Best Tent Camping near Havana, AR
The Ozark and Ouachita National Forests offer several tent camping options near Havana, Arkansas, with both free dispersed sites and established campgrounds. Buzzards Rock Dispersed camping area provides primitive tent sites in the Mt. Magazine Wildlife Management Area, while Fourche Mountain Campground offers a more structured camping experience with five small primitive sites along Highway 27. Hickory Nut Mountain and Haw Creek Falls also provide tent-friendly camping within reasonable driving distance.
Tent sites throughout the region typically feature rock fire rings, with most established campgrounds adding picnic tables and vault toilets. Fourche Mountain offers clean vault toilets with toilet paper and trash barrels, though the sites lack privacy despite reasonable separation. Dispersed camping areas like Buzzards Rock have no facilities, requiring campers to pack out all waste. Road conditions vary significantly—Fourche Mountain is accessible via well-maintained gravel Forest Road 83W, while reaching Buzzards Rock requires navigating forest roads to OHV trails. Water sources are scarce, making it essential for tent campers to bring sufficient supplies.
The natural setting compensates for limited amenities at most tent campgrounds. Fourche Mountain's pine and oak forest provides partial shade but limited screening between tent sites. Highway noise can be noticeable during the day but diminishes at night. At Buzzards Rock, tent campers can access hiking trails leading to scenic overlooks with minimal effort. One reviewer noted of Fourche Mountain: "This campground is good for an overnight stay when exploring the national forest or passing by on Highway 27. There is no recreation in this recreation area; no water access, no hiking trails." Walk-in tent sites at higher elevations often provide better views and more solitude than roadside locations, though they require additional effort to access.