Best RV Parks & Resorts near Pelsor, AR

Camped 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.

PROS 

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

Beautiful park with lots of space between spots and large green belt areas to enjoy. The hiking trails were fun and challenging with not many people and we hiked with our dogs. We stayed in a pull through site in Loop A, Spot 29 with full hookups. It had plenty of room for trailer and truck parking and was pretty level. There was no wifi or cell service for T-Mobile. We rode our bikes to the Visitor Center to access wifi and were able to get cell service at the Mather Lodge overlook. There is a really nice walking / bike trail from the campgrounds to the Mather Lodge. The park is well maintained with clean bathrooms and showers. Trash bins were located throughout the camping area. We will visit here again.

If you are ever driving through Arkansas a trip to Mount Magazine State Park is a must. Mount Magazine is the state’s highest point topping out at 2,753 feet and delivers sweeping views of broad valleys, lakes, winding rivers, and distant mountains. The rugged rock outcroppings protrude from the densely wooded forests. What makes this park even more spectacularly beautiful is that it is surrounded by National Forest lands encompassing glorious acres of woods. 

In the late 1800’s, the railroad made travel easier and people were drawn to the area for its cooler weather and awe-inspiring scenic beauty. Resort lodges and restaurants sprang up and the resort “Town of Mount Magazine” began. Soon a post office, parks, streets and a dance pavilion dotted the town. The town took a turn when drought, erosion, and the Great Depression brought the town to collapse. The 1934 Resettlement Act purchased all the private land on the mountain and was shortly transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. In the late 1930’s and 40’s, the Works Progress Administration built campgrounds, trails, cabins, and a lodge were constructed. A fire destroyed the lodge in 1971. In 1998, Arkansas State Parks entered into a cooperative agreement with the USDA Forest Service to develop Mount Magazine State Park. The lodge reopened in 2006 and graces the same beautiful setting as the original structure. 

We found this park very relaxing which is kind of amazing because there is so much for outdoor enthusiasts to do making it hard to sit still. There are miles and miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, hang gliding launches, cycling, and some of the most dramatic locations for rock climbing and rappelling. The diverse mountain ecosystem offers amazing bird watching and wildlife viewing and provides habitat for over 90 species of butterflies. Many were brightening the woods when we were there. We were there at a time when wildflowers were blooming so the forest floor was lit up with color. The higher altitude and cooler weather on the mountain meant that trees had not leafed out yet but a look down in the valley was a stark contrast with trees fully leafed out. The park has a relatively small campground with a meek 18 sites with full hook-up (two of which are 50 amp). Campsites are well-spaced with gravel pads and patios with fire pits and picnic tables. We so enjoyed hanging around our campsite but for those that don’t camp you will be perfectly comfortable in the lodge or cabins. 

The Lodge at Mount Magazine has breath-taking views and some rooms have spa tubs on their balconies to enjoy the view. Thirteen cabins dot the ridge line offering the same awesome views and Jacuzzi tub options on your balcony. At the lodge is The Skycrest Restaurant which is a nice treat for those not wanting to cook. We decided to have drinks one evening on the veranda enjoying the setting sun lighting the valley. The next day we popped in for lunch where $6 got a plate of open-face prime rib sandwich, mashed potatoes, salad, and squash casserole. Pretty good deal if you ask us. 

This state park so worked for us. It was the combination of the reading in a quiet wooded campground, being able to go to the lodge for a drink, lunch and great view and spending hours walking in the woods. The park is a good 30 minutes drive from the nearest town so you may want to stock up so you can just relax on the mountain.

Camped here on Wednesday May 15, 2024. In the Piney Creek WMA, part of the Ozark National Forest north of Hector, Arkansas. Large camping area at a high clearance ATV trailhead, FR1322A, just off Adams Mountain Road (gravel road).  The site has at least 2 established fire rings. Site is suitable for group dispersed camping. It looks like it can accomodate up to 3 truck camper size rigs. No problem with finding a level spot for our camper van. The ATV trail is a nice hiking trail into the forest. The trail has a handful of 4x4 obstacles along the way. A 1 1/4 mile hike takes you to a small unnamed waterfall, which may not be running during the dry season. The site is close to Adams Mountain Rd. We camped here during mid-week & only five vehicles passed by during the evening, with headlights briefly shining into the site. The area & fire rings were clean. Campsite surface is dirt, with lots of poison ivy in the surrounding foliage. Overall, this is a good spot; nothing special, but nice. T-Mobile 5G service (2 bars). Intermittent AT&T LTE service.

We stayed September the 2022. Electric & water only. Dump site about half mile away, with dumpsters for trash. The cons or negative was: 1) only one bath house and it was atrocious dirty. 2) the simple restroom near our site was filthy also. 3) our fire pit, the people before us left trash. 4) Our site had the back of our trailer over looking the lake. That was okay, we just set up our chairs behind the trailer for an enjoyable view. But the truck was at such a angle because the sites are level but on a steep slope. Hence, my angle had me backing down hill. Once my trailer was on level site, my truck was at an angle, I could not get my weight distribution bars off. T9 much force. I had to pull out , remove bars and back back in. You better have extra chuck blocks, because your tow vehicle sits on a heck of an angle, at my site. While it is basically shaded and i liked the quiet, for we were the only people there the weekend after labor day, only a car camper lady and her 3 kids were next to us. You do have to drive to get anything. So pros/positives: 1) the view! 2) check in lady at liquor store ultra nice. 3) workers at Marina Ultra nice. 3) Gym people ultra nice, they let us shower at the gym, 4) Everyone in Arkansas was very nice actually. The land of nice people. But the clean up guy in the small pickup truck, does not really clean. He just kind of wanders through the area most mornings.

Stayed here for two nights over New Year's Eve. Campground had only 3 spaces occupied the first night, and we had it all to ourselves the actual night of NYE. To be fair, it was raining and cold weather was projected to move in.  However, several campsites did not appear to have been occupied at all since fall, judging by leaf cover, so in spite of the flush toilets/showers, this may not be an overly popular campground.  We have a small teardrop, and our fellow campers were using a tent and car camping; Site 16 appears to be the only site here suitable for 5th wheels, and its appeared to be a tight squeeze to back in. No hookups at any site.

None of the sites have views of the Mulberry River, but there is a lovely put-in spot for canoes/kayaks that right on the loop with the rest of the sites.  All sites can also easily access the comfort station - which is located across from the day-use parking area.  We saw two water spigots - 1 across from the day-use, and one at site 16 - available for fresh drinking water.  We brought water in with us, so didn't taste test.

All sites have tent pads, fire pits and picnic tables, although several of the picnic tables are not in the best shape. Best draining sites appear to be in the 20s, on the north side of the loop, with 15, 19 and 23 appearing to have good vehicle access and good drainage.

We stayed at site 13, which appears to be reasonably popular, as there was little trash, and less leaves.  Its a short walk and mild bushwhack through a ravine to reach a small cliff overlooking the river, and you can hear the rapids from the tent pad - very soothing! However, after 24 hours of straight rain, this site also turned into a muddy lake, making packing up an interesting endeavor.

No camp host, and I think the rangers checked on us daily, but we never had a conversation.  There were several deadfall trees located in close range of all campsites, so you can cut your own firewood easily -  PLEASE don't be that person who destroys a live tree just because you don't want to walk (we saw a few trees suffering from hatchet wounds at our site).

Hubby mentioned the men's restroom was quite dirty, but I thought the women's side was clean enough. No hand soap provided.  Bear-proof trash receptacles located throughout loop, with most of them at the restroom.

Overall - loved that every site was located amongst the trees. Virtually no wind - in spite of a cold front moving in - and every site was mostly free of trash and debris left by previous campers. Would recommend to anyone looking for luxury among the Ozark USFS accommodations in the winter, if you're not looking for a spot for your 5th wheel or travel trailer.

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area, in the western Arkansas Ozarks, has a campground with 9 tent sites. One of these is a large group site. 8 sites are arranged along a gravel loop road. In addition to tents, these tent sites will accommodate a camper van; the best sites for vans are #1 thru 4. These are level. Sites 5 thru 8, on the west side of the loop, have great views, but are probably not level enough for van, truck and car camping. Each site has a level gravel tent pad, grill, table & fire pit. The sites are not large enough for RVs. The forest roads leading to the recreation area are rough in places, but passenger cars can make it. Amber, our host, is fantastic. She delivers firewood to your site after purchase. The vault toilet is clean. Pump water is available. No hookups. The campground appears well maintained. The OHT runs though the recreation area. There is a really good hiking trail that loops around the rim of the mountain, offering fantastic views of the Ozarks. T-mobile cell service is available with sporadic LTE data service.