Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Ozark Lake, Arkansas

Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures campground provides pet-friendly camping options along the Mulberry River with direct water access for dogs. This campground offers tent sites near the river as well as RV spots with full hookups and pet-friendly cabins. All sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with pets allowed throughout the property. Devil's Den State Park Campground also welcomes pets at its campsites and cabins, featuring hiking trails where leashed dogs can accompany their owners. Both locations provide trash receptacles for pet waste disposal and drinking water access. The sites vary from primitive to full-hookup options with most campgrounds maintaining clean facilities that accommodate campers with pets. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best dog-friendly campgrounds near Ozark Lake, Arkansas.

The river provides excellent recreation for both pets and owners with swimming holes where dogs can cool off during hot Arkansas summers. Several campsites feature direct waterfront access with shallow water entry points suitable for pets. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area offers additional pet-friendly camping with cabin options and hiking trails appropriate for leashed dogs. The region's campgrounds generally enforce standard pet policies including leash requirements when outside vehicles or tents. Some visitors note the need to bring extra towels for muddy paws after river play, especially during spring and early summer when water levels are higher. Aux Arc and Lake Fort Smith State Park also accommodate pets at their boat-in and drive-in campsites, making water recreation with dogs convenient throughout the Ozark Lake area.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Ozark Lake (101)

    1. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures

    23 Reviews
    Mulberry, AR
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 462-4961

    $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."

    "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!"

    2. Devil's Den State Park Campground

    88 Reviews
    Winslow, AR
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 761-3325

    $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. "

    3. Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Chester, AR
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 369-2469

    $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."

    4. Aux Arc

    20 Reviews
    Ozark, AR
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 667-1100

    $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."

    5. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

    26 Reviews
    Combs, AR
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 369-4128

    $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."

    6. Springhill

    21 Reviews
    Barling, AR
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 452-4598

    $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"

    7. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park

    9 Reviews
    Alma, AR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 632-2704

    "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."

    8. Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)

    6 Reviews
    Alma, AR
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 632-4882

    $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."

    9. pathfinder rv resort

    2 Reviews
    Alma, AR
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 297-1551

    "New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it."

    "Newly expanded to around 50 sites. Lot of extended stays but immaculate. Small lake with catch and release fishing. Community fireplace, pool and nice playground."

    10. Byrd's Adventure Center

    16 Reviews
    St. Paul, AR
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 667-4066

    $10 - $22 / night

    "This is one of the best campgrounds in Arkansas. Dog friendly"

    "Camped near the river and had a wonderful time exploring the off-road trails near the area."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Ozark Lake

634 Reviews of 101 Ozark Lake Campgrounds

  • JThe Dyrt Pro User
    Aug. 1, 2026

    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!

  • Lori V.
    Mar. 16, 2021

    Rivers Edge RV and Stables

    Awesome Dog park!

    Great 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!!!

  • Bill  T.The Dyrt Pro User
    Jan. 2, 2026

    Devil's Den State Park Campground

    NW Arkansas Camping

    Devil’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!

  • Shelia H.
    Jul. 14, 2018

    Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)

    River Living

    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. Campsites are both Electric and primitive. Flush toilets and Warm Showers are available. Good cell service. Very clean and peaceful.

  • KThe Dyrt Pro User
    Apr. 25, 2026

    Hog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort

    Nice spot - Lots of amenities

    Hog Valley RV Park is a solid place to stay, especially for families. The amenities are nice, particularly if you have children, with parks, basketball courts, and pickleball courts available. The two pools were closed for the season during our stay, so keep that in mind depending on when you visit.

    The front staff was very welcoming and even escorted us to our spot, which was a nice touch. The park was quiet at night, and the sites were level with full hookups, which made setup easy. There are also plenty of spots available throughout the park.

    A few downsides kept it from being a 5-star stay. The grass was extremely damp, and our dogs got soaked just from laying down. There is also only one trash area, located near the front entrance, which is pretty far from many of the sites. The dog parks were just average, possibly a little below average.

    Overall, it was a good stay with great family-friendly amenities and friendly staff. I’d recommend it, especially for families, but there are a few areas that could be improved.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt Pro User
    May. 30, 2019

    Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA

    Convenient to I-40

    This 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.

  • JThe Dyrt Pro User
    Aug. 2, 2026

    Hog 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!

  • J
    May. 19, 2021

    Grape Country RV Park

    Great Country Setting

    Simple, 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.

  • Cultivating Fire L.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 28, 2022

    Natural Dam

    Small waterfall with a gravel lot

    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 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.

Guide to Ozark Lake

Camping opportunities near Ozark Lake span across the Boston Mountains subrange of the Ozarks, with elevations ranging from 800-2,200 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with moderate rainfall of 40-50 inches annually. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with higher humidity levels, making waterfront sites popular during peak months.

What to do

Hiking accessible trails: White Rock Mountain Recreation Area offers spectacular day hiking with the Rim Trail providing panoramic views. "The views are exquisite. The people are warm and inviting. The hiking trails are for everyone," notes camper Shelia H. The trail system accommodates various experience levels with clear markings.

Kayaking and canoeing: The Mulberry River provides excellent paddling opportunities with multiple access points. At Redding Campground, "there is a lovely put-in spot for canoes/kayaks right on the loop with the rest of the sites," according to Melanie G. Water levels are typically best for floating from March through June when seasonal rainfall creates optimal conditions.

Off-road adventures: For ATV enthusiasts, designated trails offer various difficulty levels. "They not only have their own trails on private land, but off-roaders can hit trails in National Forest territory not too far down the road," mentions Eric L. about Byrd's Adventure Center. Daily trail passes range from $10-15 per vehicle with discounts for multi-day use.

What campers like

Waterfront camping sites: Campers appreciate direct river access for recreation. "We had a great time here, just a day trip. Water was clean & refreshing. Hearing the water flow was relaxing," notes Tim P. about Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures. Many sites feature spacious areas for gear with shade options.

Well-maintained facilities: Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "Absolutely the cleanest and most beautiful campground we've been in - in this part of the county yet. Sites spread far enough apart for privacy, full hook ups, cleanest bathhouses," writes Jennifer O. The park undergoes regular maintenance with staff conducting daily checks.

Private swimming areas: Natural swimming holes provide relief during hot summer days. "Decently priced and easy to get to. The Mulberry river is gorgeous blue water," shares Shona H. Most swimming areas feature gradual entry points with rocky or sandy bottoms, allowing for safer water recreation.

What you should know

Seasonal flood impacts: Water levels can affect campground accessibility and conditions. "The Mulberry River had some serious flooding a few weeks ago which caused this campground to close. Some of the campsites were flooded leaving behind some debris and eroded site driveways," reports Fred S. about Redding Campground in November 2024.

Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between locations. "There's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park," explains Gonzo A. about Devil's Den State Park Campground. Wi-Fi, when available, typically costs $3-7 daily with weekly rates available at some parks.

Insects during summer months: Be prepared for seasonal bug activity, particularly near water. "Their saving grace is that they are big, dumb, and slow. Once I had killed all the flies near my campsite, I was left more or less alone," describes Alex M. regarding horseflies at Redding Campground. Bug spray with DEET provides the most effective protection during peak seasons.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming pool alternatives: When river conditions aren't ideal, seek campgrounds with pools. "Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" shares Melissa M. about Devil's Den State Park. Most pools operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day with nominal fees or free access for registered campers.

Playgrounds and facilities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Recreational area with a playground that is updated. The playground requires that you drive to it which is inconvenient," notes Ryan S. about Lake Fort Smith State Park. Playground equipment typically includes slides, swings, and climbing structures suitable for ages 5-12.

Dog friendly campgrounds Ozark Lake: Aux Arc welcomes pets throughout the grounds. "Very nice clean camp. Nice boat launch. Large spaces. Plenty of room to fish," mentions Sandy H. Most pet-friendly sites in the Ozark Lake area require leashes no longer than 6 feet and proof of current vaccinations.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. "Site 11, which is a river view with 50/30 AMP with water. There is no sewer here but you can use a hose connection to let your grey water drain on the ground," explains MickandKarla W. about Aux Arc. Leveling blocks are essential equipment for most sites in the region.

Campground access considerations: Access roads can present challenges for larger rigs. "Nice and quiet place. Great hiking! Not really a place for a quick overnight, the road in is steep and crooked," cautions kcki M. about Lake Fort Smith State Park. RVs over 35 feet should verify access before booking at mountain campgrounds.

Seasonal site availability: Availability varies significantly by season, with some parks offering limited facilities in winter. "For just $15 a night, you get nice, big, secluded campsites, a large bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and showers, and an awesome swimming hole," shares Alex M. about the value at Redding Campground during summer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ozark Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ozark Lake is Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures with a 4.4-star rating from 23 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ozark Lake?

TheDyrt.com has all 101 dog-friendly camping locations near Ozark Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.