Best Dispersed Camping near Hot Springs Village, AR
Dispersed camping opportunities abound in the Ouachita National Forest near Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) offers several free primitive sites with rock fire rings and level areas suitable for tent camping, car camping, and small RVs. According to reviews, the Flatside Wilderness Area is accessible across from several sites along FR132, providing easy access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite on Brown Creek Road features a level site that accommodates two vehicles and offers access to a short 1/4-mile hiking trail.
These primitive sites provide no amenities or facilities. Campers must pack in all water and pack out all trash. Forest roads can be challenging, with some erosion and washouts reported on FR153 requiring 4x4 vehicles. As one camper noted, "Roads are steep further back but well covered with gravel and very few large rocks, so you should be okay with most cars in good weather." Cell service is spotty throughout the area, with T-Mobile reception reported at some FR132 sites but absent at others.
The dispersed sites in this region typically feature rock fire rings and dirt surfaces. Most accommodate smaller rigs like truck campers, campervans, and tents. Several sites are positioned near creeks, providing soothing background sounds but no reliable water source. Winter camping is particularly peaceful, with one reviewer mentioning "very quiet; only 2 vehicles drove by" during a February stay. During hunting season, increased traffic and hunter presence should be expected. All sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted.
