Best Dispersed Camping near Pelsor, AR

Several free dispersed camping options exist in the Ozark National Forest surrounding Pelsor, Arkansas. Sam's Throne Recreation Area offers primitive sites with vault toilets but no drinking water or hookups. The area features hiking trails and scenic bluff views. According to one visitor, "Sites are separated by trees, so some privacy." Another noted, "No trash cans, pack-in/pack-out facility."

Forest roads throughout the region provide additional dispersed camping opportunities, including sites along Falling Water Creek and Middle Fork Illinois Bayou. Many require high clearance vehicles to access. A camper reported that the Middle Fork site "is a large clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou... large enough for 3 car/truck/campervan rigs." Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area requires special permits, as one review clarified: "100% of Wildlife Management Areas in Arkansas require a Hunting license or WMA camping permit purchased though Arkansas Game and Fish." Most dispersed sites have fire rings but lack facilities, with visitors responsible for packing out all trash.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Pelsor, Arkansas (23)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Pelsor, AR

39 Reviews of 23 Pelsor Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Nice Dispersed Site Above Brock Creek

    Not sure if the location pin is correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.49995, -92.80930. A large, wooded dispersed site situated above Brock Creek off of Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trail area. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road. The dispersed site can accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles - campervan size and smaller. There are 2 access driveways into the site. Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site. Access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion. The dispersed site is a dirt surface with some embedded rocks jutting out. Some leveling may be required depending where the rig is parked. Tent camping is possible. There is a vehicle turnaround at the rear of the site. The site is shaded, so solar charging is limited. Except for a little bit of glass and some bullet shell casings scattered about, the site was clean at the time of my visit. The site has a large rock fire ring. There is a wide track that leads off the site toward the south along and above the creek. This track does not appears on any of the current forest service maps (including MVUM) that I have, so I'm assuming that it is not a legal motorized vehicle track. The track is hikeable. The site is convenient to OHV and multi-use trails. It was a pretty site during my summertime visit, but I bet it's beautiful during the Fall season. It is set back from Charleston Road. It is a really nice spot.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 6, 2025

    FR1802A, Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed

    Secluded, Light Usage, Dispersed Camping in the Ozarks

    Coordinates: 35.58695,-93.20723. Camped here Dec 29, 2024. Set well off of Meadows Knob Rd. Expect pinstriping along the access track to this secluded dispersed campsite. FR1802A toward the site has some erosion; low clearance vehicles may high center in one or two spots. The main forest road into this part of the Ozark National Forest is okay. The campsite is in open area, located in an old clear cut area. There is a partial view of the distant mountains. The site is a level, dirt surface. Not a large site; okay for one rig. Tent camping possible. No nearby mature trees for hammock camping. The site is overgrown with grass and weeds; a weed whacker is needed to clear the rock fire ring. There is a spot on the ground where a previous campfire was made. Good AT&T and T-Mobile 5G service. No shade; access to Starlink is possible. No hiking trails, although there is a 2-track for hiking that leads down into Graves Creek Canyon and some unnamed waterfalls. The hike along this trck is nice. This is not a pretty dispersed site, but it is well off of the main forest road; very private. Access to the site may be difficult for some vehicles. High clearance 4x4 vehicles should have no problems.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2022

    Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks

    Creekside Dispersed Site, Middle Fork Illinois Bayou

    Large clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou. Located on Middle Fork Road, about a 1/4 mile in from AR Hwy 27, near Hector, AR. The site is on national forest land and appears to be popular. It's large enough for 3 car/truck/campervan rigs. Area is level for rigs & tents, although the ground is mostly hard buried gravel - maybe uncomfortable to sleep on without pads. Three large puddles on the site. Three ways to enter the site from  Middle Fork Road. Middle Fork Rd itself can easily accommodate 2wd passenger vehicles. Other dispersed sites further down the road along the creek. The site is not pristine, but it's nice to camp close to the bayou. Very peaceful, but there is occasional faint truck noise from Hwy 27. A half dozen or so vehicles passed by, some were residents who live further down the road. No facilities; need to bring your own water. No trash pickup; pack in, pack out.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Group Dispersed, Charleston Road, Ozark NF, AR

    Large Group Dispersed Camping

    Coordinates: 35.50873, -92.81549. Group dispersed site located less than a 1/4-mile south of the Zing Trailhead on Charleston Road. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road located in a popular national forest OHV area. This dispersed site is a level with a dirt and grass surface. The site can accomodate multiple vehicles; tent camping is possible. There is a large rock fire ring at the rear of the site. The site is open with little shade, making recharging with solar panels possible. Other than accommodating a group of OHV and offroad enthusiasts, and stargazing at night, there is nothing remarkable about this campsite.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2024

    Charleston Road Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Convenient to National Forest OHV Area

    Pin location may not be correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.52534, -92.83158. Located on Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV area - 1/2 mile southeast of the Mountain Man Trailhead. Charleston Road is a well maintained gravel road. The site is at the beginning of an old unnamed, closed, dirt track - close to Charleston Road. The site has a dirt surface; not quite level, but more level toward the rear. It is a pull-in site which can accommodate one campervan and smaller. Tent camping is possible. The site is mostly shaded. There is poison ivy around the perimeter of the site. The site includes a large rock fire ring. Except for a little bit of trash in the fire ring, the site was pretty much clean. The old track is gated just past the site,; the track is hikeable, leading up to the northern-most Stoebuck Mountain (there are two "Stoebuck Mountains" in this area). Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site. It is good for an overnight stay.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Austin Trailhead Dispersed, Wilderness Trail Rd, Ozark NF, AR

    Dispersed camping convenient to OHV/multi-use national forest trails

    Not sure if the pin location is correct, so here are the exact coordinates: 35.53654, -92.80322.  Small dispersed campsite just off Wilderness Trail Road. Wilderness Trail Road is a wide gravel country road located in a popular national forest OHV area. More specifically, the site is located on multi-use/OHV trail Brock Creek #42, Forest Road 2321 - just a few hundred feet south of Wilderness Trail (not in the trailhead parking lot, where camping is not allowed). Its a small, level dirt site, mostly shaded in a small clearing in the trees, close to the track - not private. It has a small rock fire ring. Tent camping is possible. It's a pull-in site which can accommodate one vehicle - truck camper and smaller. Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Brock Creek Lake View Dispersed, Ozark NF, AR

    Lake View Dispersed Camping

    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.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 23, 2024

    Morgan Mtn Rd/Spy Rock Dispersed

    Large dispersed with a view

    Coordinates: 35.69300,-93.76803. Large dispersed site with a view, especially in the winter, of the mountains to the west. Located along Morgan Mountain Road, Forest Road 1504, a little over a mile north of AR Hwy 215. The trailhead to Spy Rock is about a mile north of this site. Altough eroded in spots due to recent heavy rains, Morgan Mountain Road was in good condition - no obstacles. A 2wd passenger car can carefully make it over the eroded areas. Except for one small spot, the site is not level - slopes downhill a little toward the ridge. Camping rigs may need leveling depending on the parking spot. Access into the site from the forest road is easy. There is a clean rock fire ring. Tenting camping is possible. Hammock camping may be possible using nearby trees. The site is mostly shaded. The forest surrounding this campsite is beautiful. I received no T-Mobile service during my visit. I decided not to camp here during my visit due to a brisk, cold north-northwest wind blowing through the campsite.

  • b
    Aug. 14, 2021

    Ozark National Forest - Dispersed Camping

    Not a camp spot (private propery)

    This was not at all a campsite. Most of the forest is private property with house everywhere. This location in particular is no different. Go to Sam's throne to camp


Guide to Pelsor

Dispersed camping options near Pelsor, Arkansas extend throughout the Ozark National Forest at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,500 feet. The region features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons and average summer highs of 90°F and winter lows of 28°F. Many free camping areas in this region require high-clearance vehicles due to rough forest roads and seasonal weather conditions.

What to do

Climbing at scenic bluffs: Sam's Throne Recreation Area offers excellent climbing opportunities with numerous established routes. "Road is kinda sketchy on the way up but the bluffs are fantastic!" notes Clayton R. This area attracts climbers of various skill levels.

Hiking nearby trails: Falling Water Creek provides access to numerous hiking trails. "Great spot" for accessing nearby natural attractions according to Austin W. Many trails connect to scenic overlooks and waterfalls.

Explore water features: Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks sits along the Illinois Bayou, offering water activities. "Located on Middle Fork Road, about a 1/4 mile in from AR Hwy 27, near Hector, AR," writes one camper, noting it's a peaceful spot with occasional faint truck noise from the highway.

Stargazing opportunities: The remote nature of these camping areas provides excellent night sky viewing. At Sam's Throne, one visitor noted, "On the right dark night you can see every star in the sky." Light pollution is minimal throughout the region.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Sam's Throne Recreation Area offers good separation between camping areas. "Private camping spots, with trees separating each site," reports Kelsey R. This natural spacing creates a sense of solitude even when other campers are present.

Clean facilities: Despite being primitive, the available facilities are well-maintained. "Campground was completely empty when I arrived on a Thursday evening in December... There are more than one compositing toilet on site & they are cleaned regularly," notes Alexandra.

Wildlife viewing: Woolum Dispersed Area provides opportunities to see local wildlife. "Bambi and her mom also seem to live here," mentions one camper. The diverse ecology supports deer, birds, and other forest creatures.

Easy river access: Multiple sites feature water proximity. At Woolum, one visitor reported, "Right on the river with both a rock and sand beach currently. Fire rings. Only one other camper that's at the other end of the campground on memorial weekend."

What you should know

Permit requirements: Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area has specific regulations. "100% of Wildlife Management Areas in the state of Arkansas require a Hunting license or WMA camping permit purchased though Arkansas Game and Fish," explains Poopy B. This differs from national forest land.

Limited designated sites: Some areas restrict where you can camp. At Gene Rush WMA, "There is only a handful of sites spread throughout the WMA and you can only camp in those designated by the game and fish. This isn't the national forest, you can't just pull off and camp anywhere you please."

Road conditions vary: Access to many free camping areas near Pelsor requires careful navigation. At Brock Creek dispersed camping, "Access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion." Many forest roads deteriorate after rain.

Seasonal availability: Some areas close during winter months or hunting seasons. Weather can impact accessibility significantly, with some roads becoming impassable after heavy rain or snow.

Tips for camping with families

Bathroom planning: Vault toilets are limited to certain areas. Sam's Throne has composting toilets that "are cleaned every other day," but many dispersed sites have no facilities whatsoever.

Swimming options: Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed offers creek access. "A large, wooded dispersed site situated above Brock Creek off of Charleston Road," with nearby shallow water access good for families with children.

Wildlife awareness: Teach children about local wildlife safety. "There are a few bears in the region so I would hang my food just to be safe," advises one camper about the general area. Bear-resistant containers are recommended.

Poison ivy precautions: Several camping areas contain poison ivy. One visitor noted a dispersed site "with lots of poison ivy in the surrounding foliage." Teaching children identification and avoidance is important.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger vehicles: Most dispersed sites accommodate only smaller rigs. "It's a pull-in site which can accommodate one campervan and smaller," notes a review of Charleston Road dispersed camping.

Leveling challenges: Many sites require significant leveling. "The dispersed site is a dirt surface with some embedded rocks jutting out. Some leveling may be required depending where the rig is parked," reports one RVer about Brock Creek.

No hookups available: All dispersed camping near Pelsor lacks water, electric, and sewer connections. Self-contained systems are essential, and water conservation is necessary for longer stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Pelsor, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Pelsor, AR is Sam's Throne Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Pelsor, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 dispersed camping locations near Pelsor, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.