Best Tent Camping near Kingston, AR
The Buffalo National River area near Kingston, Arkansas offers several well-established tent campgrounds with scenic bluff views and river access. Steel Creek Campground provides tent sites in an open grassy field with towering bluffs as a backdrop, while Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging offers tent camping alongside creek access. Other options include Kings River Falls Campground with just five primitive tent sites and Haw Creek Falls, which provides free primitive tent camping.
Most tent sites feature basic amenities including picnic tables and fire rings, though facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. Steel Creek offers flush toilets and drinking water spigots that operate until November, with vault toilets available during winter months. Primitive tent areas like Haw Creek Falls have vault toilets but no running water. Park rangers regularly patrol established campgrounds, particularly during peak seasons. Campers should note that many sites are first-come, first-served, though some locations like Steel Creek offer reservable sites. During summer weekends, campgrounds often fill quickly, with Steel Creek sometimes posting "CAMPGROUND FULL" signs even when sites remain available.
The tent camping experience offers direct access to numerous hiking trails and water activities. A camper noted that "the campground is smaller which I like but always busy. It's a good place for families that want to get into the river." Sites at Steel Creek are arranged in two layers - one closer to the parking area and another nearer to the woods, river and bluffs, providing different experiences depending on preference. Many tent sites allow easy river access for swimming, fishing and paddling opportunities. Camping areas like Steel Creek feature an open field layout where privacy is limited but views are exceptional, especially in the mornings. Fall and winter months offer significantly quieter experiences with fewer visitors. For campers seeking more seclusion, backcountry tent camping options exist along various trails in the region.
