Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Fort Smith, AR is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Fort Smith and user-submitted reviews.
$16 - $75 / night
"Love the area, really feels like youve left fort smith and entered a little bit of utopia!"
"It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass."
$20 / night
"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. "
"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."
"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)."
$15 - $35 / night
"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."
"He greeted us with his precious dogs and hung out with us until we were settled in, telling us all about the property, trails, and nearby waterfalls."
"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."
$22 - $25 / night
"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!"
$16 - $75 / night
"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."
"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."
"Conveniently located near Fort Smith AR."
ScoutAn excellent park. With $12 million from Fort Smith and $10 from the state the renovation is all first class. There is a covered wagon in the new visitor center. The sites are lovely. No swimming in the lake but the pool is great.
LegendSpringhill Park in Fort Smith is yet another great U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground and recreation area. We are huge fans of Corps parks for numerous reasons and this one did not disappoint. 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. The park is located in Barling, Arkansas which is just a short drive from downtown Fort Smith. The area offers plenty of sights to see (especially for history buffs) and interesting things to do.
The campground is open year-round. Campsites can be booked on-line at recreation.gov except during the off-season (Nov- Feb) when all sites are walk-in. The park has 44 total sites divided into two loops– one with 30 amp electric (A loop) and the other with 50 amp (B loop). Water is available at some sites and at the centrally-located dump station. Finding out which sites have water on recreation.gov is a bit confusing. When looking at the “site list” page you will notice no sites have water listed as an“amenity” but it does list the electric. To find out if a site has water, click on the link for specific details of a particular site and it will indicate if there is water hook ups.
All sites and roads are paved and easy to navigate in a big rig. Many sites are very long with only eleven sites being less than 45’ in length(and only seven under 40’). 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. Smaller RVs or trailers that use blocks instead of automatic leveling jacks should be able to get level. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. The sites in A Loop(pictured below) have a paved parking space adjacent to the paved RV pad. Campsites are closer together and have fewer trees creating a more open feel than in the B Loop but do back-up to a small pond that makes for a nice view.
We stayed in site B1 and loved the privacy and tall trees surrounding the site and the large grassy field next to us. Sites B9 and B11 have great views of the water and offer plenty of room between you and your neighbor while others are tucked nicely into the trees. The patios in B Loop(pictured to the right) have a concrete patio on a cement pad. Most of the patios are located at the back of the campsite. We picked up roughly 15 television channels (including the three major networks) with our antenna. Trees may prevent you from getting satellite if your dish is fixed on the roof.
Located in both loops are a bath/shower building(which were very clean), playground, and pavilion. There are hiking/mountain biking trails that leave from the campground. Mountain biking is a big deal here and there is a 10-mile"fast" trail where experienced bikers race frequently. Other amenities include basketball courts, boat launch and picnic pavilions.
The park is a few miles from Fort Smith proper and about eight miles to downtown attractions including the National Historical Park. Within two miles are a few restaurants, gas station, and a super Walmart is less than four miles away. The area immediately surrounding the park is a nice part of town that felt safe to us. What we liked was that this park has well-spaced sites, a nice wooded setting and a site with the amenities of electric, water, and a pavement. The location was great to downtown Fort Smith so you didn’t feel isolated if you wanted to go sight-seeing, out to eat, or shopping. Being right on the lake meant we could easily go kayaking or fishing and there were plenty of places to walk throughout the property. Access to the park is easy and manageable for a big-rig towing a car. The price$20/night (or$10 for senior pass holders) is quite the deal. This park is great for dogs with lots of room to walk, trails, and places to swim.
The only ding was that if this park would have had sewer at the site. But we loved it anyway and would definitely stay here again. The other ding this park gets is the fact that so many sites are unlevel.
GuideWe stayed at Aux Arc Campground for a 3 day getaway. We used it as a base camp to visit several Arkansas state parks such as Devil’s Den and Lake Fort Smith. The camp was clean, a little crowded, but very nice and relaxed.
ScoutThis campground is only about a year old and everything seems to still be in good shape. Online reservations were simple, even on the day of arrival. Most sites are concrete pads and even the gravel sites have a concrete pad for the picnic table. Campground is adjacent to the Arkansas River (thus the name) and less than 2 miles from the Fort Smith National Historic Site. The bathrooms were clean and secured by door combination though the showers only had a curtain to close.
ScoutThis park offers no amenities, but was exactly what I needed. 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. There is no check in or checkout. I just rolled in at 3am and quickly set up camp and went to bed. There were no other campers there.
GuideWas 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. Site A2 had fire pit, grill, picnic table was pretty level even with gravel. Fishing pond, dog walk area, propane station all on property for reasonable rates. Bathouse was clean and stocked. Only complaint was these little red mites. I looked them up and they are harmless but they were numerous and made us uncomfortable. I was especially concerned for our 2 dogs. I believe this is an old KOA under private ownership. They have done a great job updating the place. Jules at the office was also very pleasant and helpful.
RangerStayed here over a non drill weekend, and the whole place was deserted. Nice spot on the end with trees and the fishing pond. Must be self contained, no bath house. Conveniently located near Fort Smith AR.
ScoutLove the area, really feels like youve left fort smith and entered a little bit of utopia!
GuideThis campground boasts a market and shop and sits on a bend in a creek on the outskirts of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Beyond those amenities I can't see what would prompt vacationers to stay at this place. Mostly it has the look of a residential community.
I sought shelter here during a snow storm. I could sit out the inclement weather hooked up to power and the camp's ample wifi and get some work done. The coin-op laundry was good for getting my clothes washed.
The owners did not clear the snow at the camp sight or on the walkways to the bathrooms and laundry room. I found a shovel and did it myself. At about $40 a night it seemed overpriced.
Showers are hot and the heat works well. Some consideration could be given to making space for the toiletries and changing area needed for showering. On the upside, the camp's hosts have placed several bird feeders on the property and between that and the surrounding woodlands and water supply, you'll see many interesting birds: Eastern bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings among them.
Discover the joy of camping with your furry friends near Fort Smith, Arkansas, where several campgrounds welcome pets and offer a range of amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Smith, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Smith, AR is Springhill with a 4.1-star rating from 21 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 115 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Smith, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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