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Best Campgrounds in Arkansas

3,407 Reviews

Arkansas features a robust network of established campgrounds across its diverse landscapes, from the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi River valley. Petit Jean State Park and Devil's Den State Park represent some of the highest-rated camping destinations, offering a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Lake Ouachita State Park and Lake Catherine State Park provide water-oriented camping experiences with boat-in access options. Many campgrounds maintain year-round operations, with several locations supporting both primitive camping and full-service RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups.

Advance reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends. While many established sites provide amenities like showers, toilets, and electric hookups, primitive and dispersed camping areas typically offer more basic facilities. Roads leading to remote camping areas can present challenges, especially after rainfall. One visitor noted of Mt. Hersey campground: "The ride in is a long one with steep grades and rugged terrain. Definitely don't bring a camper down here. This road isn't made for smaller vehicles so bring an SUV or pickup."

Waterfront camping locations consistently rank among the most sought-after sites in Arkansas, with several state parks featuring lakeside or riverside camping options. Visitors frequently mention the peaceful setting of waterside campsites, with one camper describing their experience at Woolly Hollow State Park: "I tent camped at Site #3, right beside the lake. Put my hammock up and watched the sun set and the fireflies start dancing." Hot Springs National Park's Gulpha Gorge Campground provides convenient access to both natural features and urban amenities. For those seeking more remote experiences, the Buffalo National River area offers primitive camping opportunities with varying levels of accessibility. Several campgrounds feature family-friendly amenities including playgrounds, swimming areas, and hiking trails, while maintaining reasonable site spacing for privacy.

Campground Showdown in Arkansas

Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!

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Ozark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and CabinsOzark RV Park and Cabins
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Round 1 of 5

Best Camping Sites in Arkansas (773)

    1. Petit Jean State Park — Petit Jean State Park

    108 Reviews
    Adona, AR
    Website
    +1 (501) 727-5441

    $25 - $40 / night

    "_ There are several viewpoints/vistas that you can access from roads (just two close together that involve some driving on gravel)."

    "Super cool paths, views and community. Tons of historical value and it's obvious that Arkansas cares about it's forests, natural resources and outdoor communities."

    2. Devil's Den State Park Campground

    87 Reviews
    Winslow, AR
    Website
    +1 (479) 761-3325

    $20 / night

    "Devil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas.  The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen.  The facilities and amenities have been great. "

    "The trails are great and our campsite had a path right down to the river. The water hookup was a bit tricky, it leaks all over the place until you turn it all the way."

    3. Lake Catherine State Park Campground

    84 Reviews
    Jones Mill, AR
    Website
    +1 (501) 844-4176

    $15 - $25 / night

    "We stayed in site 54 (w/e/s) that was right on the lake. We could walk to the dock right behind the site to fish, although did not have very good luck."

    "Lake Catherine State Park, like all Arkansas state parks, is immaculately clean!  Most RV sites have close access to the water and there are small stationary docks to park your boat. "

    4. Gulpha Gorge Campground — Hot Springs National Park

    79 Reviews
    Hot Springs National Park, AR
    Website
    +1 (501) 620-6715

    $34 / night

    "There are many positives to this campground well beyond the proximity itself. With electricity at all sites and a flat rate it seems to have a lot of positives to check off."

    "With close proximity to the town of Hot Springs, AR, this campground is well maintained and convenient but lacks in privacy. I stayed here as an overnight while driving north through the Midwest."

    5. Tom Sawyer's RV Park

    59 Reviews
    West Memphis, AR
    Website
    +1 (870) 735-9770

    "This campsite is in West Memphis, Arkansas right across the river from Memphis Tennessee. The sites are right on the river bank, beautiful. Sunrise over the river was perfect."

    "This place is a 6 star park next to Ms river close to Memphis,TN quite, great spots, clean and a lake oand ponds on the sites."

    6. Maumelle Park

    52 Reviews
    Maumelle, AR
    Website
    +1 (501) 868-9477

    $28 - $75 / night

    "Stayed 6 nights at Maumelle COE campground next to Arkansas River. Nice and quiet especially after the weekend crowd left. Nice walking trails and still close to major conveniences."

    "Beautiful panorama view of the Arkansas river. Amenities are great. Friendly staff and clean park. Close to restaurants, shopping and services. Full year round so make a reservation!"

    7. Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

    50 Reviews
    Mountain Pine, AR
    Website
    +1 (888) 287-2757

    "This state park sits on one of the prettiest and clearest lakes in the state of Arkansas. The area that I will be focusing on is the primitive tent sites."

    "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."

    8. Village Creek State Park Campground

    49 Reviews
    Colt, AR
    Website
    +1 (870) 238-9406

    $25 / night

    "There are nearly 100 sites here at Village Creek State Park. They are Spacious, paved and well maintained."

    "This park was stunning the drive though a little narrow at times was scenic from the drive to the RV site. Pull Through with own area not to close to other sites."

    9. COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground

    45 Reviews
    Royal, AR
    Website
    +1 (501) 991-3390

    $14 - $80 / night

    "Site 40 water faucet is broken Showers are hot and free Arkansas is very pretty but the trash on the road sides and road kill is too much. Clean up after yourself people!!!"

    "Arkansas has variable weather in January. Cold clear day today but higher temps predicted for later in the week. Many sites available. Beautiful views."

    10. Crater of Diamonds State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Murfreesboro, AR
    Website
    +1 (870) 285-3113

    $15 - $50 / night

    "This camp is ideally located in the Crater of Diamonds State Park with easy access to the Visitors Center by foot or car."

    "The campground has 47 nicely shaded RV sites with water/electric/sewer hookup(many of which have tent pads and five walk-in tent sites."

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Recent Reviews in Arkansas

3407 Reviews of 773 Arkansas Campgrounds

  • H
    May. 25, 2026

    COE Beaver Lake Prairie Creek Campground

    Great for boaters

    This campground is decent and close to the lake. We stayed at site 19. The site was level and was a double site. There are two power pedestals and two water hookups. The right driveway accommodated our 33' trailer and truck with no problems. The other driveway was significantly shorter but would probably be great if you're towing a boat as well. Getting into the site was difficult with a longer trailer. The road itself is pretty narrow and curved, and the driveway is fairly narrow with a tree on the passenger side so be careful backing in. The site layout is ok. While there's plenty of space available, it's not really set up with space to sit around the fire but more for picnic table sitting. There's alsovery little grass. It's almost entirely rock with concrete areas for the picnic tables. We were here Memorial Day weekend so it was very busy. That's the biggest con of this section of sites. It backs up on to one of the main roads. The road is very busy and a lot of people drive it like they're trying to qualify for the Daytona 500. If you're coming here to spend all your time on the lake and very little at your site, this site may be for you.

  • Eliza S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2026

    White Buffalo Resort

    Beautiful

    This location was our maiden voyage with our new fifth wheel RV. White buffalo resort is a beautiful place to stay with very friendly and helpful staff. Met some friendly, long-term RV’ers. The only drawback is they don’t have a bike trail except for around the campground (4stars). They offer free Wi-Fi, has a nice clean pool, adequate playground and pavilion. Scenery is fantastic.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 25, 2026

    Petit Jean State Park — Petit Jean State Park

    Rainy but nice place

    Very nice park and clean bathrooms. The cedar falls are wonderful when it has been raining a lot. RV sites are spacious and a lot of locals like to stay there for short vacations.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 24, 2026

    Village Creek State Park Campground

    Pretty to look at, dirty bath houses

    Spacious sites, also has horse camp. Electricity. Racoon issues not under control. Dumpsters near bathroom contained racoons that also went into folks' camps. No cell signal. Bathrooms woefully neglected as far as cleanliness. Old is one thing, but nasty is another.

  • a
    May. 22, 2026

    Maumelle Park

    Excellent- peaceful

    Pleasant surprise. Pulled in late and found B32 available right on water. Quiet, clean, and bathroom nearby. Shaded beautiful site. Love it.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 21, 2026

    Turner Creek Road

    Great spot! Be cautious of ticks.

    Great camping spot, very peaceful, and private. Be mindful for ticks. Within the first hour found a lone star tick in front of my tent. Grateful I brought spray for my gear and my body.

  • Lance R.
    May. 19, 2026

    Kings River Falls Campground

    Beautiful!

    It was awesome, the campsites were nice and so many beautiful sights to see and so much exploring to do. If you have a sedan or a smaller car it is very difficult and risky getting to the campsite, so I would recommend bringing a very capable offroad vehicle. Going around May the weather is perfect!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2026

    Crater of Diamonds State Park Campground

    Return to the Crater

    Campsites are spacious and can get noisy on the weekends. Security makes routine drive by rounds and very friendly. There is WiFi but kinda lousy and phone service is iffy. Bathrooms are ok but looks like they hose the floors and don’t mop and dry.

  • Tyler D.
    May. 18, 2026

    Mount Magazine State Park Campground

    Great Sites and Facilities

    The campground was really nice. The sites were spread out really well for full hookup spots. Each spot had some privacy and distance between them. Bathrooms were super clean. There’s plenty of hiking trails around but other than that it’s a pretty relaxing campsite. Weather is 10-15 degrees cooler than what you’d expect in the River Valley.

Guide to Arkansas

Camping in Arkansas offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With stunning landscapes, serene lakes, and a variety of campgrounds, it’s a great spot for families, solo adventurers, and RV enthusiasts alike.

What to do

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the trails at places like Mount Nebo State Park. One reviewer said, “The trails were nicely kept and the waterfall we hiked to on Lizard Trail was so picturesque!”
  • Fishing and Water Activities: At Lake Ouachita State Park, you can fish right from your campsite. A visitor mentioned, “The water is crystal clear and we could swim right from our campsites!”
  • Cavern Tours: Don’t miss the chance to visit Blanchard Springs Caverns. A camper shared, “The cavern tour is a must-see; it’s one of the best around.”

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful landscapes. One person said about Petit Jean State Park, “I found everything to be absolutely amazing! Beautiful, stunning, and can’t wait to visit again!”
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds pride themselves on cleanliness. A review for Gulpha Gorge Campground noted, “Cleanest shower house I've ever seen.”
  • Spacious Campsites: Campers appreciate the room to spread out. One visitor at Lake Catherine State Park mentioned, “The spaces are so far apart you can enjoy your own spot without interruption.”

What you should know

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A camper at Petit Jean State Park noted, “Just no signal. Also a little expensive for me but others may not think so!”
  • Seasonal Crowds: Some parks can get busy during peak seasons. A visitor at Lake Ouachita State Park warned, “This place is really popular in summer time, so expect to book a year in advance.”
  • Amenities Vary: Not all campgrounds have the same facilities. A review for Gulpha Gorge Campground mentioned, “Clean restrooms, no showers.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One family at Catherine's Landing said, “Plenty of room for the kids to ride bicycles and a direct, private access at the campground to Lake Catherine for a little family kayaking.”
  • Pack for Activities: Bring gear for fishing, hiking, and swimming. A camper at Lake Catherine State Park mentioned, “Our site on the lake was very beautiful and every site on the water has a small dock you can fish off.”
  • Plan for Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially at dusk. One camper at Willow Beach warned, “Locals warned us to beware of mosquitoes at sunset.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campsite. A review for Lake Ouachita State Park noted, “The sites are all sitting on a serene lake. The spaces are so far apart you can enjoy your own spot without interruption.”
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with full hookups. A visitor at John F Kennedy Campground mentioned, “73 sites with electric, 13 sites with water and electric.”
  • Be Ready for Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have showers or sewer hookups. A camper at Gulpha Gorge Campground said, “No showers, but clean restrooms.”

Camping in Arkansas is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, with plenty of options for everyone. Whether you're tent camping or RVing, there's something for you in this beautiful state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available in Arkansas state parks?

Arkansas state parks offer diverse camping options with well-maintained facilities. Lake Poinsett State Park Campground features quality campsites, excellent bathhouses, a playground, and a walking trail accessible from the campground. The lake has recently been repaired and restocked with fish. Lake Chicot State Park Campground offers beautiful lakeside sites with stunning sunset views over cypress-lined shores. Other notable state park options include Petit Jean State Park with reservable sites, water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly areas; Lake Catherine near Hot Springs; and Lake Ouachita State Park offering boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in access. Arkansas state parks generally provide clean facilities, recreational opportunities, and affordable rates with most sites being reservable online.

Where can I find RV camping sites in Arkansas?

Arkansas has numerous RV-friendly campgrounds catering to various preferences. Prairie Creek, a Corps of Engineers site on Beaver Lake in NW Arkansas, accommodates RVs including smaller units like 24' Winnebagos, though some sites have slight slopes. Maumelle Park, another COE campground along the Arkansas River, offers quiet sites with good privacy (like site E7) and convenient access to walking trails while remaining close to urban amenities. For adventure seekers, Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events provides clean, well-maintained RV sites with access to off-roading trails. Additional options include Tom Sawyer's RV Park near West Memphis and Crystal Springs Campground at Lake Ouachita, both offering full hookups and big-rig-friendly spaces.

What are the best campgrounds in Arkansas for tent camping?

Arkansas offers excellent tent camping experiences, particularly in its natural areas. Richland Creek Recreation Area provides peaceful primitive sites ideal for tent campers who enjoy hiking, with nearby waterfalls and trails worth exploring. Download maps in advance as cell service is limited. For those seeking breathtaking views, Mount Nebo State Park Campground offers tent sites with spectacular vistas, though reservable spots can be close together. The park features hiking trails, a playground, and a swimming pool. Other great tent camping options include Petit Jean State Park and the dispersed sites at Base of North Fork Pinnacle in the Ouachita National Forest, where you can truly immerse yourself in Arkansas's natural beauty.

Are there good fishing opportunities at Arkansas campgrounds?

Arkansas campgrounds offer exceptional fishing opportunities across the state. Horseshoe Bend Rec Area & Campground in Northwest Arkansas provides access to a gorgeous lake with many lakefront sites, perfect for fishing directly from your campsite. The Corps of Engineers maintains this campground well, with electric hookups and bathhouses. Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park offers creek fishing opportunities while being conveniently located near town amenities. Lake Ouachita, known for its clear waters, provides excellent fishing for bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. Many Arkansas state parks including Lake Chicot and Lake Poinsett have recently restocked lakes. For the best fishing experience, consider camping during spring and fall when temperatures are moderate and fish are most active.

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