Cabins near Huntington, Arkansas provide overnight accommodations in the Boston Mountains region of the Ozarks, where elevations reach up to 2,753 feet at Mount Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas. Many forest service and state park cabins remain open year-round, with winter temperatures often 10-15 degrees cooler on mountain peaks than in surrounding valleys. Cabin sites typically include outdoor amenities like fire rings and picnic tables alongside indoor climate control systems.
What to do
Explore hiking trails: Lake Fort Smith State Park connects directly to the Ozark Highlands Trail from campsites on the lake side. "Lots of places to hike and explore, beautiful lake, and very nice camp sites. Peaceful!! One of our most favorite places to camp," notes a visitor at Lake Fort Smith State Park.
Visit mountain summits: The highest point in Arkansas is accessible via an easy family-friendly trail at Mount Magazine. "The hike up to the highest point in Arkansas is easy and family friendly for kids. Campground and bathhouse were well maintained and nice," reports a camper at Mount Magazine State Park.
Watch sunrise from mountain viewpoints: White Rock Mountain Recreation Area offers spectacular morning views from its Rim Trail. "Peaceful spot, every star is visible. All of them. Beautiful sunrise in the morning viewed from the rim trail," shares a visitor who notes any car can make the drive up when conditions are dry.
What campers like
Forest surroundings: Devil's Den State Park cabins are situated in wooded settings with nearby recreation opportunities. "Devils Den is a great place to camp and hike for those who wanna get closer to nature. The campground is clean, but the showers could use some work," mentions a reviewer at Devil's Den State Park.
Lodge facilities: Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers both camping and lodge accommodations. "The Lodge is very modern and the welcoming staff were very polite and helpful. We asked if a 15amp site for tent camping was available but they had to move us after determining that they didn't give us a site with a pad," notes a camper at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
Water activities: Cedar Lake has trails circling the water and opportunities for swimming. "There is a really fun trail that runs right around the entire lake, and it's a little over two miles. Nearly all natural terrain throughout the hike which makes it especially nice," reports a visitor who adds that portable toilets were available when bathrooms were under repair.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Several mountain cabins have restricted connectivity. "There's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park. Make sure to stock up on supplies beforehand - there are not many options within that area as far as food and services," advises a camper at Clear Creek Recreation Area.
Mountain road conditions: Access roads to elevated cabin areas can be challenging. White Rock Mountain requires a slow approach, with visitors noting it takes "a full hour to drive less than 15 miles on this road" and recommending "an all wheel or four wheel drive vehicle with plenty of clearance."
Weather variability: Mountain cabins experience different weather from surrounding areas. One Mount Magazine visitor warns: "Due to the elevation and drastic temperature change from the base of the mountain and the campground, it frankly isn't safe at all to drive on the mountain in the early morning or evening."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Several parks offer swimming facilities beyond natural water features. "Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" shares a family staying at Devil's Den State Park during summer months.
Cabin selection for safety: Choose sites with level terrain when traveling with young children. "Many of the campsites are on a grade. They all have multiple levels with stairs and have no railings. We had 5 children <6 years of age and the sites were somewhat perilous," notes a family at Mount Magazine recommending specific sites for families with small children.
Playground availability: Check which cabin areas include dedicated children's facilities. A visitor to Long Lake Resort reports "Buffalo, horses and awesome amounts of fish! We stayed here in a duplex cabin and could just fish right out our back door. They have hiking trails and 2 private lakes."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup locations: Several parks provide complete utility connections for cabin and RV campers. "The RV area looked new because all of the power boxes had 50/30 and 120 outlets and breakers which is super cool. All of the sites had sewer and water connections too," notes a visitor to Long Lake Resort.
Site spacing considerations: Many cabin and RV areas have varied site separation. "Sites are spaced out pretty well," notes a Lake Fort Smith camper, while another at Fort Smith-Alma RV Park observes "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."
Level sites: Look for parks that offer relatively flat parking areas. "The campsites are very well maintained and very level," notes a visitor to Queen Wilhelmina, while another camper at Lake Fort Smith adds "It was totally level we didn't need any leveling done at all."
