Best Tent Camping near Vandervoort, AR

Tent camping near Vandervoort, Arkansas centers around the Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, which offers several tent-only campgrounds in a forested river setting. The Sandbar Area Campsites provide walk-in tent sites with good separation between campers, while the Cossatot Falls Campsites feature six large tent pads with direct river access. For backcountry tent camping experiences, the Eagle Rock Loop in the nearby Ouachita National Forest provides primitive tent sites at Viles Branch Creek, Straight Creek, and Long Creek. These established backcountry tent campsites are accessible only by hiking in from trailheads, with Albert Pike Recreation Area serving as a common starting point.

Most tent campgrounds in the area operate on a first-come, first-served basis with payment collected on site. The Cossatot Falls sites accommodate up to three tents per pad and include fire rings, grills, picnic tables, and bear poles. Vault toilets are available, but no potable water is provided at the campsites. Access to some areas requires driving several miles on gravel forest roads that can be challenging after rain. Cell service is limited throughout the region. Weather conditions are important to monitor, as the Cossatot River and Little Missouri River areas are prone to flash flooding. Summer brings intense insect activity, requiring appropriate repellents and protective clothing.

The primitive tent camping experience in this region offers exceptional access to natural features. According to reviews, the Cossatot Falls area provides opportunities for boulder hopping, swimming in clear water, and hiking along riverside trails. One visitor noted that "trekking the huge river boulders is not easy, but the beauty is worth it." Backcountry tent sites along Eagle Rock Loop feature creek access for water filtering and fishing opportunities. Campers should be prepared with appropriate gear for river crossings, including water shoes and trekking poles. The area's remoteness creates excellent wildlife viewing and stargazing conditions, with visitors reporting owls and coyotes calling at night near the Sandbar campsites.

Best Tent Sites Near Vandervoort, Arkansas (29)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Vandervoort, AR

410 Reviews of 29 Vandervoort Campgrounds


  • Janna R.
    May. 22, 2019

    Billy Creek

    5 Stars are not enough for this campground!

    We camped at Billy Creek in March 2019.  We were the only ones there which made it fabulous!  We set up camp right above the river and got to hear the river going over the rocks the whole time.  There was a easy and short little trail down to the river and lots of large rocks to hang out on.  The campsite has tons of big trees.  Each site has a fire ring, picnic table and grill.  Water is available, but not at each spot.  No electricity, no flushing potties, no showers, no sewer hookups, no wifi.  There are latrine bathrooms (2) in a small building near the entrance. There is an abundance of hiking trails, 4 wheeler/motorcycle trails and many trails that a full size SUV can do.  Lots of forest service roads to explore.  We stayed 3 nights and only saw people one day that came in to meet up and ride 4 wheelers.  We will definitely go back!

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2018

    Holson Valley Vista

    Holson Valley Vista Shelter + A Room with a View

    I stayed at this campground shelter while hiking the Ouachita Trail.

    The campground and shelter were built by the Friends of the Ouachita Trail and is located at mile market 16.8 of the trail. While the campground is only a few hundred feet from the Talimena National Scenic Byway it is best reached by hiking the Ouachita Trail.

    The shelter is an open air wooden structure with a raised platform, three walls, roof, open air patio, shelf, wall pegs, fire pit and picnic table. Most campers might pop up their tent or just cowboy camp on the raised platform. Our group hung hammocks from the rafters. There were wall pegs that were convenient for hanging and drying our gear or to keep it away from any little critters (mice) that might visit in the night. There are not many amenities at this campground, but it is a nice resting stop and provides some protection from the elements during inclement weather.

    The shelter is located on a gradual sloping rocky hill and has a dramatic overview of the valley when the weather is clear and the foliage is not heavy. There are no waste facilities nearby so it is good to practice Leave No Trace and pack out whatever you pack in. We found and collected water earlier in the day and carried it into camp.

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2019

    Long Creek Campsite on the Eagle Rock Loop

    Long Creek Campsite on the Eagle Rock Loop + Fish!

    The Long Creek Primitive Campsite is located in the Ouachita National Forest along the Little Missouri Trail on the eastern section of the Eagle Rock Loop. The only way to access this site is by entering at a trailhead and hiking in to the site. The nearest trailhead is at Albert Pike Recreation Area. This is a primitive dispersed campsite, but the ground has been cleared. The site is located alongside a creek.

    On your hike into this site you will be rewarded with beautiful scenery as you walk through majestic forests of oak. You'll also see a variety of plants and forest creatures. The campsite is along Long Creek so you will have access to water. Perhaps 100 feet up river from our campsite I found a nice fishing hole and caught and released 7 trout and 1 sunfish within about 1 hour. 

    There is adequate clear space to set up a tent or numerous trees to string up a hammock. There are no facilities nearby. You can collect and filter water from the river and dig a hole to poop in the woods. Please practice Leave No Trace in this area. 

    Trekking poles are recommended to aid in tackling the various inclines and declines of the trail.

    If you need any supplies before entering the Ouachita National Forest stop off in the town of De Queen where there are various grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations. 

    During the spring and summer the insects can be intense. I advise treating clothing and gear with permethrin to prevent ticks and pacaridin for other insects.

  • Leslie  N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Quarry Island Campground — Lake Wister State Park

    Quiet and Beautiful

    We stayed at RV site #3 on Quarry Island. The concrete pad was perfectly level and took no time to set up. There were 5 RV sites with full hook ups on isle, even though #4 and # 5 are so close to each other that slide outs could bump into each other, and 2 very nice RV sites with only water and electric on the isle. There was also a lot of tent camping, flush and vault toilets, dump station, pavilion, 5 cabins, picnic tables with grills, boat ramp and swimming anywhere you wanted except for 150’ of the boat ramp. The ranger station was on the isle, so traffic was high at check in. There were 2 hiking trails that looked very nice, but never hiked because we were kayaking. My parents stayed in cabin #4 on the isle and my brother tent camped at Wister Ridge. The view from both of their places was breathtaking and his tent site was well shaded with maple, oak and pine. Fishing was very good and wasn’t a whole lot of boat traffic. There is also primitive camping which looked very nice, except for a couple of sites where the campers didn’t clean up too well behind themselves.

    Pros: Beautiful area and amazing views. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Plenty of options for accommodations and outdoor activities. The Heavner Ruinstone and Spiral Mounds are close. Tons of wildlife areas and we even spotted a bald eagle. The campgrounds and cabins were very clean.

    Cons: RV sites can be very crowded and not well spaced, especially at Victor Landing. The Wards would be the least crowded for RVs. The booking website is not very good and not very accurate. The cabins bed was not very comfortable, the shower was small and flooded the bathroom while using and the kitchen light and living room ceiling fan was on one switch, so there was no way to have the fan going without the light on. Not all RV sites have picnic tables.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2021

    COE Lake Greeson Star of the West

    Camping

    DATES: MAR 1 TO OCT 31 

    FEE:$8.00 PER NIGHT 

    LIMITS: 14 DAYS 

    ALERT: WATER SUBJECT TO SUDDEN RISE 

    Potable water, pit toilets, trash, picnic table, lantern pole, pedestal grill, fire ring, Campground is right off the highway and the sites right next to the road will be noisy. Drive further in and you will find nice flat sites and they are quieter. Good for tent or small trailer as sites are small. Beautiful shade with mature trees. 

    LNT 

    AIS 

    BTYFI 

    Travel safe

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2021

    Daisy State Park Campground

    Great Lake Activites

    When visiting Arkansas you quickly can get a sense of just what makes the Natural State so spectacular.    But with over 50 state parks each one is very distinct.   Daisy State Park is one which has a large focus on the lake activities.     

    But while the lake might be a large part the camping offered here in the wooded forest areas along with the hiking and biking trails can really set it apart from other camping areas nearby.

    I opted to check out the various camping looking and noticed a few common occrances.   Each is equipped with a picnic table, lantern hook, grill and fire ring.   However there is a vast difference for those who choose to stay in the improved camping loops and the primitive loops.   Improved camping is elevated and includes both electricity and water at the site.  

     Many of these sites still have water access although some of them are a bit more steep.  The primitive sites all are equipped with tent pads which are very large 12x12 elevated gravel pads but they share water spigots with other sites.   These sites are all walk-in and have nice parking only a short distance from the sites.  IN addition they do have Yurts available in one camping area.   These were available for 2 day rentals only at the time of my visit.

    The restrooms at camp are in very good shape and include flush toilets, a full sink and vanity area and well taken care of showers.   Additionally there are water stations at the restrooms which have drinking fountains and bottle fill areas.

    The campground has rental equipment for those looking to enjoy the lake ranging in price from a single hour to a full day of usage, but they also have boat ramps near the campsites with some trailer parking, this could get a bit crowded during summer however.

  • M
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Armadillo Campground - Beavers Bend State Park

    Beautiful. Simply, beautiful!

    This place is terrific! Awesome view, abundant wildlife (we had a bald eagle perched across the cove from us for two days, when he wasn’t flying up and down the channel) and very peaceful. Fish from your tent pad if you wish because most are within 15 feet from the water.

    We are seasoned tent campers so my review is based off of the Bluejay Tent Camping Loop at Stevens Gap. Each site is directly on the lake and has a level tent pad, a fire ring, a picnic table on a concrete slab, a barbecue grill and a lantern hanger. We were there the day after Memorial Day and the weather stayed in the mid 60’s to mid 70’s. Perfect hammock weather! Plenty of pines and even some oaks for shade. The marina is about a half mile to the East but all of the big boats go East from there so there was hardly any boat traffic except for a few kayaks and canoes. The only downside was the vault toilets, which I normally don’t mind, were terrible. Maybe because of the holiday weekend previous, but nonetheless, they were foul. The ones about a mile up the loop were fine so I don’t know why. I would have given four stars if not for that.
    Town is just 10 minutes away with food and entertainment so it was very conveniently located. We hope to return there soon!

  • Vanessa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2021

    Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area

    Nice to camp without RVs

    There are six large, improved sites which are first come first serve cash pay only. Vault toilets, no water and no electricity. Each site has enough room for three tents and has a grill, fire pit, table, and bear pole. There is easy access to the falls and hiking trails.

  • Ashley W.
    May. 1, 2019

    Cedar Lake (Oklahoma) Equestrian Camp

    My favorite!

    This campground is one of my all time favorites!! It has everything you want in a campground and more. Hiking here is definitely the best, because the views are amazing!! The campground is always really well kept as well which I appreciate. The campsite spots themselves are pretty big in size and are separated by trees and bushes. Feels very private. They do have a quiet hour which is after 10pm. This is nice because there aren’t people partying all night long. There are tent spots and also RV. We camped, so I’m not sure if th RV spots are set up for electricity. The lake nearby is great. We brought our kayaks and had so much fun hitting the lake in the morning. It does get busy as the day goes on, especially in the summer on the weekends. Hiking is great, and there are multiple good spots nearby. Again, go early to beat the crowds! Dogs are welcome but must be on leash. Vaulted toilets on site and a place to fill up your water! Can’t wait to come back.


Guide to Vandervoort

Tent campsites near Vandervoort, Arkansas sit within the mountainous Ouachita region where elevations range from 600 to 2,400 feet. Most camping options are concentrated along river corridors where primitive sites require preparation for limited facilities and potential weather challenges. Forest roads accessing these camping areas often become difficult to navigate after rainfall, with gravel surfaces that can test vehicle suspension.

What to do

River exploration: Cossatot River State Park offers clear swimming holes ideal for cooling off during summer months. At Cossatot Falls Campsites, visitors can wade in crystal clear waters where fish are visible swimming by. As one camper noted, "The water is crystal clear and you can watch fish swim by. The surrounding foliage is beautiful."

Rock scrambling: Boulder hopping at several river access points provides natural playground opportunities. Sites at Cossatot Falls require some physical ability as "trekking the huge river boulders is not easy. But the beauty is worth it." This activity isn't recommended for those with mobility limitations.

Backcountry hiking: Eagle Rock Loop trails accessible from Albert Pike Recreation Area connect to multiple primitive camping areas. The 28-30 mile loop features "beautiful views" and "lots of water crossings over the Little Missouri River." Pack water shoes specifically for stream crossings, as these are unavoidable on most routes.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: The spacious layout at Sandbar Area Campsites provides good separation for tent campers. "The campsites are relatively private, we pretty much had the campground to ourselves until after the first night," reports one visitor who appreciated the solitude.

Large tent pads: Several campgrounds feature oversized camping spaces. One camper at Cossatot Falls noted, "The tent pads were huge and the waterfall area was beautiful. Our children enjoyed climbing on the rocks and splashing in the river."

Wildlife viewing: Evening hours bring opportunities to hear native wildlife. At Sandbar Area Campsites, "You can hear the Owls and Coyotes at night," making it popular with nature enthusiasts who enjoy primitive camping experiences without electrical distractions.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Forest roads require slow driving and appropriate vehicles. At Pigeon Creek Dispersed, a camper advised, "The road in was a little bumpy take it slow and you'll be fine." Some access roads become impassable after heavy rain.

Flooding concerns: Weather monitoring is critical when staying near water. Albert Pike Recreation Area was converted to day-use only after a devastating flood, with one visitor noting the "area is prone to severe flash flooding so know the weather before heading out."

Limited facilities: Most tent sites near Vandervoort have basic or no amenities. At Cossatot Falls, "No running water or electricity but it was a great place to have a picnic and explore!" Pit toilets are common, but running water is rare at most primitive sites.

Tips for camping with families

Easy river access spots: For families with children, choose sites with gentle water entry points. One parent at Bluejay campground reported, "We had the best time a stones throw from the water. The park had some great hiking trails and museum."

Bring water shoes: Rocky stream beds require appropriate footwear for comfortable exploration. Children particularly need protection when wading in the Cossatot River's rocky sections.

Reserve early for weekends: The limited number of established sites fill quickly. Cossatot Falls has only "6 pull up to campsites at the cossatot falls," making advance planning essential for family groups requiring multiple sites.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most camping areas near Vandervoort accommodate only small to medium recreational vehicles. At Long Creek Campsite, the primitive nature means larger RVs cannot access the area at all.

Generator restrictions: Several campgrounds prohibit generator use to maintain natural soundscapes. One camper at Sandbar Area mentioned that generators are not permitted, which enhances the natural camping experience but requires alternative power planning.

Ground conditions: RV leveling can be challenging on the rocky, uneven terrain common throughout the area. Bring appropriate leveling blocks and stabilizers for sites with natural surfaces rather than designated pads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Vandervoort, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Vandervoort, AR is Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area with a 5-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Vandervoort, AR?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Vandervoort, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.