SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo

Cabin Camping near Pencil Bluff, AR

41 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates
    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Ouachita Campground at Edendell and Ouachita River Haven offer cabin accommodations within the scenic Ouachita Mountains region. Most cabins provide electric hookups, running water, and basic furnishings including beds and seating areas. Highway 27 Fishing Village features cabins with water and electric hookups, while Little Fir Landing offers more rustic options. A visitor commented that "the cabins are adorable and feel like they are out of the 1970's but well worth the experience." Bathroom facilities vary by location, with some cabins offering private bathrooms while others require guests to use centralized shower and toilet facilities.

    Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Brady Mountain offers lakeside cabins with excellent views of Lake Ouachita, while Arrowhead Cabin and Canoe provides accommodations suitable for anglers and paddlers. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when waterfront cabins fill quickly. Most properties are pet-friendly, though specific policies vary. "Sites have hookups and a fire pit and dry rocky dirt otherwise," noted one camper about the more rustic options in the area. Lake Catherine State Park Campground maintains cabins year-round, making it suitable for winter stays.

    Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary widely across properties, from fully equipped kitchenettes to simple microwaves or outdoor grills. Several campgrounds, including Brady Mountain and Ouachita Campground, feature on-site markets where guests can purchase basic supplies. Firewood is commonly available for purchase at the campgrounds, as outdoor fire pits are standard at most cabin sites. Lake Ouachita State Park and Mount Magazine State Park cabins typically provide more amenities than smaller private campgrounds but book further in advance.

    Connectivity Maps

    Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
    Map showing cell service coverage and campground pins
    Try Connectivity Maps

    Best Cabin Campgrounds near Pencil Bluff (41)

      1. Ouachita Campground at Edendell

      5.0(1)3mi from Pencil Bluff8 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $20 - $50 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

      4.7(51)31mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Definitely my favorite park in Arkansas so far. It’s a really big park at the lake with lots to do. I was there in the fall so I didn’t do any lake stuff but still had a great time tent camping."

      "This is an absolutely beautiful state park 30 minutes Northwest of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is massive with a Marina, multiple swimming beaches, RV and tent camping plus cabin rentals."

      3. Highway 27 Fishing Village

      5.0(1)11mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "This is a small, family run location. There are restrooms and shower facilities, as well as tent sites and RV hook ups. Plenty of room for boat parking."

      4. Little Fir Landing

      3.3(3)15mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Lake (or river) on the side. Nice view"

      from $25 - $85 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Lake Catherine State Park Campground

      4.6(85)48mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "I elected to try Lake Catherine State Park, located just 10 miles outside of Hot Springs."

      "grass around asphalt  Good night sky viewing 

      Squirrels ate from our hand 

      Saw ranger patrolling campground frequently 

      Waste containers every other campsite 

      Metal picnic table on concrete slab "

      from $15 - $25 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Brady Mountain

      4.4(12)27mi from Pencil Bluff77 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "After recent rains the lake level was high and several low water crossings on the road into park looked intimidating at night."

      "Great 180 view of the lake and nice trees to hang a hammock on. Picnic tables, electric & fire ring all at sites. Hot showers are available! The camp staff was VERY polite upon our arrival."

      from $18 - $60 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Arrowhead Cabin and Canoe

      3.0(3)18mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $15 - $140 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Brady Mountain - Lake Ouachita

      4.5(10)27mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There are no water hook-ups at the sites. only electric. The cell signal on the “down the hill” portion of the campground is pretty non-existent."

      "the park was clean as any national park is. Lake Ouachita has over 210 Islands. I visited several each day on a kayak."

      from $50 / night

      Check Availability

      9. Mount Magazine State Park Campground

      4.7(35)38mi from Pencil BluffRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Nice shady spot with a picnic table, grill and fire pit. Was also a space for a tent. The picnic table had a few steps up to it."

      "Not a glamping campground, but beautiful peaceful change. Only 16 sites, with only 2, 50 amp sites. We were lucky enough to get one. Site is huge and private."

      from $35 / night

      Check Availability

      10. Ouachita River Haven

      Be the first to review2mi from Pencil Bluff5 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $25 - $65 / night

      Check Availability

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time


    Cabin Reviews near Pencil Bluff, AR

    393 Reviews of 41 Pencil Bluff Campgrounds


    • Rachael H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 11, 2020

      Hot Springs National Park KOA

      Pleasant

      Stayed 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.

    • Richard
      Apr. 12, 2021

      Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

      One of the best in Arkansas

      Definitely my favorite park in Arkansas so far. It’s a really big park at the lake with lots to do. I was there in the fall so I didn’t do any lake stuff but still had a great time tent camping. There’s a nice hiking trail to explore. Also, the bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen at a state park. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, grill, picnic table and fire ring. There are also walk in tent sites on the peninsula which are nice and quiet. If you get one at the end I’d say it’s probably 200 meters to the parking lot and bathrooms. I peeked into one of the cabins and they look really nice. They also have camper cabins that have heat/air but no bathroom. In all there are 93 RV/tent sites, 8 cabins and 4 camper cabins. The park is also near Hot Springs so there is lots to do.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 23, 2020

      Catherine's Landing

      Very Nice, Lots of Amenities

      Catherine’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:

      • Very nice, clean, well-manicured
      • Lots of amenities
      •  Paved level sites with paved patios 
      • The dog park was a decent size for running and mingling with other dogs
      • The hiking trail(about 3 miles) was a big plus and got used a lot. 

      Cons:

      • Price. We booked late and didn’t have too many sites to choose from we had to pay for a waterfront site
    • J
      Jul. 16, 2022

      Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

      Glamping outside Hot Springs, Arkansas

      This is an absolutely beautiful state park 30 minutes Northwest of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is massive with a Marina, multiple swimming beaches, RV and tent camping plus cabin rentals.

      We stayed in campground Area A, on a concrete pad with tons of space around the camper. Many RV sites overlook Lake Ouachita, though ours didn’t.

      If you are there over a weekend, I highly recommend taking the sunset tour by the park service at the marina. It is two hours, $10 per adult and stunning. With the recent heat wave it was also much cooler then the afternoon cruises.

    • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 15, 2018

      Lake Catherine State Park Campground

      Camping on any terms tent, cabin, rv all with comforts and outdoor play

      Let me just start this out by saying, selecting a spot in Arkansas you are overwhelmed with options. State parks flourish and individual campgrounds seem to be countless. When traveling to the Hot Springs area It was a toss up as to which location would bear suit my journey, not only as a campground but as a part of the adventure. I elected to try Lake Catherine State Park, located just 10 miles outside of Hot Springs.

      What sold me on this site were the numerous hiking trails, but what surprised me when I arrived were the lakeside water rentals located on premise as well as the actual beach recreation area.

      I arrived later in the day and quickly made my camp in the primitive tent area. These sites have no water or electric hook ups however a very nice restroom facilities within 100 yards. They also boast a playground for the kids, not the only of the site. I was greeted by other campers and the sense of community was high at this facility.

      My campsite included a table and grill and was nearby a fire ring. The area was much flatter than many camp areas and made for a quick site selection. In the distance deer grazed as the sun was setting.

      The next morning I ventured toward the marina and was excited to find they have numerous boats for any level of experience available. Larger units available for full or half day use and smaller units for full or half day along with by the hour.

      Hiking trails were my next stop after learning of the various skill levels including ADA accessible, moderate and difficult.

      In addition to primitive camping the park offers RV and non-primitive tent camping. Also available are Yurt and Cabin rentals.

      Office contains limited food and beverage options as well as supplies for lake visitors and a full picnic area overlooking the beach. Bathrooms and washrooms are scattered throughout the park and are kept impeccably clean with high water pressure.

      Cell signal was good even on the remote trails during my stay.

      This is by far one of the nicest parks I have camped not only on this journey but on any. Staff was knowledgeable about the park and others of the state and very helpful.

      🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

      Easy 5 of 5 Bunnies. I will return!

    • Roxy V.
      Jun. 6, 2020

      Hot Springs National Park KOA

      Nice Campground

      We stayed here only as an overnight on our trip cross-country trip, but overall nice campground. It is about 20 min off the main highway. Things close up early here and once off main highway there really is nothing as you drive to the park. Make sure you come in with all of your supplies otherwise you will be driving back out a ways for groceries, supplies, etc. Everyone there was very friendly- families, seniors, etc. We were late check-ins and they were extremely accommodating by placing our paperwork on the check-in board for us. Even in the dark our site was easy to find. They offer RV, cabin rentals, and tent sites. We tent camp and the pad was of good size with a fire ring, picnic table and pea gravel. Most all of the tent sites are located with tree shade above them (note: not enough trees that you could hang hammocks or tarps though). There is a small pond that looked as though they allow family fishing in. "Grandpa's Griddle" is a small kitchen on site that they offer home-cooked breakfast to be purchased from in the morning. Mostly simple items: biscuits & gravy, breakfast sandwiches, eggs & bacon, etc. The restrooms / showers were all very clean. We did not go in to the National Park, but it looked very pretty from what we could see. The view of the mountains in the morning was very pretty to wake up to.

      Pandemic note: Even though the pandemic was still going on (visited on 5/28/20-5/29/20), no one was really wearing masks here. We did since we were traveling but were the only ones I saw.

      The photos are of the pond and some of the super cute vintage RVs that we saw there.

      I would recommend staying here.

    • Napunani
      Jun. 26, 2022

      Lake Catherine State Park Campground

      Fabulous Water-Edge Campsite

      PROS 

      Senior discount 

      Reserved on-line 365 days prior to arriving 

      Site #68 allowed parking RV 12 feet from water edge which was fabulous 

      Totally level site 

      Asphalt campsite pad 

      Pea gravel and grass around asphalt 

      Good night sky viewing 

      Squirrels ate from our hand 

      Saw ranger patrolling campground frequently 

      Waste containers every other campsite 

      Metal picnic table on concrete slab 

      One hook lantern pole 

      Metal fire pit with cooking grate 

      Pedestal BBQ grill 

      Clean restroom/shower and adequate TP and hand soap. Women had 2 showers, 2 sinks, 3 toilets 

      Weekend campground nearly filled to capacity 

      4 bars Verizon LTE 

      Hike to waterfall a bit tricky, but worth the effort 

      Hot Springs National Park 15 miles from campground; nice to watch the crowds from Superior Bathouse Brewery 

      Free water from the springs next to the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center- must have your own containers to fill 

      Enjoyed Red Oak Fillin’ Station so much we dined there twice 

      Diamond Head 19th Hole Restaurant, open to the public and very close to park entrance 

      CONS 

      Damn Canadian geese crap everywhere 

      Fire pit was filled with oversized logs and once removed there was unburned charcoal and lots of ash 

      Unable to move picnic table 

      Site#68 no shade what so ever 

      No privacy from other sites 

      Lots of speed boat and jet ski noise, even after sunset 

      Morning train noise 

      Power plant lights and humming noise 

      No security gate closure overnight 

      No WIFI

    • D
      Oct. 7, 2019

      Catherine's Landing

      Very Nice Campground

      Located on Lake Catherine in Hot Springs, AR. This privately owned campground has it all: level paved camping pads, 30/50 amp electrical hookups, sewer, cable, picnic tables, fire rings and grilling stations. Several sites are located right on the waterfront of Lake Catherine. They have some of the nicest showers/bathrooms I’ve ever seen in a park! Lake access, water toy rentals, swimming pool, and a zip line! Easy access to downtown Hot Springs. Not many mature trees and campsites are close, but large size to accommodate any sized rigs. We enjoyed our stay there.

    • Vanessa M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 31, 2021

      Miners Camping & Rock Shop

      Quaint and neat location

      Tent, RV, and Cabin options available. Tent site range up to $25 nightly, $38 nightly for cabin, and up to $30 nightly for RV. Full RV hook ups, up to 30amp. Pet friendly, wooded, and has playground. Campground is close to Crate of Diamonds SP


    Guide to Pencil Bluff

    Cabins near Pencil Bluff, Arkansas sit within the Ouachita Mountain range at elevations averaging 500-1,000 feet above sea level, providing relatively mild temperatures even during summer months. The region experiences distinct seasons with average summer highs around 90°F and winter lows near 30°F. Most cabin accommodations in this area are concentrated around Lake Ouachita, with sites typically situated on rocky terrain that can require careful navigation during wet conditions.

    What to do

    Hiking trails year-round: Lake Ouachita State Park Campground offers several hiking opportunities for cabin guests. "The park is beautiful. It has camping for all types," notes Amanda F. The park maintains trails that remain open throughout all seasons.

    Kayaking on calm waters: Paddling opportunities abound near cabin rentals in the Lake Ouachita region. "The lake was gorgeous! I wish we had more time to walk trails, but we were just stopping for the night," shares Hannah L. from Lake Ouachita State Park Campground. Many cabins provide direct lake access or proximity to boat launches.

    Fishing from shorelines: Brady Mountain - Lake Ouachita provides excellent fishing opportunities from cabin sites. "Caught a deliscious catfish. Spent a day in a hamock with a fantastic lake view," reports Darren J. Shore fishing requires an Arkansas fishing license, available online or at local shops.

    What campers like

    Lakefront views: Cabins with water views are highly rated across the region. "We got an amazing site right on the water and spent a day here because it was so beautiful," shares David B. about his stay at Lake Catherine State Park Campground. The morning fog over water creates particularly memorable scenes.

    Wildlife viewing: Many cabin guests report enjoyable wildlife encounters. "Ducks and geese also made appearances that thrilled the kids," writes Chelsea K. about her Lake Ouachita State Park experience. Bird watching opportunities are especially prevalent during spring and fall migrations.

    Evening campfires: Most cabin sites include fire rings or pits for evening gatherings. "The campground is very clean and the views are amazing. The owners are attentive and very kind," notes Ted E. about Ouachita Campground at Edendell. Firewood availability varies by season and location.

    What you should know

    Reservation timing: Cabins fill quickly during summer and holiday weekends. "This park will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend," advises Chad K. about Lake Catherine State Park Campground. Winter reservations generally require less advance planning.

    Bathroom variations: Cabin bathroom facilities differ significantly between locations. "The bathrooms were always clean and well stocked w TP and hand soap," reports Amanda H. about her stay at Lake Ouachita State Park Campground. Some sites offer private bathrooms while others utilize central facilities.

    Water access challenges: Several cabin areas have limited or communal water access points. "There were a few communal water spots located in the tent area. The bathrooms and trashcans were a bit of a walk, and shared with the RV sites," explains Chelsea K. about Lake Ouachita State Park Campground.

    Tips for camping with families

    Cabin selection strategy: Choose cabins with convenient bathroom proximity when traveling with children. "We got the prime spot for tent camping. It was a haul to get all our gear to the end but the have carts available to help. Stayed here and then would travel to the hot springs NP. Bathrooms were awesome but a little bit of a hike from where we were," advises Taylor C. from Lake Ouachita State Park.

    Educational opportunities: Mount Magazine State Park Campground offers learning experiences for children. "The rangers were great and offered a variety of informational classes and hikes. We will be back!" shares Josh H. These programs typically run May through September.

    Swimming areas: Look for cabins near designated swimming areas for safer water play. "There is a Corp Of Engineers site down the street that has a boat launch," mentions John F. about Little Fir Landing. Several cabin locations feature swimming beaches with gradual entry points.

    Tips from RVers

    Site leveling considerations: Many cabin areas have uneven terrain that affects both RV and cabin placement. "Our site was spacious & level, I just wish I selected one on the upper loop- the views are nicer as well as the breeze," advises Bob M. about his Brady Mountain - Lake Ouachita experience.

    Hookup limitations: RV sites with cabins often have partial hookups. "We stayed in our camper, but there is a beautiful lodge and a good restaurant here as well. The hike up to the highest point in Arkansas is easy and family friendly for kids. Campground and bathhouse were well maintained and nice," reports Jeremy C. about Mount Magazine State Park Campground.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Pencil Bluff, AR?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Pencil Bluff, AR is Ouachita Campground at Edendell with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find cabin camping near Pencil Bluff, AR?

    TheDyrt.com has all 41 cabin camping locations near Pencil Bluff, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.