Best Tent Camping near Mena, AR

Recent Tent Reviews near Mena, Arkansas

438 Reviews of 32 Mena Campgrounds

• A

  Alison C.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 3, 2018

  Washita Primitive Camping Area

  Beautiful campground!

  This is our second favorite State Park in Arkansas. We had a spot overlooking the lake, which was beautiful. It's a super quiet and peaceful lake. Lots of kayaks and canoes. We also enjoyed the hiking trails. The walk-in tent site area is amazing! There was a nice beach area for swimming as well. We rode our bikes over to the loop D tent camping area, which also looked nice and quiet for camping. We will definitely be going back here again!

• 

  Jeanne A.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 27, 2022

  Murfeesboro RV Park

  Nice little Rv park

  20.00 a night for two people in tent camping. I’m in van and they allowed me to van camp. Tent sites have electric. So bought an extension cord and took full advantage for a small heater. It’s by the road. So some road noise then the cows moo.. other then having to pay. This is a great spot 2miles max from crater of diamonds state park. That place was packed on top of each other. Much prefer here!

• C

  Chris

  Scout

  

  Oct. 11, 2020

  Queen Wilhelmina State Park — Queen Wihelmina State Park

  Well managed park in an idyllic mountain top setting

  We took our first trip there Oct 4 & 5 2020 and really enjoyed it. The drive to the park is wonderful with great spots to take in the views as you drive to the top. We even spotted a bald eagle at one stop.  

  The Lodge is very modern and the welcoming staff were very polite and helpful. We asked if a 15amp site for tent camping was available but they had to move us after determining that they didn't give us a site with a pad. There aren't many tent sites at all, especially with electric/water and only 5 primitive and 1 walk-in. 

  Due to COVID many activities weren't available but we did enjoy one trail. The restaurant wasn't that great but it served the purpose for one of our meals. I would still go back and recommend to friends or family.

• 

  Crystal C.

  Legend

  

  May. 30, 2021

  Winding Stair Campground (Ok) — Ouachita National Forest

  Views for days!!

  Driving from Mena to Talihina along this stretch of highway is a treat when it comes to the spectacular views.   But stopping at places like this campground even further explain just how much of an amazing place this part of Oklahoma really is!   This area was once logged to the point that it was basically worthless before the Forest Service took it over and started to replenish the land and create public spaces like this campground.    It now is a thriving place for recreation and viewing.

  The campground is a series of pull ins and thru sites which vary in size allowing for tent camping with single cars or even some larger rigs.    There are vault toilets centrally located at the entrance in addition to extra picnic tables for those wanting a little extra space to enjoy.    

  A few spigots are around camp that are not in the best of shape, but they do still work, so don't be fooled.

  The roadways through camp and the sites themselves are very well taken care of, however because of recent rains the grass was a bit more wooly than it typically would have been.   Despite this the sites were still clear of grass for the most part.  

  Each site was equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, lantern hooks, grills and prep stations and large spaces for tents, should you have one.  Additionally you can find trash cans around camp in a few places.

  From the campground you can easily access the scenic point which additionally has more picnic tables with a view, definitely suggest checking it out!!  

  Campground is first come first serve and does have a senior discount with the park pass.   Envelopes are provided at the main kiosk.

• 

  Erik F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 28, 2016

  Charlton Campground

  Labor Day Getaway

  My fiance and I went to Charlton Rec. Area to get away for labor day weekend. Overall the camp was nice. A creek ran through the camp with plenty of tree cover. Near the camp entrance the creek was dammed to create a swimming hole. Many visitors came during the day for the swimming.

  Most of the sites were for trailers and RVs, with only a few tent campsites. The camp was clean and had bathrooms with running water. They were in good condition, but pretty far from the tent camping. Surprisingly there weren't any mosquitos, but plenty of Daddy Long Legs. Each site has a pad for parking, BBQ pit, picnic bench (bring a tablecloth), and fire ring with grittle/grill. Camp was lacking trailheads with just one starting in camp. The trail itself was much longer than anticipated; distance wasn't marked and it needed some maintaining. It took you up along the mountain ridge with wonderful views in the areas with less brush.

  I'd go back and explore some more. If you're in the area check out Lake Ouachita, Crooked Creek Falls (45 min), or the Vista off Hickory Nut Mountain Rd (20 min).

• 

  Bailey W.

  Traveler

  

  May. 14, 2022

  COE Lake Ouachita Joplin Campground

  Not that great.

  So I was super excited about this campground when I read about it online. It seemed perfect! The drive into the campground is very curvy and has lots of blind spots. When we arrived, there was no one on duty, so we just filled out a card and proceeded into the campground, following the map posted on the official website. That's where we ran into our first issue. The map was all wrong. We spent nearly an hour trying to find our spot. Finally, we asked the volunteer on duty. He showed us an updated map and we found out that our campsite wasn't even where we had picked it based off the old map. The tent sites are walk in only. They have electric but the closest water spigot is at the parking lot. The scenery is nice but the boats are loud, as to be expected of a lakeside campground. The bathrooms aren't very well maintained, the showers are gross, and the park goers tend to be obnoxious, revving their engines and hooping and hollering. We actually ended our trip the next day. Overall not a bad site IF you're here in a camper. Not suggested for tent camping.

• 

  Leslie N.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 13, 2020

  Quarry Island Campground — Lake Wister State Park

  Quiet and Beautiful

  We stayed at RV site #3 on Quarry Island. The concrete pad was perfectly level and took no time to set up. There were 5 RV sites with full hook ups on isle, even though #4 and # 5 are so close to each other that slide outs could bump into each other, and 2 very nice RV sites with only water and electric on the isle. There was also a lot of tent camping, flush and vault toilets, dump station, pavilion, 5 cabins, picnic tables with grills, boat ramp and swimming anywhere you wanted except for 150’ of the boat ramp. The ranger station was on the isle, so traffic was high at check in. There were 2 hiking trails that looked very nice, but never hiked because we were kayaking. My parents stayed in cabin #4 on the isle and my brother tent camped at Wister Ridge. The view from both of their places was breathtaking and his tent site was well shaded with maple, oak and pine. Fishing was very good and wasn’t a whole lot of boat traffic. There is also primitive camping which looked very nice, except for a couple of sites where the campers didn’t clean up too well behind themselves.

  Pros: Beautiful area and amazing views. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Plenty of options for accommodations and outdoor activities. The Heavner Ruinstone and Spiral Mounds are close. Tons of wildlife areas and we even spotted a bald eagle. The campgrounds and cabins were very clean.

  Cons: RV sites can be very crowded and not well spaced, especially at Victor Landing. The Wards would be the least crowded for RVs. The booking website is not very good and not very accurate. The cabins bed was not very comfortable, the shower was small and flooded the bathroom while using and the kitchen light and living room ceiling fan was on one switch, so there was no way to have the fan going without the light on. Not all RV sites have picnic tables.

• 

  Sherry S.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 19, 2020

  Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area

  Stubbled on this gem

  Driving back from Mena, AR to Texas, we happened upon this river by mistake. We came in from the backway and it was a long trek but worth finding this end result. Quiet, river was beautiful and calm. Some rapids where we were, a lot of rock. We did not camp but plan to next time!

• 

  Dan M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 2, 2019

  Charlton Campground

  Plenty of sites and friendly folks

  A lot of RV and tent site camping sites. Nice scenery and the park host was very helpful. We stayed in area C (A, B, C are the different areas) on a super busy weekend and weren't to cramped. Spacious tent sites just off a creek with fire rings, picnic tables, and good proximity to clean toilet/shower facilities. Would visit again.

• E

  Elizabeth R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 15, 2021

  Below the Dam Campground — Lake Wister State Park

  Good if you want to mainly fish

  There are two section to this area. The northern one is labeled “below the dam tent sites”, the southern one is labeled “below dam”. The southern one is a just a cluster of pull in camping sites next to the fishing area. There’s a short walk to the bathrooms. You can get to the water by walking down the rocks. The northern side is a bit greener but 3-8 are very small sites jammed close together. There isn’t much room, if any, for a tent. Sites 1 & 2 are further back and much more spacious and pretty. There’s a water spigot here but no bathhouse. You would need to drive to the south lot.

• 

  Ruth N.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 12, 2019

  Armadillo Campground - Beavers Bend State Park

  Super RV camping

  This is a beautiful state park with both tent and RV camping. RV camping includes water/electric only and water/electric/sewer sites. Lots of pull through sites with concrete pads. Nicer and not as busy as Beavers Bend. Marina with a boat ramp, Lodge, lots of hiking trails. Tent camping on the lake.

• 

  Vanessa M.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 31, 2021

  Miners Camping & Rock Shop

  Quaint and neat location

  Tent, RV, and Cabin options available. Tent site range up to $25 nightly, $38 nightly for cabin, and up to $30 nightly for RV. Full RV hook ups, up to 30amp. Pet friendly, wooded, and has playground. Campground is close to Crate of Diamonds SP

• 

  Crystal C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 10, 2019

  Tiny Town Oklahoma

  Centralized Cabins, Tent & RV Camping

  When searching for a unique camping experience you might check out something a little bit outside of the box. Offering tent sites and RV sites Tiny Town might seem normal on paper but when you were arrive they have a lot of options which might be considered a little bit different. 

  I pulled into Tiny Town I noticed right away the unique experience which they offer. Though RVs were parked in the front and on the right I noticed a community of tiny homes just beyond the bounds. Many tiny homes were under construction however a few options were already up and running in a variety of floor plans ideal for any traveler visiting the area. 

  The property it’s self is small but does offer a few amenities including a restroom and laundry as well as a small play facility. The big draw to this area is the quick and easy access to beavers Bend State Park and other attractions around the Broken Bow area. 

  The offering of cabin rentals varies from humble three person dwellings all the way up to a 20 person“Deck-A-Saurus”. Cabins are all equipped with standard furniture including couches and beds, making it ideal for those who just want to pullin and immediately jump into comfort. The RV area it’s self accommodate 17 spaces in three various sizes. Each side includes full hook ups, and barbecue pits. The larger areas have private fire pits as well as picnic tables. 

  When I visited I noticed that the area was a little void of large trees. However the area is currently working to re-landscape and provide better shade accommodations along the perimeter’s which would be very beneficial to tent campers. While they do not market the smaller sites as tent only facilities I did notice there were several people staying in vans or tents in these sites along the outer border. 

  The facility itself is very clean and well-maintained. You can really tell there is attention to detail at this location and that as it continues to grow and be developed that this will be a continued point of interest. 

  Standard nightly rates run between $30 and $45 depending on the site for RV or tent camping. They do also offer both weekly and monthly rates but do impose strict guidelines for those who are staying long-term to keep the facility clean and not looking unkept. 

  The Broken Bow Area offers beautiful unique attractions. If you like fishing, hiking,canoeing or trying something a little new this area is perfect. This park offers easy access to not only the outdoor features but also the nice Intown features such as restaurants making it a perfect place to stop if you’re in the area.

  The only downside I could see to this campsite is that it is not as remote as some.    While it does provide great amenities and access points to everything around with easy pull ins for RV traffic, it does lack that in the woods feel that many other campsites provide.   You will be a little close to your neighbors here.

• 

  Amy M.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 26, 2021

  Heavener Runestone Park

  Hidden Gem

  We were the only ones tent camping. They have showers and a separate restroom near the campsite - the showers are locked for campers only but the restrooms are public. The site had a nearby pavilion and running water. Hiking trails are fun and well marked. Heavener is near a train refueling station, so you’ll hear a lot of trains.

• 

  Tom K.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 2, 2017

  Queen Wilhelmina State Park — Queen Wihelmina State Park

  Limited Camping Spots

  The views of this campground are amazing, however, the campground left much to be desired. The bath house and spots are fine for RV's but when we tent camp it gets crowded at this site and lacks privacy. The campground for the most part is one single road with many camp spots on each side. The Ozark Highland Trail does pass close by and the Lover's Leap trail is pleasant with some amazing views.

• 

  Richard

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 12, 2021

  Heavener Runestone Park

  Heavener Runestone

  Came here for a day trip and had fun. There is an awesome hiking trail that takes you down into the valley and to the runestone itself. There are multiple tent sites and a good playground. Also a great view looking down to the bottom of the hill. We didn’t camp but the sites looked like most start park facilities.

• B

  Bryan E.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 22, 2021

  Shadow Mountain RV Park

  Motorcycle Campers Delight

  I rode my motorcycle and tent camped for 4 days and three nights. Camp road conditions very good, I have a touring model bike. Owners and staff were great! Very clean, and a very beautiful camp ground! There is ice machine on site, and basic necessities available at the office store. There is also a beautiful pond on the grounds that was awesome to walk around and just a very pretty place to stay. I will go back👍!

• 

  Vanessa M.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 29, 2020

  Tompkins Bend

  Great location on Lake Ouachita

  This is a relatively large campground, appropriate for RV and tent camping. The campground is nicely situated near the end of the LOViT cross country MTB/hiking trail. There are sites ranging from primitive to water and electric. Each site has a table and a fire pit and is within reasonable distance from flushing toilets. There are showers available, a playground, and boat ramp. I didn't prefer how busy the campground was or how close the sites were to each other.

• 

  Tom K.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 27, 2016

  Crater of Diamonds State Park Campground

  Not My Favorite...

  The sites were nice and spacious but it lacked a dedicated tent site that we could find. We used a site with water and electric hookups and the sites came with a table and fire ring. You are close to the diamond hunting area but other than that it lacked on hiking options. It was worth a weekend to check out but I doubt we would stay here again.

• 

  Suzsan M.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 4, 2019

  Caddo River Access RV Park

  Caddo River Access

  Campsites are small and close together but very well kept. Grills, fire Rings, and picnic tables available. Nice shaded area for tent camping. They are very close to the outfitter drop spot. Right on the river. Bathroom facilities are very nice and well kept. Outfitter has very nice quality boats for rent as well. Pleasant first experience with staff. Be warned that the campsite is right off a highway bridge so a decent amount of traffic through at all times. Stores located close by.

• R

  Riana C.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 1, 2022

  Tompkins Bend

  Beautiful lakeside camping

  We stayed here on the lake for four days. The site was spacious and well spread out from it's neighbours. There are both tent camping and rv sites with power hookups. Most of the sites circle the beautiful lake. The grounds have a small marina to drop your boat, then most people parked right on the lakeside beach in front of their camping site. Did a few trails in the area. The forest is beautiful and the lake is wonderfully inviting. Enjoyed both swimming and fishing in front of our camp site.

• 

  Jeyd A.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 4, 2018

  Highway 27 Fishing Village

  Feels like home

  This is a small, family run location. There are restrooms and shower facilities, as well as tent sites and RV hook ups. Plenty of room for boat parking. The cabins are adorable and feel like they are out of the 1970's but well worth the experience. Nice place to kayak. Gorgeous places to hike, watch the sunrise/sunset, and tons of room for kids to play. Pet friendly. The resident will visit you every day for belly scratches.

• J

  Jon D.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 13, 2024

  Charlton Campground

  Excellent Campground 20 minutes from historic Hot Springs!

  A very well maintained and enjoyable campground! There are amny sites, ranging from tents to full hookups. Prices range from $15/night (tents) to $45/night (group sites). Despite being close to the main road, it was very quiet. There is no cell signal to speak of in the loop C tent sites, but closer to the front, near the swimming area & pavillion, I got three bars (Verizon). The swimming is great! There is a CCC platform to jump from into the pool. Hot Springs is 20 minutes, and this campground has access to trailheads nearby. Would Stay Again.

  Stayed September 2021.

• 

  Chad K.

  Legend

  

  May. 29, 2017

  Daisy State Park Campground

  Fantastic

  Daisy SP is a fantastic SP located in the southwest corner of Arkansas.  The Camper and RV sites are level and big for any size vehicle.  The walk in tent sites are some of the best in the Midwest.  The sites are located right on the lake.  The sites have a framed out, level area big enough for am 8 person tent.  Each site has a light pole, fire pit and table and easy access to the parking lot in case you forget something.  The shower facilities are clean and modern.  There is plenty at Daisy from fishing to boating to a big playground for the kids.  The park staff are helpful and friendly.  It was not busy during out visit but I can see this park filling up in the spring and fall quickly, so reservations are recommended.

• 

  Bruce F.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 1, 2021

  COE Lake Ouachita Joplin Campground

  Beautiful!

  We enjoyed our 2 nights here on the lake. The campground is literally on a mountain in the lake. Tent sites right on the lake and so are some RV spots. Warning. Stay away from Loop C around sites 35-37. They are literally right on top of each other. We luckily had a friend who was staying over on site 28 and we parked with him. Loved it there! Some sites are off camber due to the mountain side. Bath house where we were staying was the nicer of the ones. Older but clean. Can’t wait to come back in the summer!

• 

  Cheri H.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 29, 2020

  COE Lake Ouachita Twin Creek

  Nice COE campground but no hookups

  Campground is so pretty. It’s right next to Lake Ouachita. You go down towards the boat launch area then turn right in to the campground. It loops around. Some sites are on the water and some are not. All seem very level. There’s a bathroom with flush toilets and sinks where you can brush your teeth and wash your hands if you’re tent camping. I stayed here in a Class C motorhome. Be sure you have plenty of fresh water especially since there are no hookups if you’re staying in an RV. I didn’t see a place to get water onsite either. There is a self pay fee honor system. The rangers do come through a few times a day. Seems well-maintained.

• M

  Mike D.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 26, 2020

  Talimena State Park Campground

  Great campground to start your OT hike!

  I've stayed here a couple of times the night before starting my hike on the Ouachita Trail.  The OT is a 200+ mile trail and this is park is the Western Terminus.    The park has tent and RV sites.   The tent sites are level and clean.  

  The bathrooms and showers are very clean. It is a great place to grab a shower after a few days hiking.  The showers have plenty of hot water and the water comes out a good rate to make it easy to knock off that trail dirt.

  For a small daily fee you can park your car here for the duration of the hike.   I have left my car here several times with no issues.