Stacie P.
Scout
ScoutLee Creek Public Use Area
A beautiful view
A beautiful place to relax, but very sketchy, wouldn't stay after dark. I've taken many pics down here, the scenery is beautiful.
Camping near Natural Dam, AR
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Natural Dam, Arkansas features several distinct camping areas with varying amenities and access options. Natural Dam itself offers primitive tent camping beside a picturesque waterfall on Mountain Fork Creek, with no hookups or developed facilities. Nearby Devil's Den State Park provides more established options with full-hookup RV sites, tent camping areas, and cabin rentals approximately 15 miles east. Lake Fort Smith State Park in Mountainburg also offers developed camping with boat access, RV hookups, tent sites, and cabin accommodations. The Ozark National Forest surrounds much of the region, providing dispersed camping opportunities on public land.
Road conditions and access vary significantly between developed campgrounds and primitive sites in the Natural Dam vicinity. While state parks maintain paved access roads suitable for most vehicles, dispersed camping areas often require navigating unpaved forest roads. Most developed campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though some amenities like swimming pools operate seasonally. Cell phone coverage is generally limited throughout the region, especially in valley areas and at Natural Dam itself. Visitors should bring adequate supplies as services are limited in this rural area. One visitor noted, "The scenery here is really beautiful, but it is so deserted that it is a bit scary at night."
Natural Dam's waterfall creates a distinctive camping experience, with the sound of falling water providing natural white noise that masks nearby road sounds. Campers frequently mention the gravel parking area beside the waterfall as a convenient but basic camping spot. "Pulled in about 7 pm. Several cars there but no other campers. Quiet evening without disturbance. It was chilly in the morning, so the fog off the waterfall was eerily gorgeous," reported one camper. The area lacks amenities like drinking water, trash service, or permanent toilet facilities, though basic vault toilets may be available seasonally. Devil's Den State Park, by contrast, receives high ratings for its well-maintained facilities, spacious campsites, and extensive trail system, making it a popular alternative for those seeking more developed camping options within a short drive of Natural Dam.
Best Campgrounds near Natural Dam (172)
1. Devil's Den State Park Campground
"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. "
"The trails are great and our campsite had a path right down to the river. The water hookup was a bit tricky, it leaks all over the place until you turn it all the way."
from $20 / night
Check Availability2. Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
"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."
from $23 - $163 / night
Check Availability3. Natural Dam
"The view, sounds and feels of the natural dam are stunning, relaxing and cool. A bit muddy for our dog, but great view for coffee in morning."
"We 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"
4. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
"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."
"Very close to off-road trails and river float activities .. the owners are super nice and we liked hanging out with them. We’ll be back!"
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
"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."
"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."
6. Springhill
"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"
"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."
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability7. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
"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."
from $15 - $215 / night
Check Availability8. Barker Gap
from $35 - $130 / night
Check Availability9. whiskey springs campground
"You can drive right up to your campsite, this is on private property. There are several tent spots and also 3 cabins, small medium and large."
10. Dispersed Near Devils Den
"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."
Drive Time
- 27 min from Fort Smith, AR
- 53 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 50 min from Tulsa, OK
- 2 hrs 6 min from Joplin, MO
Recent Camping Photos near Natural Dam, AR
181 Photos of 172 Natural Dam Campgrounds
Lauren
Dispersed Near Devils Den
Rebecca
Devil's Den State Park Campground
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
Daniel D.
Twin Creeks RV Park
Donny S.
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Kat M.
Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
RACHAEL G.
Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
Michelle W.
Springhill
Jennifer L.
COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
Cyndy & Selena R.
Shores Lake
Chris & Rosanne C.
White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
Steve G.
Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA
Recent Reviews near Natural Dam, AR
712 Reviews of 172 Natural Dam Campgrounds
Jenny
RangerSnake Creek
Decent place for lake stay
Quiet camping, restrooms are clean and have showers.
Site 10 was a nice site with 50 amp.
There was some sort of dumpster situation with new rollaways beside old dumpsters. Old dumpsters looked like were attempted to be taped up but they were used and overfilled with trash. So full that trash was flying around the park at times. Not sure what the situation was.
- JennyRanger
pathfinder rv resort
New, clean RV park
New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it. Large clubhouse is where the bathhouses are with four individual bathrooms with showers, laundry facility, propane for sale and a nice pool.
- JennyRanger
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
- J
Jon L.
GuideHog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort
Still a nice park, but...
We last stayed here five years ago when the park was new. Some of the areas and amenities that are now available were still under construction during our last trip. The bottom line… still a very nice park, but it's starting to show its age a little.
Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate, though several roads have asphalt failures that need attention. Even though it's not too far from Interstate 49, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 36. Most of the sites are gravel, but the pull-thru row that we were in had concrete pads. For the most part, all sites appear fairly level.
Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Two bathroom areas also have showers and laundry facilities- one at the front of the park and one in the rear. The pool area and playground are located at the front of the park.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, Cable, and OTA: there is Wi-Fi in the park, but the park info sheet that they provide you with notes that the Wi-Fi is spotty. We were able to get AT&T 5G with 4 bars. AT&T achieved 418 Mbps down and 21 Mbps up. Satellite reception should not be an issue at most sites, and if you do need clear access for satellite reception, there are plenty of sites available with no trees. There are plenty of OTA stations available, and they all had great reception with clear HD pictures. Cable was not available.
Dog Park: They have two nice fenced-in parks that are in great condition. The one in the front of the park is divided for big and small dogs, while the one in the back is larger but not divided. They both have benches, which are all in good shape. They also provide doggie bags and a trash can. NOTE: I've included a photo of the sign posted at the entrances to the park indicating that they might be shut down. So if having a fenced dog park is mission-critical for your stay, you might want to verify that they are still open when you make your reservation
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website, and you are only a few miles from Fayetteville, where you can find plenty of stores and restaurants. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. Although the park is starting to show its age, it still deserves a high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy your stay!
Headgear7GuideCookson Bend
Pretty good park
The campground is quite nice overall, but the bathrooms and showers need to be updated, as they are somewhat outdated. The tent sites are close to the bathrooms, and the pads are flat and framed with either wood or steel rails. They offer electricity but no water at the pad, although water is available at a central location. The travel trailer sites offer water and electricity, and you can park your boat on the shoreline.
- JJon L.Guide
Riverfront RV Resort
A Hidden Gem
We needed an overnight spot on our way from Oklahoma to NW Arkansas, and I'm glad that we picked this park. It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful.
The road from the highway to the park is fairly easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful. However, you will hear occasional train horns from the crossing a few miles away. You'll only hear them when outside your RV, never inside.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 44. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and 5 inches from front to rear. There are no shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, and the pool are all located near the registration office building and are in great shape. There are no trash cans by the sites- just a dumpster area near the dog park and playground. However, they do come by your site each morning to pick up any trash that you've set out.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is decent Wi-Fi in the park with repeater towers spaced approximately every four sites, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 9.52 Mbps down and 2.02 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 4 bars and achieved 512 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up plenty of OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is in great condition and is well lit at night. They provide doggie bags and a trash can, both in the dog park and along the walking paths.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. The park is only a couple of years old and is very well maintained. Only about 15-20 percent of the spaces were occupied. Note that sites 100- 115 are along the river. There is a concrete public walking path along the river, but those sites are elevated above the path, with a grass and tree buffer zone between them. There are a couple of covered pavilions in the park with built-in gas grills and comfortable seating areas. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it - enjoy your stay!
- JJessie H.
TravelerWolf Pen Recreation Area Campground
It Was Ok
Very flea infested when we went. Water was really low and kinda hot. But the camp ground was pretty and well maintained.
- Headgear7Guide
Cookson Bend
Great lake to be on
I enjoyed my stay, although I wish the bathrooms and showers were more modern. There is a swimming area and plenty of space to bring your boat ashore close to your campsite. They offer a few tent sites, but mostly RV sites.
Guide to Natural Dam
Camping opportunities in the Natural Dam vicinity include both established campgrounds and primitive sites throughout the Ozark National Forest. The Natural Dam area sits at approximately 900 feet elevation with surrounding mountains rising to 2,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-95°F with winter lows occasionally dipping below freezing, creating distinct camping conditions across seasons.
What to do
Caving expeditions: Devil's Den State Park offers multiple cave systems suitable for different experience levels. "4 days of camping with the guys, exploring caves and trails, and overall having a blast!" notes Brian E. about his Devil's Den State Park Campground experience. The park's cave formations remain at steady temperatures year-round.
Waterfall photography: Morning fog creates optimal conditions for photography at Natural Dam. "It was chilly in the morning, so the fog off the waterfall was eerily gorgeous," mentions James F. from his stay at Natural Dam. Local photographers recommend visiting between 7-9am when light conditions create distinctive patterns through the mist.
Kayaking access: Lake Fort Smith provides boat rentals and water access points. "Lake Fort Smith State Park is a beautiful park in the Boston Mountains. We drove over from Memphis to meet my brother's family. There is a marina where you can rent boats," explains Ryan S. who camped at Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground.
What campers like
Year-round accessibility: While some facilities operate seasonally, many campgrounds maintain core services throughout winter. "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," shares Gonzo A. about his January visit to Devil's Den State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple water access points provide fishing along the Mulberry River and surrounding creeks. "Right on the Mulberry River, very friendly staff, you can Tube, float, kuyak, or just swim and relax," reports Rick N. from his stay at Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures.
Trail access: Direct trail connections from many campsites allow immediate hiking access. "I would absolutely stay again. The hiking trails were right out of our campsite," notes Jennifer O. from Lake Fort Smith State Park. Many trails feature interpretive markers explaining local geology and plant species.
What you should know
Road conditions: Routes to White Rock Mountain require appropriate vehicles and extra time. "The road to White Rock Mountain driving south on 79 is a minimally maintained one in a half lane dirt road full of rocks, erosion, bumps and a lot of up and down switch backs. My Subaru outback handled it fine, but it takes a full hour to drive less than 15 miles on this road," advises Matt S. about accessing White Rock Mountain Recreation Area.
Water availability: Not all sites provide reliable drinking water sources. "Natural Dam itself lacks amenities like drinking water, trash service, or permanent toilet facilities," explains a local ranger. Visitors should bring at least one gallon per person per day.
Limited connectivity: Cell service remains spotty throughout the region. "There's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park. Make sure to stock up on supplies beforehand - there are not many options within that area as far as food and services," cautions Gonzo A. about Devil's Den.
Tips for camping with families
Pool options: Seasonal swimming facilities provide heat relief for children. "Aside from the extreme humidity this was a great family getaway. Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" shares Melissa M. after her visit to Devil's Den State Park.
Site selection: Some campgrounds offer child-friendly configurations. "Many of the campsites are on a grade. They all have multiple levels with stairs and have no railings. We had 5 children <6 years of age and the sites were somewhat perilous. If you are a parent with small kids, sites 17-20 and sites 2-3 are better," advises Ryan S. from his experience at Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground.
Wildlife opportunities: Morning and evening animal sightings enhance educational experiences. "In a prior visit I saw a bear go lumbering in front of my truck on the road to White Rock. Only time in 40+ years I've seen a bear in the wild in Arkansas, and I grew up in the country!" notes Matt B.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Select campsites carefully to minimize setup challenges. "Many of the campsites are on a grade. If you need sewer service, I would recommend site #11 as the most level pull-through site, although there's not a bad site in the park," recommends Donna H. about her winter stay at Lake Fort Smith State Park.
Route planning: Avoid steep access roads with larger vehicles. "Nice, quiet place. Great hiking! Not really a place for a quick overnight, the road in is steep and crooked," warns kcki M. from Fort Smith-Alma RV Park, suggesting it as an alternative when mountain roads prove challenging.
Electrical service: Various amperage options exist across campgrounds. "Stayed 2 nights in A Loop. 30 Amp hook up with some of the best water I have ever had. Only 35 ppm on my zero water tester," notes Beverley D. about Springhill campground, which provides an alternative to mountain camping with reliable utilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Natural Dam, AR?
What camping is available near Natural Dam, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Natural Dam, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Natural Dam, AR and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Natural Dam, AR?
Which is the most popular campground near Natural Dam, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Natural Dam, AR is Devil's Den State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 88 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Natural Dam, AR?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Natural Dam, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Natural Dam, AR.
What parks are near Natural Dam, AR?
What parks are near Natural Dam, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 33 parks near Natural Dam, AR that allow camping, notably John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake and Ozark Lake.
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