Best Tent Camping near Lake Dardanelle, AR

January 31-Feb 3 2025. White Rock is a great little campground.  With only 8 tent camp sites it is very quaint.  The cabins were packed and there were many people visiting the overlook but my partner and I were the only tent campers. We arrived late, after sunset, and the host recommended tent site #1.  From the pictures we really wanted to set up in #5 but he insisted on #1 and recommended looking around in the morning if we wanted to move.  I'm thankful for his knowledge because sites 5-8 were juicy from the previous days rains. All of the sites are well maintained and within a short walk to the water spigot and vault toilet.  Sites 1-4 are well spaced and have large tent pads.  Sites 5-8 are smaller with smaller tent pads and the view from these sites is AMAZING!  Just know that with the view comes the wind and less space to stretch out.  We ended up staying in site #1 so our old hound dog could saunter around.  

It's a slow, beautiful drive.  The reviews are correct that the last hour of the drive is only 20 miles.  Make sure to stop for gas! It is an unpaved road that in some spots is maybe wide enough for 2 small vehicles to pass each other.  My AWD Mazda made the trip just fine and I saw a Toyota Camry at the overlook. Whenever you feel comfortable going over 15 MPH there will be a heavily rutted 180° hairpin turn.  If you forgot to bring something you'll probably find it or a substitute in the Office/General Store.  

Overall I loved this campground.  I will definitely be back in the spring or fall.

Great state park. Checked out Arkansas high point of course. Hike some trails, enjoyed the views and rock formations. Tent camping area was very clean, with nice flat tent pad surface to set up tent on. Also ate a very nice meal on Easter Sunday at the lodge. Saw several deer while we were there. Definitely recommend this state park to others. Hope to go there again some day.

Arkansas’ first and most popular state park. Lake with rental boats, trailer and tent site loops, lodge/hotel/cabins. Outstanding natural features, some of which are easily accessible. Very popular in the fall. Big waterfall with rugged trail to the bottom. Can’t see it all in a weekend!

We have tent camped there many times. Definitely a favorite place for gorgeous views, good Ranger-led Activities and great hiking. The lodge is amazing.

It’s a smaller campground which is great. Tent sites are near the river. It was quiet at night. The staff was very helpful as well.

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area, in the western Arkansas Ozarks, has a campground with 9 tent sites. One of these is a large group site. 8 sites are arranged along a gravel loop road. In addition to tents, these tent sites will accommodate a camper van; the best sites for vans are #1 thru 4. These are level. Sites 5 thru 8, on the west side of the loop, have great views, but are probably not level enough for van, truck and car camping. Each site has a level gravel tent pad, grill, table & fire pit. The sites are not large enough for RVs. The forest roads leading to the recreation area are rough in places, but passenger cars can make it. Amber, our host, is fantastic. She delivers firewood to your site after purchase. The vault toilet is clean. Pump water is available. No hookups. The campground appears well maintained. The OHT runs though the recreation area. There is a really good hiking trail that loops around the rim of the mountain, offering fantastic views of the Ozarks. T-mobile cell service is available with sporadic LTE data service.

Great place for hiking and taking in nice variety of views at Arkansas's first state park. Cabins can be rented, RV & tent camping sites available. Modern bath houses with showers and toilets were clean. Cedar Creek flows through this park and Cedar Falls is impressive. We were there in late March and the creek was flowing good after recent rains. But it can be only a trickle during dry periods. Enjoyed the trail along the creek. Another nice view was from a point looking down over the Arkansas River and valley below.

My husband and I tent camped here in November. Pretty cold at night but the weather was perfect for the hikes which were absolutely stunning. We had a delicious breakfast with a view at the lodge. 10 out of 10 would recommend!

Mount Magazine is a beautiful State Park with great hiking trails. We hiked Signal Hill (highest point in Arkansas) and the North Rim Trail. Both were beautiful. This is a great place for families to camp. There is a welcome center with a small gift shop. Our campsite was spacious with water and electric although we were tent camping. Shower and bathroom facilities were nice and clean. They also had a place to hang glide. We checked out some of the cabins for future options, and they looked amazing with beautiful views.

I tent camped at site 61 in 2015:

• We were pretty close to all the amenities and the campsite checkin/store
• There is a nice, flat tent pad
• Grill and fire ring were nice
• Paved driveup spot
• It wasn't very crowded; the two sites across from us filled up, but that was about it

I would 100% stay at this site again.

Located along Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) in the Ouachita National Forest, Saline County, Arkansas. Flatside Wilderness Area located across the road from the site. Access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail located nearby. Free dispersed site, no facilities. Rock fire ring. Should be enough parking for 2 vehicles. Suitable for tent camping, car camping, truck camping & van camping. Mostly level. There was plenty of firewood left by the fire ring. Camped here in February; very quiet. Only 2 vehicles drove by. Had a few bars of T-Mobile service.

This is a fantastic state park on the top of Mt. Magazine. Some really cool hiking trails. Fall is an amazing time of year to go while the leaves are changing colors. The overflowing camping area probably has the best tent spot to camp overlooking the valley. There are black bears in the area so use caution. Sites provided bear boxes to lock up food and scented items if tent camping. Go! It's a beautiful place to visit!

Typical State Park Campground. They have 3 separate loops with approximately 15 sites in each. The sites are shaded, but VERY close together without anything in between.

They also have a late check-in box, in case you arrive after hours without reservations (us).

Minus our tent camping neighbors arguing into the night (not the campground’s fault) it was a nifty last minute spot to sleep for the night!

This park is by far one of the most well taken care of parks I have ever visited. Accommodations for everyone. Tent camping, yurts, rv campground, cabins, the lodge rooms, if you can't find something that suits you its on you not the park. Lol. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Hiking trails for everyone. Waterfalls, caves, canoeing, fishing, and even have gift shops. So much to see and do here. Highly recommend.

Near Oak Mtn Vista overlook. Great spot; fantastic unobstructed view of the hills to the south. Some shade in the summer. Fantastic view during the winter season. Large site; can comfortably accommodate 2, maybe 3 rigs - truck camper & smaller. Not level; some leveling is required. Dirt surface with exposed embedded rock - may be uncomfortable for tent camping. Close to road, which can get busy at times. Nice rock fire ring. Clean site. T-Mobile cell service.

This was my first visit to Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures, and it won't be my last. The property is more set-up for RV and ATV use but the tent site/s are surprisingly secluded. I need to talk about the property owner. He is incredibly friendly and accommodating. He greeted us with his precious dogs and hung out with us until we were settled in, telling us all about the property, trails, and nearby waterfalls. If you want a full and fast weekend, he can point you in the right directions, even take you there on his buggy. Or if you are in need of a quiet, relaxing escape by the water he will let you be. The RV'ers were friendly when we crossed paths.  This seems like the Cheer's of campsite. Everyone know everyone and strangers are welcome.  Very laid back.  My partner and I were the only tent campers that weekend (for a slow, quiet escape) so we chose the"island" tent site, which is maybe 100' from the water.  Wish I had brought hammocks to utilize the swing contraption on the shore (see pictures).

Bonuses: 

1. If the Labradoodle likes you she will swim with you.  

2. I am walking mosquito bait and was only bitten twice!

3. The nicest "outhouse" I've ever encountered. Cedar paneling, full shower, and hot water!!

the drive in is something you have to be thoughtful about. I went with a group from my school and we had vans and it was a very rough gravel road. so this is definitely more of a tent camping spot. It is in a valley and is quite beautiful. we stopped there on our way from backpacking the buffalo river trail and it was a great stopping point. There are bathrooms but no showers. there is a fee to stay in the camp but is not ridiculous.

We stayed in the yurts one time and it was nice but hot. Bring FANS. The yurt came with a canoe and life jackets. We loved that stay. My favorite stay is at the tent sites. We have stayed so many times. Several areas to hike with young children. Swimming pool available at a good price. The kids love the near by petting zoo. Lake available for fishing and boat rentals. Wonderful views all around one of my favorite spots.

Clean, kid friendly campground with RV and tent sites available, 30 amp electric and water, bathrooms are kept clean and have showers. Well maintained campground with plenty of space for your camper and truck to park and not stick out into the road. Great fishing on a mostly shallow lake that keeps the personal watercraft and skiers away. Boat ramps are in great condition and there is a boat ramp and sandy beach to swim or lay out in the sun.

Aux Arc is clean and well maintained by the Corps of Engineers. It is in a weird location literally next to the Ozark Powerhouse.

The campground is modern and each site has some nice upgrade with pave spaces and table with small pavilions. Personally I would camp towards the bottom of the campground to try and avoid being forced to stare at the dam.

If there was better scenery this would have a higher ranking. Also, it tends to be geared more towards RVs and Camper Trailers rather than tents, but you can tent camp if you want.

The showers and bathrooms are clean and they have a good crew driving around in thier golf carts keeping everything maintained.