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Best Dispersed Camping near Plainview, AR

59 Reviews

Dispersed camping opportunities surround Plainview, Arkansas, primarily within the Ouachita National Forest. Several free primitive sites are available, including Ouachita National Forest Fourche Mountain, Hogan Creek Dispersed, and areas near Nimrod Lake Recreation Area. Most sites feature basic rock fire rings and level dirt surfaces suitable for tents and small vehicles. According to reviews, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail offers accessible hiking from several dispersed sites, with Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) providing access to multiple camping areas near the Flatside Wilderness boundary.

Forest roads in this region vary significantly in quality. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for many sites, particularly after rain events. Several campers noted that "portions of Brown Creek Road have some erosion" though "a 2WD passenger car can make it if driven carefully through the rough spots." No drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities exist at these primitive sites. Visitors must pack out all waste and bring sufficient water supplies. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with T-Mobile and AT&T coverage varying by location.

Fire regulations follow standard Forest Service rules, requiring fires to be contained within established rock rings. During summer months, fire restrictions may be implemented due to drought conditions. The area experiences typical Arkansas seasons with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Wildlife includes black bears, so proper food storage is essential. Most dispersed sites accommodate 2-3 vehicles and are available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sites near creeks may flood during heavy rain periods, particularly in spring.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Plainview, Arkansas (51)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Plainview, AR

53 Photos of 51 Plainview Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Plainview, AR

59 Reviews of 51 Plainview Campgrounds

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 12, 2022

    Dispersed FR132 Ouachita National Forest, AR

    Dispersed Camping near Ouachita National Recreation Trail, AR

    Located along Forest Road 132 (Winona Scenic Drive) in the Ouachita National Forest, Saline County, Arkansas. Flatside Wilderness Area located across the road from the site. Access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail located nearby. Free dispersed site, no facilities. Rock fire ring. Should be enough parking for 2 vehicles. Suitable for tent camping, car camping, truck camping & van camping. Mostly level. There was plenty of firewood left by the fire ring. Camped here in February; very quiet. Only 2 vehicles drove by. Had a few bars of T-Mobile service.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2022

    Brown Creek Cascade Dispersed Campsite

    Free dispersed camping in the Ouachita National Forest

    Popular dispersed campsite in the Ouachita National Forest. Only one site; not a campground. Located on the gravel Brown Creek Road in Perry County, Arkansas. The South Fork of Brown Creek runs behind this campsite. Located next to the trailhead for Brown Creek Cascade - a short 1/4 mile hike (includes a creek crossing). This campsite is suitable for tent camping, car camping, camper vans & truck campers. Two vehicles can easily fit on this level site. There are other dispersed sites along Brown Creek Road. The site is close to the road; there's a large mud puddle covering one of the 2 entrances to this site. 2-wheel drive passenger cars can make it to the site. Large pine trees on the site. Hammock camping is possible. No water (except for creek). No toilets nor showers. No trash - take out what you bring in. May need to hike a ways in the woods to find firewood. Large rock fire ring on site. No AT&T and T-Mobile cell service. Very quiet; no vehicles passed by during the night. The sound from the creek was soothing.

  • 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
    Apr. 23, 2025

    Brown Creek Rd/FR805 Dispersed

    Nice wooded dispersed site above a small creek

    Coordinates: 34.87057,-92.89844. Camped here on April 20, 2025. Located along Brown Creek Road (Forest Road 805), appoximately 1/2 mile west of the Brown Creek Cascade dispersed site and trail head (see separate listing). Large, level site with a dirt surface. Should easily accomadate 2 or 3 rigs and tents. Recommend campervan and smaller rigs. Due to the trees on the site, a truck camper will have a difficult time pulling all the way into the site (although it can park on the access driveway). Easy access from the forest road. The site is clearly visable from the forest road; no privacy, and dust may be an issue during the dry season. Only 6 vehicles passed by during my stay (which was on a Monday evening). There is a large, nicely constructed rock fire ring on the site; other than this, there are no amenities at the site. A small creek is down the hill behind the site; the creek is dry during the dry season. A beautiful wall of trees is across the creek. The site is shaded; solar charging and Starlink connectivity may be difficult. Hammock camping is possible. No T-Mobile cell service. No access to hiking trails at the site; trailheads for Brown Creek Cascade and the Ouachita National Recreation Trail are a short drive away. Loved this site. Peaceful at night. The only sounds came from the birds, the breeze and the creek. Note that due to recent severe Spring storms, portions of Brown Creek Road have some erosion. The rocky surface is moderately rough in places, although a 2WD passenger car can make it if driven carefully through the rough spots. No issues for high clearance 4x4 vehicles.

  • 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. 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.

Guide to Plainview

Dispersed camping sites around Plainview, Arkansas dot the Ouachita National Forest, typically at elevations between 800-2,000 feet. These primitive sites vary from ridgetop locations offering panoramic views to secluded creek-side spots with natural water sounds. Forest roads accessing rustic camping areas near Plainview require careful navigation, especially during and after rainfall when erosion can create challenging conditions.

What to do

Fishing access points: Spring Lake offers convenient bank fishing opportunities from dispersed sites. "This site is mostly used for bank fishing on Spring Lake. Its a large loop at the end of a short narrow Forest Road 96001F... Easy walking access to the bank for fishing," notes reviewer Fred S. at Spring Lake FR96001F Dispersed.

Wildlife viewing: The forests around Plainview provide excellent wildlife observation opportunities, especially in winter months. Jacob F. describes camping at Forest Service RD 153 as an "Off grid camp site need 4×4 some washouts on forest service rd 153," where visitors can observe native wildlife.

Hiking exploration: Several unmarked tracks near dispersed sites serve as impromptu hiking trails. Fred S. notes about one site, "The track may be a good hiking trail for exploring the forest," making primitive camping spots good starting points for day hikes through the Ouachita Forest.

What campers like

Scenic vistas: Ridge-top sites provide exceptional viewing opportunities. At Forest Service RD 132, Fred S. describes a "Great spot; fantastic unobstructed view of the hills to the south. Some shade in the summer. Fantastic view during the winter season."

Natural soundscapes: Creek-side camping offers peaceful natural ambiance. Fred S. observes at CR133/FR146 Hogan Creek Dispersed that it's "a pretty spot along Hogan Creek; the sound of the flowing creek is nice."

Solitude opportunities: Many dispersed sites around Plainview provide genuine isolation. Jared E. mentioned his experience at Forest Service RD 132: "Very isolated, didn't see any cars past 7 pm. Ample room for large van and many tents. Beautiful view from atop the mountain!"

What you should know

Road conditions vary seasonally: Many forest roads deteriorate during wet weather. Rikki H. reports about Forest Service RD 153: "We couldn't even get to the campsite in our AWD Subaru Outback. There are drainage pipes exposed on the road."

Site surfaces often rocky: Most dispersed sites have uneven, rocky terrain. Jacob F. notes about Forest Service RD 132: "Large site if you are sleeping on the ground bring plenty of padding it is rocky and not very flat. If you are in a rooftop there are plenty of rocks to level up on."

Site maintenance inconsistent: Primitive sites receive minimal maintenance. Fred S. reports about Cove Mountain Group Dispersed: "I wouldn't camp here in the summer; the grass and weeds are too high for comfort."

Tips for camping with families

Consider seasonal timing: Winter camping offers better site conditions at many locations. Fred S. mentions: "This is a nice winter season dispersed site. During the summer, this site is overrun by high grass and weeds."

Plan for weather exposure: Some sites offer little natural protection. Logan R. notes about Forest Service RD 153: "There is a good breeze as it is on the top of the ridge which would be great in summer but can get a bit nippy in the colder seasons so keep that in mind."

Check site capacity: Some areas accommodate group camping better than others. At Wards Crossing Dispersed, Fred S. reports: "This site can accomodate multiple rigs. Tent camping is possible. The level site surface is a mixture of dirt, sand & gravel."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle sizing matters: Most sites accommodate only smaller rigs. Fred S. notes about FR 83W/CR84 Dispersed: "Big enough for a truck camper; easy access. Slight downward slope," indicating size limitations for larger vehicles.

Leveling challenges: Prepare leveling equipment for uneven terrain. Fred S. reports about Forest Service RD 132: "Not level; some leveling is required. Dirt surface with exposed embedded rock - may be uncomfortable for tent camping."

Pinstriping risks: Narrow access roads may damage vehicle sides. At Spring Lake FR96001F Dispersed, Fred S. cautions: "A truck camper may get pinstripped along the access road," highlighting concerns for vehicle paint and finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Plainview, AR is Ouachita National Forest Fourche Mountain with a 3.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 51 dispersed camping locations near Plainview, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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