Best Campgrounds in Arkansas

Camped here on May 1, 2025. This is one of my favorite state parks in the USA. Lots to do here. Fantastic hiking trails - rated from easy to difficult. Since I live only 45 minutes from this park, I normally come here for the day for hiking. This time, I got around to trying out the park's campground. This popular campround is divided into 4 areas - A through D. There are a total of 125 campsites, including 26 pull-through sites. Thirty-five of the sites are Class AAA sites which have 50 amp electrical, water, and sewer hookups. There are 90 Class B sites offering 30 amp electrical and water hookups. All sites are reservable. Tent and hammock camping is possible depending on the sites. I camped at site 103 in Area D. The staff at the office helped me pick this site for my campervan. The site had water and 30amp service. The restroom/shower house was clean and well maintained. The campsite itself was dated but clean. The site was large and had trees around it offering a little bit of privacy. The pull-thru drieway was close to the campground road. The site included a picnic table, tent pad, lantern pole, metal fire ring, and grill. Solar charging and Starlink connectivity may not be possible at this site; Area C has an open sky above it. There was some road noise from vehicles driving on Petit Jean Mountain Road which is behind the site. Received good AT&T 5G cell service, but little to no T-Mobile 2G service.  Areas C and D are in the woods. Most of the sites in these areas are on the small size but should easily accomodate a truck camper and smaller. Not all sites are level. Areas A and B can accomodate large rigs and towables.

100% of Wildlife Management Areas in the state of Arkansas require a Hunting license or WMA camping permit purchased though Arkansas Game and Fish.

WMA Regulations are very easy to find on the AGFC website. Know the seasons and be courteous. There is pretty much at least one open hunting season from September each year through the following May.

There is only a handful of sites spread throughout the WMA and you can only camp in those designated by the game and fish. This isn’t the national forest, you can’t just pull off and camp anywhere you please.

We’ve been to this RV park a couple of times.   Both times there is NOT a working dryer in the laundry facilities.  It’s frustrating when you pay for services that don’t exist but is advertised as an amenity.   

Also, the sites are run down. Didn’t even bother to rake the old leaves away.  We also had to run the water from another site.  Our neighbors were complaining about their site not having water either.   

Also, I think there should be some sort of discount for the mining if you’re paying for an RV site.  It’s $25 a person for the mining of crystals. $35 if you want a mine tour and mining. .

We spent the night in the parking lot in our Sprinter Winnebago Revel van. The view, sounds and feels of the natural dam are stunning, relaxing and cool. A bit muddy for our dog, but great view for coffee in morning. We mountain biked Devil's Racetrack earlier and relaxed here - about 20 minute drive. The sheriff drove by early Sunday morning but didn't speak with us. Some local traffic/Saturday night dates taking photos of natural dam. It stormed at night but we were on the right side of the dam in case it flash flooded. Starlink and Verizon very spotty here. Overall a really nice campsite and we were grateful we made the drive.