Camping options near Malvern, Arkansas span across varied terrain from forested hills to lakefront settings within the Ouachita Mountains region. The area maintains mild winters and humid summers with temperatures typically ranging from 30°F to 95°F seasonally. Most developed campgrounds sit between 300-600 feet elevation, with several positioned along the network of lakes that define the region's outdoor landscape.
What to do
Fishing from your site: Several campgrounds offer lakefront sites with direct water access for fishing. At Lake Catherine State Park Campground, campers can enjoy fishing steps from their site. One visitor noted, "We really enjoyed hiking the Falls Branch Trail with my nieces (8 and 10 years old). I would highly recommend this trail."
Disc golf course: Catherine's Landing features a full disc golf course through meadow and wooded terrain. A visitor at Catherine's Landing shared, "There are so many amenities such as a pool, store, boat rentals, zip line and trash pickup. We stayed here for a couple of nights to visit the Hot Springs and it was the perfect location."
Hiking to waterfalls: Several campgrounds connect to waterfall hikes under 3 miles round-trip. At Lake Catherine State Park, a visitor mentioned, "Pleasant hike. Pleasant environment. Pleasant waterfall. I remember this place being rather peaceful!"
Ropes course and adventure activities: For families seeking structured outdoor activities beyond hiking and swimming, Catherine's Landing offers a commercial-grade adventure course. A visitor mentioned, "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."
What campers like
Lakefront access: Sites backing to water consistently receive highest ratings. At Lake Ouachita State Park, a visitor explained: "We had a site overlooking the lake. It was a last minute Memorial Day weekend plan, so there wasn't much research before hand. The campsites were walk up, which was mildly inconvenient at first, but ultimately a big plus with no vehicles driving by the actual sites."
Clean facilities: Restrooms and showers at most established campgrounds receive high marks for cleanliness. A visitor at J and J RV Park noted: "The bathrooms and showers were VERY clean. It is obvious that someone is taking very good care of this park, down to folding the toilet paper into neat triangles."
Quiet atmosphere: Despite proximity to Hot Springs attractions, many campgrounds maintain peaceful settings. A camper at DeGray Lake Resort State Park remarked: "From our stay in Mar 15 2021. Lots of activities here, we stayed at the De Roche Ridge campsite area, love the view of the lake no matter which site you stay and enjoyed beautiful sunsets from ours."
Spring and fall shoulder seasons: Lower humidity and smaller crowds make April-May and September-October preferred camping months. A visitor at Lake Catherine State Park commented: "This SP will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds require reservations months ahead, especially for weekend stays from April through October. A visitor at Gulpha Gorge Campground cautioned: "Gulpha Gorge is beautiful. It's close to downtown and close to Magic Springs. The one downfall is they are FCFS only."
Weather considerations: Summer humidity levels reach 70-90% with afternoon thunderstorms common from June to August. Lightning safety procedures should be established before camping. A visitor at Lake Catherine State Park mentioned: "The waterfall was flowing a little on the low side. That's not unusual since it is the end of summer."
Water levels fluctuate seasonally: Boat ramps and swimming areas change accessibility throughout the year. Spring typically features highest water levels. At DeGray Lake, a visitor observed: "Some trails were soggy but it had been raining for a few days making it difficult to get past. Some signs indicating this could have helped us stay off the trails."
Cell coverage varies significantly: Coverage depends on carrier and specific campground location. A visitor at Leisure Landing RV Park noted: "T-Mobile cell phone services week Usually around two bars."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible trails: Look for designated family-friendly trails under 2 miles with minimal elevation change. A visitor at Hot Springs National Park KOA mentioned: "I think it was cool how this KOA was basically carved out of the hillside and was protected by the National Forest canopy of trees. As all KOA's, it was very family friendly. There were lots of activities to keep the kiddos busy."
Water play options: Campgrounds with dedicated splash pads or swimming beaches provide structured water activities for children. A visitor at Catherine's Landing shared: "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."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early morning and early evening offer best wildlife viewing times around campground edges and water. At DeGray Lake, a visitor mentioned: "Wildlife sitings: Eagle, White-tail Deer, Wild Hogs, Birds, Squirrel, and more. Onsite catch and release pond bass fishing(bring your own gear)."
Kid-friendly campsite selection: Request sites away from water if camping with toddlers. At Lake Ouachita, a visitor noted: "The proximity to Hot Springs National Park allows campers to experience both developed camping and the historic bathhouse district within the same trip."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many lakefront sites feature slight to moderate slopes requiring leveling blocks. A visitor at Lake Ouachita State Park noted: "Many sites were on an incline, so there was a lot of terracing w great use of railroad timbers and crushed rock. Most sites were FULL HookUps."
Water pressure considerations: Several campgrounds report high water pressure that may require regulators. A visitor at J and J RV Park warned: "Recommend using a water pressure regulator, one of my pipes started leaking from the pressure."
Site spacing variations: Most RV parks feature relatively close spacing between sites. At Leisure Landing RV Park, a visitor observed: "Your next door neighbor is about 12 to 15 ft from your door. So the sites are a little bit tight."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds feature narrow access roads that require careful navigation for larger rigs. A DeGray Lake visitor reported: "The CG roads are paved, but narrow, winding, and fairly bumpy in spots. Few if any of the sites in this section of the CG were anywhere close to level and our site, one of the few pull-throughs, was one of the worst."
