16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lakes and waterways surrounding Texarkana, Arkansas offer several tent camping options within a short drive. River Run West at Millwood Lake provides four dedicated tent sites with gravel pads and mature shade trees. River Run East, located nearby, features eight tent sites with sheltered picnic tables and fire rings. Thomas Lake Park, approximately 30 miles southwest of Texarkana, offers primitive tent camping with direct lake access. Allens Ferry at Little River provides tent-only camping on a 50-foot bluff surrounded by trees, though campers should verify camping status before setting up.
Most tent campgrounds in the Texarkana region have minimal amenities, requiring self-sufficiency. River Run West and East charge $8 per night and are open year-round, with pit toilets but no drinking water. Campers should bring their own water supply and be prepared for primitive conditions. Thomas Lake Park requires navigating a mile-long dirt road to reach the campground, with no facilities available on site. Wildlife considerations include alligators at Millwood Lake, as noted in campground warnings. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, but few offer potable water or modern restroom facilities.
Tent campers report quiet, peaceful experiences at these locations. One visitor noted that River Run West is "a beautiful space, well maintained but really only for tents where you will find shade provided by the nice mature trees." At Thomas Lake Park, campers mentioned "absolutely gorgeous views of the water" and recommended watching for mud spots in the grass when setting up. The small size of River Run East makes it "actually perfect because it is small," according to reviews, though occasional noise from timber trucks crossing the dam may disrupt the tranquility. Walk-in tent sites at Smith Lake Campground provide additional seclusion for those seeking a more backcountry tent camping experience away from drive-in traffic.
from $8 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 / night
Check Availability"We got the best sleep we’ve ever had camping with the soft grass and our sleeping pad. Watch out for mud spots in the grass."
"Very quiet area with plenty of space to set up camp. Grass was freshly mowed when I showed up. Campground overlooks a good sized lake, as well as has a boat ramp. Great stay"
LegendFee: Day use $5.00
Sites: 4 gravel (no hook ups)
Fee:$8.00 per night Open: Year round
Beware of alligator
Pit toilets, bank fishing, boat ramp, trash, lantern poles, picnic table
This is a very small campground with just 4 tent sites but is a beautiful space. Well maintained but it really is only for tents where you will find shade provided by the nice mature trees.
LNT
AIS Clean, drain, dry
Travel safe
LegendFee:$8.00
No hook ups
Site: 8 gravel, no hook up
Open: Year round
This is a very small campground that is actually perfect because it is small. There are 6 sites with sheltered picnic table, fire ring, fish cleaning station, trash, NO WATER Very quiet except for some timber trucks(they sound like a helicopter flying overhead) driving across the dam.
AIS Clean, drain, dry
LNT Travel safe
Legend1152-1206
Open: Mar 1- Oct 31
Limit: 14 days
Reserve: 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov (must have reservations) Sites: 24 paved
Camp host on site
Fee: $12.00 no hookups $15.00 water and electric
Bath house and flush toilets, playground, beach, boat launch, covered picnic table, fire ring, pedestal grill, trash, lantern pole electric and water hookups This is a small campground but is totally awesome. The road in heads down into the campground and it is a very good paved road. There are several sites on the water. Grab a spot and spend a couple of weeks enjoying life. There are some pull thru's. If you enjoy the quiet and intimate this is for you.
AIS Clean, drain, dry
Travel safe
LegendBEWARE OF ALLIGATORS
Camp host on site
Fee:$16.00 per night with electric and water
Sites: 44 paved
Flush toilets, showers, potable water, covered picnic table, grills, fire rings, lantern poles The views are simply amazing and just wait for the sunsets. There is boating of all types, fishing, birding, hiking. If birding you might even get to see the Great White Pelicans. Cell service Verizon and ATT
LNT
AIS Clean, drain, dry
Travel safe
LegendOPEN: Year round
Sites: 5 paved sites
Fees: $13.00 (Mar-Oct) Sites with no hookups $10.00 (Mar-Oct)
Limit: 14 days Day use fee:$5.00 Sitting below the dam is a tiny well maintained campground. Heavily wooded across the site. Picnic table, fish cleaning table, trash, toilets, playground, fire pit, pedestal grill, water and electric hookups. Pads are back in hard surface. Nice space between sites with medium amount of trees and shade. Sites 1 and 2 are like double sites you have shower access and a dump station one mile north at Beards Bluff Park. Beards Lake is an oxbow lake and is one of the top fishing lakes in the country. Area surrounding the recreation area is open fields, swampy grasslands and heavy hardwood forest.
AIS Clean Drain & Dry
LNT
Travel safe
GuideWe were in site B5 (one of 15 sites out of 124 that have FHU), for 12 days in September and October 2020. This site was not very level but we had great views of the lake out the front and side of our MH. It had a grill with table, picnic table and a fire ring. The sites are nicely sized, well-spaced apart and angled, providing nice privacy. This is our second time visiting this CG because we enjoyed it last year. It’s a fairly quiet campground– even the weekend partiers quieted down around 10ish. There is no WiFi or cable, Verizon 4G was 3-4 bars, 8 OTA channels. We did not use the bathrooms. The Park Hosts that arrived in October were very friendly. Beautiful sunsets on site B5!
GuideThis campground is exceptionally well managed. The facilities are basic, with bathhouses throughout, centrally located dumpsters, walking trails, and grounds workers constantly working.
The location on Wright Patman lake is awesome. Many of the sites are lakefront, others are in shaded loops within a 2 min walk of the lake shore.
The campground is an easy 15-20 minute drive from Texarkana and there are stores and restaurants closer than that.
TravelerVery neat park to visit. Nice shaded/wooded sites are prone to fire bans during dry conditions. Diamond mining equopment is pricy to rent with deposit, but miney is refunded easily. Diamond mine has absolutely no shade, so hot weather mining is difficult. Nice bath houses.
TravelerThis is one of a few camping areas on the Wright Patman Lake. It’s a set up for RV camping more than tent camping. If you choose to tent camp, you will most likely be camping on an asphalt parking pad in most of the sites. Very open campground, not much privacy or seclusion. Since it’s only 15 minutes from our house, we occasionally choose this campground for a quick weekend getaway when we aren’t able to go up into Arkansas or Oklahoma. Clean bathrooms and showers, friendly staff, but not a place to go if you want to get away from everyone and everything, and enjoy nature.
Tent camping near Texarkana, Arkansas provides access to several secluded lakeside and riverside locations within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at approximately 300 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. Primitive campsites typically require self-sufficiency as most locations lack modern facilities and potable water sources.
Fishing opportunities: Thomas Lake Park offers direct lake access with a boat ramp for anglers. According to camper Wyatt, "Campground overlooks a good sized lake, as well as has a boat ramp."
Boating access: Allens Ferry at Little River provides boat-in camping opportunities with proximity to a boat ramp. The location sits "at the end of the dirt road, next to the river on a 50 foot bluff surrounded by trees," with a "boat ramp across river" that remains "very active" according to visitor reports.
Hiking exploration: At primitive sites around Wright Patman Lake, campers can access undeveloped shorelines for nature observation. The Smith Lake Campground offers walk-in tent sites that provide additional seclusion from vehicle traffic and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Quiet surroundings: River Run East receives positive feedback for its intimate atmosphere. One camper noted, "This is a very small campground that is actually perfect because it is small. There are 6 sites with sheltered picnic table, fire ring, fish cleaning station, trash, NO WATER."
Lakeside views: Thomas Lake Park impresses visitors with its water vistas and comfortable terrain. Emma H. reported, "We got the best sleep we've ever had camping with the soft grass and our sleeping pad."
Well-maintained grounds: Campers appreciate the upkeep at several Texarkana area campgrounds, with one Thomas Lake visitor noting, "Site and road to it are both well-maintained" and "Grass was freshly mowed when I showed up."
Water access limitations: Most tent camping locations near Texarkana lack potable water. At River Run West, campers should note there are "Pit toilets, bank fishing, boat ramp, trash, lantern poles, picnic table" but no drinking water.
Road conditions: Access to Thomas Lake Park requires navigating "about a mile long dirt road to get to the campground," according to reviewer Wyatt, so vehicles with low clearance may face challenges during wet weather.
Wildlife awareness: River Run West posts warnings to "Beware of alligator" in the Millwood Lake area, requiring appropriate food storage and vigilance when near water.
Campsite verification: Before setting up at less developed locations, verify camping status. One Allens Ferry visitor cautioned that upon arrival and setting up camp, they "noticed at the bottom of sign says no camping."
Ground conditions: At Thomas Lake Park, Emma H. advises families to "Watch out for mud spots in the grass" when setting up tents and play areas.
Site selection strategy: Choose gravel pad sites at Hervey Access Camping for more stable tent platforms during wet weather conditions.
Basic amenities: Most family-friendly sites offer minimal facilities. River Run East provides "sheltered picnic table, fire ring, fish cleaning station, trash" but visitors must bring all water supplies.
Noise considerations: At River Run East, occasional disruptions may occur from "some timber trucks (they sound like a helicopter flying overhead) driving across the dam."
Size limitations: RV camping options near Texarkana typically accommodate smaller rigs only. River Run West has "4 gravel sites (no hook ups)" suited for modest-sized vehicles.
Primitive setup: RVers at these locations must prepare for self-contained camping. A visitor to River Run West notes the fee is "$8.00 per night" with the campground "Open: Year round" but emphasizes it "really is only for tents" due to limited space and facilities.
Access challenges: Larger rigs should avoid Thomas Lake Park's dirt access road, especially after rain. The campground is described as a "Very quiet area with plenty of space to set up camp," but better suited for tent camping or small trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Texarkana, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Texarkana, AR is River Run West with a 3-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Texarkana, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Texarkana, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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