Malvern, AR is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Malvern is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Discover great camping spots near Malvern, reviewed by campers like you.
$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.
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$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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
$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."
$80 - $100 / night
"VOTED BEST HIPCAMP IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS! "
Guide50 Amp electric, water no sewer hook up but dump station. Spaced spread out not crowded. Campground is low and will be soggy after rain.
LegendCoordinates: 34.75797,-93.24530. Large, open dispersed site along Gladstone Forest Rd (FR11) in the Ouachita National Forest. Should accomodate 4 rigs - truck camper size and smaller. Easy access from the forest road onto a mostly level dirt surface. There is no privacy from the forest road. Tent camping is possible. Situated on an old, unused track that goes off into a dense forest behind the site. I believe this site can be used by a group of hunters. Very little shade; solar recharging and Starlink connectivity possible. There is a rock fire ring on the site. No T-Mobile cell service. There is nothing remarkable about this site. Should be good for an overnight stay while exploring the Forest Road 11 area of the Ouachitas.
LegendCoordinates: 34.75922,-93.20452. Camped here on May 5, 2025. Large wooded dispersed site in the Ouachita National Forest. Suitable for about 3 campervan-sized rigs. A truck camper will be able to enter the site, but the trees may prevent manuevering deeper into the site. Tent and hammock camping possible. Easy access from FR779. The forest roads reaching this part of the national forest were in good shape at the time of this review. The dirt and grass site is level. Poison ivy is present. Overall, the site was clean and had a large rock fire ring. The site is near the North Fork Ouachita River, which can be reached by bushwacking down a steep hill and over rocks. One can see the river from the site during the winter but not in the summer. Since the site is well above the river, it is unlilely to get flooded. The site is shaded; solar recharging and Starlink connectivity is not likely. The site is setback well enough from the forest road so road dust coming into the site should not be an issue. There is not enough foliage along the road to offer privacy. During my stay, only 2 vehicles drove by. There are no hiking trails nearby. I enjoyed walking along the forest road and strolling in the forest surrounding the site. Access to the Ouachite National Recreation Trail is a 4-mile drive on forest roads to the south (coordinates 34.73300,-93.21913). There was no T-Mobile cell service at this site. I enjoyed camping here; beautiful spot and very peaceful.
LegendCoordinates: 34.78571,-93.15988. Visited in early May 2025. Located along Forest Road 772, about 1 mile north of Forest Road 11 in the Ouachita National Forest. Some minor erosion on FR772 where small creeks cross the road. FR11 is in good condition at the time of this visit. The camp is on the western edge of the Deckard Mountain Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area. The camp serves as a small primitive camping area for equestrian riders on the network of interconnecting loop trails that comprise the Bear Creek Equestrain Trail system. These trails are also open to hikers. The trailhead is located at the rear of the camp. Free. Four sites (2 official national forest sites with metal fire rings plus 2 dispersed sites with rock fire rings), available on a first-come/first-based only. Hitching posts are available in the camp. A small creek runs along side the camp. The grounds of the camp do not appear to be maintained, but the sites were clean. There is a very clean vault toilet located at the rear of the camp; it was well supplied. Tent and hammock camping are possible. Sites are mnostly shaded making solar rechargiong and Starlink access a challenge. I received no T-Mobile cell service. The camp itself is not aesthetically pleasing, but it is located deep in a beautiful forest with easy access to a trail system. Note that, when I last checked, the Ouachita National Forest Web site no longer lists this site as a campground.
TravelerThis is a decent small campground of eight sites, right next to the lake, and there are bathroom facilities that are fairly clean and showers. The access to the lake is really lovely, the proximity to the road makes the campus ground feel a little exposed, but the road doesn't seem to have that much traffic to it, which is really nice.
ScoutI woke up a 11am to someone driving in then 12:30am then at 1:30 a loud truck came in slinging rocks and a guy was screaming out the window. So I was packed up and was out by 2am.
GuideThis campground was very easy to find. There are signs pointing you in the right direction, and finding our spot was simple. 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 things to do. I loved that touch, very educational and helpful. Our spot included full hookups, and was plenty spacious enough for our truck and teardrop. There were lots of other people with over 40ft long rigs, and it looked like they had plenty of space too. Our spot also had a picnic table. The main lounge includes bathrooms, showers, and even a tv lounge. 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. Just a short walk from our spot was a boat ramp into the lake. Beautiful scenery. We really enjoyed staying here for the night!
Traveleron first appearance it’s a cute quiet spot. no one else was there when we arrived. people before us had definitely left some trash around tho. went to bed no problems then heard a big loud pickup truck w a trailer pull up at 5am. figured it might be some local early morning fishers or something. saw them leave after an hour tho, and come to find they STOLE OUR PADLOCKED COOLER :( very not cool yall. very annoying. took our milk n eggs, took our soap, and some cheeses :/ quite annoying. also there are bathrooms but they are RANK so just pee n poop in the woods.
TravelerClose to downtown and walk to the casino. Hosts go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Spa showers, trash pickup, happy hour! This park is above and beyond all the others!
Camping near Malvern, Arkansas, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds offering unique experiences, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
Camping around Malvern, Arkansas, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Malvern, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 155 campgrounds and RV parks near Malvern, AR and 30 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Malvern, AR is Lake Catherine State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 83 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 free dispersed camping spots near Malvern, AR.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 parks near Malvern, AR that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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