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Best Dispersed Camping near Morrilton, AR

56 Reviews

The Ouachita National Forest and surrounding public lands dominate the camping landscape within an hour of Morrilton, Arkansas. Dispersed camping options are particularly abundant, with sites like Harris Brake Lake offering maintained areas with picnic tables and fire rings despite their primitive classification. Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite provides creek-side camping with access to short hiking trails, while Forest Road 132 sites connect directly to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. Most dispersed sites feature basic rock fire rings and level parking for 2-3 vehicles but lack amenities like water, toilets, or trash service.

Forest road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many requiring careful navigation. As one camper noted, "The ride on Forest Road 132 from Highway 9 is bumpy in several places. Erosion seems to be getting worse over time on this unpaved road." Many sites are accessible to standard passenger vehicles when driven carefully, though some areas like Crystal Mountain Overlook require high-clearance 4x4 vehicles. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with T-Mobile and AT&T coverage varying widely between sites. Seasonal considerations affect both access and site conditions, with some locations becoming overgrown in summer but more accessible in winter when vegetation dies back.

Creekside camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the area. One camper described their experience at Brown Creek as "peaceful at night with only the sounds of birds, breeze and the creek." Water access points are common features, with sites near Harris Brake Lake, Spring Lake, and various creeks offering fishing opportunities. Many campers note the tranquility of these locations, with minimal traffic on forest roads, especially midweek. Wildlife management areas and hunting zones overlap with some camping areas, making awareness of hunting seasons important for safety. Most sites accommodate tent camping and smaller RVs or campervans, though larger rigs may have difficulty navigating to more remote locations.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Morrilton, Arkansas (45)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Morrilton, AR

54 Photos of 45 Morrilton Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Morrilton, AR

56 Reviews of 45 Morrilton Campgrounds

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 12, 2022

    Dispersed FR132 Ouachita National Forest, AR

    Dispersed Camping near Ouachita National Recreation Trail, AR

    Located along Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) in the Ouachita National Forest, Saline County, Arkansas. Flatside Wilderness Area located across the road from the site. Access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail located nearby. Free dispersed site, no facilities. Rock fire ring. Should be enough parking for 2 vehicles. Suitable for tent camping, car camping, truck camping & van camping. Mostly level. There was plenty of firewood left by the fire ring. Camped here in February; very quiet. Only 2 vehicles drove by. Had a few bars of T-Mobile service.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2022

    Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite

    Free dispersed camping in the Ouachita National Forest

    Popular dispersed campsite in the Ouachita National Forest. Only one site; not a campground. Located on the gravel Brown Creek Road in Perry County, Arkansas. The South Fork of Brown Creek runs behind this campsite. Located next to the trailhead for Brown Creek Cascade - a short 1/4 mile hike (includes a creek crossing). This campsite is suitable for tent camping, car camping, camper vans & truck campers. Two vehicles can easily fit on this level site. There are other dispersed sites along Brown Creek Road. The site is close to the road; there's a large mud puddle covering one of the 2 entrances to this site. 2-wheel drive passenger cars can make it to the site. Large pine trees on the site. Hammock camping is possible. No water (except for creek). No toilets nor showers. No trash - take out what you bring in. May need to hike a ways in the woods to find firewood. Large rock fire ring on site. No AT&T and T-Mobile cell service. Very quiet; no vehicles passed by during the night. The sound from the creek was soothing.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Nice Dispersed Site Above Brock Creek

    Not sure if the location pin is correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.49995, -92.80930. A large, wooded dispersed site situated above Brock Creek off of Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trail area. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road. The dispersed site can accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles - campervan size and smaller. There are 2 access driveways into the site. Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site. Access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion. The dispersed site is a dirt surface with some embedded rocks jutting out. Some leveling may be required depending where the rig is parked. Tent camping is possible. There is a vehicle turnaround at the rear of the site. The site is shaded, so solar charging is limited. Except for a little bit of glass and some bullet shell casings scattered about, the site was clean at the time of my visit. The site has a large rock fire ring. There is a wide track that leads off the site toward the south along and above the creek. This track does not appears on any of the current forest service maps (including MVUM) that I have, so I'm assuming that it is not a legal motorized vehicle track. The track is hikeable. The site is convenient to OHV and multi-use trails. It was a pretty site during my summertime visit, but I bet it's beautiful during the Fall season. It is set back from Charleston Road. It is a really nice spot.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2025

    Brown Creek Rd/FR805 Dispersed

    Nice wooded dispersed site above a small creek

    Coordinates: 34.87057,-92.89844. Camped here on April 20, 2025. Located along Brown Creek Road (Forest Road 805), appoximately 1/2 mile west of the Brown Creek Cascade dispersed site and trail head (see separate listing). Large, level site with a dirt surface. Should easily accomadate 2 or 3 rigs and tents. Recommend campervan and smaller rigs. Due to the trees on the site, a truck camper will have a difficult time pulling all the way into the site (although it can park on the access driveway). Easy access from the forest road. The site is clearly visable from the forest road; no privacy, and dust may be an issue during the dry season. Only 6 vehicles passed by during my stay (which was on a Monday evening). There is a large, nicely constructed rock fire ring on the site; other than this, there are no amenities at the site. A small creek is down the hill behind the site; the creek is dry during the dry season. A beautiful wall of trees is across the creek. The site is shaded; solar charging and Starlink connectivity may be difficult. Hammock camping is possible. No T-Mobile cell service. No access to hiking trails at the site; trailheads for Brown Creek Cascade and the Ouachita National Recreation Trail are a short drive away. Loved this site. Peaceful at night. The only sounds came from the birds, the breeze and the creek. Note that due to recent severe Spring storms, portions of Brown Creek Road have some erosion. The rocky surface is moderately rough in places, although a 2WD passenger car can make it if driven carefully through the rough spots. No issues for high clearance 4x4 vehicles.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 6, 2025

    FR1802A, Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed

    Secluded, Light Usage, Dispersed Camping in the Ozarks

    Coordinates: 35.58695,-93.20723. Camped here Dec 29, 2024. Set well off of Meadows Knob Rd. Expect pinstriping along the access track to this secluded dispersed campsite. FR1802A toward the site has some erosion; low clearance vehicles may high center in one or two spots. The main forest road into this part of the Ozark National Forest is okay. The campsite is in open area, located in an old clear cut area. There is a partial view of the distant mountains. The site is a level, dirt surface. Not a large site; okay for one rig. Tent camping possible. No nearby mature trees for hammock camping. The site is overgrown with grass and weeds; a weed whacker is needed to clear the rock fire ring. There is a spot on the ground where a previous campfire was made. Good AT&T and T-Mobile 5G service. No shade; access to Starlink is possible. No hiking trails, although there is a 2-track for hiking that leads down into Graves Creek Canyon and some unnamed waterfalls. The hike along this trck is nice. This is not a pretty dispersed site, but it is well off of the main forest road; very private. Access to the site may be difficult for some vehicles. High clearance 4x4 vehicles should have no problems.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2022

    Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks

    Creekside Dispersed Site, Middle Fork Illinois Bayou

    Large clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou. Located on Middle Fork Road, about a 1/4 mile in from AR Hwy 27, near Hector, AR. The site is on national forest land and appears to be popular. It's large enough for 3 car/truck/campervan rigs. Area is level for rigs & tents, although the ground is mostly hard buried gravel - maybe uncomfortable to sleep on without pads. Three large puddles on the site. Three ways to enter the site from  Middle Fork Road. Middle Fork Rd itself can easily accommodate 2wd passenger vehicles. Other dispersed sites further down the road along the creek. The site is not pristine, but it's nice to camp close to the bayou. Very peaceful, but there is occasional faint truck noise from Hwy 27. A half dozen or so vehicles passed by, some were residents who live further down the road. No facilities; need to bring your own water. No trash pickup; pack in, pack out.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Group Dispersed, Charleston Road, Ozark NF, AR

    Large Group Dispersed Camping

    Coordinates: 35.50873, -92.81549. Group dispersed site located less than a 1/4-mile south of the Zing Trailhead on Charleston Road. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road located in a popular national forest OHV area. This dispersed site is a level with a dirt and grass surface. The site can accomodate multiple vehicles; tent camping is possible. There is a large rock fire ring at the rear of the site. The site is open with little shade, making recharging with solar panels possible. Other than accommodating a group of OHV and offroad enthusiasts, and stargazing at night, there is nothing remarkable about this campsite.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2024

    Charleston Road Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Convenient to National Forest OHV Area

    Pin location may not be correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.52534, -92.83158. Located on Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV area - 1/2 mile southeast of the Mountain Man Trailhead. Charleston Road is a well maintained gravel road. The site is at the beginning of an old unnamed, closed, dirt track - close to Charleston Road. The site has a dirt surface; not quite level, but more level toward the rear. It is a pull-in site which can accommodate one campervan and smaller. Tent camping is possible. The site is mostly shaded. There is poison ivy around the perimeter of the site. The site includes a large rock fire ring. Except for a little bit of trash in the fire ring, the site was pretty much clean. The old track is gated just past the site,; the track is hikeable, leading up to the northern-most Stoebuck Mountain (there are two "Stoebuck Mountains" in this area). Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site. It is good for an overnight stay.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Brock Creek Lake View Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Lake View Dispersed Camping

    Coordinates: 35.49123, -92.80548. Large open dispersed site set back from Charleston Road, just north of Bell Rd (Forest Road 1334). Located in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trails area. Charleston Road is a wide, well-maintained gravel road. Access to the site from Charleston Road is on a 400 foot long narrow dirt track; pinstripping is possible. The dispersed site has a dirt surface with some embedded rocks. It's on a rise above the lake, offering a nice view. Solar recharging is possible in this open site. The site is on what appears to be a parking area along an old dirt track; this track appears as an older section of Charleston Rd on some maps. There is a dirt ramp into the lake. There is room for multiple rigs at the campsite. Some leveling may be required depending on the spot the vehicle is parked. There are two rock fire rings - one large and one small. Tent Camping is possible near the fire rings. The lake was drained at the time of my visit; otherwise, it's a really nice view.

Guide to Morrilton

Dispersed camping options near Morrilton, Arkansas concentrate primarily in the Ouachita National Forest with several undeveloped sites within a 30-45 minute drive. Most primitive camping areas sit at elevations between 500-1,200 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than lowland areas. Winter camping remains accessible on most forest roads, though seasonal precipitation can create challenging conditions on unpaved access routes.

What to do

Hiking accessible trails: Several dispersed sites connect directly to hiking paths. At Forest Service RD 132 Ouachita National Forest, campers can access mountain vista points with minimal effort. One visitor noted, "Near Oak Mtn Vista overlook. Great spot; fantastic unobstructed view of the hills to the south."

Creek exploration: Water features enhance many campsites. At Brown Creek Rd/FR805 Dispersed, a small seasonal creek flows behind the site. A camper described it as "Peaceful at night. The only sounds came from the birds, the breeze and the creek."

Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk provide opportunities for wildlife viewing. Many sites support diverse animal populations. One camper at Harris Brake Lake mentioned, "absolutely beautiful place the fireflies here are amazing! Nobody else was camping here which made for some quiet nights."

Star viewing: Clear nights offer excellent stargazing at secluded sites. Many forest locations have minimal light pollution. A camper at Forest RD 132 explained, "Lots of trees surrounding the site with an open sky above for star gazing."

What campers like

Lakeside views: Water views rank highly in camper reviews. At Harris Brake Lake, one visitor shared, "I really enjoyed this site. I stopped on a weekday and I was the only one there. It was nice watching the sun set over the lake."

Privacy and solitude: Midweek camping offers the most seclusion. One visitor at Harris Brake Lake noted, "No amenities but it's quiet and pretty and free. The sunset was gorgeous. We are the only ones here."

Well-maintained fire rings: Most dispersed sites feature established fire rings. At Tackett Mountain Road Dispersed, a camper found "a clean rock fire ring" and mentioned the site is "a nice place to simply hang out in."

Free camping access: All dispersed sites in national forests offer no-cost camping. A camper at Camp Robinson Dispersed Site appreciated that "The road back to it is well maintained and we had good cell reception with AT&T and Spectrum. The sunset was beautiful. Peaceful and quiet."

What you should know

Vehicle access considerations: Forest road conditions vary widely. At Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite, a visitor observed that "2-wheel drive passenger cars can make it to the site," though another camper noted difficulty finding decent firewood nearby.

Campsite availability patterns: Weekends see higher usage, especially in spring and fall. A visitor to Camp Robinson Dispersed Site warned, "I woke up at 11am to someone driving in then 12:30am then at 1:30 a loud truck came in slinging rocks."

Seasonal insect populations: Summer brings increased insect activity. One camper at Camp Robinson Dispersed Site advised, "I definitely put on bug spray right away. Nice place to sleep and get back on 40East in the morning."

Site maintenance varies: Some dispersed areas show signs of previous use. A Harris Brake Lake camper reported, "There was a ton of trash, including broken bottles and broken pans, near each site which was very unpleasant to see and camp near."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for safety: Choose sites with level ground away from road traffic. At Forest Service RD 132, families appreciate that the "Large site if you are sleeping on the ground bring plenty of padding it is rocky and not very flat."

Wildlife education opportunities: Many sites provide natural learning environments. A Harris Brake Lake camper shared, "We did not swim or fish in the water, but the lake is beautiful and there is a decent looking boat launch on the property."

Preparation for limited amenities: Pack all necessities for primitive camping. Camp Robinson Dispersed Site offers minimal facilities, with one camper noting, "Great spot to pitch a tent by lake Conway. Isolated but not too far out."

Ticks and pest management: Check for ticks regularly during warmer months. A Harris Brake Lake visitor warned, "There is a lot of ticks here i pulled 7 off of me and my dog in one night. other than that it was wonderful."

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller vehicles only. At Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite, a reviewer noted the site is "suitable for tent camping, car camping, camper vans & truck campers. Two vehicles can easily fit on this level site."

Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks for uneven terrain. A Harris Brake Lake camper advised, "We have a 25' travel trailer and didn't need to do any backing up to get in or out. Full cell signal with XFINITY mobile."

Water management: No water sources are available at dispersed sites. Plan accordingly for drinking and washing needs. A visitor to Harris Brake Lake mentioned, "No amenities but it's quiet and pretty and free. We are the only ones here."

Road navigation: Forest roads require careful driving. One camper at Harris Brake Lake suggested, "Got here during sunset and it was beautiful but the gravel roads are invisible at night so definitely have some daylight ahead of you."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there free camping available year-round in the Morrilton area?

Yes, free dispersed camping is available year-round in the national forests surrounding the Morrilton area, though accessibility may vary seasonally due to weather conditions. The FR1802A, Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed site in Ozark National Forest has been used in winter months, but expect some road erosion and possible high-centering in spots with low-clearance vehicles. Bear Creek Horse Camp in the Ouachita National Forest provides free camping along Forest Road 772, though minor erosion where creeks cross the road may affect winter access. Most dispersed sites have a 14-day stay limit. Always check current forest conditions and road status before traveling, especially during wet winter months.

What are the rules for dispersed camping at Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton?

Petit Jean State Park does not permit dispersed camping – all camping must be within designated campgrounds. For dispersed camping near Petit Jean, consider nearby National Forest land instead. The Adams Mountain Rd Dispersed Campsite in Piney Creek WMA (Ozark National Forest) offers a large area with established fire rings suitable for multiple vehicles. Alternatively, Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite in the Ouachita National Forest provides a single site near a short hiking trail. Standard dispersed camping rules apply: camp at least 100 feet from water sources, pack out all trash, and use existing fire rings when available.

Where can I find dispersed camping near Morrilton, Arkansas?

Several dispersed camping options exist within an hour's drive of Morrilton. In the Ozark National Forest north of Morrilton, Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks offers a large clearing along the Illinois Bayou near Hector. Also in the Ozark National Forest, Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed provides wooded sites above Brock Creek in a popular OHV area. For additional options, the Ouachita National Forest south of Morrilton has multiple dispersed sites along forest service roads. Most sites have basic fire rings but no facilities, so come prepared with water and waste disposal plans.

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