Jenny 
Ranger
RangerLake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
Camping near Kingston, AR
268 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Ozark Mountains surrounding Kingston, Arkansas feature a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites across Buffalo National River and nearby public lands. Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park provides tent and RV camping directly in Kingston, while Steel Creek Campground and Kyles Landing offer riverside camping options within 20 miles. The Buffalo National River corridor contains several campgrounds with varying levels of development, from primitive sites with vault toilets to more developed areas with drinking water. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch and Buffalo Outdoor Center provide additional options including cabin rentals and glamping accommodations for those seeking more comfort.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds accessed via winding mountain roads that may include gravel sections and low water crossings. The Buffalo National River area features numerous primitive campgrounds with limited amenities, while state parks like Withrow Springs offer full hookups for RVs. Most campgrounds in the area are open year-round, though spring flooding can affect river access and campsite availability. Summer brings higher temperatures and increased visitation, particularly at water-accessible sites. "If you're coming from the west, Apple/Google Maps' shortest route will take you through Kingston and then down some rough dirt roads with a couple low water crossings. Easier route is to go to Hwy. 7 then come back east," noted one visitor to Erbie Campground.
Campers consistently praise the natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities in the Kingston area. The Buffalo National River provides excellent paddling, swimming, and fishing opportunities directly accessible from several campgrounds. Hiking trails connect many camping areas to scenic overlooks and waterfalls throughout the Ozarks. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most campgrounds, creating a true disconnect from urban life. Several visitors mentioned the excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Campgrounds near water features tend to fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays. A camper at Withrow Springs State Park commented, "This is one of our favorite 'close to home' campsites. It's about an hour out of Northwest Arkansas. All of the trails are very nice to hike, even for our little ones."
Best Campgrounds near Kingston (268)
1. Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River
"The sign said "campground full" but thanks to another review we disregarded this and found an open site, as did the person who drove in behind us."
"Pros: Great location on the river and close to plenty of hiking trails! Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms were well maintained and there is drinking water available."
from $20 / night
Check Availability2. Withrow Springs State Park Campground
"This small State Park just outside Huntsville Arkansas has many amenities. Family friendly handicap accesible. I has 30 tent Rv and walk in tent camping."
"Great get away from 4th crowds. Was super hot & humid, but Arkansas in July!!! Lots of shade, took our fans to help keep cool. Full hookups...no cell service for T-Mobile. Used our Starlink."
3. Kyles Landing Campground — Buffalo National River
"During that time try and get a site away from the launch/takeout spots. "
"A real bob Ross of a campground, however the drive down the Arkansas hill to this serene location is a tense frustrating and should not be attempted with a real wheel drive or low profile vehicle."
from $20 / night
Check Availability4. Ozark Campground — Buffalo National River
"There’s lots of campground near by but across a bridge is hidden off road that will take you to Carwash Falls. It has a great scenic off road trail and backroad highway."
"The Buffalo River is a must see Arkansas attraction."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability5. Buffalo outdoor center
"It is great place if you have time to hike the trails sadly we did not for this trip. Ponca and the surrounding have many beautiful nature trails. "
"Convenient location to nearby activities and very economical."
from $50 / night
Check Availability6. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
"Horseshoe canyon is one of the biggest climbing and bouldering locations in the southeast area."
"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."
from $5 - $245 / night
Check Availability7. Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park
"They continue to upgrade trails and add beautiful camping spots. This is a family room ranch and Donny and Lynn are wonderful hosts. I always come home feeling reconnected with myself and family"
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability8. Erbie Campground — Buffalo National River
"Also, the group sites were between us and the river, so fair amount of traffic as one of the paths to the group sites is between #2 & #4. "
"Located within a few miles of the horse camp , this site is Aimed more at group camping, there is not as much shade as I’d like to see."
9. Kings River Falls Campground
"Less than a minute from the Kings River Falls Trail-head, and nestled alongside the headwaters of the Kings River in Venus Arkansas."
"It is one of the most beautiful spots in Arkansas. Highly recommend."
from $27 - $30 / night
Check Availability10. Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging
"Beautiful area near the Buffalo National River. Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging has a yurt, campsites, cabins with hot tubs on the deck, bunkhouse, showers, allows pets, and is family owned."
from $15 - $150 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 55 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 38 min from Springfield, MO
- 1 hr 40 min from Fort Smith, AR
- 2 hrs from Joplin, MO
Recent Camping Photos near Kingston, AR
371 Photos of 268 Kingston Campgrounds
Leslie D.
Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park
Ashley F.
Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River
Rhonda L.
Kings River Falls Campground
Drea R.
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Daniel E.
Kyles Landing Campground — Buffalo National River
Chad K.
Withrow Springs State Park Campground
Bruce F.
Erbie Campground — Buffalo National River
Ozark N.
Ozark Natural Science Center
Ethan K.
Ozark Campground — Buffalo National River
Farar R.
Large Bell Tent on the Kings River
Nathanyal C.
Black Raspberry Campsite
Levi H.
Eureka Springs Adventure Park / 3B Off Road
Recent Reviews near Kingston, AR
1432 Reviews of 268 Kingston Campgrounds
- J
Jon L.
GuideHog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort
Still a nice park, but...
We last stayed here five years ago when the park was new. Some of the areas and amenities that are now available were still under construction during our last trip. The bottom line… still a very nice park, but it's starting to show its age a little.
Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate, though several roads have asphalt failures that need attention. Even though it's not too far from Interstate 49, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 36. Most of the sites are gravel, but the pull-thru row that we were in had concrete pads. For the most part, all sites appear fairly level.
Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Two bathroom areas also have showers and laundry facilities- one at the front of the park and one in the rear. The pool area and playground are located at the front of the park.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, Cable, and OTA: there is Wi-Fi in the park, but the park info sheet that they provide you with notes that the Wi-Fi is spotty. We were able to get AT&T 5G with 4 bars. AT&T achieved 418 Mbps down and 21 Mbps up. Satellite reception should not be an issue at most sites, and if you do need clear access for satellite reception, there are plenty of sites available with no trees. There are plenty of OTA stations available, and they all had great reception with clear HD pictures. Cable was not available.
Dog Park: They have two nice fenced-in parks that are in great condition. The one in the front of the park is divided for big and small dogs, while the one in the back is larger but not divided. They both have benches, which are all in good shape. They also provide doggie bags and a trash can. NOTE: I've included a photo of the sign posted at the entrances to the park indicating that they might be shut down. So if having a fenced dog park is mission-critical for your stay, you might want to verify that they are still open when you make your reservation
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website, and you are only a few miles from Fayetteville, where you can find plenty of stores and restaurants. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. Although the park is starting to show its age, it still deserves a high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy your stay!
Tammy S.GuideCOE Table Rock Lake Old Highway 86 Park
Favorite
This is my favorite campground ever. Views are amazing. If it had full hookup we would have stayed longer
Kimberly P.GuideHaw Creek Falls Camping
Really popular spot
We spent one night here. It was a little bit of trouble to get to, as I'm not a fan of driving in the mountains. It had a nice fire ring and a picnic table. There are 2 vault toilets here, not the worst we've seen. They did have toilet paper. Super cute but very shallow swimming hole, maybe 3 ft deep? Very popular too. Seemed every site was full when we pulled through to check it out, so we picked the only open spot, #1. But when we left at 10 am, only one other campsite was occupied so I think they were just daytime guests. We walked downstream a lot looking at small fish in the little pools and we "swam" in the swimming hole, it was nice bc it was hot. Beautiful scenery. No service for my phone.
- Kimberly P.Guide
Table Rock State Park Campground
Table Rock is too big for one visit
We loved visiting Table Rock Park. We will definitely be back! We stayed at campsite 1, spot 103, a 30 AMP electric site. It was $28 a day with an online fee and tax, put us at about $120 for 4 nights. Definitely worth it and will pay when we come back. Our campsite was in the sun most of the day and that kind of sucked, it was really hot around camp. Our site had a trail right behind it and that led down to a little rock shelf on the lake that was perfect for swimming! We fished there a little and saw some fish and had a few nibbles but didnt catch anything. We went to that spot almost every day we were there. Clean bathrooms, mostly clean showers, and trying out the laundry room tomorrow. Probably one of the nicer campgrounds we've stayed at. It was too hot to hike and the marina was booked on the paddle boats we wanted to rent so we're gonna come back bc this campground is open year round!
- JJessie H.
TravelerWolf Pen Recreation Area Campground
It Was Ok
Very flea infested when we went. Water was really low and kinda hot. But the camp ground was pretty and well maintained.
- ffinch H.Traveler
Mill Creek (missouri)
Gorgeous and affordable park!
The park has nicely arranged sites with good space between them. Paved pads with concrete pads for metal picnic tables and fire rings with grill, the rest of the site is natural. All sites at least have a nice view of the lake if they are not directly on the lake. Very nice views! They have a great well maintained beach area as well as a playground and shelter area with tables. Highly recommend!
- MMary C.Traveler
Roaring River State Park Campground
Very nice
Large spots in Campground 1 with a lot of shade. Campground 2 and 3 are a little closer together. Very clean and quiet. Showers could use a little up dating. It has hiking trails and roads to bike on. Plus the huge spring that creates the Roaring River and a large fish hatchery. Fish for trout.
- Tammy S.Guide
COE Table Rock Lake Old Highway 86 Park
Favorite site so far
Wow. This was the most spectacular site we have ever had. Perfect little patio. Watched the Branson Belle float by. So sad we only booked one night. Cannot wait to return
Guide to Kingston
Camping spots near Kingston, Arkansas offer a mix of primitive and developed options across the steep terrain of the Ozarks. Elevations range from 1,100 to 2,200 feet with temperature variations of 10-15 degrees between valleys and ridgetops. Winter camping requires preparation for freezing nights while summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity in the river valleys.
What to do
**Visit Kings River Falls: Located in nearby Venus, this natural area provides swimming and hiking opportunities. "This is a remote and rugged campground with caves, bluffs, swimming holes and river a plenty," notes a camper at Kings River Falls Campground.
Ride trails and see buffalo: Kingston offers ATV and dirt biking opportunities on private land. A visitor at Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park shared, "There are miles and miles of ATV and single track trails for dirt biking. Creeks, waterfalls and buffalo everywhere."
Rock climbing: The sandstone formations around Kingston provide excellent climbing opportunities. "Horseshoe canyon ranch is one of the biggest climbing and bouldering locations in the southeast area. Beautiful pastures and surrounded by rock that hundreds come to visit," explains a visitor familiar with the area's recreation options.
What campers like
Natural swimming holes: The waterways around Kingston provide cooling relief during hot summer months. "Kayaking, swimming, and fishing were awesome!" reports a visitor at Steel Creek Campground.
Dark skies for stargazing: The limited development in the Kingston area creates excellent night sky viewing conditions. A visitor at Erbie Campground notes it's a "Star gazing park, meaning park does not light up during night, if they do they are yellow lights not bright but there."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. "Saw a lot of deer in the forest right next to our site and in the field next over," says a camper at Ozark Campground, while another mentions, "Lots of wildlife such as deer, elk and if you are lucky black bears."
What you should know
Road conditions can be challenging: Many campgrounds are accessed via rough roads requiring careful driving. An Erbie camper advises, "It's quite the trip down the dirt road to get here. Probably will take you 20/30 minutes of gravel road. Don't recommend bringing any type of trailer down here."
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no connectivity. "No cell phone reception in the campground, but its camping! Get unplugged!" notes a visitor at Withrow Springs State Park.
Seasonal water levels: The Buffalo River and tributaries fluctuate dramatically with rainfall. "We wanted to kayak but water was up too high after the rain. Site did hold some water after the rain," reports an Erbie visitor, highlighting how conditions change quickly.
Flash flood risk: Low-lying campsites can flood during heavy rain. As one camper observed, "The sandy sites drain away rain water faster than the grassy sites that had standing water for a couple days after a big storm."
Tips for camping with families
Trail accessibility: Some trails are suitable for children. A visitor at Withrow Springs State Park shares, "All of the trails are very nice to hike, even for our little ones."
Safer campsites for kids: Select sites away from water hazards and traffic areas. "Watch for crazy drivers especially if you have kids! Far off of the road but was a nice scenic drive in and out," warns an Erbie camper.
Central play areas: Some campgrounds offer open spaces for activities. "There is a huge grassy field in the middle of the campground which is great for families to play sports and other games," notes an Ozark Campground visitor.
Beginner-friendly options: For new campers, certain areas provide more amenities. A Steel Creek camper explains, "This is a great campsite if you're wanting to get outdoors, but aren't quite adventurous to go full-out."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Full-service RV sites are scarce near Kingston. One visitor at Withrow Springs notes, "All hook ups. Level sites. Trees between sites give lots of shade."
Road gradient concerns: Access roads to some campgrounds have steep sections. A Steel Creek camper advises, "Be warned: four wheel drive is highly recommended. The road is steep, has sharp, blind curves and is very narrow."
Site drainage varies: Consider site selection based on weather forecasts. "The sand may be a pain, but the sandy sites drain away rain water faster than the grassy sites that had standing water for a couple days after a big storm," reports a Steel Creek camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kingston, AR?
What camping is available near Kingston, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kingston, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 268 campgrounds and RV parks near Kingston, AR and 19 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Kingston, AR?
Which is the most popular campground near Kingston, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kingston, AR is Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River with a 4.5-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kingston, AR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kingston, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Kingston, AR.
What parks are near Kingston, AR?
What parks are near Kingston, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Kingston, AR that allow camping, notably Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake.
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