The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Dispersed Camping near Johnson, AR

14 Reviews

Multiple dispersed camping areas exist within a 30-mile radius of Johnson, Arkansas, primarily in the Ozark National Forest. Free primitive sites include Lookout Tower Road, areas near Devils Den, Morgan Mountain Road/Spy Rock, and Forest Service Road 82. These undeveloped camping spots typically feature established fire rings but lack amenities like toilets, running water, or trash service. Most sites follow standard National Forest dispersed camping regulations, with camping permitted at existing clearings accessed via forest roads or trails.

Road conditions vary significantly between sites, with several requiring careful navigation. Morgan Mountain Road has some erosion and ruts but remains passable for passenger vehicles when driven carefully. Near Devils Den, some forest roads have reportedly been closed to vehicle traffic, requiring campers to park at highway turnouts and walk in. Many dispersed areas around Johnson can accommodate smaller vehicles, though larger RVs and buses may find limited options except at Lookout Tower Road, which one reviewer confirmed could accommodate a 40-foot bus. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with some sites receiving limited coverage depending on carrier.

These primitive areas provide scenic forest settings, often with mountain views or creek access. The Morgan Mountain/Spy Rock area stands out for its panoramic vistas and proximity to hiking trails. "Beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. The dispersed site is large, but only part of it is level enough to camp on," noted one visitor about the Spy Rock area. Camping near Devils Den offers water access, with one camper describing it as "a great hidden spot by the water" with "nice walk trails along the water." Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout these areas, though visitors should practice proper food storage and bear awareness. A camper at Sugar Camp Lookout Tower advised: "Practice good bear prevention measures and you're good to go for a free night stay, or several."

Map showing campgrounds near Johnson, ArkansasExplore the Map

Best Dispersed Sites Near Johnson, Arkansas (11)

    1. Lookout Tower Road

    3 Reviews
    Siloam Springs, AR
    13 miles

    "Less trash than most free camps. Multiple spots with plenty of room and not many bugs. Cell signal was strong in many places. Bike trails are worth using.

    Bring it in take it out, it's that easy."

    "We were in Bentonville, Arkansas and decided to take a gamble on this and it was about 40 minute drive when we got there."

    2. Dispersed Near Devils Den

    2 Reviews
    Chester, AR
    26 miles

    "The coordinates are fairly accurate. The entryways are a little tight for vehicles, but I made it in my sprinter van so everything else should be just fine. Would’ve been a nearly perfect campsite."

    3. Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area

    3 Reviews
    Pineville, MO
    33 miles

    "Right off highway K! Coordinates looks like it drops you off at the middle of the road but there is a gravel drive. Brings you to a grass lot with a trail off of it."

    "Pretty remote. Quiet. Tick dog tried to get through the tick gate but failed unfortunately. No table. Burn ban, so no fires. No ticks. Hard to get to in the dark, but nice scenery."

    4. Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area

    2 Reviews
    Eagle Rock, MO
    33 miles

    "Completely surrounded by forest, so plenty of shade. Access road was a little rough, as in your typical dirt road, but posed 0 problems for our little economy car. I’ve had much worse for sure."

    "Mark Twain National Forest is always a great getaway. This location is tucked away from the main road and is easy to get to. Could easily get 4 rigs + in the sight."

    5. Lee Creek Off Road Site

    1 Review
    Natural Dam, AR
    29 miles

    6. Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed

    5 Reviews
    St. Paul, AR
    38 miles

    "Various camp sites along a dirt road, that my AWD Equinox made it fine. Just go slow, as there are some ruts from previous rains.
    There are various outfitters along the way to the dirt road."

    "GPS brought us directly to the site. The gravel road has some ruuts but it you take your time small SVUs can make it fine. Beautiful over look and clean campsite."

    7. OHT Backcountry Primitive Site

    1 Review
    Combs, AR
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 964-7200

    8. Forest Service Rd 82 Dispersed

    1 Review
    St. Paul, AR
    38 miles

    "Easy access to the Redding Recreation Area for fishing/swimming, and the Spy Rock Trail. Any car should be fine on the gravel road, just go steady on the way up!"

    9. Buffalo Creek Trail

    1 Review
    Pettigrew, AR
    41 miles

    "The final half mile of Madison/404 was too steep and rough to proceed. Cavern Mountain Rd 5 was good. Additionally, Google routed us a bunch of dirt roads to get here."

    10. OHT Primitive Site

    Be the first to review!
    Combs, AR
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 369-4128

    $5 / night

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Johnson Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Johnson, AR

7 Photos of 11 Johnson Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Johnson, AR

14 Reviews of 11 Johnson Campgrounds

  • Lauren
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Dispersed Near Devils Den

    Be careful!

    I just got back from staying here for a night. For one, it is a very narrow road but my minivan got through just fine. UNTIL I made it to a puddle of water (that I highly underestimated), got stuck in the mud immediately and had to call a tow company (by walking 15 minutes down the highway to get signal; no signal at all at the sites) to help pull me out for $400. The people at the tow company warned me that the forest service does NOT allow cars to drive on these roads anymore, and that is why they added guard rails. They told me that had I gotten caught with my car in there I would have had to pay a big fine. He said camping is fine as long as you park on the turnout by the highway and walk in. Saying all of that, there are still multiple really nice and spread out spots with nice huge firepits. I would have been fine with parking and walking in. Also, I was in pretty deep and could still hear the cars on the highway, but not many come by (at least not on a Tuesday night). The creek is nice. Also tons of fireflies which was cool.

  • K
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area

    Acessable to all

    Pretty great spot! If you’re fortunate enough to be alone, this is a very large space, with a nice picnic table and a few fire pits. Completely surrounded by forest, so plenty of shade. Access road was a little rough, as in your typical dirt road, but posed 0 problems for our little economy car. I’ve had much worse for sure. The area is pretty secluded, with only a few cars driving through all day, so bear spray is absolutely necessary for peace of mind. Practice good bear prevention measures and you’re good to go for a free night stay, or several, happy camping!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 23, 2024

    Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed

    Large dispersed with a view

    Coordinates: 35.69300,-93.76803. Large dispersed site with a view, especially in the winter, of the mountains to the west. Located along Morgan Mountain Road, Forest Road 1504, a little over a mile north of AR Hwy 215. The trailhead to Spy Rock is about a mile north of this site. Altough eroded in spots due to recent heavy rains, Morgan Mountain Road was in good condition - no obstacles. A 2wd passenger car can carefully make it over the eroded areas. Except for one small spot, the site is not level - slopes downhill a little toward the ridge. Camping rigs may need leveling depending on the parking spot. Access into the site from the forest road is easy. There is a clean rock fire ring. Tenting camping is possible. Hammock camping may be possible using nearby trees. The site is mostly shaded. The forest surrounding this campsite is beautiful. I received no T-Mobile service during my visit. I decided not to camp here during my visit due to a brisk, cold north-northwest wind blowing through the campsite.

  • ‘Chelle S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Sugar Camp Lookout Tower Dispersed Area

    Beautiful and Peaceful

    Mark Twain National Forest is always a great getaway. This location is tucked away from the main road and is easy to get to. Could easily get 4 rigs + in the sight. Established fire ring (be mindful of burn bans). Close to Roaring River and Table Rock lake.

  • Philip W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2025

    Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed

    Forested mountain area with trails

    No toilets/showers/dumpsters/ trash cans.
    Various camp sites along a dirt road, that my AWD Equinox made it fine. Just go slow, as there are some ruts from previous rains.
    There are various outfitters along the way to the dirt road. So you don’t have to go too far if you forgot something. The camp I’m at has the land cleared fairly well of grasses and such.
    The others further down the road are for one vehicle type camps with longer grass. There are walking trails, with Spy Rock a short distance away.

  • Bud D.
    Aug. 5, 2024

    Lookout Tower Road

    Fairly clean

    Less trash than most free camps. Multiple spots with plenty of room and not many bugs. Cell signal was strong in many places. Bike trails are worth using.

    Bring it in take it out, it's that easy.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed

    Awesome site

    GPS brought us directly to the site. The gravel road has some ruuts but it you take your time small SVUs can make it fine. Beautiful over look and clean campsite. Spy rock is gorgeous, the trail is a little rough but totally worth it. Trail head is on the right about a mile past camp.

  • Mack Daddy Van L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Dispersed Near Devils Den

    Great hidden spot by the water

    The coordinates are fairly accurate. The entryways are a little tight for vehicles, but I made it in my sprinter van so everything else should be just fine. Would’ve been a nearly perfect campsite. Had it not been for all the trash left by others. Nice walk trails along the water. Local stop in for swimming and fishing. Insect surprisingly weren’t that bad. Traffic from nearby road is almost nonexistent. Stay two nights no issues.

  • J
    Feb. 13, 2024

    Forest Service Rd 82 Dispersed

    Awesome Spot Deep In The Ozarks!

    Forest Rd. 82 has 3-4 spots, all about 1-2 miles in. There may be more the further you go, but I didn't go that far. Easy access to the Redding Recreation Area for fishing/swimming, and the Spy Rock Trail. Any car should be fine on the gravel road, just go steady on the way up!

Guide to Johnson

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Johnson, Arkansas, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

Dispersed campers should check out Lookout Tower Road

  • This spot is known for its cleanliness, with less trash than many other free camping areas, making it a pleasant choice for nature lovers.
  • Strong cell signal in various locations allows for easy communication while enjoying the wilderness.
  • The nearby bike trails provide an excellent opportunity for outdoor adventure, enhancing your camping experience at Lookout Tower Road.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Johnson, Arkansas

Enjoy hiking and nature exploration while free camping near Johnson

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Johnson, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Johnson, AR is Lookout Tower Road with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Johnson, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 dispersed camping locations near Johnson, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring