Campgrounds near Hot Springs, Arkansas span from well-maintained national park sites to state park facilities on scenic lakes. Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park provides tent and RV sites with electric hookups within minutes of the historic bathhouse row. Lake Catherine State Park and Lake Ouachita State Park offer more diverse accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, yurts, and glamping options approximately 10-20 miles from downtown. Catherine's Landing, a private RV resort on Lake Catherine, features premium amenities including boat rentals, a swimming pool, and zip lines for visitors seeking more luxurious accommodations.
Many campgrounds in the Hot Springs area are open year-round, though summer months bring higher temperatures and increased visitation. The region's developed campgrounds typically require reservations, particularly for weekend stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Most established sites include water and electric hookups, with some offering full sewer connections for RVs. Hot Springs National Park's Gulpha Gorge operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation option, making early arrival essential during peak periods. As one visitor noted, "Arrive early! Basic, well maintained and close to Hot Springs. With close proximity to the town, this campground is well maintained and convenient but lacks in privacy."
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors to the Hot Springs area. Lake Ouachita State Park, about 30 minutes from downtown, offers sites with lake views and water access. "A short drive from Hot Springs you will find this park with amazing views. The best tent sites are closest to the water. The park has a marina where you can rent boats, kayaks and paddleboats," according to feedback on The Dyrt. COE (Corps of Engineers) campgrounds like Crystal Springs and Twin Creek on Lake Ouachita provide more primitive experiences while still maintaining basic amenities like flush toilets and boat launches. Many campers appreciate the balance between natural settings and proximity to Hot Springs attractions, allowing for days spent hiking park trails or exploring the historic downtown followed by evenings at lakeside campsites.
$34 / night
"There are not a lot of National Parks located smack in the middle of a town, but Hot Springs is an exception."
"With close proximity to the town of Hot Springs, AR, this campground is well maintained and convenient but lacks in privacy. I stayed here as an overnight while driving north through the Midwest."
$15 - $25 / night
"I am quite fond of the state parks in Arkansas and this was a clean, quiet, beautiful and safe location near Hot Springs. I was very happy that I could also bring my dog."
"We stayed in site 54 (w/e/s) that was right on the lake. We could walk to the dock right behind the site to fish, although did not have very good luck."
"A short drive from Hot Springs you will find this park with amazing views. The best tent sites that are not close to the water are 82, 83 or 84; however, we recommend the ones closest to the water."
"One of the best lakes/ parks I’ve visited. I went to Arkansas to visit the Hot Springs National Park, and left wishing I had stayed longer in Ouachita rather than visit Hot Springs."
"Well kept park on Lake Catherine right outside of Hot Springs. It has a quiet remote feel with easy access to sightseeing in Hot Springs."
"The park is set on 400 acres with one mile bordering Lake Catherine and about eight or nine miles from downtown Hot Springs. "
"Laundry was a bit small especially in a world of social distancing but clean. You have to drive through the entire campground to get to the lower sites."
"Very nice place to stay if you want for hook , Easy access to Hot Springs"
$14 - $80 / night
"Nice lake with beach area. Playground for kids. Clean restrooms. Some of the sites are small so check the length. Not far from Hot Springs."
"Great hiking the lake is always fun. It is near enough to Hot Springs. Also near plenty of quartz mines. My favorite place in Arkansas."
$45 - $95 / night
"Very quiet, beautiful area, and lots of attractions in Hot Springs. The Office has been kind and helpful."
"Sites are very level and it’s convenient to Hot Springs National Park. All sites are pull through and some are located on Lake Hamilton."
"This weekend we camped at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Bismarck, Arkansas. We had a blast! DeGray Lake has a lot to offer for groups large and small wanting to get away."
"Great ranger led boat tour of the lake. Lots of nice level sites. Super cool yurts for rent that have the best views! Arkansas has the best State Parks!"
$41 / night
"It is right on a little creek, and there are turkeys somewhere nearby. The RV Park is very very close to Hot Springs National Park, and there is an amusement park right across the highway."
"It’s a short drive to Hot Springs to see the attractions"
$10 - $30 / night
"Close to the national park in Hot Springs Arkansas. And right next door to the flat track/casino. It’s pretty new, but not really any extra amenities. 20/30/50 amp full hookups."
"Located in Hot Spring proper. Easy access to everything. The Dog Park, laundry facilities, and restrooms/showers are of course new and clean. Casino and Racetrack are right around the corner."
ScoutThe campground was beautiful and quiet. There was a very clean shower house that requires a code to get into. The spots are kind of close, but we felt like we had privacy. The grounds were immaculate. The trail system for the park is easy to access from the campground.
TravelerThis campground is in a very nice location but it definitely needs some “love”. Very reasonably priced, especially for seniors like us. Toilet was plugged and overflowing when I went to the bathhouse. Showers were very dirty. Grass doesn’t appear to have been cut this season. Pads are not the nice, clear gravel shown on recreation.gov. They are overgrown with weeds.
On the positive side, full hook-ups with good water pressure. Big, wide sites and this is a small, quiet campground.
ScoutI called the number on the listing and talk to the owner he bought it about 4 years ago and he said there's a bunch of stuff out there on the internet still that he doesn't even know about from the last owners. This is just an RV park. But they do welcome Vans as long as they are self-contained and have facilities.
Nice guy! My van doesn't have facilities so not for me, but that's great that he doesn't exclude by a vehicle age and type.
ScoutThis place is an over priced dump. The staff working during the morning are very unfriendly.... Sites are on top of each other..... Roads are very narrow.... Pool doesn't look like it's been working in a long time..... No Hot tub as shown on their website..... No merchandise in the store.... Too many trashy long-term campers..... Dog parks literally stunk... Workers flying around way too fast on tractors..... Some meones gonna get killed here!! Save yourself some money and heartache and go elsewhere
GuideNice campground very convenient to the Horse Track that is only a few blocks to walk to. Clean level concrete sides. Being in town makes all the local sites an easy quick drive.
ScoutExcellent free primitive parking/camping.
GuideCame into town for the Horse races. Campground was easy access in the middle of town. Area was pretty quiet and secure. Hosts were great and welcoming. Will be back again next time we are doing in town activities! Concrete sites are clean and very level so set up was a breeze.
TravelerThis site is in BEAUTIFUL spot and is well maintained! But just know that this is a popular location it seems. We reserved our spot for one night about a month ago (if not more) and there were a lot of sites booked them. I think we saw ONE open spot last night. That said, everyone was respectful of quiet hours, and it’s mostly a lot of RV camping—looks like people say for longer periods of time! There are tent sites too, but only a handful. The bathrooms have a shower and real toilets. For a campsite they are incredibly clean!
We stayed in site 21 and could walk down the hill to the bank of the lake for a beautiful view. Noting this as a place we should come back to if we are ever in the area again! So lovely.
GuideThis is a great location in southeastern Arkansas. This sites are great. The scenery is beautiful. The cell service can be spotty at times and if you have Starlink that can also be spotty because of the tree cover. Be careful if you have a longer rig that the sites are not level most of them have a pretty good slope. There are a few that don’t so if you’re in a larger motorhome or a larger fifth wheel, it may be difficult to get level. But overall, this is an excellent place to stay, especially during the week in the spring time like we did. There were only a few other people. It was quiet and extremely green and beautiful.
Lake Ouachita offers camping spots near Hot Springs, Arkansas with over 40,000 acres of clear water and 970 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 600-800 feet, creating moderate temperatures that range from mid-30s in winter to upper 90s in peak summer. Sites along Lake Ouachita's eastern shore provide the quickest access to Hot Springs attractions, typically within a 20-30 minute drive.
Water activities at Lake Ouachita: Lake Ouachita State Park Campground offers boat rentals directly from their marina. "You can rent boats onsite and you will want to! Clean and renovated facilities, nice and simple," according to Lynn G. The clear water makes for excellent swimming and fishing opportunities.
Zip lines and adventure courses: Catherine's Landing features an elaborate climbing and ropes course on property. "The climbing and ropes course is enormous and will make any kid's jaw drop in disbelief. There's an affiliated zip line just outside of the park," shares Taylor D. Rates for the zip line start at $45 per person with advance booking recommended.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds connect to trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "We enjoyed hiking the Falls Branch Trail with my nieces (8 and 10 years old). I would highly recommend this trail," notes Alison C. about Lake Catherine State Park. Many trails are under 5 miles, making them accessible for day hikes.
Crystal hunting: The Hot Springs area is known for quartz crystal deposits. "We went crystal digging at Coleman which was also unbelievable," mentions Ber M. from Crystal Springs Campground. Several commercial mines within 30-45 minutes of Hot Springs allow visitors to dig for crystals for $20-25 per person.
Waterfront access: Campers consistently rate sites with direct water access highest. At J and J RV Park, guests appreciate the small creek that runs through the property. "Nice views and love the river stream flowing along the camp sites," Josh H. notes. Many sites offer fishing access directly from camp.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse cleanliness gets frequent mentions in positive reviews. "The facilities were clean and well kept. I did laundry and took showers during our stay - they were fine for us - nothing fancy but we had plenty of hot water and clean facilities," reports Mitch at J and J RV Park.
Proximity to attractions: Campgrounds within 10-15 minutes of downtown Hot Springs receive high marks for convenience. "This is a beautiful spot to camp on a nice creek in the mountains. No showers all sites have sewer. First come first serve only. No reservations," explains Heather S. about Gulpha Gorge Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The wooded settings around Hot Springs support diverse wildlife. "Exceptional wildlife, amazing sunsets," says Lynn G. about Lake Ouachita State Park. Campers regularly report seeing deer, eagles, and various waterfowl, especially during early morning hours.
First-come, first-served limitations: Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park doesn't accept reservations. "Beautiful location next to a stream, although the sites are tightly packed in comparison with most state and national parks. Lots of hiking trails accessible from the nearby trailhead," Patrick M. explains.
Lake temperatures vary significantly: Lake Ouachita's temperature changes considerably based on depth and season. "The lake was gorgeous! I wish we had more time to walk trails, but we were just stopping for the night," notes Hannah L. The main lake body remains cool even in summer, while shallower coves warm more quickly.
Cell coverage inconsistency: Service varies widely between campgrounds. At Stephens Park Campground, "We got 2 bars on Verizon, which was manageable for internet and phone calls," reports MickandKarla W. Many campgrounds have better reception near entrance areas than at individual sites.
Limited grocery options: Most campgrounds have basic stores with limited supplies. "There is a small pond that looked as though they allow family fishing in. 'Grandpa's Griddle' is a small kitchen on site that they offer home-cooked breakfast," explains Roxy V. about Hot Springs National Park KOA. Stock up on supplies in Hot Springs before heading to more remote campgrounds.
Sites with play areas: Lake Catherine State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "We took my nieces on a weekend trip in our camper to Lake Catherine State Park. Our campsite backed up to the lake, so we had a great view. The campsite was a great size and well spaced out from our neighbors. There were trees to hang our hammocks," shares Alison C.
Educational programs: Several parks offer ranger-led activities. "Ranger programs, educational displays, swimming beach, cabins and traditional tent/RV camping," Lynn G. notes about Lake Ouachita State Park. Most programs run Thursday through Sunday during peak season.
Best swimming spots: Look for designated swimming areas with gradual entry points. "The lake is beautiful with very ragged edges and islands so there is a lot to explore by boat, plus two or three hiking trails that take you to a lovely overlook," Lynn G. explains about Lake Ouachita.
Fishing access for kids: Campgrounds with fishing piers provide easier access for young anglers. "We fished at night for catfish and caught what we needed. The campground is pet friendly. My dogs are like my kids and they had fun," Melanie W. shares about Crystal Springs Campground.
Site leveling considerations: Many campgrounds in the Ouachita Mountains require leveling blocks. "We stayed in A35 which is a triple A site with level site with all the trimmings! Wooded campsite with adequate shade, picnic table, fire pit and raised grilling station," Don L. shares about Lake Ouachita State Park.
Hookup placement: Water hookup locations can be unusual at some campgrounds. "The water spigot was in the back of the site away from the sewer and electric so we needed about 30' of water hose," notes MickandKarla W. about Stephens Park Campground.
Water pressure regulation: Some campgrounds have high water pressure that requires regulation. "Recommend using a water pressure regulator, one of my pipes started leaking from the pressure," warns Josh F. about J and J RV Park.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups or convenient dump stations. At DeGray Lake Resort State Park, "Our campsite was a great size and well spaced out from our neighbors. We had trees to hang our hammocks," according to Alison C., but some RVers note the need to plan for dump station timing during busy checkout periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hot Springs, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hot Springs, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 198 campgrounds and RV parks near Hot Springs, AR and 33 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hot Springs, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hot Springs, AR is Gulpha Gorge Campground — Hot Springs National Park with a 4.1-star rating from 79 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hot Springs, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 free dispersed camping spots near Hot Springs, AR.
What parks are near Hot Springs, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 31 parks near Hot Springs, AR that allow camping, notably Ouachita Lake and DeGray Lake.
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