, so bring your boat and enjoy the beautiful Arkansas River. Pets are allowed, there is a leash law. Bring your own firewood."
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability8. William O. Darby RV Community
"This was a great little park and stay at while we were in fort Smith. The price was right and operated by a family and the whole family chips in to run the park."
"Contacted owner late in the evening looking for a spot after a 9hour drive. This place had everything and the bathhouse was just like taking a shower at home!"
from $22 - $25 / night
Check Availability9. Lee Creek Public Use Area
"What it does offer is a level parking pad that is quiet and dark which is surprising given it is surrounded by Fort Smith. It also has a decent view of the Arkansas River."
Drive Time
- 46 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 40 min from Tulsa, OK
- 2 hrs 1 min from Joplin, MO
- 2 hrs 20 min from Hot Springs, AR
Recent Camping Photos near Fort Smith, AR
189 Photos of 165 Fort Smith Campgrounds
Michelle W.
Springhill
Jennifer L.
COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
Kat M.
Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
Kristy F.
Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
Daniel D.
Twin Creeks RV Park
Donny S.
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Kevin M.
Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA
Lauren
Dispersed Near Devils Den
Cyndy & Selena R.
Shores Lake
Melanie W.
Devil's Den State Park Campground
George L.
Aux Arc
Recent Reviews near Fort Smith, AR
695 Reviews of 165 Fort Smith Campgrounds
Jenny
RangerSnake Creek
Decent place for lake stay
Quiet camping, restrooms are clean and have showers.
Site 10 was a nice site with 50 amp.
There was some sort of dumpster situation with new rollaways beside old dumpsters. Old dumpsters looked like were attempted to be taped up but they were used and overfilled with trash. So full that trash was flying around the park at times. Not sure what the situation was.
- JennyRanger
pathfinder rv resort
New, clean RV park
New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it. Large clubhouse is where the bathhouses are with four individual bathrooms with showers, laundry facility, propane for sale and a nice pool.
- JennyRanger
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
- J
Jon L.
GuideHog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort
Still a nice park, but...
We last stayed here five years ago when the park was new. Some of the areas and amenities that are now available were still under construction during our last trip. The bottom line… still a very nice park, but it's starting to show its age a little.
Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate, though several roads have asphalt failures that need attention. Even though it's not too far from Interstate 49, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 36. Most of the sites are gravel, but the pull-thru row that we were in had concrete pads. For the most part, all sites appear fairly level.
Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Two bathroom areas also have showers and laundry facilities- one at the front of the park and one in the rear. The pool area and playground are located at the front of the park.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, Cable, and OTA: there is Wi-Fi in the park, but the park info sheet that they provide you with notes that the Wi-Fi is spotty. We were able to get AT&T 5G with 4 bars. AT&T achieved 418 Mbps down and 21 Mbps up. Satellite reception should not be an issue at most sites, and if you do need clear access for satellite reception, there are plenty of sites available with no trees. There are plenty of OTA stations available, and they all had great reception with clear HD pictures. Cable was not available.
Dog Park: They have two nice fenced-in parks that are in great condition. The one in the front of the park is divided for big and small dogs, while the one in the back is larger but not divided. They both have benches, which are all in good shape. They also provide doggie bags and a trash can. NOTE: I've included a photo of the sign posted at the entrances to the park indicating that they might be shut down. So if having a fenced dog park is mission-critical for your stay, you might want to verify that they are still open when you make your reservation
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website, and you are only a few miles from Fayetteville, where you can find plenty of stores and restaurants. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. Although the park is starting to show its age, it still deserves a high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy your stay!
Headgear7GuideCookson Bend
Pretty good park
The campground is quite nice overall, but the bathrooms and showers need to be updated, as they are somewhat outdated. The tent sites are close to the bathrooms, and the pads are flat and framed with either wood or steel rails. They offer electricity but no water at the pad, although water is available at a central location. The travel trailer sites offer water and electricity, and you can park your boat on the shoreline.
- JJon L.Guide
Riverfront RV Resort
A Hidden Gem
We needed an overnight spot on our way from Oklahoma to NW Arkansas, and I'm glad that we picked this park. It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful.
The road from the highway to the park is fairly easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful. However, you will hear occasional train horns from the crossing a few miles away. You'll only hear them when outside your RV, never inside.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 44. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and 5 inches from front to rear. There are no shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, and the pool are all located near the registration office building and are in great shape. There are no trash cans by the sites- just a dumpster area near the dog park and playground. However, they do come by your site each morning to pick up any trash that you've set out.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is decent Wi-Fi in the park with repeater towers spaced approximately every four sites, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 9.52 Mbps down and 2.02 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 4 bars and achieved 512 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up plenty of OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is in great condition and is well lit at night. They provide doggie bags and a trash can, both in the dog park and along the walking paths.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. The park is only a couple of years old and is very well maintained. Only about 15-20 percent of the spaces were occupied. Note that sites 100- 115 are along the river. There is a concrete public walking path along the river, but those sites are elevated above the path, with a grass and tree buffer zone between them. There are a couple of covered pavilions in the park with built-in gas grills and comfortable seating areas. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it - enjoy your stay!
- JJessie H.
TravelerWolf Pen Recreation Area Campground
It Was Ok
Very flea infested when we went. Water was really low and kinda hot. But the camp ground was pretty and well maintained.
- Headgear7Guide
Cookson Bend
Great lake to be on
I enjoyed my stay, although I wish the bathrooms and showers were more modern. There is a swimming area and plenty of space to bring your boat ashore close to your campsite. They offer a few tent sites, but mostly RV sites.
Guide to Fort Smith
Camping sites near Fort Smith, Arkansas range from waterfront locations along the Arkansas River to secluded spots in the surrounding Ozark foothills. Overnight temperatures can drop below freezing from December through February, with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September. The area's terrain offers a mix of riverside camping with flood plains and forested options with elevation changes of 500-800 feet.
What to do
Mountain biking near water: Springhill Park features a 10-mile trail system that attracts competitive riders. "I have been camping out here for years but never took advantage of the A side. A12-14 are premian spots to camp. I tent camp and the view is amazing. It's in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek," notes a camper.
Waterfall hunting: Devil's Den State Park Campground serves as a base for exploring cave systems and cascades within a 30-minute drive. A visitor shares, "The large rock 'mountain' it leads you too are so much fun to play on. They have tiny caves and are incredibly easy to craw around on. P.S make sure and bring lots of bug spray."
River tubing: Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures offers equipment rentals and easy river access. "You can Tube, float, kuyak, or just swim and relax. They have access to the national forest, and atv there also," reports one camper. Another mentions, "We lived our 2 days here."
What campers like
Spacious riverside sites: The campsites at COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground provide ample space between neighbors. A camper notes, "This is a great COE campground with spacious sites. I had site B09 which was far away from any other sites, had good shade, and had a view of the river."
Family-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer recreational facilities beyond hiking. "The kids loved floating and playing in it. Sights have great views," says a visitor to Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures. Another camper at Devil's Den mentions, "Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!"
Quality drinking water: Some sites provide exceptionally clean water. A camper at Springhill Park reported, "30 Amp hook up with some of the best water I have ever had. Only 35 ppm on my zero water tester. Bottled water has had more than 75 ppm."
What you should know
Maintenance schedules: Some facilities close without notice or undergo seasonal work. A recent visitor to Devil's Den warned, "Campground is currently (April 7) closed for maintenance and flooding. Call before you go!"
Variable site levelness: Not all pads are level, particularly for larger RVs. "One major downside of this park is that only about half the sites (in Loop B) were not flat enough for us to get level without having the wheels off the ground," notes a camper at Springhill Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Riverfront RV Resort found reliable connections, while Devil's Den has "no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Multiple sites feature dedicated play areas. A visitor to Riverfront RV Resort shared, "Our kids enjoyed the playground, outdoor gym, and pickleball - it was too cold to swim."
Check for swimming access: Natural swimming areas can provide hours of entertainment. A camper at Fort Smith-Alma RV Park found "Nice pond along the tent camping area," while another at Springhill Park enjoyed the "rock outcropping at the river by our site. It felt like we had our own little dock to cast off from."
Consider proximity to facilities: Not all campgrounds offer equal access to bathrooms. "Only one bathhouse," noted a Riverfront RV Resort visitor, though they added it "was clean." At Fort Smith-Alma RV Park, campers report the "Bathouse was clean and stocked."
Tips from RVers
Interior privacy: Site layout affects how much you'll see your neighbors. A camper at Fort Smith-Alma RV Park noted, "It's a bit tight, we found ourselves sharing our front yard with our neighbor. You have to keep your blinds closed otherwise you find yourself looking right into the windows of your neighbors on both sides."
Reservation systems: Different campgrounds use different booking methods. At Springhill Park, "You have to reserve your site in advance via Recreation.gov," while during off-season (November-February), all sites become walk-in only.
Rig size considerations: Some parks accommodate larger vehicles better than others. At Devil's Den, "If you have a large rig - make sure to take the West Fork exit off I-49 vs. the south exit (Winslow)." A camper at COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake added, "All sites and roads are paved and easy to navigate in a big rig."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Fort Smith, AR?
What camping is available near Fort Smith, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fort Smith, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 165 campgrounds and RV parks near Fort Smith, AR and 19 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Smith, AR?
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Smith, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fort Smith, AR is Springhill with a 4.1-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Smith, AR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Smith, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Fort Smith, AR.
What parks are near Fort Smith, AR?
What parks are near Fort Smith, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Fort Smith, AR that allow camping, notably John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake and Ozark Lake.
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