Looking for the best Royal pet-friendly camping? Find the best information on pet-friendly camping near Royal, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your RVing experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a happening campground near the attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to go camping with your dog.
Gulpha Gorge campground is a tree lined retreat nestled on Gulpha Creek just a few minutes from downtown Hot Springs National Park and historic Bathhouse Row. Open all year, the campground features 44 campsites all suitable for RVs and tents. This popular spot is the ideal base camp for all of your Hot Springs adventures and tends to fill up quickly, even in the fall and winter. Reservations are recommended.
Hot Springs National Park boasts 26 miles (42 km) of stunning trails. Gulpha Gorge Campground has a trail access to Hot Springs Mountain and Bathhouse Row. The campground sits adjacent to Gulpha Gorge Creek. The creek is perfect for wading, sitting and playing.
Sit back and relax to the sounds of adjacent Gulpha Gorge Creek under the canopy of towering trees while being serenaded by the local winged inhabitants and you just may forget you are so close to downtown Hot Springs National Park. Enjoy a stunning hike to Bathhouse Row with mountain-top views along the way. Dip your toes in Gulpha Gorge Creek or stretch out on the cool grass to enjoy the breeze while planning a visit to one of the stunning spas on historic Bathhouse Row.
For facility specific information, please call (501) 620-6715.
Gulpha Gorge campground is just a few minutes from downtown Hot Springs National Park and historic Bathhouse Row.
__Cancellations more than 72 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 72 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged.
$34 / night
This peaceful park makes great camping near Little Rock and is located on Lake Catherine, one of five lakes in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region. The only full-service marina on the lake is here at the park and open in the summertime for bait, snacks/drinks, and fuel. Boat rentals are available year-round. The park also includes a launch ramp, pavilion, picnic sites, playgrounds, and a well-marked trail that leads to a waterfall.
The park has 20 fully equipped cabins, including one two-bedroom cabin with a patio overlooking the water and private access to the lake from its own fishing pier. There are also many native stone and wood buildings on-site. The history of these structures dates back to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The park offers 70 campsites (47 Class AAA and 23 Class B), six primitive tent sites, one Rent-A-Camp, and one Rent-A-Yurt. Many of these sites are on the lakeshore. Park interpreters offer hikes, lake tours, and programs year-round. Guided horseback rides are offered seasonally.
$15 - $25 / night
Crystal Springs Campground, perched on the shores of Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, is an ideal spot for families, friends and couples. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the lake each year to explore its crystal clear waters and scenic mountain landscape.Click here for the Lake Ouachita Virtual Tour.
Visitors enjoy fishing, water skiing, hiking and boating. Scuba diving is particularly popular because of the lake's high underwater visibility. Small and rare freshwater jellyfish (non-stinging) can be found, in addition to many types of fish, including the striped bass, lazily drifting between rocks. Bald eagles are a big attraction for bird watchers and photographers in winter months.
Lake Ouachita is nestled in the Ouachita Mountains just 10 miles west of Hot Springs National Park. The pool is fed by the cool waters of the Ouachita River and extends about 30 miles over 40,000 surface acres.
Part of the scenic 223-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail runs just north of the lake. Here, hikers and mountain bikers can explore an array of breathtaking views in the Ouachita Mountains.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (501) 767-2101.
$14 - $80 / night
Whether your perfect vacation is action-packed or laid back, you’ll find everything you need at Catherine’s Landing. Conveniently situated on 400 pastoral acres with a mile of frontage on beautiful Lake Catherine just outside historic downtown Hot Springs. Catherine’s Landing offers an ideal natural environment mixed with a range of accommodations and on-site activities that appeal to every form of traveler. Choose from RV sites with modern concrete pads, fully-furnished resort cottages, yurts for a true "Glamping" experience, or raised and bordered tent sites. Add exceptional on-site amenities, a convenient concierge at your service, a beautiful lake right outside your door, Wi-Fi and cable, and you have everything you need for your next getaway.
The campgrounds feature a total of 125 campsites (including 26 pull-through sites). Thirty-five of the sites—the Class AAA sites—have 30 and 50 amp electrical, water, and sewer hookups. The 90 Class B sites offer 30 amp electrical and water hookups. All sites are reservable. Campsites are divided into four campground areas. Each includes a modern bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets. Area "A" is near Lake Bailey and include sites along the lakeshore. Areas "B," "C," and "D" are located on the south side of Ark. 154 in wooded settings.
Other campsite choices in the main camping area include a 44-unit Rally-style Area with 20 amp electrical service available for camping clubs.
A trailer dump station is centrally located near the Rally-style camping area.
Petit Jean is Arkansas's only state park with its own airport.
$25 - $40 / night
Groups and families of all sizes come to camp at Denby Point for its scenic views, year-round fishing and convenient boating facilities. The campground promises to entertain jet skiers, boaters, hikers and birders alike. Click here for the Lake Ouachita Virtual Tour.
World-class striper fishing brings crowds of anglers year-round, and incredibly clear waters attract scuba divers, hoping to explore the flooded forests and mountain valleys below the lake's surface. Hikers take pleasure in the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), which lines the southern end of the lake.
Lake Ouachita sits in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, just 28 miles west of Hot Springs National Park. The lake stems from the Ouachita River and boasts 692 miles of shoreline and over 40,000 surface acres.
Explore Ouachita National Forest's 1.8 million acres, surrounding Lake Ouachita and extending across central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (501) 767-2101.
$14 - $65 / night
Treasure Isle RV Park is located on the banks of Lake Hamilton. There are many types of RV sites including Concrete back-in, Concrete pull thru, gravel pull thru, and lakefront sites. Amenities include: coin laundry, bath house, pool, large playground, three covered pavilions with seating and grills available for use by the park guests, and fishing piers. There are kayaks and pontoons available to rent. Come enjoy your vacation with us!
$45 - $95 / night
Charlton Campground is located 17-miles west of Hot Springs National Park along Highway 270-West. This historic campground constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's has been upgraded with modern amenities. Known as one of the coldest swimming sites in the State of Arkansas, the cool water temperatures can be enjoyed through-out the summer months.
Charlton Recreation Area offers a developed day use with swimming and picnicking facilities. A large pavilion is located in the day use area. The swimming area is known by area residents as being some of the coldest water through-out the summer months. Walnut Creek, a spring-fed stream provides refreshing water in the swim site. Hiking trails are located in and around the campground. An amphitheater is located in the day use area for group gatherings. Campsites are available from a basic campsite to more developed with additional amenities, to include 30-50 amp electrical service, water connections and some sites offering sewer connections. A dump station is located at the campground. Walnut Creek runs through the campground and access is available for wading and fishing in the creek.
Located in the valley between two tree covered mountains, the campsites through-out the campground are well shaded. The campground constructed along Walnut Creek, a natural spring-fed stream, temperatures are cool, even through the summer months.
Lake Ouachita Vista - Hickory Nut Mountain Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) Lake Ouachita Hot Springs National Park Historic Hot Springs Quartz Crystal Mines
$15 - $40 / night
Brady Mountain Campground delights visitors with its family-friendly facilities, fabulous views and idyllic placement on Arkansas's Lake Ouachita. The lake attracts visitors who come for the crystal clear waters and bountiful fishing opportunities. Click here for the Lake Ouachita Virtual Tour.
A unique way to explore the lake is to follow the Geo-Float Trail, coined as the first water-based interpretive trail included in the National Trails System. The self-guided boat tour leads visitors on a 16-mile trip to see incredible geologic features as it stretches from the Spillway Recreation Area to Brady Mountain Recreation Area. Hikers enjoy the scenic land-based nature trail accessible from the campground. Boating, fishing and scuba diving among the remains of the flooded mountain valley are also popular here.
Lake Ouachita sits in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, just 10 miles west of Hot Springs National Park. The lake stems from the Ouachita River and boasts 692 miles of shoreline with 178 islands.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (501) 767-2101.
Head to Hot Springs National Park and enjoy a traditional bath or modern spa experience with the natural spring water.
$16 - $50 / night
Legend
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:
Cons:
TravelerTop notch RV campground that is well maintained and has a friendly professional staff. Lots of amenities like disc golf, hiking trails, pool, zip line course, lake access and two dog parks that were the cleanest I’ve seen at an rv park. We had site 204 which is a back in site with FHU on driver’s side. We loved this site because it was on the back side of the campground, near the dog park and lots of open space behind us to play with our dog. All of the sites are very spacious, concrete pads, well maintained hook ups, and most are full sun. This was our second visit and we will definitely be back.
Traveler
I have little to go off of, but this is a very clean, safe feeling place. Close to the national park, friendly employees and guests, several mini trails and a dog park.
Scout
Nice, quiet park. Laundry facilities nice and clean. Clean showers. Nice dog park. Management friendly. On lake, so some boat noise. The cons were poor local TV satellite
service and no WiFi for monthly stays. Would stay here again.
Traveler
This was a great spot. The host responded quickly via email and we never saw another soul. The property is massive and you can let your pets off the leash. This was the first time we let our cats roam untethered and they loved it. Water and electricity provided, clear sky for starlink, and a fire pit. There were tons of flies though. No mosquitos that we could tell so thats a plus. Great quiet spot
Ranger
Everything is awesome. Sites are in pristine condition. Managers are so friendly and helpful. Located in Hot Spring proper. Easy access to everything. The Dog Park, laundry facilities, and restrooms/showers are of course new and clean. Casino and Racetrack are right around the corner. Easy access to everything in HotSprings.
TravelerSomething for everyone! You do not even have to leave the campground! We have been here several times just because it is so fun fir us and the kids! Swimming pool, splash pad, zip line, large patio with rocking chairs, dog park, boat rental, kayaks! You name it. Will continue to go back again and again!
TravelerMy husband and I camped 3 nights with the dogs an a travel trailer. The check in process was very easy and the facilities were immaculate. Concrete pads and sites were well kept. The yurts on property looked very big and clean so maybe we will do that next. The boat ramp and docks were safe for fishing. The dog park was small but sufficient for them to run a bit off the leash. Firewood was a bit pricey$$. Overall tho, super place.
Ranger
We loved our weekend stay at this park. There are a lot of long term people and a few that seem to rotate. The bathrooms were fantastic and so was the laundry room. Theres a little boat dock and good sized dog park too. The spots are quite close together but we enjoyed the open space at the front of the park.
TravelerD26 Back-in full hook-ups, fire ring & picnic table. 2 nights - Memorial Day weekend. Good spot, close to bath rooms/shower house/cafe. Pretty level - just 1 leveling block was all we needed for our pop-up. Lots of amenities- cafe, fishing pond, small general store, playground and off leash dog area. Staff was very friendly. Escorted you to your spot and helped us back in. Shower house was always clean. Loved the dog park! We are just starting to travel with our 2 boxers and was so nice to have an area for them to run a bit. Cons - spots are very close, no privacy. Each spot has a very bright “porch” light that is on until Midnight
Ranger
This park was very peaceful and quiet. You can hear the bullfrogs at night. JJ - the owner was the ice on the cake. Just such a nice fellow. There are several full timers there. It is right on a little creek, and there are turkeys somewhere nearby. The RV Park is very very close to Hot Springs National Park, and there is an amusement park right across the highway. The Wi-Fi is nonexistent. There is no dog park, but plenty of space to walk your fur children. We enjoyed the full hook ups. Nice big pull thru sites. There is a laundry room and bathrooms on the premises. I had an enjoyable experience, and would gladly stay there again if I am ever nearby.
RangerStayed here for 4 weeks. Except for the occasional dog barking contest. (Not at night usually around midday), it's a quiet and comfortable place to stay. It has a small dog park near the lake. The owners are very friendly. The laundry room locker room fitness center and clubhouse are kept very clean and secure with a passcode. You can receive regular mail UPS and FedEx deliveries including Amazon. Regular mail is delivered late in the afternoon so you may have to wait till the next day to pick it up. T-Mobile cell phone services week Usually around two bars. There are a couple full-timers here and they're very nice. The busy part of Hot Springs is about 5 minutes away by car. Electricity and water pressure are reliable. Most of the sites are level and are comprised of crushed rock compressed. You're next door neighbor is about 12 to 15 ft from your door. So the sites are a little bit tight.
Ranger
Well maintained, lodge on site, family and pet friendly.
Scout
We love visiting! Campgrounds are clean and well maintained. Sites are roomy with full hook-up. Beautiful wooded views, hiking trails, and pet friendly.
ScoutThe fishing at Degrey is superb, I have been coming to DeGrey since I was a little girl and I am 48 yrs old now.
DeGrey is magical and a great family and pet friendly State Park.
Legend
Crystal Springs campground is great. The lake is great. I was too busy having fun and didn't take enough pictures. There are breathtaking views of the Ouchita Mountains. There is springs coming out of the ground on hikes. The creeks are crystal clear and fun to wade around in. There is a swim beach but you can swim anywhere. So when I got hot I just jumped in the water to cool down. Most the campsites are at the waters edge. We fished at night for catfish and caught what we needed. The campground is pet friendly. My dogs are like my kids and they had fun. There was a night or two when I had to hush them up because of raccoons. The bathrooms have hot and cold water. There is a fish cleaning station. Our campsite #18 was great. It had a picnic table, fire pit, barbecue grill and a little table beside grill and nice shade. The campground is about 16-17 miles from Hotsprings, Arkansas.
Guide
Love this place because there are so many types of camp sites available. Great areas to look around and hike. Restaurant is pretty decent and breakfast was hot and delicious. There’s a little petting zoo thing close by for kids. Playground was great.
Legend
beautiful mountain top park my camper was to long for the road up so we stayed at a hike in site it was great quiet and remote the deer will walk up to you and you can pet them awesome park highly recommended
Legend
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
RangerHad a great time on Petti Jean , One of the three Amigo's work's up there and we spend time with her for a week . Our camp site was next to a little stream and we put out our yard pets by the stream and we had people stopping to talk about them and the kids loved them . One was George the frog and the other was Henryetta the hippo !
Traveler
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. The cabins are adorable and feel like they are out of the 1970's but well worth the experience. Nice place to kayak. Gorgeous places to hike, watch the sunrise/sunset, and tons of room for kids to play. Pet friendly. The resident will visit you every day for belly scratches.
GuideWe stayed in the yurts one time and it was nice but hot. Bring FANS. The yurt came with a canoe and life jackets. We loved that stay. My favorite stay is at the tent sites. We have stayed so many times. Several areas to hike with young children. Swimming pool available at a good price. The kids love the near by petting zoo. Lake available for fishing and boat rentals. Wonderful views all around one of my favorite spots.
Guide
We stayed at spot 19. It was slightly uneven, maybe 1 degree slant to the side, not much front to back. Park is on the smaller side so the spots arent super big, ours was very close to the neighbors. Hookups are really well done with electricity, water, and sewage. Bathrooms were very clean. A lot of trash cans available. The campground does get a lot of road noise during the day but pretty quiet at night. Verizon has between 2-4 bars throughout the campground and we got speeds up to 80 mbps. Very pet friendly, quick walk to the creek, easy access to the trails. Highly recommended goat rock lookout.
LegendWe arrived with no issue for the Van Leigh RV rally. A lady outside and let us know to just grab our package package from the little shed and proceed to our site. We followed the map in our package and went to waterfront site 106 with FHUs and really good water pressure. The back-in was easy. This site had a nice view and water access to Catherine Lake. Our $95 a night rate reflected the two extra nights we stayed in addition to the rally package. Their WiFi was above average for a CG of this size but often with spotty connections. We also hooked up to the cable and got the 32 advertised channels. We got 1 bar on both AT&T and Verizon. There are several laundries on the property that are reasonably priced. This campground has a lot of amenities to include disc golf, zipline and kayak rentals. There are also hiking trails within this campground(CG) that we enjoyed walking our pups. There are two small fenced dogs parks, one in the upper area and other other in the lower area. The sites are nicely spaced for a private CG but still nearby. Probably the best water front sites are 101, 102, and 103. The 200 area water front sites are nice but sit farther back from the water. If you are looking for the most spacious and private sites suggest 270, 271, and especially 275. This is one of the best private campgrounds we’ve stayed in.
Guide
Stayed four nights. The slots were dispersed well and wooded. All the trees make it hard to back in. Also, my slot was on a hill, and we arrived after dark so I had to back a 30 foot trailer up a hill in the dark avoiding trees but if three 21 year old girls can do it it’s possible. The other sites weren’t as bad, it’s hit or miss really. There were three areas, A B and C. They are divided by class, one is for bigger rigs and is right on the water near the dump station. All the slots are near the lake. There are wonderful trails and waterfalls to find. Pet friendly, good variety of trails with varying levels of accessibility, one even accommodates wheelchairs. There are two shower houses on each end of the park. There are hookups with or without sewage.
Scout
We had a lovely time tent camping at Lake Ouachita. It was a last minute Memorial Day weekend plan, so there wasn't much research before hand. The campsites were walk up, which was mildly inconvenient at first, but ultimately a big plus with no vehicles driving by the actual sites.
The park is pet friendly as long as they're leashed, and alcohol is allowed in moderation.
The campsites are on a small peninsula, so every site was right on the water. Being so close to the water kept the temperature comfortable, and having direct access to the lake was perfect for swimming. Ducks and geese also made appearances that thrilled the kids.
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.
The sites were pretty close to each other, and some people might not prefer that. There was a family reunion happening while we were there, so that feature was pretty convenient for them.
We brought tiki torches but were unable to use them due to the gravel terrain.
All in all, the sites were clean and comfortable and other guests were respectful. I recommend this park, and will definitely return.
Legend
Be sure you follow the email confirmation directions or put in Stephens Park Recreation Area, Blakely Dam Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956 as there is also Lake Ouachita State Park in the area. We arrived at this wonderful little COE with 9 sites and headed into back-in site 3 with FHUs. After we settled, we self-registered per instructions on the information board at the entrance. Soon after, a park ranger came through and verified our information and replaced the yellow self registration tag with a green one. Site 3 is probably the most scenic site in the campground(CG). Site 1 is a good site and will take over a 40’ rig, but you would need to park your tow vehicle or toad in the parking slots next to the site. As other reviewers stated there is parking between sites 1 and 3 so site 3 gets foot traffic along and behind the campsite due to the easy access to the water and fantastic view. We got a handful of OTA channels and 2 bars on Verizon, which was manageable for internet and phone calls. The water pressure was about 30-35 psi, the lowest we’ve had in a COE. The water spigot was in the back of the site away from the sewer and electric so we needed about 30’ of water hose. The sites were basically level. There’s a restroom/shower facility that sits up the hill from the CG. Hot Springs offers lots of things to do and all of the big box stores if you need them. Airport Road Animal Hospital is a great option if you need to refill any medications for your pets or need a veterinarian.
Discover the best spots for pets-allowed camping near Royal, Arkansas, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Royal, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Royal, AR is Gulpha Gorge Campground — Hot Springs National Park with a 4.1-star rating from 74 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Royal, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 149 dog-friendly camping locations near Royal, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
