Camping areas near Jones Mill, Arkansas center around Lake Catherine State Park and several other established campgrounds in the Hot Springs vicinity. Lake Catherine State Park Campground provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations with waterfront access and private docks for fishing. The surrounding region includes additional options such as Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park, Catherine's Landing, and several privately managed RV parks. Most campgrounds in this area feature full hookups for RVs, with many also accommodating tent campers seeking more primitive experiences.
Reservations are recommended year-round for the more popular campgrounds, particularly Lake Catherine State Park which stays booked well in advance during peak seasons. The region generally permits camping throughout the year, with most facilities maintaining year-round operations. Campground amenities vary widely, with state park and private facilities typically offering showers, restrooms, and trash service, while some also provide firewood, markets, and dump stations. Access to most sites requires no special vehicles, with paved roads leading to established campgrounds. "This is a beautiful state park that offers full hookups. Lots of twists and turns and slow roads to get here, but worth the trip. Bathrooms/showers are clean. Spaces are large and somewhat level," according to one visitor.
The waterfront camping experience ranks highly among visitors to the area, with Lake Catherine State Park receiving consistently positive reviews for its lake views and swimming opportunities. Campers particularly value the hiking trails throughout the region, with Lake Catherine's Falls Branch trail leading to a popular waterfall swimming area that provides relief during warmer months. Several visitors noted the balance of natural scenery with convenient access to Hot Springs National Park, located approximately 15 miles from Lake Catherine. Wildlife sightings are common, with one camper noting: "Squirrels ate from our hand." While most sites offer shade trees and reasonable spacing between campsites, some reviewers mentioned that privacy can be limited during busy periods, and boating noise may be noticeable at waterfront locations.
$15 - $25 / night
"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."
"Lake Catherine State Park, like all Arkansas state parks, is immaculately clean! Most RV sites have close access to the water and there are small stationary docks to park your boat. "
$34 / night
"There are many positives to this campground well beyond the proximity itself. With electricity at all sites and a flat rate it seems to have a lot of positives to check off."
"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."
"Gorgeous setting on pristine Lake Catherine close to historic Hot Springs. I was in lakefront site 123 for one night but would have liked to stay longer."
"The lake was beautiful and very natural. However if you like roughing it and being close to the water, you better have an RV of some sort or you'll miss the good spots."
"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."
"The sites are close to each other, but they are stair stepped, so you feel like you have more privacy which was really nice."
"This state park sits on one of the prettiest and clearest lakes in the state of Arkansas. The area that I will be focusing on is the primitive tent sites."
"Definitely my favorite park in Arkansas so far. It’s a really big park at the lake with lots to do. I was there in the fall so I didn’t do any lake stuff but still had a great time tent camping."
"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!"
"Nice campsites, lakeside, lake view and in the woods, YURT rentals have the best location, DeRoche Ridge second best if you want to be right next to the lake."
$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."
"I was disappointed that they don't promote wearing masks and social distancing 😕😱 I would definitely stay again if Gulphea Gorge is full."
$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."
$45 - $95 / night
"All sites are pull through and some are located on Lake Hamilton."
"Nice and quite, right on the Ouachita River / lake Hamilton. Very friendly and helpful staff"
$32 - $45 / night
"We arrived after the office was closed, but there was an envelope that said “Welcome Smith” outside the office that included maps and a magazine for Hot Springs, as well as some tidbits of the town and"
"Not at night usually around midday), it's a quiet and comfortable place to stay. It has a small dog park near the lake. The owners are very friendly."
TravelerNice 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.
TravelerCame 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.
TravelerThe location is convenient, and everyone is super friendly! It’s mainly long term/permanent campers, which makes for a small neighborhood vibe. Choose a back in site along the pretty little creek. All the basic amenities plus coin operated laundry.
ScoutStayed 3 nights on Sunday I went to do laundry got back to find my step stool and skillet dog bowls/beds campsite was cleaned trash bag and all the ranger never put a tag on site 69 and no one knows who took our things. Sad after spending 40+years camping here
GuideWe stayed in section D, site 114! It was so nice and quiet, the trees made it feel so spacious and like you weren’t right on top of other campers! The bathrooms were eh. Not the best but not the worst! All the trails in walking distance was absolutely amazing! Would definitely camp here again :)
GuideThis is a great RV campground right on the Arkansas river. The sites are large and mostly level. The grounds are well taken care of and everyone is extremely friendly if you’re towards the front that’s closer to the Botox towards the back you’re closer to the bathrooms and shower house.
Private camping options near Jones Mill, Arkansas include waterfront sites along Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita. The region sits at approximately 300-700 feet elevation, located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, creating a terrain with numerous bodies of water. Most camping sites near Jones Mill are accessible year-round with summer temperatures reaching into the 90s from June through August.
Hiking trails: Lake Catherine State Park Campground offers several trails including Falls Branch, which leads to a waterfall swimming area. "We really enjoyed hiking the Falls Branch Trail with my nieces (8 and 10 years old). I would highly recommend this trail," notes one visitor who stayed at a lakefront site.
Water activities: Kayaking on Lake Catherine provides a peaceful experience away from motorized traffic. "We enjoyed the hiking trails and rented a few kayaks. It's a great lake for kayaking as the water was calm and there were only a couple of boats on the water," reports a camper who rated their experience 5 stars.
Disc golf: Catherine's Landing offers disc golf among its recreational facilities. This activity is free for campers who bring their own discs. "There are so many amenities such as a pool, store, boat rentals, zip line and trash pickup," writes one camper who visited to explore Hot Springs.
Waterfront access: Sites backing up to lakes offer premium views and direct water access. "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," explains a visitor who appreciated the lake views.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers rank highly among camper priorities. At Hot Springs National Park KOA, "Shower house was always clean. Loved the dog park! We are just starting to travel with our 2 boxers and was so nice to have an area for them to run a bit."
Proximity to Hot Springs: Campgrounds in the area offer convenient access to Hot Springs National Park. "This park is beautiful. It has camping for all types," writes a camper at Lake Ouachita State Park Campground, which sits about 15 miles from Hot Springs and offers a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and cabins.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Lake Catherine offers many different outdoor options close to Hot Springs. The camp sites are spaced for privacy and are level for both campers and tents. This SP will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend."
Campsite spacing: Privacy levels vary between campgrounds. At Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park, "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."
Shower availability: Not all campgrounds offer showers, so check before booking. "We enjoyed our camping trip here only thing missing was a shower in the bath house," reports a camper who otherwise rated their Gulpha Gorge experience positively.
Splash zones: Several campgrounds offer dedicated water play areas beyond the lakes. "Kid friendly. Great upkeep and sites that are easily accessible. Playground, splash pad, and pool. We were not able to access the pool because of the time of year, but we will definitely be back in warmer weather," writes a visitor to Catherine's Landing.
Kid-friendly trails: Choose trails with waterfalls to keep children engaged. "We absolutely love it here. Wonderful trails, fishing, cabins and camp sites and tons of photo opportunities. The waterfall was flowing a little on the low side. That's not unusual since it is the end of summer," reports a Lake Catherine visitor.
Wildlife experiences: Many campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities safe for families. At DeGray Lake Resort State Park, "Depending on where you are in the park you can see the Ouachita mountains in the horizon. Great place for photo enthusiast with Beautiful sunsets and an abundance of wildlife."
Site leveling: Many RV sites require minimal leveling blocks. At Hot Springs National Park KOA, "D26 Back-in full hook-ups, fire ring & picnic table. 2 nights - Memorial Day weekend. Good spot, close to bath rooms/shower house/cafe. Pretty level - just 1 leveling block was all we needed for our pop-up."
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. "Gravel parking lot with painted stripes, a patch of grass growing under the picnic table, and full hookups. Be sure to back in centered, others are complaining about hitting their slide outs," cautions an RVer about site conditions at one local campground.
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal, so verify your needs before booking. "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 12 for 1 night in mid September. The CG is clean and well maintained but showing its age. The CG roads are paved, but narrow, winding, and fairly bumpy in spots."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Jones Mill, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Jones Mill, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 177 campgrounds and RV parks near Jones Mill, AR and 32 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Jones Mill, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jones Mill, AR is Lake Catherine State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 84 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jones Mill, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 free dispersed camping spots near Jones Mill, AR.
What parks are near Jones Mill, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 parks near Jones Mill, AR that allow camping, notably DeGray Lake and Ouachita Lake.
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