Stacie P.
Scout
ScoutLee Creek Public Use Area
A beautiful view
A beautiful place to relax, but very sketchy, wouldn't stay after dark. I've taken many pics down here, the scenery is beautiful.
Camping near Van Buren, AR
166 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Arkansas River Valley surrounding Van Buren features a diverse range of camping environments within a 30-mile radius. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites like Springhill Park in Barling and Clear Creek Recreation Area in Alma offer waterfront camping with electric hookups and boat access. State parks such as Devil's Den and Lake Fort Smith provide year-round accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins with modern amenities. Private facilities like Riverfront RV Resort and Fort Smith-Alma RV Park cater primarily to recreational vehicles with full hookups. The region's camping options typically feature proximity to water, with many sites situated along the Arkansas River or its tributaries.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in this region. Most campgrounds operate year-round, though some Corps of Engineers facilities like Springhill Park operate from early March through late October. Summer brings high humidity and temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while spring often brings thunderstorms and occasional flooding along riverfront sites. As one camper noted about Springhill Park, "You have two options in the A section where you are right on a small river, and on the B side it's more of the wooded option, but most sites have the Arkansas River close by with mountain biking trails and hiking trails." Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with Devil's Den State Park having minimal coverage while sites closer to Fort Smith generally maintaining reliable connections.
Riverside camping locations receive consistently positive reviews for their scenic value and recreational opportunities. The Corps of Engineers campgrounds are particularly well-regarded for their spacious sites and natural settings. According to one visitor at the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground, "We stayed in site B1 and loved the privacy and tall trees surrounding the site and the large grassy field next to us." Mountain biking trails are prevalent throughout the region, with Springhill Park featuring a 10-mile "fast" trail popular with experienced riders. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, various bird species, and occasional bear sightings in more remote areas. Campers should note that many sites, particularly in Lake Fort Smith State Park, are situated on grades that may require leveling equipment for RVs or careful tent placement.
Best Campgrounds near Van Buren (166)
1. Springhill
"Really nice campground you have two options in the A section you are right one a small river and one the B side it’s more of the wooded option but most sites have the Arkansas rive close by with mountain"
"It’s in between the Arkansas river and Massard creek. You can launch a boat or you can go kayaking in Massard creek. There’s Cat fish, Perch and, Bass."
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability2. Devil's Den State Park Campground
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability3. Riverfront RV Resort
"It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office."
"Only one year old on Arkansas river great location if you like being close to restaurants staff very friendly"
4. Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
"It’s just far enough away from the highway so you have a quiet nights rest without hearing the traffic. The pond on the property has soothing sounds of peepers to fall asleep too."
"Was headed to Lake Fort Smith but area was booked so we stopped here and was pleased with our stay. Spaces are quite small but it has become the norm everywhere."
5. Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
"Simply put, this is a great little rustic place to get away from the hustle and bustle. The sites offer 20/30/50A hookups with water and septic."
"Very close to off-road trails and river float activities .. the owners are super nice and we liked hanging out with them. We’ll be back!"
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability6. Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
"Lake Ft. Smith State Park is a beautiful park in the Boston Mountains. We drove over from Memphis to meet my brother’s family (who lives in Tulsa)."
"This is a nice modern park on the shore of the man made Lake Fort Smith."
from $23 - $163 / night
Check Availability7. COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
"The campground is set among tall trees adjacent to the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake and James W. Trimble Lock and Dam of the Arkansas River."
"Nice area with many spots that back up to an outlet of the Arkansas River. Great bank fishing! Friendly staff. Highly recommend."
8. Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
"This park is located on the Arkansas River. There’s a boat ramp, so bring your boat and enjoy the beautiful Arkansas River. Pets are allowed, there is a leash law. Bring your own firewood."
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability9. Lee Creek Public Use Area
"What it does offer is a level parking pad that is quiet and dark which is surprising given it is surrounded by Fort Smith. It also has a decent view of the Arkansas River."
10. pathfinder rv resort
"New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it."
"Newly expanded to around 50 sites. Lot of extended stays but immaculate. Small lake with catch and release fishing. Community fireplace, pool and nice playground."
Drive Time
- 9 min from Fort Smith, AR
- 41 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 34 min from Tulsa, OK
- 2 hrs 30 min from Hot Springs, AR
Recent Camping Photos near Van Buren, AR
177 Photos of 166 Van Buren Campgrounds
Michelle W.
Springhill
Jennifer L.
COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
Kat M.
Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
Daniel D.
Twin Creeks RV Park
RACHAEL G.
Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures
Donny S.
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Lauren
Dispersed Near Devils Den
Rebecca
Devil's Den State Park Campground
Steve G.
Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA
Cyndy & Selena R.
Shores Lake
Brittany P.
White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
Recent Reviews near Van Buren, AR
677 Reviews of 166 Van Buren Campgrounds
Jenny
RangerSnake Creek
Decent place for lake stay
Quiet camping, restrooms are clean and have showers.
Site 10 was a nice site with 50 amp.
There was some sort of dumpster situation with new rollaways beside old dumpsters. Old dumpsters looked like were attempted to be taped up but they were used and overfilled with trash. So full that trash was flying around the park at times. Not sure what the situation was.
- JennyRanger
pathfinder rv resort
New, clean RV park
New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it. Large clubhouse is where the bathhouses are with four individual bathrooms with showers, laundry facility, propane for sale and a nice pool.
- JennyRanger
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
- J
Jon L.
GuideHog Valley RV & Treehouse Resort
Still a nice park, but...
We last stayed here five years ago when the park was new. Some of the areas and amenities that are now available were still under construction during our last trip. The bottom line… still a very nice park, but it's starting to show its age a little.
Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The road from the highway to the park is easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate, though several roads have asphalt failures that need attention. Even though it's not too far from Interstate 49, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 36. Most of the sites are gravel, but the pull-thru row that we were in had concrete pads. For the most part, all sites appear fairly level.
Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located.
Two bathroom areas also have showers and laundry facilities- one at the front of the park and one in the rear. The pool area and playground are located at the front of the park.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, Cable, and OTA: there is Wi-Fi in the park, but the park info sheet that they provide you with notes that the Wi-Fi is spotty. We were able to get AT&T 5G with 4 bars. AT&T achieved 418 Mbps down and 21 Mbps up. Satellite reception should not be an issue at most sites, and if you do need clear access for satellite reception, there are plenty of sites available with no trees. There are plenty of OTA stations available, and they all had great reception with clear HD pictures. Cable was not available.
Dog Park: They have two nice fenced-in parks that are in great condition. The one in the front of the park is divided for big and small dogs, while the one in the back is larger but not divided. They both have benches, which are all in good shape. They also provide doggie bags and a trash can. NOTE: I've included a photo of the sign posted at the entrances to the park indicating that they might be shut down. So if having a fenced dog park is mission-critical for your stay, you might want to verify that they are still open when you make your reservation
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website, and you are only a few miles from Fayetteville, where you can find plenty of stores and restaurants. Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. Although the park is starting to show its age, it still deserves a high rating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it- enjoy your stay!
Headgear7GuideCookson Bend
Pretty good park
The campground is quite nice overall, but the bathrooms and showers need to be updated, as they are somewhat outdated. The tent sites are close to the bathrooms, and the pads are flat and framed with either wood or steel rails. They offer electricity but no water at the pad, although water is available at a central location. The travel trailer sites offer water and electricity, and you can park your boat on the shoreline.
- JJon L.Guide
Riverfront RV Resort
A Hidden Gem
We needed an overnight spot on our way from Oklahoma to NW Arkansas, and I'm glad that we picked this park. It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful.
The road from the highway to the park is fairly easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful. However, you will hear occasional train horns from the crossing a few miles away. You'll only hear them when outside your RV, never inside.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 44. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and 5 inches from front to rear. There are no shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, and the pool are all located near the registration office building and are in great shape. There are no trash cans by the sites- just a dumpster area near the dog park and playground. However, they do come by your site each morning to pick up any trash that you've set out.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is decent Wi-Fi in the park with repeater towers spaced approximately every four sites, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 9.52 Mbps down and 2.02 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 4 bars and achieved 512 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up plenty of OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is in great condition and is well lit at night. They provide doggie bags and a trash can, both in the dog park and along the walking paths.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. The park is only a couple of years old and is very well maintained. Only about 15-20 percent of the spaces were occupied. Note that sites 100- 115 are along the river. There is a concrete public walking path along the river, but those sites are elevated above the path, with a grass and tree buffer zone between them. There are a couple of covered pavilions in the park with built-in gas grills and comfortable seating areas. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it - enjoy your stay!
- JJessie H.
TravelerWolf Pen Recreation Area Campground
It Was Ok
Very flea infested when we went. Water was really low and kinda hot. But the camp ground was pretty and well maintained.
- Headgear7Guide
Cookson Bend
Great lake to be on
I enjoyed my stay, although I wish the bathrooms and showers were more modern. There is a swimming area and plenty of space to bring your boat ashore close to your campsite. They offer a few tent sites, but mostly RV sites.
Guide to Van Buren
The Arkansas River Valley offers excellent dispersed camping areas within 30 miles of Van Buren. Elevations range from 400 to 2,600 feet throughout the region, creating diverse microclimates. Winter temperatures typically remain above freezing, making year-round camping viable at most sites, though summer humidity levels regularly exceed 80%.
What to do
**Mountain biking access: Close to Springhill Park, a 10-mile trail system accommodates riders of various skill levels. "Right off the highway, this is a clean and convenient spot to camp," notes Jenny about Springhill. The trails are maintained year-round with limited closures after heavy rain.
**Cave exploration: Devil's Den State Park features accessible cave systems with guided tours available April through October. "4 days of camping with the guys, exploring caves and trails, and overall having a blast!" shares Brian E. about his experience at Devil's Den State Park Campground. The main caves require a free permit obtained at the visitor center.
**River activities: The Mulberry River offers Class I-III rapids depending on water levels and season. "Right on the river where there is a natural pool. Nice size camp sites with good cover, nice camp pavilion with games and other things to keep busy," reports John F. about Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures. Kayak and tube rentals start at $20 per day.
What campers like
**Waterfront access: Many sites provide direct river or lake views with fishing opportunities. "Site is still charging campers full price for extended camping (14days)... They have all the amenities you'll need," reports Penny T. about Clear Creek - Ozark Lake, though she notes some issues with other campers.
**Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural barriers. "Spots have plenty of room between sites with lots of trees. Had a great time, hope to go back again soon," writes Rose about Mulberry River Outdoor Adventures. Most premium riverfront sites should be reserved 3-6 months in advance.
**Clean facilities: Bathhouses and amenities at state parks receive regular maintenance. "The state of Arkansas has put in a real effort to make the outdoor experience as nice as possible in their state parks. All sites were level for both campers and tents. Each site had a good table, fire pit and lantern pole," notes Chad K. about Lake Fort Smith State Park.
What you should know
**Cell service variability: Coverage differs significantly between campgrounds, even within the same area. "Cell service was excellent with AT&T and Verizon," reports Laura M. about COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground. However, Devil's Den has almost no service, requiring drives to higher elevation points.
**Site leveling challenges: Many campsites throughout the region sit on grades requiring equipment for RVs. "Some sites are a little uneven. And some sites are tough to get a 41ft 5th wheel into," notes Gordon D. about Springhill Park.
**Seasonal closures: Several facilities reduce services during winter months. "Campground is currently (April 7) closed for maintenance and flooding. Call before you go!" advises Jo about Devil's Den State Park Campground. Most Corps of Engineers sites maintain limited winter operations.
Tips for camping with families
**Playground proximity: Consider sites near recreation areas to minimize walking for children. "We drove over from Memphis to meet my brother's family (who lives in Tulsa). We stayed in campsite 9 which was a pull through site and had stunning views of the lake," shares Ryan S. about Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground, though he cautions about multilevel sites with small children.
**Bug preparation: Pack appropriate repellent as mosquitoes and ticks remain active nine months of the year. "The bugs were out of control," warns Kat M. about Clear Creek. Permethrin-treated clothing provides the most effective protection.
**Swimming options: Several parks offer alternatives to river swimming. "Pool is cold but clean and well maintained," notes Julie B. about Riverfront RV Resort, which provides safer swimming for younger children than the Arkansas River.
Tips from RVers
**Site selection strategy: Research individual site dimensions and features before booking. "This campground is only about a year old and everything seems to still be in good shape. Most sites are concrete pads and even the gravel sites have a concrete pad for the picnic table," shares Joseph B. about Riverfront RV Resort.
**Water quality consideration: Water hookups vary in mineral content between campgrounds. "30 Amp hook up with some of the best water I have ever had. Only 35 ppm on my zero water tester. Bottled water has had more than 75 ppm," reports Beverley D. about Springhill.
**Reservation timing: Book 6-12 months ahead for premium waterfront sites during peak season. "You have to reserve your site in advance via Recreation.gov. The park is adequate but nothing fancy. The restrooms/shower facility was clean," advises Greg R. about Springhill, noting the minimum stay requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available in Van Buren?
What camping options are available in Van Buren?
Van Buren offers a diverse range of camping options within a short drive. Devil's Den State Park Campground provides beautiful wooded sites with river access and excellent hiking trails. For those seeking mountain views, Cove Lake Complex offers a scenic location at the base of Mount Magazine with decent facilities including clean bathrooms and a camp host. The area also features primitive camping, developed campgrounds with full hookups, and riverside options. Many campgrounds in the region provide amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, and mountain biking.
Are there tent camping facilities in Van Buren?
Are there tent camping facilities in Van Buren?
Yes, the Van Buren area has excellent tent camping facilities. Springhill offers spacious tent sites with two distinct camping sections - one along a small river and another in a more wooded setting. Most sites provide proximity to the Arkansas River, with mountain biking and hiking trails accessible from the campground. Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events also features primitive camping options in a clean, well-maintained setting near the Mulberry River, making it ideal for those seeking a more natural experience. Many tent sites in the region provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to water.
What RV parks can I find in Van Buren?
What RV parks can I find in Van Buren?
The Van Buren area offers several RV-friendly options. Riverfront RV Resort is a relatively new facility located along the Arkansas River with a friendly staff and convenient access to local restaurants. For those seeking a more natural setting, Park Ridge RV Campground is situated on a creek bend on the outskirts of Fort Smith with amenities including a market and shop. Additionally, William O. Darby RV Community provides drive-in access with reservable sites, water hookups, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces for larger vehicles.
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