Best Tent Camping near Lexa, AR

State parks and wildlife management areas near Lexa, Arkansas provide several primitive tent camping options within a 30-mile radius. Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground in West Helena offers ten walk-in tent sites with prepared tent pads, picnic tables, and fire pits. Maple Flat Group Campground near Marianna features an old scout-style setup with multiple tent pads scattered throughout a wooded area. Mike Freeze Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area provides free dispersed tent camping with designated sites marked by blue rings painted on trees. Kellys Crossing Campground, though technically across the state line in Mississippi, offers tent-only camping with lake access about 35 miles east of Lexa.

Tent campsites in this region vary significantly in amenities and accessibility. Delta Heritage Trail State Park provides basic facilities including toilets and drinking water at the visitor center for its $15 per night sites, which operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Most sites feature shaded locations with dirt or gravel surfaces. Access roads to Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA consist of rough gravel that may challenge low-clearance vehicles. Campers report navigation difficulties, with one visitor noting that map applications often provide conflicting directions to designated camping areas. Mosquitoes are prevalent throughout the region, particularly at sites near water, making insect protection essential during warmer months.

The tent camping experience around Lexa offers varying levels of solitude and natural surroundings. According to reviews, Delta Heritage Trail sites remain shaded throughout the day but require bug spray for comfort. One camper noted that Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA provides "large open sites" with minimal crowding, though some areas experience distant highway noise. Sites farther from access roads offer deeper seclusion, with a visitor reporting they "did not see another single soul" during an April stay. Maple Flat's wooded setting features "large trees, lots of moss and no overgrowth," creating an atmospheric backcountry tent camping environment. Water access varies by location, with some sites positioned near ponds or lakes where wildlife observation opportunities include ducks, beavers, and frogs.

Best Tent Sites Near Lexa, Arkansas (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lexa, AR

2 Photos of 8 Lexa Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Lexa, AR

286 Reviews of 8 Lexa Campgrounds


  • Denise B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2021

    Hollywood Casino RV Park - Tunica

    Super quiet

    Super quiet, not equipped for many activities. Some covered picnic tables interspersed. Outdoor cooking allowed unless there is a fire ban. One small commercial washer and two dryers available. Water and electric 50 amp at each site. Dump station. Showers and rest rooms are nice. Great overnight for travelers and good price, $25. Propane available. Ok stay if visiting casino.

  • Napunani
    Dec. 13, 2022

    Village Creek State Park Campground

    No Cell Service; No Public Phones: No WIFI Calls at Visitor Center

    PROS 

    Senior discount 

    No fee assessed to make on-line reservations 

    Quiet 

    light view of lake from #57 

    Site 57 has no site next to it or behind it 

    Good distance between campsites 

    Dark sky friendly except for sites near toilet/shower facilities where there is an actual street light 

    Climate controlled toilet/shower facility in campground B 

    Both campground B toilet/shower facilities very clean with ample supply of TP, soap and paper towels 

    Wood picnic table (on concrete pad), pedestal BBQ grill, metal fire ring with cooking grate and metal lantern hook 

    Wide roadway in campground B 

    Small playground 

    Access to lake swimming area from campground B 

    Trash receptacles at toilet/shower facility 

    Lots of deer


    Smaller Walmart in Wynne AR 

    Pops Grill in Wynne real good

    CONS 

    County burn ban in place upon arrival but no signage anywhere alerting of ban. We saw the Arkansas burn ban website and inquired upon checkin if it was enforced and park clerk affirmed ban but we saw many campers had a wood fire burning all the time. So without any signage we understand the confusion and noncompliance. Park should at least place burn ban signage at campground entrance. 

    Site 57 unlevel side-to-side 

    No cell service. 

    No public phone in park. 

    Parks signage states WiFi at park visitor center could be used to make phone calls. We found this not true with our T-MOBILE service as we purposely went to the visitor center to make a WIFI call. There is WIFI at visitors center but only one bar and too weak to transmit a call. So if there is an emergency after visitor center is closed and you need to make a call, good luck, as there is no public phone nor any camp hosts. We drove approximately 8 miles towards Wynne to get sufficient cell signal to make calls and connect with internet. 

    Only free WiFi is at park visitor center. We purchased WiFi from park vendor Viasat $20 unlimited for 3 days for one device. Viasat delivered a good signal within 200 ft of toilet/shower facility so it was useless in our campsite#57. Don’t waste your money! Sewer connection at rear of site pad so bring the looooong stinky slinky! 

    Pets not kept on leash 

    No security gate closure overnight

  • Curren C.
    Jun. 28, 2022

    Tom Sawyer's RV Park

    Motorcycle Friendly & Free Laundry

    Found this campsite on the Dyrt and was pleasantly surprised with the location and family friendly atmosphere. Right on the River but not swimable water. In an industrial park but felt very safe. Just a few minutes from the interstate.

    The tent site is just a primitive grassy group area but had tons of shade from giant oak trees and is right next to the bathhouse.

    Laundry is free on the second story of the bathhouse which was a wonderful treat.

    The bathrooms weren’t awful but could use some TLC.

    Tent sites do not get picnic tables. No fire rings.

    Overall a decent night’s stay - whatever you do don’t forget your bug spray!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 7, 2022

    South Abutment Recreation Area

    Gorgeous sunrises (and the sunsets aren't bad either)!

    We arrived just before sunset in late November (dang Daylight Savings time) so quickly got to our site and set up. Did not see anyone to check in but had reservations as now are required at all CoE campgrounds (a ranger drove through the next morning). The water level looked to be very low, but we still had a nice view at the end of the loop.

    Sites are FHU and other amenities include a large concrete picnic table, lantern hook, fire pit, BBQ grill, and food prep table. Sites are paved, generous in size, and spaced a very decent distance apart from each other; even though all the leaves had fallen and there were other campers in our loop, I did not feel a lack of privacy.

    The restrooms were clean and although there were paper towels, the soap dispensers were empty (my only beef with this campground)! The showers looked to be reasonable, but it was below freezing the next morning, so I didn’t try them out. There was also what appeared to be a utility sink in the bathroom but no shelves or other place to stage dishes. 

    I can only assume that water sports are in-season and not sure about other recreational activities. Because the ground was frozen the next morning, I was able to walk down to the water and get some great photos of the sunrise and birds. 

    This was just an overnight stay for us but for $12 (with the Golden Access Pass), it is a real bargain and the reason we often seek out Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds.

  • Andrew K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 21, 2023

    Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA

    Great place to stay for a quick stop along the road heading west

    very nice spot found it quickly at night. Soft ground. Quick to get to off highway

  • Suzi T.
    Apr. 15, 2018

    Hernando Point

    Great experience

    Very clean restrooms and shower areas. Site had grill, fire ring, and picnic table. Water and electric hookup

  • Rebecca H.
    May. 4, 2021

    Village Creek State Park Campground

    Huge Park with Plenty to Do

    It was a pleasure camping in our RV at Village Creek. We were initially given a spot in loop A, but moved to loop B to be closer to the playground and lake. Loop A was about 2.5 miles away - park is huge! The bathrooms in A looked brand new and really nice. In B, they were more average, but I still enjoyed a nice hot shower. If you have kids, definitely stay in B. Park staff was very accommodating about switching our site, and it no doubt helped that the park wasn’t very busy midweek.

    We ended up in a spacious, level pull through site with a little patio with a picnic table, grill, fire ring and lantern hook. There’s a little beach swimming hole there and a lot of space to run around.

    There is a lot of wildlife living in the park and the insects are no joke. Make sure to do tick checks when enjoying the hot showers!

  • Steve S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 29, 2020

    COE Arkansas River Wilbur D Mills Campground

    Great fishing

    love this place camp here alot nice roomy sights plenty of shade ,quiet and relaxing. plenty of wildlife showers were cold but covered picnic tables, fire ring,grill ,paved level spots and it is closed in winter opens back up in March went by today 1-12-2021 and saw pelicans

  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Village Creek State Park Campground

    Good rest for weary travelers!

    Arrived after hours to Campsite area A (sites 1-41). Note: reservation app does was not allow same day reservations, so find "available" site and pay at kiosk at visitor center. Hard to see park at night but in the morning found clean restrooms and shower --a happy find. Park offers nice large sites for tent and RVs with power, water, picnic table & fire rings. Really nice campgrounds with golf and equestrian facilities near by.


Guide to Lexa

Tent camping opportunities near Lexa, Arkansas range from established state park sites to primitive Wildlife Management Area locations across varied terrain. The region sits within the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, characterized by flat topography, mixed hardwood forests, and numerous wetland areas. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while winter camping features mild daytime temperatures around 50°F and occasional freezing nights.

What to do

Wildlife viewing at wetlands: Wattensaw WMA offers multiple designated camping areas near ponds where visitors can observe diverse wildlife. A camper noted, "There was a large pond with nearby primitive camping for free... Ducks, beavers, frogs and more" at Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA.

Lake activities: The region provides access to several water bodies for fishing and paddling. At Kellys Crossing Campground, visitors mention "access to the lake is nice" and describe it as "technically a boat ramp that accesses Arkabutla Lake with picnic and camping areas nearby."

Trail exploration: Several campgrounds connect to hiking paths through diverse forest ecosystems. One camper at Maple Flat Group Campground mentioned, "We did a bit of hiking at the park which was nice as well," making it suitable for day hikes or overnight backpacking trips.

What campers like

Seclusion factor: Many campsites provide genuine solitude, particularly during weekdays. At Wattensaw WMA, a camper reported, "In all of my getting lost, on a Monday in early April 2023, I did not see another single, solitary soul. Where I camped, I also could not hear cars at all. I woke up to birds singing, and trees rustling."

Budget-friendly options: Several camping areas require minimal or no fees. Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground provides prepared tent pads and basic facilities "for $15" according to one reviewer, while others note that Wattensaw WMA offers completely free camping.

Natural ambiance: The region's hardwood forests create distinctive camping environments. Maple Flat features "Large trees, lots of moss and no overgrowth make this a beautiful place to explore," according to visitor feedback, providing atmospheric tent camping settings.

What you should know

Navigation challenges: Several dispersed camping areas have confusing access roads and limited signage. One Wattensaw WMA visitor warned, "You cannot trust either Apple or Google maps to get you here by these coordinates... I got very lost trying to find the place at night, and then getting back to the freeway the next morning."

Seasonal considerations: Summer brings intense heat, humidity and insects to all camping areas. A Delta Heritage visitor advised, "They have bug spray ready because there is a ton of mosquitoes!" Road conditions also deteriorate after heavy rainfall, particularly at WMA access points.

Site identification: Look for specific markers at dispersed camping areas. At Wattensaw WMA, "There are signs for designated camping and the trees have a blue ring painted around them, so it stands out," helping visitors locate appropriate camping zones across the extensive property.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection priorities: Choose established sites with amenities for easier family camping. Barton Trailhead within Delta Heritage Trail State Park provides toilet facilities and drive-in access points suitable for families with young children.

Educational opportunities: Several locations offer wildlife observation and nature study opportunities. At Delta Heritage, one camper mentioned, "We were invited to watch them feed the pet snake that was caught in the area," providing educational experiences for children.

Safety considerations: Monitor water areas carefully with children. Multiple sites feature ponds or lake access with murky water conditions. One Wattensaw visitor noted, "I did not find anywhere I would personally feel comfortable swimming. The water is very murky, and does not look deep."

Tips from RVers

Surface conditions: Most tent-focused areas have limitations for RVs. At Wattensaw WMA, a visitor observed, "A lot of the spots we saw were gravel so I'm not sure if it would be super comfortable to sleep here in a tent," though this same surface works well for small to medium RVs.

Road access limitations: Many camping areas feature rough roads unsuitable for larger recreational vehicles. One Wattensaw visitor warned, "The road access is gravel, but LARGE gravel that we are surprised didn't ruin our tires," indicating high-clearance vehicles perform better.

Vehicle positioning: Some areas allow RVs but require careful placement. As one Wattensaw camper noted, "Parking was slightly graded but an RV would be cool," suggesting the need for leveling blocks and strategic parking at many of the best tent camping sites near Lexa, Arkansas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lexa, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lexa, AR is Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lexa, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Lexa, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.