Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Ouachita Lake, AR has a lot to offer. Ouachita Lake is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Ouachita Lake, AR. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$12 - $40 / night
"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."
"It is located a little south of central Arkansas so it’s easily accessible to the whole state. It’s also very affordable and has great amenities."
$45 - $95 / night
"Has cable, WiFi, full hookups and a very nice bathhouse. Sites are very level and it’s convenient to Hot Springs National Park. All sites are pull through and some are located on Lake Hamilton."
"Nice, quiet park. Laundry facilities nice and clean. Clean showers. Nice dog park. Management friendly. On lake, so some boat noise."
$13 / night
"$12 a night, full hookup potential AND you are walking distance to the mine!!! For $20 you can go spend the day diggin through dirt and finding crystals."
"This RV park is small, private and has beautiful trees. All amenities are clean and in good repair."
$41 / night
"Small RV park but easy to get in and out with big rigs and full hookups. So quite you could hear a cricket fart and the babbling creek running through the beautiful property."
"This park was very peaceful and quiet. You can hear the bullfrogs at night. JJ - the owner was the ice on the cake. Just such a nice fellow. There are several full timers there."
$32 - $45 / night
"There are a lot of long term people and a few that seem to rotate. The bathrooms were fantastic and so was the laundry room. Theres a little boat dock and good sized dog park too."
"(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."
$85 / night
"Located in Hot Spring proper. Easy access to everything. The Dog Park, laundry facilities, and restrooms/showers are of course new and clean. Casino and Racetrack are right around the corner."
"Close 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!"
$30 / night
"Very convenient place to stay only 2 min from town and just a short drive to any location you might want to visit."
$25 - $65 / night
"This is a nice place with a combination of pull through and back-in spots. Our site (and I’m assuming others) is level with well-packed aggregate."
"When we arrived with a reserved pull through site, they asked if we would consider a back in site, which we accepted. There were some park closures due to gov’t shutdown that shifted guests plans."
"Close to Oaklawn Horse Track."
LegendCatherine’s Landing is a great RV park with lots of amenities and things happening. This park is an RVC Outdoor Destination property which is known for their “resort” amenities. The park is set on 400 acres with one mile bordering Lake Catherine and about eight or nine miles from downtown Hot Springs.
All roads, sites and patios are paved and this is definitely a big rig-friendly park. Every site has water, 50/30 amp, sewer, cable, and wifi. Fire pits and picnic tables accompany all sites. There are a variety of sites ranging from waterfront back-in, pull-thrus, or interior back-in. Waterfront sites have a nice view of the lake from the back of the site and access for fishing. The park also has yurts and cottages (some of which are pet-friendly). Adjacent to the yurts is a nice, large covered picnic area with grills, a dish washing station.
Lots and lots of amenities here. Hiking trails, swimming pool, fitness center, lounge, playground, dog park, zip-line, boat rental, boat launch, store, and disc golf. Some amenities (boat rentals and zip-line) are an extra charge.
Hot Springs is a nice little town nestled in the Ouachita Mountains with interesting history and natural beauty. We found plenty to do from hiking the National Park to learning about the bathhouse history to discovering the gangster influence. We spent four nights and could have stayed longer with all that the town offers. Most people come here to bathe in the soothing warm mineral waters but there is also a horse racetrack, science museum, off road track, water/theme park, alligator farm, and a few museums. Hot Springs National Park has miles and miles of great hiking trails and a great place to spend an afternoon. The town of Hot Springs is very dog-friendly and we found many places that would allow them in and on the patio for lunch.
Pros:
Cons:
LegendCamped here on May 1, 2025. This is one of my favorite state parks in the USA. Lots to do here. Fantastic hiking trails - rated from easy to difficult. Since I live only 45 minutes from this park, I normally come here for the day for hiking. This time, I got around to trying out the park's campground. This popular campround is divided into 4 areas - A through D. There are a total of 125 campsites, including 26 pull-through sites. Thirty-five of the sites are Class AAA sites which have 50 amp electrical, water, and sewer hookups. There are 90 Class B sites offering 30 amp electrical and water hookups. All sites are reservable. Tent and hammock camping is possible depending on the sites. I camped at site 103 in Area D. The staff at the office helped me pick this site for my campervan. The site had water and 30amp service. The restroom/shower house was clean and well maintained. The campsite itself was dated but clean. The site was large and had trees around it offering a little bit of privacy. The pull-thru drieway was close to the campground road. The site included a picnic table, tent pad, lantern pole, metal fire ring, and grill. Solar charging and Starlink connectivity may not be possible at this site; Area C has an open sky above it. There was some road noise from vehicles driving on Petit Jean Mountain Road which is behind the site. Received good AT&T 5G cell service, but little to no T-Mobile 2G service. Areas C and D are in the woods. Most of the sites in these areas are on the small size but should easily accomodate a truck camper and smaller. Not all sites are level. Areas A and B can accomodate large rigs and towables.
ScoutGravel parking lot with painted stripes, a patch of grass growing under the picnic table, and full hookups. Be sure to back in centered, others are complaining about hitting their slide outs. Watch your step. One of the long-term residents isn't picking up their dog waste. The nicest spot in the whole place is the little fenced-in dog spot overlooking the canal that makes its way out to the lake you can't see from here.
RangerBeautiful, clean, great location. Camped here in Feb 2020, right on the river. Full hookups, mostly back-in but some pull throughs. Paved, level. Tent sites, too. Clean bathrooms, little camp store. Close to town. Would camp again.
TravelerD26 Back-in full hook-ups, fire ring & picnic table. 2 nights - Memorial Day weekend. Good spot, close to bath rooms/shower house/cafe. Pretty level - just 1 leveling block was all we needed for our pop-up. Lots of amenities- cafe, fishing pond, small general store, playground and off leash dog area. Staff was very friendly. Escorted you to your spot and helped us back in. Shower house was always clean. Loved the dog park! We are just starting to travel with our 2 boxers and was so nice to have an area for them to run a bit. Cons - spots are very close, no privacy. Each spot has a very bright “porch” light that is on until Midnight
RangerStayed 2 nights in a basic one room cabin. Had a double bed and bunk bed. Heat /air and cable tv. They advertise WiFi but we didn’t get good reception even though our cabin was very near the office/pool/bathroom. Clean and well kept. Porch swing, fire ring and water at the site. Friendly staff. Clean facilities. Pool is small. Dog play area and kids playground. Good location for exploring hot springs area.
GuideThis is to update my previous post. We are now in the Old Cowhide Cove Campground. We have a beautiful spot backed up to the lake with a wonderful view. There are two widely separated camping areas: New Cowhide Cove and Old Cowhide Cove. We ae in OLD Cowhide Cove so this review is specific to that area. Very adequate campsites are well spaced with picnic table, fire ring., 50 amp electric and water. There is a well situated dump station right on the way out. Even though the sites are long enough for most rigs, there is a paved parking area between most sites. Old Cowhide Cove Campground is a small area with only a few sites--a plus for me.
I highly recommend this campground. The unreasonably late check-in time is a responsibility of the COE. There was no one to check us in which was no problem for us as we had advanced reservations and an assigned site which was easy to find and presented no difficulty in backing in.
LegendPROS
No reservation transaction fee
Senior discount
Quiet
Moveable metal picnic table on a concrete pad, pedestal BBQ grill, fire ring with cooking grate, and one hook lantern pole
Site 14 partially shady
Good condition asphalt parking pad with gravel and grass surrounding
Good view of lake from Site 14
Sites well spaced
Campground A toilet/shower building clean and sufficiently stocked. Heated but not air conditioned.
Site 14 more than long enough for trailer and tow vehicle
Dark sky friendly as there are no street lights in Campground A
Very nice 6ft wide asphalt bike trail from Campground B to Mather Lodge
(approximately 1.75 miles) CCC Hike and Bike Trail
New Visitor Center built 2021
Beautiful CCC built Mather Lodge
(restaurant added in 2012)
Grass throughout campground mowed
Firewood sold in the yards of residences along State Road 154
CONS
Site 14 extremely unlevel side to side
No privacy from other campsites
No entrance security gate to the park or any campgrounds as State Road 154 cuts thru the park
No park ranger drive thrus
Mather Lodge Restaurant OK. Don't expect much from the menu or service but it has a full bar
3 of our 4 day stay there was a religious group prophetlytizing at the Park Visitor Center WIFI only at Lodge and Visitors Center
NO TMOBILE service
GuideThis is a nice place with a combination of pull through and back-in spots. Our site (and I’m assuming others) is level with well-packed aggregate. The sites are fairly spacious for this type of layout.
The park is located 10-12 miles outside of Hot Springs. Even though it’s along a highway, it’s quite a ways up a hill and through the woods. We had no issues with road noise at night.
If you want a built-in grill or fire pit, then you’re not going to be happy because they don’t have them. I saw a lot of folks had their own small grills. I also saw a full-size black stone griddle at the rec room, but did not ask if it was available for everyone to use.
Discover the beauty of RV camping near Ouachita Lake in Arkansas, where stunning landscapes and a variety of amenities await outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What RV parks are available directly on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas?
Lake Ouachita offers several RV-friendly campgrounds with lakefront access. Cowhide Cove Campground provides beautiful waterfront sites in both its Old and New sections, with spots directly backed up to the lake offering stunning views. Youngs Lakeshore RV Resort near Hot Springs provides boat-in and drive-in access with full hookups and direct lake access. Other options include Crystal Springs, Brady Mountain, and Denby Point campgrounds, which offer electric hookups and water access. Many Lake Ouachita campgrounds are operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and feature boat ramps, swim beaches, and fishing access, making them ideal for RVers who want to enjoy water activities right from their campsite.
How close are RV parks to Ouachita National Forest?
Several RV parks are conveniently located near or within Ouachita National Forest, providing easy access to its natural attractions. Cloud Nine RV Park is situated just 10-12 miles outside Hot Springs along a highway, offering level sites with well-packed aggregate and spacious layouts. Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park provides a beautiful riverside setting with full hookups, paved level sites, and excellent proximity to forest trails. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Ouachitas FR179 Dispersed Site offers primitive camping directly within the forest. Most RV parks in the Hot Springs area are within 15-30 minutes of Ouachita National Forest access points, making it easy to enjoy both comfortable camping amenities and forest adventures.
Are there long-term RV camping options available at Lake Ouachita?
Yes, there are long-term RV camping options available around Lake Ouachita. Leisure Landing RV Park accommodates long-term residents with full hookups in a gravel lot setting. Treasure Isle R.V. Park offers extended stays with Passport America discounts (approximately $17/night) and amenities including cable, WiFi, full hookups, and modern bathhouses. While Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds on Lake Ouachita typically limit stays to 14 days, private RV parks in the area often welcome seasonal and long-term campers. For extended stays, it's advisable to contact parks directly about monthly rates, winter specials, and reservation policies, as availability can vary by season and some parks may require advance booking for long-term spots.
What amenities do RV resorts offer at Lake Ouachita?
RV resorts around Lake Ouachita offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Catherine's Landing provides resort-style amenities on 400 acres bordering Lake Catherine, including full hookups, a mile of lakefront access, and various recreational activities. Hot Springs National Park KOA features full hookup sites, cable TV, WiFi, a cafe, fishing pond, small general store, playground, and off-leash dog area. Most Lake Ouachita RV parks offer electric hookups (30/50 amp), water connections, and dump stations. Higher-end resorts typically include swimming pools, camp stores, laundry facilities, shower houses, and organized activities. Many parks also provide boat rentals, fishing docks, and hiking trail access for outdoor enthusiasts.
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