Best Tent Camping near Jerusalem, AR

Tent campsites in the Ozark National Forest near Jerusalem, Arkansas offer a mix of established and primitive options for outdoor enthusiasts. Brock Creek Campground, located in Jerusalem, provides tent-specific sites with basic amenities, while Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI) in nearby Hector offers free tent camping with unique stone shelters overlooking the Illinois Bayou. Several dispersed camping areas can also be found within a 30-mile radius, providing more secluded alternatives.

Most tent camping areas feature fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Brock Creek includes vault toilets and trash receptacles but no drinking water or showers. The terrain typically consists of level, cleared areas suitable for standard tent setups. According to one visitor, "The sites are primitive. There is a decent amount of space between the sites. Most have fire rings and a great view." Access to most campgrounds requires standard vehicles, though some dispersed sites may need high-clearance vehicles during wet conditions. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with T-Mobile and Verizon coverage varying by location.

The surrounding forest landscape provides ample shade at most tent sites, with many locations situated near water features. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring nearby hiking trails, particularly in the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests. A review mentioned that "It's a pretty nice and quite camp site, there is definitely traffic through here more than we're use to but it's a really nice spot." Summer temperatures can be hot and humid, making water access important for tent campers. Spring and fall offer more moderate conditions, though spring brings increased chances of thunderstorms and potential flash flooding near creeks. Most tent camping areas in this region operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with some free sites and others charging nominal fees between $5-10 per night.

Best Tent Sites Near Jerusalem, Arkansas (30)

    1. Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    10 Reviews
    Hector, AR
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 284-3150

    "This campground has no water or electricity but has 4 drive-up campsites with picnic tables, fire circle, and rock shelters that overlook the beautiful Illinois Bayou."

    "The stone buildings are so nice to set up somewhat out of the weather and have functional fireplaces.  The walk to the river is very easy.  "

    2. Haw Creek Falls Camping

    23 Reviews
    Pelsor, AR
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 964-7200

    "This is a pretty nice and quite camp site there is definitely traffic through here more than we’re use to but it’s a really nice spot, it’s all primitive camping, there is vault toilets on site we keep"

    "The campground is located in the Ozark National Forest. Beware of flooding during the rainy seasons. When it rains a lot, the creek floods and covers the road into the campground."

    3. Shirewood

    1 Review
    Morrilton, AR
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (501) 920-7895

    $125 / night

    "Check them out and share your trip on the Dyrt!"

    4. Xtreme Paintball and Laser Tag

    1 Review
    Dover, AR
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 280-4009

    $350 / night

    5. Brock Creek Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Jerusalem, AR
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 284-3150

    6. Delaware Park

    3 Reviews
    Dardanelle, AR
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 968-5008

    "We pulled in after a long drive through Arkansas, tired and chilly. We picked a random site as there were plenty to choose from since no one was in the entire park."

    7. Camp Robinson Dispersed Site

    4 Reviews
    Mayflower, AR
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 345-0325

    "Great spot to pitch a tent by lake Conway. Isolated but not too far out."

    "Picked up a med bag of trash; cans, bottles, and paper. Looks better now. I definitely put on bug spray right away. Nice place to sleep and get back on 40East in the morning."

    8. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch

    9 Reviews
    Ponca, AR
    49 miles
    Website

    $5 - $245 / night

    "Amenities include potable water, flush toilets, showers, and a trash dumpster.

    The only downside to this campground is that it can be moderately expensive."

    "Car camp, hammock, tent camp, or rent one the cabins to enjoy the roaming goats and horses around the property. Infamously known in AR as one of the best climbing spots."

    9. Hillbilly Hippie Hideaway

    1 Review
    Fairfield Bay, AR
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (913) 306-0915

    $15 / night

    "Whether you're into hang gliding, kayaking or just relaxing at camp, the hillbilly hideaway is here to provide a great basecamp for your Arkansas adventures. "

    10. Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area

    4 Reviews
    Vendor, AR
    41 miles

    "Stayed the night in Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area. Spoke with Arkansas Game and Fishing Commission Ranger. No despersal camping but you can camp in the 2 designated campsites."

    "100% of Wildlife Management Areas in the state of Arkansas require a Hunting license or WMA camping permit purchased though Arkansas Game and Fish."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Jerusalem, AR

768 Reviews of 30 Jerusalem Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Fourche Mountain Campground

    Free Overnight Stay in the Ouachita National Forest

    Stayed here on June 11, 2024. Small 5-site primitive campground. No water. No electric. Clean vault toilets with tp, and a trash barrel. Clean campground & campsites. Sites are small with reasonable separation, but no privacy. Sites have clean picnic tables, fire ring/grill. Some have lantern plies. Gravel drive. Sites nearly level. No tent pads, but tents can be set up. Sites may be able to accommodate a truck camper & smaller. Lots of highway noise from nearby Hwy 27, but not too bad overnight. There was logging activity elsewhere in the national forest, so log haulers were driving by during the day. Campground is located at eastbound turnoff onto Forest Road 83W - a well maintained gravel road. Pine & oak trees in the campground. Probably a beautiful view of distant mountains during the winter. This campground is good for an overnight stay when exploring the national forest or passing by on Highway 27. There is no recreation in this recreation area; no water access, no hiking trails. Good T-Mobile cell service. Despite some of the road noise from nearby Highway 27, I really liked this campground.

  • Amy W.
    Sep. 28, 2020

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    Small campground with CCC-built rock shelters

    This recreation area is as close to off-grid as you can get with so many great options right off the pavement. This campground has no water or electricity but has 4 drive-up campsites with picnic tables, fire circle, and rock shelters that overlook the beautiful Illinois Bayou. I only recall seeing trash receptacles on the lower loop.  An upper loop is accessible by hiking in. These are tent sites only with no rock shelters on the sites. 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. There's also several small trails through the campground but it's most fun when the water is low enough, to go down to the water and walk along the creek. The area is close to many great hiking trails and dirt roads to explore around Hector and makes a great home base. Just up the road is a great area to explore with Jeeps or ATVs. Look up Lindsey Mtwy. This area is not on many people's radar so it's possible that you may only see a local or two while you're here. I still had cell service with my Verizon network while I was in the campground but I lost service when I went down by the Illinois Bayou.  Overall, this is a heck of a nice campground for the non-electric camper. If you visit the area, please leave no trace. :-)

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2022

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

    The Bayou Bluff Recreation Area is now called the Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI). In summary, there are only 4 campsites, including a group site. Also, these sites are free, first come, first serve. Here's is info directly from the Bayou Bluff  page on the National Forst Service Web site: "Effective October 2021, Bayou Bluff became a Point of Interest. The fees are suspended for camping and day use and is now open all year. Upper loop is closed to camping and will be eliminated completely. Use of the vault toilet, large pavilion, three shelters, and a small pavilion will remain. The pavilions are managed on a first-come, first-service basis. Trash services are managed by visitors as "pack-it-in, pack-it-out," and Leave No Trace ethics are posted on information kiosks. Active partner groups and volunteers are helping extend the life of the current amenities, excluding trash services." Also: "Open all year. No fees. Upper loop closed. Pavilions available on a first-come, first-served basis only. No trash services. Pack it in- pack it out." The NF page also indicates that there is no water available, but there may water in the group site. The vault toilets are clean, and the campground grounds appear to be reasonably maintained. I recommend only tent camping here, as well as car/truck/van camping. Sites appear to be too small for RVs & trailers.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2024

    Spring Lake Recreation Area

    Beautiful Family Campground

    Camped here mid-week on May 28, 2024, just after Memorial Day weedend. The Spring Lake Receation Area is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The recreation area is gated between 10pm and 6am. It has a day use area, and a campground which is a long walk or short drive away from the day use area. The day use area has picnic tables, grills, beach and a central restroom/shower facility. Day use fee is $4. The small campgound is situated in the woods along Spring Lake across from the day use area. Camping fee is $15 ($7.50 for federal pass holders). Sounds from folks enjoying the day use area can be heard in the campground during the day, but it's very quiet during the night when the day use is closed. The campground has 13 sites. All of the sites can accomodate tent camping. Each site is unpaved and has a level tent pad, table, metal fire ring and lantern pole. Most of the sites are small with little privacy between sites. The sites are in the woods and have a view of the lake, with some actually on the lake shore. Our site, #8, has a short walking path to the shoreline - good for bank fishing. The campground has two single unit vault toilets which were reasonably clean. For showers and flush toilets, campers will have to use the central restroom/shower facilites in the day use area. The campgound has two water spigots, and trash reeceptacles. There is also a playground with swings and a group pavilion in the campground. There are no hookups at the campsites. I don't recommend this campground for RV camping; Cove Lake Recreation Area is a better choice. Because of the campsite sizes, levelness and ability to access, I believe sites 1, 5, 7 and 8 can accomodate van, RTT or SUV camping, and possibly small towables such as a pop-up or tear drop campers. In my opinion, all of the other sites are too small with tight access and not level enough for anything other than tent camping. Our site, #8, had a level pad which accomodated our camper van, plus a smaller seperate tent pad. The camp host was very friendly and provided good information. There is an iron ranger with payment envelopes at the campground entrance; cash and checks are accepted. There was no AT&T and T-Mobile reception, although cell reception may be possible at other locations around the lake. I came across three possible disperse camping spots around the lake (see separate listings). Overall, this is a beautiful campground. It was quiet and peaceful during the night. I would stay here again, especially in the Fall.

  • Bailey W.
    May. 14, 2022

    Toad Suck

    A good little campground

    Toad Suck is a great campground- with some caveats. All of the sites are reservable and have concrete pads. This makes it impossible to stake down a tent but also provides a great level spot. There's no foragable wood at the sites, but there's a quick stop type gas station very nearby that sells it cheap and locally sourced. The bathrooms can be a trek from your site or right next door, depending on where you're staying, but theyre immaculately clean. They service them twice daily. It's right next to the lock and dam at Toad Suck on the Arkansas River so there's a constant roar of water and the sound of barges throughout the night and day. I don't mind it but keep that in mind if you don't like those sounds. The campsite is peaceful otherwise. Dogs are allowed! ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL.

  • Richard
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Woolly Hollow State Park — Wooly Hollow State Park

    Nice little park

    This park is pretty much spotless. I tent camped in the fall and loved it. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, picnic table and fire ring. Lots of trees to set up your hammock. They have a swim beach and small boat rentals in the summer. There’s a nice paved walking trail too. I highly recommend.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2024

    Wolf Pen Recreation Area Campground

    Primitive Camping - Mulberry River, AR Ozarks

    Camped here on Sept 1, 2023. $10 camping fee ($5 with federal pass); pay station. Site sizes are okay; more than enough room for a single rig. The 6 sites are close to the unpaved campground road. Each site has a metal fire ring; most sites have grills. No tables. Campground road end at a loop. Some road noise from highway 215. Access to the Mulberry River for swimming & fishing. No water. Trash dispensers. Vault toilets were pretty dirty during our stay, so we set up our own toilet system at our campsite.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Wards Crossing Dispersed, Nimrod Lake Rec Area, AR

    Large dispersed site along Fourche La Fave River

    Large dispersed campsite along the Fourche La Fave River on US Army Corps of Engineers land in the Nimrod Lake area. A boat launch to the river is next to the site. Because of erosion, direct access to the river bank from behind the site is difficult. This site can accomodate multiple rigs. Tent camping is possible. The level site surface is a mixture of dirt, sand & gravel. A small rock fire ring, lantern pole and a broken picnic table is included. There was some trash at the site but not too bad. Access to the site is on River Road which is gravel and a little pot-holed. A small RV, small towable, truck camper and any rig smaller should have no problem accessing the site. Note that accessing it on Duck Pond Rd from the south, you have to cross the narrow Wards Crossing Bridge which has a 3 ton weight limit.

  • 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.


Guide to Jerusalem

Tent camping near Jerusalem, Arkansas offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI) features picnic tables and fire circles, making it an ideal spot for a cozy camping experience along the Illinois Bayou.
  • At Haw Creek Falls Camping, campers can enjoy scenic views and access to vault toilets, enhancing the comfort of primitive camping.
  • The Brock Creek Campground offers a peaceful environment with picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for gathering around after a day of exploration.

Explore local attractions

  • The stunning waterfalls at Haw Creek Falls Camping provide a picturesque backdrop for photography and relaxation.
  • Nearby, the Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI) allows for easy access to hiking trails that wind through the beautiful Ozark landscape.
  • The Delaware Park offers a serene lakeside setting, ideal for fishing and enjoying the tranquility of nature.

Engage in exciting activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jerusalem, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jerusalem, AR is Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI) with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Jerusalem, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Jerusalem, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.