Are you planning a tent camping trip to Ozark-St. Francis National Forests? We've got you covered. Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, including sites, reviews, and tips. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Ozark-St. Francis National Forests campsites are perfect for tent campers.
The campgrounds feature a total of 125 campsites (including 26 pull-through sites). Thirty-five of the sites—the Class AAA sites—have 30 and 50 amp electrical, water, and sewer hookups. The 90 Class B sites offer 30 amp electrical and water hookups. All sites are reservable. Campsites are divided into four campground areas. Each includes a modern bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets. Area "A" is near Lake Bailey and include sites along the lakeshore. Areas "B," "C," and "D" are located on the south side of Ark. 154 in wooded settings. Other campsite choices in the main camping area include a 44-unit Rally-style Area with 20 amp electrical service available for camping clubs. A trailer dump station is centrally located near the Rally-style camping area. Petit Jean is Arkansas's only state park with its own airport.
$25 - $40 / night
Effective October 2021, Bayou Bluff became a Point of Interest. The fees are suspended for camping and day use and is now open all year. Upper loop is closed to camping and will be eliminated completely. Use of the vault toilet, large pavilion, three shelters, and a small pavilion will remain. The pavilions are managed on a first-come, first-service basis. Trash services are managed by visitors as "pack-it-in, pack-it-out," and Leave No Trace ethics are posted on information kiosks.
Active partner groups and volunteers are helping extend the life of the current amenities, excluding trash services.
🌟 Welcome to the Ultimate Solar Eclipse Camping Experience! 🌒
Get ready for an astronomical adventure at our exclusive hillside campsite with 100 spacious tent spots, offering the perfect front-row seat to the breathtaking April solar eclipse! 🏕️
Imagine waking up to the sun dipping behind the moon, casting a mesmerizing glow over our hillside retreat. Your eclipse-viewing spot is secured, but that's just the beginning! Enjoy the convenience of porta-potties, unwind in our cozy hammocks, and connect with fellow campers in our vibrant communal areas.
Bring your furry friends along because pets are more than welcome to join in the celestial celebration! And what's camping without a crackling campfire? Roast marshmallows, create the perfect s'mores, and revel in the magic of the cosmic display above.
Seize this opportunity to make memories under the stars and witness the solar eclipse like never before. Book your spot now for an out-of-this-world camping experience! 🌌✨
$125 / night
As of Oct 2021 - Haw Creek Falls—Located on Hwy 123, this newly designated Point of Interest will be accessible year-round. Removal of the gate across the low-water bridge and suspension of fees will be immediately implemented, and camping will still be allowed in designated campsites. A slow transition of amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern posts will be removed over time as they become unusable or unsafe. Trash services will be managed by the user as “pack it in, pack it out.” Active partner groups and volunteers are helping extend the life of current amenities, excluding trash services. Several volunteer workdays have been hosted at this site in the last several months, which have proven to be immensely beneficial to keeping this primitive area operational. Please note, this area is subject to flash flooding and visitors are responsible for monitoring conditions and taking precautionary measures. Removal of the gate does not indicate the area is always safe during changing weather conditions. Surrounded by a beautiful mature hardwood forest, this campground is located on a small mountain stream with picturesque falls, rocks, and a bluff. Big Piney Wild and Scenic River are nearby. There is an accessible trail to the Haw Creek Falls. Camping - 9 family units. Camping trailers are allowed but no special facilities are available. Access to the Ozark Highlands Trail. The recreation area is closed following the 3rd week of December and reopens the 3rd week of March. Please note that the campground is closed when heavy rain is forecast. Campground and Day-Use Area Rules
If you are one of those folks who prefers a different, more rugged camp experience, primitive camping is allowed almost anywhere in the Ouachita National Forest unless there is a sign stating otherwise, or it is a wildlife food plot. Located throughout the Forests are areas that have been campsites for many years. These are located along roadsides, trails, mountain tops, or near streams. Camping at dispersed locations have additional responsibilities: "Leave No Trace" so others can have a similar backcountry experience, pack out any trash or litter, scatter campfire ash around so it doesn't pile up, and leave the area better than you found it. Please filter water before drinking! Beware of stream crossings after heavy rains. Please read the Dispersed Camping guidelines before heading out. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ouachita/recreation/?cid=fseprd727994
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services; such as trash removal, and little or no facilities; such as tables and fire pits, are provided. Some popular dispersed camping areas may have toilets. There are extra responsibilities and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. It is your responsibility to know these before you try this new experience. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers. Typically, dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive out on Forest Service roads into the woods and find a clearing or a spot near a stream or with a view of the mountains. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. How to Pick a Campsite If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then follow Leave No Trace guidelines.
ONLY BOOK FOR THE ECLIPSE APRIL 5TH - APRIL 9TH!! RESERVATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED ANY OTHER TIME.
You are required to book for the 5th - the 9th, but you can show up and leave anytime! The total rate is $350 for 4 nights, for 4 people. 1 car per site, and dogs are welcome!!
We are opening up our facility for the 2024 Eclipse! 4 minutes and 10 seconds of totality! We have everything you will need to make your trip to the Arkansas River Valley stress free and enjoyable to view the total eclipse in April 8, 2024. This will be considered primitive camping, but we have bathrooms and showers. We also have electricity, but not at most of the camp sites. This will be a tent only facility. No campers please. We will also have good wholesome food on site from morning to evening.
The cost will be $350 for Friday the 5th through Tuesday morning the 9th of April. You will have to make your reservation with a $50 non-refundable deposit. You can also call to reserve! Checkout can be anytime by Tuesday Noon on the 9th of April. We are adding a special page to our website, so if it is not there when you check us out, please be patient.
$350 / night
Convenient roadside picnic area and campground located on Scenic Highway 7 Byway. This campground also provides floating access to the South Fourche River
Guide
Lots of Space, Shade, and access to mountain bike trails and downtown hot springs
Ranger
This state park is one of the hardest to book a camping site for a last-minute camping trip. After we finally secure our spot, it’s easy to see why it’s so hard to secure at a moment's notice.
Please be sure to visit the Petite Jean Coffeehouse which is located before the entrance to the park.
Traveler
Be sure to catch the sunset here. This has a beautiful setting even though it has been basically abandoned by the COE. The people who stay here must really care about the place because my site was very clean. Do not. I repeat DO NOT think you can use the pit toilets here. Be self contained and you’ll be fine. There seemed to be some long-timers camped there together and their dogs barked quite often during the day, but they must have taken them in at night or my van did well with blocking out the noise. My site wasn’t 100% flat but I just slept with my feet going on the downhill slope. Also, be aware if you use a flashlight, you WILL see eyeballs looking back at you from the other side of the water
GuideWe had a great weekend at Petit Jean. The hiking was great and the campsite is beyond beautiful. There is also a nice coffee shop that is conveniently close to the campsites.
Traveler
Despite that, I’ll just say that I love the town of Heber Springs which is located on the Lake. Area Code It may be because I have so many memories in Heber from my time in college so I should drop that disclaimer.
Traveler
The site we had was level with a view to the river. The bathrooms and grounds were"military" clean and maintained. Area Code My only issue was the lack of staff. The place runs itself, apparently. There was no staff on site, not even the camp hosts.
Traveler
This thought brings a fresh Area Code and insightful perspective to a familiar conversation.
Legend
WARNING Stay on the good gravel roads. GPS took me down 4 miles of an old log trail that I wasn't able to turn around on. Spent thirty minutes cursing GPS and contemplating my life choices. I was headed for one of the other sites but was so tired when I saw this one I took it.
The site is at a crossroads so quite convenient. Only room for one vehicle. It does have a stone ring for a fire pit. The main draw however is that there is pretty good signal with Verizon here which is really rare in the area.
Traveler
Car camped at tent site to visit HSNP and trail ride. Staff were plentiful and friendly. My only issues were noise from a fast road near my site, walking distance from sites to restrooms, and most sites seemed quite tight for SUVs/trucks to park within. Even so, I highly recommend checking out this place. I really enjoyed my nights here and hours in the woods!
Guide
Nice quiet campground with a nice lake, vault toilets, no electricity or water Wildlife in the area. We were able to listen to a Barred Owl before going to sleep, mature pine trees giving a lot of shade
ScoutThe trail was okay, but showing signs that it wasn't being maintained properly anymore. From litter found all along the trail to parts of the trail not being maintained. Even some of the stones placed to make walkways are coming out of place.
But inside was worse...
The old white lady working the giftshop was absolutely horrible. While we were still shopping, this woman embarrassed us asking loudly çare yall planning to pay for that, while we were looking at the stuffed animals, and making us look like shoplifters. I absolutely recommend against spending a single dollar at that store, and I've previously spent decent amount of money there, but no more. I recommend avoiding the main building entirely, and that will me my recommendation until they fix this problem
Traveler
This was our first time coming to Arkansas and boy was this an amazing spot to camp for the first time. This is a very secluded site and while we were there, only a handful of people were there too. The few hour hike to the two waterfalls was spectacular. It’s definitely not an easy hike but worth it to see what we got to see. So incredibly quiet as well. It’s pretty far out in the middle of nowhere so be prepared. Roads getting there were a little rough so more ideal for trucks or suvs but I saw little cars make it down there just fine just be careful. It’s all gravel and dirt for quite a while. There are bathrooms on site but they are porthole.
Overall a beautiful little place and we plan on going back very soon!
Traveler
This was our second spot on our trip we just needed a quick place to sleep for the night before we left back to Oklahoma and we were very delighted with this one. Clean showers and restrooms on site. Very clean sites and nice flat ground for our tent. We were a little close to a busier road but it didn’t bother us that much and all of the other campers were quiet and respectful. Overall a nice little place but be mindful it’s not secluded or anything as several people were there at the lake with their RVs but it looked like a great spot for families to have fun.
Guide
The tent site was perfect! With fire pit, power, and water. The bathrooms and showers were nice and clean.
Traveler
This park is well-maintained, with clean picnic areas and plenty of space for fishing, hiking, and just relaxing by the water. The views are stunning, especially at sunset. Slope Game
Traveler
Didn’t have to drive too far down the road found a spot on the left. Nice stone camp fire circle, good flat spot for my tent, which is a four person. Bring a chair if you want a comfortable seat, also hard to find decent wood to burn, had to walk a bit to find. Not many cars drive down the road, saw some people hiking, also Sunday morning there were hunters out, so hearing gunshot pretty close to camp. All in all though it is good to be with nature and I’d go back to this spot or find another one on the road. I didn’t go very far down the road have more to explore!
Traveler
They advertise rv hook ups but they have no water or sewer electric only
TravelerWell manicured, spacious lots.
Traveler
Beautiful Park with multiple clean swim beaches. Many like view sites.
TravelerNice place to camp. Just no signal. Also a little expensive for me but others may not think so!
GuideFantastic smaller campground minutes from Mount Magazine. It seems to be overshadowed by much larger, better known places like Devils Den, so it's fairly quiet even when it's 'busy.' We also learned that it has new management as of this year (2024), a young family that's extremely hands-on.
We stayed as a group (three families with 7 kiddos total, ranging from 6-15), across two adjacent sites: 1 & 3. You could see the lake from our sites, but they don't sit right over the lake like some do. With so many kids in our group, we actually wanted that. Sites are extremely spacious and well spaced from each other, and would feel even more private later in the season when the trees are full. Bathrooms are simple pit toilets, but clean and well-maintained.
Boat rentals right onsite, concessions, even a small beach area! We will 100% be back. No cell service whatsoever with Verizon.
Legend
The Petit Jean River, flowing from an outlet, divides this US Army Corp of Engineers campround into two areas. There are 38 campsites, with electricity and water hookups. This includes three multi-family sites. Fees range from $18 to $40. Reservations are made on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. First come, first served sites may be available outside the reservation season. The campground description at recreation.gov indicates that the campground is located on Blue Mountain Lake, but there is no lake access from here. A drive to Waveland Park is required for Blue Mountain Lake recreation. Most sites are waterfront; a few are just a short walk away from the Petit Jean River. Most sites have picnic table shelters. There are 12 sites and a restroom/shower house along the north bank of the river. The remaining campsites, along with a restroom/shower house, are on the south side of the river. The sites on the north side, except site #6, are in a open area offering little shade. The sites on the south side are along a forest and are more shaded. There is no privacy between campsites; several sites, especially on the south side, are close to each other. The north side restroom/shower house was closed. The south side restroom/shower house was very clean. The roads accessing and in the campground are paved. The campground is setup to accommodate RVs and big rigs, although tent camping is possible. Fishing in the river appears to be the main recreation activity. Walking access to the river bank is provided by stairs. Two playgrounds are at the south side camping area.
Scout
For actual camping there was maybe 2 other campers in the area but during the day LOTS of people coming to swim ( and leaving trash 🤮 ) The water was beautiful, eating dinner by the falls has become one of my new favorite camping memories in arkansas. Lots of snakes and saw a feral cat but so pretty, and the bathroomS were absolutely disgusting and full of trash
ScoutExcellent job on this post! Your analysis is thorough and very helpful blob opera. I appreciate the effort you put into sharing this valuable information. Thanks for contributing!
Legend
The pin location may not be accurate, so here are the coordinates: 35.44497, -92.76914. This is a small dispersed campsite with a level dirt surface, just big enough to accommodate one vehicle - truck camper and smaller. Tent and hammock camping is possible. The site is tucked into the trees, and it has a clean rock fire ring. The site is located on a dirt track - Forest Road 93021L, which is off of Tackett Mountain Road - Forest Road 1319. The site offers privacy from Tackett Mountain Rd, but it is close to Forest Road 93021L. Tackett Mountain Rd is a wide, well maintained, gravel forest road. Access to 93021L off of Tackett Mountain Road is up a slight incline with some gravel cover. Once up the incline, the track becomes dirt, goes through a clearing and heads into the woods where the dispersed site is located on the right. One can camp in the clearing; there is a small rock fire ring that is overgrown with grass and weeds, but the site in this review is nicer. The clearing was logged long ago where one may find some pieces of firewood. Some solar charging may be possible depending on the time of day and if the solar panels can be set up along the track in front of the site. There are no hiking trails here, although one can take a stroll along FR90231L which is less than a half-mile long. Even though there is not much to do around here, it's a nice place to simply hang out in. I liked it.
Legend
Coordinates: 35.49123, -92.80548. Large open dispersed site set back from Charleston Road, just north of Bell Rd (Forest Road 1334). Located in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trails area. Charleston Road is a wide, well-maintained gravel road. Access to the site from Charleston Road is on a 400 foot long narrow dirt track; pinstripping is possible. The dispersed site has a dirt surface with some embedded rocks. It's on a rise above the lake, offering a nice view. Solar recharging is possible in this open site. The site is on what appears to be a parking area along an old dirt track; this track appears as an older section of Charleston Rd on some maps. There is a dirt ramp into the lake. There is room for multiple rigs at the campsite. Some leveling may be required depending on the spot the vehicle is parked. There are two rock fire rings - one large and one small. Tent Camping is possible near the fire rings. The lake was drained at the time of my visit; otherwise, it's a really nice view.
Guide
There is not a lot to do, and it is pretty far from the city. However, there are big RV sites and amazing sunsets. There is also a lake nearby.
Dog friendly.
There are lots of nature trails, but none very long.
Lots of ticks, tricky to get good starlink connection.
Camping near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, Arkansas, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're into hiking, fishing, or just relaxing in nature, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, Arkansas, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests is Petit Jean State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 102 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, with real photos and reviews from campers.
