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Best Campgrounds near Waldron, AR

599 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

The Ouachita National Forest encompasses much of the camping terrain near Waldron, Arkansas, with several campground options ranging from established facilities to primitive dispersed sites. Jack Creek Recreation Area sits approximately 15 miles north of Waldron and provides tent and RV camping along a creek, while Turner Creek Road offers secluded dispersed camping spots with minimal amenities. Big Pine RV Park provides year-round accommodations within Waldron city limits for travelers seeking hookups. The region features a mix of forest service campgrounds, state parks, and undeveloped backcountry sites scattered across the rugged mountain landscape.

Access to camping areas varies significantly based on location and seasonal conditions. Forest roads leading to dispersed sites like Girard Road may require careful navigation, though most are accessible without specialized vehicles. "Very secluded spot with no amenities just a rock fire ring. Very peaceful," noted one camper about Turner Creek Road. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, while winter can bring freezing conditions and occasional snow at higher elevations. Flash flooding can affect creek-side camping areas during heavy rainfall periods. Most dispersed sites in the Ouachita National Forest are free with 14-day stay limits, while established campgrounds like Jack Creek charge modest fees and may close during winter months. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with better coverage at locations closer to Waldron.

Primitive camping experiences dominate the landscape, with campers highlighting solitude and natural beauty as primary attractions. The mountainous terrain creates scenic vistas and hiking opportunities, particularly at higher elevation spots. According to one visitor, Jack Creek Recreation Area is "primitive but bathrooms are available. It's small and very popular with the locals. Off season it's relatively quiet." Dispersed sites typically feature existing fire rings but minimal other amenities. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, turkey, and various bird species. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, located about 25 miles west of Waldron on Rich Mountain, offers more developed facilities with cabins, RV sites with hookups, and access to the Ouachita Trail. Visitors to the area should pack essentials as services are limited, with the nearest supplies available in Waldron or neighboring communities.

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Best Camping Sites Near Waldron, Arkansas (178)

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Recent Camping Photos near Waldron, AR

170 Photos of 178 Waldron Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Waldron, AR

599 Reviews of 178 Waldron Campgrounds

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 30, 2025

    North Shore Campground, Cedar Lake Rec Area

    Wooded campground on beautiful lake

    The Cedar Lake Recreation Area has 4 campgrounds. This review is specifically for the North Shore Campground. Camped at site #56 in mid-November, 2025. Paid $7.50 - senior pass rate; otherwise, the campground fee is $15, and the day use fee is $5. Payment envelopes and iron ranger provided at info station. This campground has individual and group tent sites. Most of the sites are first come, first served and reservations can be made for others on recreation.gov. There are no hook-ups at the campsites. There are common water stations scattered about the campground. Water was turned on during my stay. The are two reatroom/shower houses, but one of them was closed for the winter. Water, flush toilets and a hot shower were available in the other restroom/shower house. The campground road and campsite driveways are paved. My campervan fit okay at the site. Each of the group sites have multiple tent pads and a small parking lot at the site. All sites, group and individual, have tent pads, picnic tables, metal fire rings, grills and lantern polls. My site, #56, was pretty level, and was close to the campground road. This site was next to a 3 tent-pad campsite. I was the only camper in the campground during my stay. There were a few people launching boats at the nearby boat ramp. A friendly national forest campground resident/volunteer stopped by for a visit. There is access to the 3-mile Cedar Lake Loop Trail which takes you around the lake; beautiful views throughout the hike. In addition to the boat ramp, there is a fishing pier at the campground. I loved this campground. Well maintained. Beautiful location in Oklahoma. Very peaceful night. I'm looking forward to returning.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 30, 2025

    Winding Stair Campground (Ok) — Ouachita National Forest

    Mountain vista and Fall foliage

    Camped at Site #19 in mid-November, 2025. Paid $4 - senior pass rate; payment envelopes and iron ranger provided. This campground is a good stopover for those those traveling along the Talimena National Scenic Byway (OK Hwy 1) and enjoying vistas in the Ouachita Mountains. This is a great place during the Fall season. Backpackers hiking the Ouachita National Recreation Trail will also find this campground convenient. The Mountain Top Loop Trail in the campround connects to the Ouachita Trail. I arrived and setup camp on a busy Sunday afternoon. The campground was being used by both campers and day use visitors. The two vault toilets were a mess - pretty much unusable. It was so bad, that I set up my own toilet system at my campsite. The bear proof trash containers were packed full. I don't think that this is a reflection on the national forest staff and volunteers; this recreation area is heavily used. After the day-use visitors left, the campground was very peaceful. Road noise from the byway can be heard. The campsite included a picnic table, a cooking table, metal fire ring and two lantern poles. There was also a tent pad on the site. The site was shaded; beautiful Fall colors. The hike on the nearby Ouachita Trail was easy. There is a short path from the campground to the Emerald Vista viewpoint. This was my 2nd time camping here. I enjoyed my stay here.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    Blue Knob Road in Ouachita National Forest

    Nice Dispersed Site at FR76/Buck Knob Trailhead, Ouachita Trail

    Free. Title of this review should be "Buck Knob...", not "Blue Knob...". Camped here in mid-November, 2025. Large dispersed site at the FR76/Buck Knob trailhead for the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. Should easily accomodate 3 campervan-size rigs. There is a small rock fire ring. There is no picnic table directly on this site, but there is one at the start of the trail, a short walk from the trailhead. The campsite is nearly level where I parked my van. Tent and hammock camping are possible. The site is partially shaded, but I believe limited Starlink connectivity is possible. The dirt/gravel site is close to the forest road, but there is some foliage and ground cover which provides a little bit of separation and privacy. Forest Roads 48 and 76 approaching this area of the national forest are narrow in places but, overall, in good condition. There are a couple of bridges on FR76 west of the campsite that are very narrow with railings; may be too narrow for a truck camper and larger to pass through. I received AT&T and T-Mobile service during the time of my visit. I loved this campsite; very peaceful. Convenient for hiking in a beautiful forest.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2025

    Talimena State Park Campground

    Motorcycle camping trip

    I wanted to get one more camping trip in before winter set in, i reserve spot nine but was occupied when I arrived. The park host was very helpful. Putting me in spot eight, which was very secluded which I liked. The showers were available friday night, but they were closed saturday night for some reason, like everyone else, the highway is close to the park, so there is a little noise. Overall a nice park.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Washita Primitive Camping Area

    Clean Overnight Primitive Campground

    Free primitive campground on national forest land. Camped here in Nov 2025. There are a handful of sites on a gravel loop road. Wooded. No toilet. No potable water. There were two trash barrels, but they were overflowing with trash. A little bit of trash my fire ring. The campground is a short distance away from Hwy 27. This highway is busy so there is highway noise, but it was quieter overnight. Sites have metal fire rings, cement picnic tables and lantern poles. Sites are not absolutely level, but close enough for my van. A truck camper may fit in a couple of sites, but nothing larger. Tent camping is possible. May be able to find a spot for hammock camping. Got T-Mobile and AT&T service. Nice view of the Ouachita River. Caught a bass here. There are no hiking trails here, but one can easily stroll along the river bank. This is not a bad overnight camping spot.

  • Adam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2025

    COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground

    Very pretty

    The campsite is very pretty (November) with changing leaves and quiet days and nights. Cell service is not great but works. Slow speeds but works. Sometimes is good sometimes drops off. 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!!! Leave it Better Than you found it!!!

  • p
    Oct. 27, 2025

    Cossatot Falls Campsites — Cossatot River State Park - Natural Area

    A nice primitive get-a-way. Cassattot Falls.

    These sites are now reservable, not first come. You can luck out, but I would recommend reservations. Fantastic large camp sites. 1 and 2 are closest together, and nearest to toilets. 3 though 6 have reasonable separation. All are near the river, but not viewable due to the tree line. Best to bring what you need, (like water). It's 5 miles to pavement. On a good day, depending what you're driving, that's 20 to 30 minutes of dirt, gravel, rocks, and washboards. The visitors center is only a couple miles west on 278. but it's 10 miles more back to town/dollar general. 

    Sand Bar camp is very near also (maybe a mile) and has nice sites as well, though they are smaller and possibly closer together. it's still a good alternative destination.

  • R
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Jack Creek Recreation Area

    Great, quiet place

    I have lived in the area for 12 years and this is where we always go. Primitive, but thats the best part about it. You got the creek for water play, bathrooms and picnic tables. A little further down the road is an outdoor gun range. Very peaceful and great place to recharge. Kids love it.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground

    Must visit !

    Beautiful campground! Sites are spacious. Area is clean and lots of things to do. Near Hot Springs so we did a lot of exploring there.

Guide to Waldron

The Ouachita National Forest dominates the landscape around Waldron, Arkansas, sitting at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,700 feet. Summer temperatures in this region can fluctuate dramatically between valleys and mountain tops, often creating a 10-15 degree difference. Camping sites near Waldron, Arkansas typically offer access to densely forested terrain with oak and pine trees providing natural shade at most locations.

What to do

Hiking on the Ouachita Trail: The Buck Knob Trailhead near Blue Knob Road in Ouachita National Forest connects to the larger Ouachita National Recreation Trail system. A camper noted it's "convenient for hiking in a beautiful forest" with "AT&T and T-Mobile service during the time of my visit."

Swimming in creek areas: During warmer months, Jack Creek Recreation Area offers natural swimming opportunities. A visitor shared: "There is a day use area where camping is NOT permitted. But the actual camp is just fine... When the weather is nice, there's a swimming hole."

Mountaintop activities: Mount Magazine State Park Campground offers unique adventure opportunities beyond typical camping. "Mount Magazine boasts as one of the top spots for fall foliage," and "is one of the few parks that offers climbers great opportunities to work their skills."

What campers like

Elevated views: The higher elevation campgrounds provide distinctive vantage points. At Queen Wilhelmina State Park, campers appreciate that "the views are beautiful" and the "drive to the park is wonderful with great spots to take in the views as you drive to the top."

Primitive solitude: Many campers value the rustic, undeveloped nature of dispersed camping spots. One camper described Turner Creek Road as a "very secluded spot no amenities just a rock fire ring. Very peaceful."

Clean facilities: Where facilities exist, their maintenance is frequently praised. A Jack Creek visitor mentioned: "Primitive, but that's the best part about it. You got the creek for water play, bathrooms and picnic tables... Very peaceful and great place to recharge."

What you should know

Road conditions vary: Access to remote camping spots requires planning. A visitor to Blue Knob Road noted: "Forest Roads 48 and 76 approaching this area of the national forest are narrow in places but, overall, in good condition. There are a couple of bridges on FR76 west of the campsite that are very narrow with railings."

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites offer minimal amenities. At Girard Rd/Forest Road 20, a camper described: "This site is set off from the forest road on a narrow undesignated dirt track which is easy to miss. It is a small site with enough room for one vehicle - truck camper size and smaller."

Cell service varies: Connectivity depends on location and carrier. At Jack Creek, one camper reported "great cell service," while at other remote locations, service may be limited to specific carriers or non-existent.

Tips for camping with families

Choose established sites with amenities: For families with children, more developed areas offer important conveniences. A visitor to Mount Magazine mentioned: "I would say at the outset that this isn't a very kid-friendly park. No playgrounds, very, very mountainous, and generally just not a park for kids."

Creek access for children: Natural water features provide entertainment for children. At Jack Creek Recreation Area, a local noted it's "where we always go. Primitive, but that's the best part about it. You got the creek for water play... Kids love it."

Weather preparation: Temperature changes can be significant, especially at higher elevations. A Mount Magazine camper warned: "The temperature is literally about 10-15 degrees cooler on the mountain than below. One night we were there it got down to mid teens."

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions matter: Most dispersed camping areas have limited space for larger vehicles. At Blue Knob Road, a camper advised: "I have a 30ft Class C which is probably the largest vehicle you would want to drive down the dirt road to this site."

Limited hookups available: Full-service RV sites are scarce in the immediate Waldron area. Queen Wilhelmina campers noted: "The campground is small with limited pads. Each site is close to the next and are generally occupied with RVs or camper trailers."

Level sites can be found: Despite the mountainous terrain, some campgrounds offer level parking. A visitor to Queen Wilhelmina observed: "The campsites are very well maintained and very level."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Waldron, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, Waldron, AR offers a wide range of camping options, with 178 campgrounds and RV parks near Waldron, AR and 29 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Waldron, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Waldron, AR is Taylors Lot #1 with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Waldron, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Waldron, AR.

What parks are near Waldron, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 parks near Waldron, AR that allow camping, notably Ouachita National Forest and John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake.

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