Best Campgrounds near Jerusalem, AR

Camping options near Jerusalem, Arkansas include a range of established and dispersed sites within the Ozark National Forest region. Petit Jean State Park offers developed campground facilities with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and yurt accommodations approximately 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Several dispersed camping areas are available in the surrounding forest lands, including Tackett Mountain Road Dispersed, Brock Creek Lake View Dispersed, and Brock Creek-Charleston Road Dispersed sites, which provide free primitive camping opportunities for tent and small RV campers.

National Forest lands surrounding Jerusalem feature dirt roads with varying levels of accessibility, particularly around the Illinois Bayou and Brock Creek areas. Many dispersed sites are accessible via forest roads like Charleston Road, though high-clearance vehicles may be needed during wet conditions. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F and potential flash flooding during spring and fall rainstorms. Most dispersed sites lack facilities, requiring visitors to pack in water and practice Leave No Trace principles. One camper noted, "Located in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trails area. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road."

The primitive campsites throughout the area typically include simple fire rings and flat areas for parking or tent setup. Campers frequently mention the natural surroundings as highlights, with several sites offering access to water features. Bayou Bluff Recreation Area provides stone shelters and picnic tables near the Illinois Bayou. "The river is gorgeous and made us wish we had brought a few poles," reported one visitor about the Illinois Bayou area. Sites near Brock Creek Lake offer scenic views when water levels are normal, though recent reviews mention periods when the lake has been drained. For those preferring more amenities, established campgrounds like Lake Dardanelle State Park provide showers, electrical hookups, and water access within reasonable driving distance of Jerusalem.

Best Camping Sites Near Jerusalem, Arkansas (199)

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Recent Reviews near Jerusalem, AR

868 Reviews of 199 Jerusalem Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Benjamin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Devils Fork

    ACOE Devils Fork Campground

    Nice spot, we stay next to the swimming area. Most of the sites have a big concrete pads. Campground host was very friendly. Great value for what you get. Be sure to double check and see what your hookups are as our site only has electric.

  • B
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Maumelle Park

    Love the campground !

    Traveling through Arkansas and landed at this beautiful park! Spacious sites and beautiful area! Tried to get a water site but they were full. But after arriving we realized that there really aren’t any bad sites. We stayed in B14 and had lots of room and the area was great. Great place for dog walking and even a trail to take her on. Our Labrador loved it here too. Many picnic areas as well as a concrete picnic table at each site. Lots of trees and shade. Very relaxing and peaceful. Would love to come back!

  • 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'

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Cherokee Park (Arkansas River) — Arkansas River Rockefeller Lake

    Best Corps of Engineers campground

    A beautiful spot with both lakeside campsites and shaded sites. All spaced for plenty of privacy. Each site has  power and water. Bathrooms are clean and have showers. $26 per night or $13 if you have a federal pass. I used my senior lifetime pass. Strong cell: 3 bars of 5G Verizon.

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

    FR94 Dispersed Campsite

    Peaceful site in the Quachitas

    Coordinates: 34.86190,-92.90667. Camped here Sept 9, 2025. Large dirt and grass site; very clean. May accommodate a truck camper or 2 smaller vehicles. Mostly level. Tent and hammock camping possible. No privacy from the road. The site has a rock fire ring. The site is surrounded by forest with the Flatside Wilderness Area just across the forest road. There are no hiking trails near the campsite, but there are opportunities to stroll and explore in the forest. The site is mostly shaded; Starlink connectivity may be a challenge. AT&T LTE service. Sporadic T-Mobile service. Quiet location. No one drove by during our stay. Note that there are a couple of dead trees in the middle of this site; choose the position of your vehicle and/or tent carefully. The Flatside Pinnacle hiking trailhead and parking for the Ouachita National Recreation Trail are located 3/4 of a mile north of the site along FR94. The forest roads approaching the site from the south are in good condition. In my opinion, I don't recommend anything larger that a truck camper. The approach from the north, however, is not as good. FR94 and FR805 are eroded at the higher elevations; lots of exposed embedded rocks. I believe a 2wd passenger car can very carefully get through this area with air-downed tires.

  • Benjamin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Toad Suck

    ACOE Toad Suck

    Great little campground. Decently maintained. Most of the sites have concrete pads big enough for a couple tents. Solid concrete picnic table with a roof over it was nice. Parking was not very level but our 38ft schoolie fit fine with enough room for our car.

  • Amanda F.
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Mount Nebo State Park Campground

    Great place

    One of the best places I have camped in a while. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Nice trails and panoramic views.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Gilbert RV Park

    Owner treated us like family !!!

    When we pulled into the campground we were met with friendly smiles ! Jim and his wife are super nice and very helpful!! We got all setup and enjoyed our time around Gilbert. The quiet little town with some live music occasionally. Probably just a little over a quarter mile walk to the river or drive down to gravel bed where you can park. Take all your stuff and play in the river all day. There is a float service in Gilbert. Restrooms are separate from the showers. Men's and women's. They also have chickens so you might hear that Rooster every morning !! We had a super nice time here !!! Very simple place to stay. Just respect the camp rules and don't get too loud !! Please don't show up super late ! Jim and his wife are elderly !!! ( Just my opinion )


Guide to Jerusalem

The Ozark National Forest surrounds Jerusalem, Arkansas with elevations ranging from 800 to 2,500 feet, creating diverse microclimates across the region. Primitive camping sites near Jerusalem require preparation for temperature swings of 30-40°F between day and night, even in summer months. Most dispersed areas lack cell service, with coverage spotty throughout the forest except at higher elevations.

What to do

Waterfall hikes: The Bayou Bluff area offers access to nearby waterfalls with a short hike. "Down the road you can bushwack to Penhook falls. Plenty of privacy on the 2 end sites. There are 3 sites total, no reservations. But you never have trouble getting a spot unless it's a holiday weekend," notes a Bayou Bluff Point of Interest visitor.

Swimming holes: Big Piney Creek at Long Pool Recreation Area provides natural swimming spots with rock features. "The big draw is the charming swimming area with its imposing trio of rocks that swimmers love to jump off of. Pets are not permitted around or in the water, so we prefer to leave our dog at home when visiting here," explains a camper.

Fishing access: Multiple spots along the Illinois Bayou and Brock Creek offer fishing opportunities. A visitor at Cherokee Park mentioned, "We look forward to many more visits to this park! We have seen quite a bit of wildlife including an up close encounter with a bald eagle, several blue herons, and a few river otter sightings."

What campers like

Stone shelters: Historic CCC-built structures at Bayou Bluff provide unique camping amenities. "The rock shelters have a large rock fire area. There's also a vault toilet on the lower loop. A pavilion onsite is reservable and has electricity," one camper notes about their experience.

Mountain top camping: Sites at Mount Nebo State Park offer unique elevated perspectives. "We chose site 17, directly on the Rim with unimpeded long views and unobstructed breezes. It was a toss-up between 16 and 17... even 14 is directly on the Rim," shares one visitor about their mountaintop experience.

Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer good spacing between sites. At Petit Jean State Park, "B loop pros: plenty of shade in hot months with the pine grove, easy access to the paved CCC trail, 30/50 amp service, water, picnic table, fire ring and trash hook, clean and accommodating bath house, enough space between sites for plenty of privacy."

What you should know

Lake level variations: Water levels at Brock Creek Lake fluctuate significantly. "The lake was drained at the time of my visit; otherwise, it's a really nice view," reports one visitor to Brock Creek Lake View Dispersed.

Road conditions: Many forest roads require appropriate vehicles. "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," warns a camper at Brock Creek-Charleston Road Dispersed.

Seasonal crowds: Certain areas become congested during peak seasons. One Long Pool Recreation Area visitor noted, "Busy with floaters in the springtime. Tent loop on short bluff along 'long pool'. Great swimmin' hole, shower house for floaters and campers."

Tips for camping with families

Playground options: Lake Dardanelle State Park offers dedicated play areas. "The kids love the playground. There is a nice wide boat ramp with plenty of parking situated in a peaceful cove," reports a family visitor to Lake Dardanelle State Park.

Swimming areas: Multiple sites offer kid-friendly water access. At Bayou Bluff, "There aren't many spots in this area. All sites are pretty shaded all day. Swimming is a small but slightly difficult walk down a steep Rocky path. It's rarely crowded which is why we like it."

Educational opportunities: Some parks offer learning experiences. Petit Jean visitor reports, "The park lodges, which also function as a trailhead for one of the major hikes there are like nothing I've seen before. A pool at the top of an expensive outlook which ultimately leads down to a gorgeous waterfall."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Choose carefully based on your RV size and needs. A Petit Jean State Park reviewer recommends: "Areas A and B can accommodate large rigs and towables. A Loop pros: it's new, it's laid out ideally, full hook up sites with sewer, and plenty of gravel and concrete to keep from dealing with too much dirt, mud, sand."

Level spots: Many sites require equipment for leveling. "Many sites are unlevel and require significant leveling chocks to get it truly level," warns a Petit Jean visitor about B loop sites.

Year-round options: Some RV parks operate continuously. An Ivy's Cove RV Retreat camper shares, "We lived at this RV park for 5 months while we were house hunting. Great owners. Clean, large showers. Game/exercise room. 5 minutes to anything you need, but still feels secluded."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Jerusalem, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, Jerusalem, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 199 campgrounds and RV parks near Jerusalem, AR and 47 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Jerusalem, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jerusalem, AR is Petit Jean State Park — Petit Jean State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 105 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 47 free dispersed camping spots near Jerusalem, AR.

What parks are near Jerusalem, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Jerusalem, AR that allow camping, notably Ozark-St. Francis National Forests and Lake Dardanelle.