Best Campgrounds near Henderson, AR

The Henderson, Arkansas area features multiple campgrounds situated along the shores of Norfolk Lake and Bull Shoals Lake, with a mix of public and private facilities offering various accommodation types. Campgrounds like Henderson Park provide electric hookups and water access for both tent and RV camping, while nearby Gamaliel, Robinson Point, and Dam-Quarry sites offer additional options with varying levels of amenities. Most campgrounds in this region provide waterfront access, making them popular destinations for fishing enthusiasts and water recreation, with several sites offering boat-in camping options alongside traditional drive-in access.

Access to many campgrounds varies seasonally, with several facilities like Gamaliel and Robinson Point operating from April or May through October. "Like all Arkansas State parks this is a well kept park," notes one review of Bull Shoals-White River State Park, which remains open year-round. During periods of heavy rainfall, flooding can impact campground availability, particularly at sites closest to the water. Most campgrounds provide some level of basic amenities including drinking water, toilets, and trash service, though shower facilities are limited to select locations. Reservations are recommended for most established campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly.

Waterfront camping dominates the region's offerings, with multiple sites providing direct access to Norfolk Lake or the White River below Bull Shoals Dam. Several campgrounds including Bull Shoals-White River State Park and Blue Heron Campground include cabin options alongside traditional camping sites. A visitor to Henderson Park mentioned, "This is a wonderful small campground. Will not handle large rigs. Better suited to smaller trailers or tents. Right on the water so it is great if you have kayaks or similar." Fishing is particularly popular in the region, with the White River known for excellent trout fishing. The landscape features wooded sites with varying levels of shade, though some lakeside locations have limited tree cover. Cell service is generally available throughout the region, though signal strength varies by carrier and proximity to Mountain Home.

Best Camping Sites Near Henderson, Arkansas (143)

    1. Gamaliel

    8 Reviews
    Gamaliel, AR
    3 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."

    2. Dam - Quarry

    11 Reviews
    Norfork, AR
    8 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."

    3. Robinson Point

    8 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    2 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."

    4. Bull Shoals-White River State Park

    26 Reviews
    Bull Shoals, AR
    20 miles
    Website

    "Like all Arkansas State parks this is a well kept park"

    "It's one of the best I've been to in Arkansas.  "

    5. Bidwell Point Park

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

    $24 - $50 / night

    6. Blue Heron Campground

    15 Reviews
    Cotter, AR
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 453-4678

    "The location is great in the sense that it’s easy to get to and it’s laid out well. Unfortunately, it’s directly under an overpass and it is loud- loud enough that I used ear plugs at night."

    "It's a beautiful rv resort next to the water.  Step out of your rv and you will see some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the United States. "

    7. Henderson Park

    3 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    0 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."

    8. Panther Bay - Norfolk Lake

    3 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    1 mile
    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. "

    9. Cranfield Park

    3 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 492-4191

    $16 - $50 / night

    "The campground at the Marina was nice, wooded with level dedicated tent pads, nice picnic tables with firepits and prep tables next to level parking pads."

    10. Jordan Campground

    3 Reviews
    Elizabeth, AR
    8 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"

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Recent Reviews near Henderson, AR

378 Reviews of 143 Henderson 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

    Hercules Glades (Watch Tower)

    Nice campground with access to trails

    Camped here in mid-October 2025. Free national forest primitive campground. Walk-in tent sites, but was able to find a site at the far end to park my van at the site. It was at the Long Creek Trailhead. It was mid-week, so it was quiet and peaceful here. Only one other camper here during our visit who car-camped in a parking lot. Sites included a metal fire ring and table; some with tent pads. Hammock camping is possible depending on the site. My site had a grass and dirt surface. The vault toilet was clean and equiped with tp. No potable water. Hiking into the Hecules Glades Wilderness Area was wonderful. The trails into the wilderness area appear to be open to hikers, backpackers, hunters and equestrian riding. Hitching rails are available at the campground. Access to the campground on the forest road was good; a 2wd passenger car should be able to make it here. Overall, a nice, peaceful overnight 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'


Guide to Henderson

Camping sites near Henderson, Arkansas are centered around two major water bodies: Norfolk Lake and Bull Shoals Lake, with many locations at elevations between 600-700 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures often reaching the 90s and mild winters, making late spring through early fall the peak camping season. Seasonal water level fluctuations can dramatically impact site availability, with flooding most common during April and May.

What to do

Trout fishing along White River: The White River below Bull Shoals Dam offers excellent trout fishing opportunities. At Dam - Quarry, visitors note the "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!"

Kayaking from lakeside camps: Bring your own kayaks for direct water access at some smaller campgrounds. "This is a great campground. Awesome views of the lake and great swimming off the rock outcrops. Water is so clear," mentions a reviewer about Jordan Campground.

Visit nearby attractions: The fish hatchery across from Dam-Quarry campground makes for an interesting side trip. "Be sure to visit the hatchery across the street," recommends a camper, adding there are "lots of nice people in the campground and on the river."

What campers like

Large, shaded sites: At Gamaliel, campers appreciate the "shady, large sites and most have a view of lake." One reviewer noted it's "awesome for couples or families. Closer to the lake and had its own swimming beach."

Private bathroom facilities: Some campgrounds offer improved bathroom facilities with individual rooms rather than traditional communal setups. A Dam-Quarry camper highlighted the "clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower."

Quality concrete pads: Blue Heron Campground receives praise for its "excellent concrete pads with easy back-in markings for RVs. Great cement patio so there is no mud in case of rain. Each site has its own fire pit and 2 chairs."

What you should know

Seasonal flooding impacts: Many sites close during high water periods. "Arkansas is experiencing flooding at this time and we were fortunate that our site was not flooded," reported a visitor to Henderson Park. Similarly, a Gamaliel visitor mentioned "many sites in the Mountain Home region were closed due to flooding."

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area require advance booking. At Cranfield Park, a camper advises to "make sure to make reservations well in advance, as this campground is so popular that getting a site as a walk up is highly unlikely."

Limited shower facilities: While many campgrounds have toilet facilities, showers aren't universal. About Henderson Park, a reviewer mentioned "this would be five stars except for lack of showers. Beautiful site right on beautiful lake."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and swimming areas: Gamaliel has "a playground for the littles, and they have clean, full bathrooms on site. Nearby to a dock and marina with rentals, bait and gear available," notes a regular visitor.

Amphitheater activities: Some parks offer educational programs. At Bull Shoals-White River State Park, a family mentioned, "The visitor center is awesome and the park had several activities available. We went to an owl talk and a bear talk that was very informative."

Kid-friendly water recreation: Jordan Campground provides diverse water activities for children. "Kids had a blast here! Cliff jumping, great fishing, kayaking, swim beach, and even pizza from the marina!" reports a satisfied family camper.

Tips from RVers

Site length limitations: Check site dimensions before booking. At Robinson Point, "most all sites are relatively level and have asphalt ramps with concrete pads," but size restrictions apply at some campgrounds.

Campsite selection for views: When possible, choose waterfront sites for the best experience. A Blue Heron Campground visitor advises "all the sites are great, but the river sites provide a nice cool breeze off the water!"

Utility hook-up quality: Water levels and site layout can affect amenities. At Bidwell Point Park, a camper noted their "site was a little hard to get into and a little tight with the pavillion there providing the only shade."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Henderson, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, Henderson, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 143 campgrounds and RV parks near Henderson, AR and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Henderson, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Henderson, AR is Gamaliel with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Henderson, AR.

What parks are near Henderson, AR?

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