Beaver Lake and the Ozark Mountains create a diverse camping landscape near Prairie Grove, Arkansas, with over 500 miles of shoreline and several campgrounds within a 40-minute drive. Winter camping remains popular with temperatures typically dropping into the 20s, while summer highs can reach the 90s. The region's limestone geology creates numerous small caves and unique trail features throughout the camping areas.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Natural Falls State Park offers an extensive disc golf course with 18 holes that winds through the forested areas. One camper mentioned, "Loved the falls, big campsites, hiking trails and 18 hole disc golf."
Hiking variety: White Rock Mountain Recreation Area provides both scenic rim trails and forest paths with varied difficulty levels. A visitor noted, "The hiking trails are for everyone. Highly recommend!" Another camper shared, "There is a 5-mile trail that runs through the park. Pretty hard to follow in spots but one side of it runs along the lake and is beautiful."
Paddling opportunities: Horseshoe Bend Rec Area & Campground provides direct lake access for kayaking and canoeing with multiple boat ramps. A reviewer mentioned, "We were able to launch our kayaks from our camp site."
Wildlife viewing: Some campgrounds in the area offer excellent wildlife observation opportunities. One camper at Lost Bridge North reported, "Many deer to watch," while another at White Rock Mountain noted seeing a bear: "In a prior visit I saw a bear go lumbering in front of my truck on the road to White Rock. Only time in 40+ years I've seen a bear in the wild in Arkansas."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground gets high marks for site spacing. A reviewer shared, "Sites spread far enough apart for privacy, full hook ups, cleanest bathhouses, and beautiful scenery!" Another mentioned, "Very well kept. Campground AAA sites (1-20) offer full hook-ups and are spread out for privacy and offer longer pads."
Rustic cabin options: White Rock Mountain Recreation Area provides basic cabin accommodations that serve as a good alternative to tent camping. One visitor noted, "The cabins were pretty thick throughout. It's not that they're dirty, it's just that they're old buildings which aren't used every day surrounded by forest."
Lake views from elevated sites: Lost Bridge North campground offers staggered sites on hillsides, maximizing views. A camper observed, "Nice very scenic campground. Hilly with staggered rv slots, so it seems like everyone would have a great view of the lake." Another mentioned, "Up on a hill but all sites are level with great views of the lake."
Access to cultural attractions: The region offers proximity to several museums and cultural sites. One camper at Lake Fort Smith stated, "Came to the area to visit Crystal Bridges Museum. The campground is easy to get to and only 25 minutes to Bentonville and 10 minutes to Rogers."
What you should know
Road access challenges: Some camping areas require navigating difficult roads. At White Rock Mountain, a visitor warned, "The twisty, steep, narrow dirt road makes for quite an adventure. It has many large rocks in the road and the decently sized potholes." Another noted, "It takes a full hour to drive less than 15 miles on this road."
Limited hookups at some sites: Rocky Branch Campground and several other locations have partial amenities. One camper explained, "Typical COE camp ground... lacking full hookups and water at each site. The lower sites are waterfront but lack water and septic at the sites."
Unlevel camping pads: Several campgrounds require additional equipment for leveling. A reviewer at Prairie Creek pointed out, "Be prepared with as many leveling blocks as you can bring if you have a trailer. All spots seemed to have unlevel pads."
Bathroom and shower variations: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. One visitor to Rocky Branch shared, "The restroom was very nearby (not flush toilets)... The showers were also very good, good pressure, temperature and decent privacy." In contrast, at Horseshoe Bend, a camper reported, "None of the sites have water hookups and the showers were awful. The stalls were filthy and too small."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas: Prairie Creek (AR) offers dedicated swimming beaches with additional recreational facilities. A camper noted, "There are nice recreational areas with play equipment, pavilions and beach volley ball. There is an area for swimming as well."
Playgrounds and facilities: Horseshoe Bend provides family-friendly amenities. A camper shared, "Swimming area was very spacious. Nice playground for kids." Another mentioned it was "Great if you already have everything you need."
Educational opportunities: White Rock Mountain offers unique learning experiences. A reviewer mentioned, "The camp hosts are friendly and super cool. They lead some amazing lives, ask them about digging up dinosaur bones."
Winter considerations: For off-season family camping, prepare for cooler weather but potentially fewer crowds. A visitor in winter noted, "January 31-Feb 3... my partner and I were the only tent campers. We arrived late, after sunset, and the host recommended tent site #1."
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: Blowing Springs RV Park & Campsites has separate areas for different camping styles. A visitor explained, "What I like about this campground is that the tent sites are separate from the RV area, and RV's don't have to go through the tents to get to their area."
Best level sites: Several campgrounds have specific sites that work better for larger rigs. At Lake Fort Smith, a camper recommended, "If you need sewer service, I would recommend site #11 as the most level pull-through site, although there's not a bad site in the park." Another visitor shared, "It was totally level we didn't need any leveling done at all."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. At Rocky Branch, a reviewer cautioned, "The upper sites are tough to negotiate and are not very level... large Motorhomes are not recommended for these sites... campers or pull behind units will be ok but check the access into the sites."
Access road considerations: Many RVers note the importance of planning your route. At White Rock Mountain, a camper advised, "I would recommend an SUV or other tall vehicle with 4 wheel drive," though another noted, "When it's dry...we had no problem making the drive in a Fiat 500. If that little car can make it, any car can make it."
