Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground offers full pet-friendly accommodations including tent camping, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. The park maintains well-spaced sites with full hookups, offering privacy for campers with animals. Sites are kept clean and level, particularly beneficial for RV campers with pets who need accessible terrain. Twin Creeks RV Park also welcomes pets, featuring tent sites near a creek with picnic tables where dogs can enjoy the natural setting. Campground bathhouses remain spotlessly clean, an important consideration when returning from outdoor adventures with muddy pets. Dogs are permitted throughout both campgrounds provided they remain leashed.
Multiple hiking trails directly accessible from campsites accommodate dogs at Lake Fort Smith State Park, making daily pet exercise convenient. The park connects to the western terminus of the Ozark Highlands Trail, offering extensive hiking opportunities for active dogs and their owners. Both campgrounds enforce standard leash requirements to protect wildlife and other campers. The surrounding forests and lake provide scenic backdrops for pet activities, though swimming in Lake Fort Smith itself is prohibited. Temperatures in the area can fluctuate significantly, requiring campers to monitor their pets for heat stress during summer months and cold exposure in winter. Spacious sites allow sufficient room for pet containment without disturbing neighboring campers.
$20 / night
"Very pet friendly. And close to so many attractions in Northwest Arkansas!"
"Devil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas. The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen. The facilities and amenities have been great. "
$23 - $163 / night
"Lake Ft. Smith State Park is a beautiful park in the Boston Mountains. We drove over from Memphis to meet my brother’s family (who lives in Tulsa)."
"This is a nice modern park on the shore of the man made Lake Fort Smith."
$15 - $35 / night
"Simply put, this is a great little rustic place to get away from the hustle and bustle. The sites offer 20/30/50A hookups with water and septic."
"He greeted us with his precious dogs and hung out with us until we were settled in, telling us all about the property, trails, and nearby waterfalls."
$15 - $215 / night
"Located beyond a perfectly canopied gravel road and surrounded by miles of mostly uninhabited forests White Rock Mountain has been the most delightful treasure of 2016."
"The views, as other reviewers have said, are impressive and the Rim Trail is worth doing any time of day and any season."
"Was headed to Lake Fort Smith but area was booked so we stopped here and was pleased with our stay. Spaces are quite small but it has become the norm everywhere."
"It’s just far enough away from the highway so you have a quiet nights rest without hearing the traffic. The pond on the property has soothing sounds of peepers to fall asleep too."
$16 - $75 / night
"It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass."
"Really nice campground you have two options in the A section you are right one a small river and one the B side it’s more of the wooded option but most sites have the Arkansas rive close by with mountain"
"This campground is located in a great spot near the Ozarks."
$16 - $75 / night
"Boat launch and lovely views of the Arkansas river. Close to restaurants and shopping ."
"We used it as a base camp to visit several Arkansas state parks such as Devil’s Den and Lake Fort Smith. The camp was clean, a little crowded, but very nice and relaxed."
$16 - $75 / night
"This park is located on the Arkansas River. There’s a boat ramp, so bring your boat and enjoy the beautiful Arkansas River. Pets are allowed, there is a leash law. Bring your own firewood."
"Would’ve been a nearly perfect campsite. Had it not been for all the trash left by others. Nice walk trails along the water. Local stop in for swimming and fishing."
ScoutGreat views, wonderful neighbors and a really nice dog park! Owners and management are very nice and helpful. Plenty of drive thru lots for big rigs. Higher end RV park, spacious lots, all utilities included. Beautiful new bathhouse kept very clean. Highly recommended!!!
RangerDevil’s Den SP had a great campground with full hookups available. The natural beauty of this area is breathtaking! Plenty of hiking opportunities and tons of activities. Very pet friendly. And close to so many attractions in Northwest Arkansas!
TravelerThis park is located on the Arkansas River. There’s a boat ramp, so bring your boat and enjoy the beautiful Arkansas River. Pets are allowed, there is a leash law. Bring your own firewood. Campsites are both Electric and primitive. Flush toilets and Warm Showers are available. Good cell service. Very clean and peaceful.
LegendThis is KOA, not my favorite place to stop, but they have good, basic facilities, sort of like Motel 6. They are just off I-40, so it was convenient for a one night stop. The sites were level, and were Pull-Thru so we didn’t even unhook. Full hookups, Some shade, a dump station. The shower/bathroom was clean. There is a small store. They also have cabins and tent sites; Free Wi-Fi, cable tv, a pool and playground, and a pond for fishing. There is a small Kamp K9 (dog park). When we were there everything was wet, and the smell of wet creosote from the log yard next door was terrible.
GuideI go here with my friends every summer we hike almost all the trails , it’s gorgeous last time I went there (summer of 23) we saw a wild river otter swimming there is so much wildlife out there and it’s just gorgeous absolutely stunning and worth visiting, family friends and dog / pet friendly if you want to take your dogs on a hike this is the place , has stairs and is not very handicapped accessible if you want to go to the bottom of the falls but it is completely accessible for a wheelchair if you just want to view the falls from the top and there are multiple handicapped accessible paved paths !
TravelerSimple, but nice. No frills. Quiet. If you are looking for a peaceful, quiet place, away from the city, this is a great place. I love it. Have stayed several times in several different sites. Will stay again. About 13 campsites, all gravel. Has a wooded trails for walking and a big open are for walking and playing with pets. Water, sewer and 30/50amp electric are easy access and to hook up. James the owner is great and has a U-Pick orchard as well.
RangerWe found this quiet spot with a small waterfall on Mountain Fork Creek that has a fairly large (semi-level) gravel parking lot right next to the natural waterfall which gives good noise cover for the road nearby. There are a few small trails along the creek and a few small bluffs with climbing spots for those who like some verticality.
Not great for solar panels but we had a good view of the north sky so Starlink works great here!
Also, a few stray dogs and cats came to see us a couple times.
Scoutcalled on June 27th to reserve a cabin for 6, Saturday the 2nd- 4th, At first was told they had no cabins available about 15 min after I made the call John the owner calls me back to tell me they had a cabin that was a 2 room available for theses dates and it was 100 per night and would sleep 6. I said we would like to reserve it. After hanging up called to inform my husband that we got a cabin then remember that I forgot to see if dogs were allowed, so I had to call back to make sure cause I can’t leave my fur babies. When I called it was a young girl that answered and said yes dogs were allowed and proceeded to talk about her 2 little puppies that were in the office with her. When packing and getting everything we needed together on Friday the day before we left we called to make sure the cabin had bedding and towels etc.. the young girl said yes. We get to sparrow resort on Saturday afternoon 2 young girls checked us in gave me a key pointed us in the direction of the cabin we pulled up to a cabin unloading all our stuff and unpacked was at this 2 bedroom cabin for approximately 2hours when John the owner came to this cabin told us we was at the wrong cabin I told them the key unlocked it. They said this was not cabin 2 and the people that reserved it would be up later so we gathered our things and moved to the cabin they said was ours that was next door. OH MY WAS WE LET DOWN. Mind you we have 2adult children myself and husband and 2 teenagers and 4 dogs they put us in a concrete prison that had missing curtains holes around the air conditioning window unit It was dirty holes in the walls. One king size bed a chair and a futon couch one room box. Bedding on bed only with a dirty comforter. For$100 a night not including the float trip. We were let down but determined to make the best of this we went to the store and bought bedding and towels and cleaning wipes. The next morning get up and noticed no one was in the 1st cabin still. So my daughter and I go to the office to get out float paid for and ask if we could get the bigger cabin since no one was in it told them I would pay more for it the little brown haired girl said yes then the other girl with a nose piercing said no it was booked and we should have had to pay a pet deposit of 15 a dog and we needed to pay this fee and was nasty with me. I said I wanted to by one raft and 2 tube rentals she keep saying and 60 pet deposit the brown haired girl rung up the float while the nasty teenager kept repeating and pet deposit the other girl stated stop worrying about the deposit and she kept saying it! The sign read tube float for 4 hours was only$20 and the raft was 25 per person for 4hours she charged us 30 x 6 people to float the 4 mile I said the 20 tube for 4 hours she nasty teen says that for just playing in the water😡 really the sign clearly says 4hour float only$20 and 25 for rafting over 4 people. I ask again about the other cabin the nasty girl said Chelsea and her 2 daughters were staying in it. Really because Chelsea and John the owner were the ones that came to the cabin the day before and Chelsea said she was the cleaning lady and John was the owner. Always we paid our pet deposit and float trip and tried to make the best of this regardless i a grown woman not to be argumentative with a child. This morning comes and we can’t wait to leave we cleaned the crap out of our concrete box prison and went to to office to return our key and get my 60 dollar pet deposit back and the nasty little teen was by herself while we started recording the whole encounter since day prior I ask for my pet deposit she said it don’t work like that I said excuse me you say deposit that means I get my deposit back if no damage was done. John came in and said what do we want he said you want your deposit here thank for staying and goodbye🤯wow what service. The best part the large cabin stayed vacant the entire time. The teenager that was running John’s business will be his downfall she don’t know how to treat people VERY DISRESPECTFUL!!! Will never be back!!
ScoutI have been camping out here for years but never took advantage of the A side. A12-14 are premian spots to camp. I tent camp and the view is amazing. It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass.
The Mountainburg area sits at the edge of the Ozark Highlands, with elevations ranging from 800-2,000 feet and dense forest cover throughout the region. Camping options near Mountainburg provide access to both the Arkansas River Valley and Boston Mountain terrain. Weather conditions can shift rapidly, with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing.
Hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail: Access the western terminus of this 218-mile trail directly from Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground. "The hiking trails were right out of our campsite. Clean sites. Great tent pads," notes Jennifer O. The trail system offers varying difficulty levels through oak-hickory forests.
Fishing opportunities: Clear Creek Recreation Area provides shoreline fishing access for anglers with pets. "Fish this place often and also camp. They keep this place clean and have never had issues with other campers," reports Charles Q. The nearby Arkansas River contains catfish, bass, and crappie species.
Water recreation: Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures offers river activities even for campers traveling with dogs. "Right on the river where there is a natural pool. Nice size camp sites with good cover," explains John F. Kayak and tube rentals available on-site with designated pet rest areas along float routes.
Secluded tent sites: White Rock Mountain Recreation Area maintains eight dedicated tent sites with separation between camping areas. "The campground is clean, but the showers could use some work," reports Taren S. Sites 1-4 feature larger tent pads with more level ground for pet enclosures.
Clean facilities: Mountainburg campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms. At Springhill, "the bathrooms were otherwise fine - functional and on par with what you'd expect in a park," according to Rebecca H. Showers operate year-round at most established campgrounds, providing convenience for campers with muddy pets.
Quiet environments: The rural setting creates peaceful camping conditions. "We love Lake Fort Smith State Park. Lots of places to hike and explore, beautiful lake, and very nice camp sites. Peaceful!" says Sue. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours from 10pm-6am, applicable to both humans and pets.
Limited cell service: Communication can be challenging in this mountainous region. At Devil's Den State Park Campground, "there's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park," explains Gonzo A. Download maps before arrival as GPS signal may drop in valleys.
Supply planning: Local stores have limited inventory and restricted hours. "Bring what you need the nearest store is about 20 minutes out and the restaurant is not that good," advises tiffany H. Dog food and specialty pet supplies should be packed in advance.
Road conditions: Access roads can be difficult, especially with larger vehicles or trailers. "Nice, quiet place. Great hiking! Not really a place for a quick overnight, the road in is steep and crooked," notes kcki M. Steep grades and hairpin turns require caution, particularly when traveling with anxious pets.
Best pet-friendly site options: For families camping with dogs, certain sites offer advantages. At Aux Arc, "we stayed at back-in site 11, which is a river view with 50/30 AMP with water," shares MickandKarla W. Corner sites typically provide more space for families with active dogs.
Insect preparation: The region experiences significant insect activity. "Make sure and bring lots of bug spray," cautions Cj C. Pet-safe insect repellent is recommended as conventional products may be harmful to animals.
Playground proximity: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "Lake Ft. Smith State Park is a beautiful park in the Boston Mountains... Recreational area with a playground that is updated," states Ryan S. These areas provide designated spaces for children while keeping pets in appropriate zones.
Site leveling: Many RV sites in the region require adjustment. "All sites were level for both campers and tents. Each site had a good table, fire pit and lantern pole," explains Chad K. This level terrain simplifies setup when managing dogs, particularly for older animals with mobility limitations.
Hook-up considerations: Full-service sites vary between campgrounds. At Fort Smith-Alma RV Park, "we pulled in at midnight. Difficult to see how to pull through some of the spaces... Clean space and not noisy through out the night," reports Laurie. The quieter environment benefits pets with noise sensitivities.
Spacing between sites: Dog friendly campgrounds near Mountainburg offer varying degrees of separation. "Sites spread far enough apart for privacy, full hook ups, cleanest bathhouses, and beautiful scenery," notes Jennifer O. Adequate spacing prevents conflict between neighboring campers with pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mountainburg, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mountainburg, AR is Devil's Den State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 88 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mountainburg, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 138 dog-friendly camping locations near Mountainburg, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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