Best Tent Camping near Wilburn, AR

Public lands surrounding Wilburn, Arkansas offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Hillbilly Hippie Hideaway provides 14 designated tent campsites with walk-in access options, while Mill Creek Recreation Area in nearby Higden offers wooded tent sites with basic amenities. For backcountry tent camping experiences, Syllamo area provides primitive sites along its trail system about 30 miles northeast of Wilburn. Camp Robinson Dispersed Site and Mike Freeze Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area (WMA) offer free primitive tent camping with varying levels of seclusion.

Road conditions to tent campgrounds vary significantly throughout the region. Many sites at Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA feature large gravel surfaces that campers report can be uncomfortable for tent setups. Look for designated camping areas marked by blue rings painted on trees. Camp Robinson sites near Lake Conway provide softer ground suitable for tent stakes. Most primitive tent camping areas permit fires in established rings, but lack amenities like drinking water or maintained toilets. Summer temperatures regularly reach 90 degrees, creating swampy conditions at lower elevations. Bug spray is essential during warmer months, particularly near water bodies.

Tent campers seeking solitude will find the most secluded sites by venturing deeper into wildlife management areas. According to reviews, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA offers "large open sites" with minimal visitor traffic, though some locations experience distant highway noise. Sites farther from access roads provide greater quiet. One camper noted waking to "birds singing and trees rustling" with no other visitors encountered during a spring weekday stay. Camp Robinson provides tent sites "isolated but not too far out" near Lake Conway, with reliable cell service reported by recent visitors. Navigation challenges exist throughout the region, with campers recommending careful attention to small "designated camping area" signs rather than relying solely on GPS coordinates.

Best Tent Sites Near Wilburn, Arkansas (6)

    1. Mill Creek

    1 Review
    Higden, AR
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (501) 362-2416

    2. Hillbilly Hippie Hideaway

    1 Review
    Fairfield Bay, AR
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (913) 306-0915

    $15 / night

    "Whether you're into hang gliding, kayaking or just relaxing at camp, the hillbilly hideaway is here to provide a great basecamp for your Arkansas adventures. "

    4. Syllamo

    1 Review
    Fifty-Six, AR
    34 miles

    "This is a series of trails with multiple trail heads. Each trail head has a course gravel parking area and a very nice pit toilet. Bring lots of drinking water."

    5. Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA

    7 Reviews
    McRae, AR
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 734-4581

    "Soft ground. Quick to get to off highway"

    "This is a Wildlife Management Area and believe this to be a fairly large spot for camping, boon docking, hunting, fishing etc...."

    6. Camp Robinson Dispersed Site

    4 Reviews
    Mayflower, AR
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 345-0325

    "Great spot to pitch a tent by lake Conway. Isolated but not too far out."

    "Picked up a med bag of trash; cans, bottles, and paper. Looks better now. I definitely put on bug spray right away. Nice place to sleep and get back on 40East in the morning."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wilburn, AR

1 Photos of 6 Wilburn Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Wilburn, AR

264 Reviews of 6 Wilburn Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Barkshed Recreation Area

    Mostly walkin tent sites

    Visited here on Oct 7, 2025. Did not camp here. There are a handful of first-come, first-serve primitive sites. I only saw one drive-in site down near the creek. There are about 4 walk-in tent sites up a driveway into a parking area. The walk-in sites are close to the parking area. One site, which is not quite level, has a picnic table. The walk-in sites have metal fire rings. There are 2 clean vault toilets with tp at the campground. No potable water. The tent sites have a dirt and grass surface. There are a few shade trees. Starlink connectivity is possible. No AT&T and T-Mobile service. Nice swimming hole down by the creek. Access to the North Sylamore Creek Trail is at this recreation area. Note that the unpaved forest road approaching the recreation area from highway 14 is sketchy in spots due to Spring storm damage. Sections were being regraded during my visit. Low clearance, 2wd passenger vehicles can make it, but should tread carefully. Also note that, due to storm damage, Tie Ridge Road between Barkshed and Gunner Pool Road was only open to 4x4 vehicles at the time of my visit.

  • Bailey W.
    May. 14, 2022

    Toad Suck

    A good little campground

    Toad Suck is a great campground- with some caveats. All of the sites are reservable and have concrete pads. This makes it impossible to stake down a tent but also provides a great level spot. There's no foragable wood at the sites, but there's a quick stop type gas station very nearby that sells it cheap and locally sourced. The bathrooms can be a trek from your site or right next door, depending on where you're staying, but theyre immaculately clean. They service them twice daily. It's right next to the lock and dam at Toad Suck on the Arkansas River so there's a constant roar of water and the sound of barges throughout the night and day. I don't mind it but keep that in mind if you don't like those sounds. The campsite is peaceful otherwise. Dogs are allowed! ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    Beautiful National Forest Recreation Area

    Camped at site #3 for 3 nights in early October 2025. This site was really good for my camper van; just about level. The site backs up to a beautiful forest. The campground in this recreation area has  27 sites in 3 separate sections. There are some sites at the "pool" which are appropriate for car and tent camping. There is a section down a dirt road along the creek bottom that has a handful of sites; these sites are also good for car and tent camping. I camped in a wooded loop; the sites here can accomodate car, van and tent camping. A few towables may fit in this section. This is a beautiful wooded campground; clean and very well maintained. Most sites are level. Hammock camping is possible in some sites. Most sites have a table, tent pad, lantern pole, metal fire ring and a grill. Some sites are open, some shaded. No hookups. Potable water is located in a central area of the sections; the water was turned on during my visit. There are 4 vault toilets - clean and supplied with tp. Parts of the campground is prone to flash flooding. Very peaceful; the campground wasn't too busy midweek. The campground has access to the beautiful North Sylamore Creek trail. Access to campground on the gravel Gunner Pool Road from Highway 14 was very good during my visit. This forest road goes through the recreation area; it is busier than you would see on typical forest roads. Love this recreation area. One of the best that the Arkansas Ozarks has to offer for outdoor recreation.

  • Richard
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Woolly Hollow State Park — Wooly Hollow State Park

    Nice little park

    This park is pretty much spotless. I tent camped in the fall and loved it. All the tent sites have a gravel pad, picnic table and fire ring. Lots of trees to set up your hammock. They have a swim beach and small boat rentals in the summer. There’s a nice paved walking trail too. I highly recommend.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 25, 2021

    Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    Basic but very quiet and peaceful

    General: We were apprehensive about planning to stay at this campground as the nearby one in Blanchard Springs was closed, we could not make reservations, five of the 27 sites were closed due to potential flooding from Hurricane Laura, and access is via a three-mile winding dirt road (not recommended for large RVs but it was navigable for our campervan), so we made alternate backup plans. There was no need to worry, however, as there were plenty of open sites, including some overlooking North Sylamore Creek when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October for a hike. 

    Sites/Facilities: Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, tent pad, and lantern pole. There is a central water source.

    Activities/Amenities: This is a no-frills campground – no electric or water hookups, dumpster, playground, or flush toilets – just vault toilets. What struck me most was how quiet it was. There is access to the Sylamore hiking trail; you can hike five miles to the Blanchard Springs picnic area.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    Wonderful overnight

    We hiked in to this campground from Blanchard and were pleasantly surprised. It is primitive in some aspects but not overtly so. They have vault toilets that were manageable and spickets for water. We grabbed a site that had a bi-level for the tent and picnic table. There was a fire ring as well. Overall, it has some stuff to do being by the river and a longish trail to explore. We may have been to tired to care about some of the finer details so we were pretty happy with this site!

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 5, 2021

    Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    Remote Inexpensive Camping Along Water

    For Full Video Review. CLICK HERE

    While traveling through this portion of Arkansas I stumbled upon a small roadside for Gunner Pool Recreation Area just a short distance past Blanchard Springs.    3 miles down a gravel, but well maintained roadway, the campground sat nestled between to sections of the water way.     On one side, slow moving water is met by the dam forming the blue toned pool and on the other a gentle flowing stream flanks the massive mountain side.   

    Along the camping loop, spaces are well separated and have plenty of room to spread out.   Each site is equipped with standard camping amenities such as picnic tables, lantern hooks and fire rings.      Vault toilets are centrally located in several areas of camp both on the upper and lower loops.   In addition locking style garbage cans are placed near restrooms. 

    When I visited the Forest Service was on property trimming trees and clearing debris from recent rain.   Their office is located just a short distance from the entry of the roadway, so they are often here to work on the property.

    A little gem in the midst of the campground is located just across from the pay kiosk, the story of the property and the CCC camp which actually created not only this property but also worked on neighboring sites at Blanchard.   Definitely check out the story!!

    Tips:

    • Bring your own envelop for the pay kiosk, when I visited the paper envelops were soggy and unable to be used.    You can easily pull one but putting money in them they simply fell apart.
    • Bring everything.   There are no stores in the camp in addition to no fire wood available at the campsite so make sure you come prepared.    The closest store for major things is located over 15 miles away.
  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2021

    Hill Creek - Greers Ferry Lake

    Country Time

    • Open All Year
    • 91 Sites Water/electric
    • 50 amp available
    • 55 Non Electric
    • Reservation accepted (877-444-6777)
    • 3850 Highway 330E, Clinton, AR  72031

    Boat Ramp, drinking water, dump station, marina, day use picnic area, playground, fire ring/grill, fish cleaning station, picnic table, restrooms with flush toilets, and showers

    Choctaw is located several miles outside the town of Clinton Arkansas.  I would advise stocking up before leaving home or in Clinton.  Located in the gently rolling hills of the Ozarks.  The roads are in good shape but like most roads in Arkansas they could be considered, not narrow, but not exactly wide.  The campground is located right off the road so watch for your turn.  Choctaw is one of the few parks in the Greers Ferry complex that is right off the main road.

    The site numbers are well marked on the entrance of each site.  Some sites are more level than others and some are shorter than others.  Longer rigs will have to pay close attention to the size of the sites.  Area is well wooded giving a large amount of shade and a lot of needles and leaves.  If you don't carry a good broom you might want one to sweep your pad.  Trees are mainly pine so shade will continue through winter.  While we were there it was time for mowing but generally COE parks are well maintained

    Little Red River and the Greers Ferry Lake produce an amazing outdoor experience.  Sitting all along the banks of Greers Ferry Lake you are able to have your pick of any number of COE campgrounds and private campgrounds.  Choctaw is a good example.  

    Arkansas is called "The Natural State" and it does live up to its name.  Greers Ferry is located in Cleburne County Arkansas with several small towns dotted around the lake.  There are between 30,000 to 40,000 acres of crystal clear water depending on the season and the rains.  You may fish, scuba dive, water ski, SUP, kayak, canoe, swim or just relax at your campsite.  Your choice but is geared toward the outdoor life.

    Fishing is the sport of the day here.  You will find some of "The Best" fishing in the south with some bragging "In The World".  The lake holds the record for bass at 27 lbs 50 oz.  Tournaments begin in April and go through October.  Whether you are a local or a visitor fishing is done year round.  Every game fish native to Arkansas is stocked and maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish.  Depending on the time of the year you are able to look forward to trophy size striped bass, walleye, and trout.  That is not to say you shouldn't hook your share of channel catfish, bigmouth and white bass and crappie.

    Have fun.  Stay safe.

    LNT

    Better than when you found it.

    Happy Trails

  • Lacee G.
    Jun. 1, 2020

    Shiloh - Greers Ferry Lake

    Great views of Greer’s

    Most of the sites here are great. The G loop is right by the water. Some of the sites were underwater while we were there, but G2 was perfect.

    The site had everything we wanted. Trees for our hammock, large level site, near the water for our kayak, and great views of the lake. There is no electricity at these sites. You will need to bring water. The bathrooms are a short distance away.

    You can’t beat this location on Greer’s Ferry.


Guide to Wilburn

Wilburn, Arkansas tent camping destinations range from wooded sites near small lakes to open clearings in wildlife management areas. The terrain consists primarily of rolling hills, forested tracts, and waterways with elevations between 300-700 feet. Camping options provide varied access to activities including fishing, paddling, and wildlife viewing across multiple public land areas.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA provides wetland habitat containing diverse wildlife. One visitor noted, "Ducks, beevers, frogs and more" can be observed around the large pond areas, particularly during morning hours when activity increases.

Mountain biking trails: Syllamo offers extensive trail networks specifically designed for mountain biking enthusiasts. According to reviews, these are "Great Mountain Biking Trails" with "multiple trail heads" and "a series of trails" suitable for various skill levels. Each trailhead features "course gravel parking" and facilities.

Fishing access: Camp Robinson Dispersed Site provides access to Lake Conway for anglers. The area experiences seasonal water level changes, as one camper noted, "The lake has been partially drained to allow work to be done on stumps." This affects fishing conditions throughout the year.

What campers like

Natural soundscape: Lake Conway camping areas offer a distinct auditory experience. One camper described waking to "birds and frogs sang all evening" while another mentioned "birds singing and trees rustling" without human noise interference during weekday stays.

Sunset views: Camp Robinson Dispersed Site provides scenic evening skies according to reviews. A camper specifically mentioned "The sunset was beautiful" when camping near the partially drained lake area, with open water vistas creating unobstructed viewing opportunities.

Connectivity without sacrificing seclusion: Despite natural settings, multiple camping areas maintain cell service. One reviewer at Camp Robinson reported "good cell reception with AT&T and Spectrum" while enjoying an otherwise remote-feeling experience near the water.

What you should know

Navigation challenges: Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA requires preparation and patience to locate specific sites. One camper warned, "You cannot trust either Apple or Google maps to get you here by these coordinants" and advised to "start looking for very small signs that say 'designated camping area'" once leaving main roads.

Site identification markers: Wildlife management areas use specific markers to designate camping areas. At Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, "the trees have a blue ring painted around them, so it stands out" according to a reviewer who found this helpful when locating appropriate camping spots.

Gravel conditions: Road surfaces vary significantly throughout camping areas. One camper described "LARGE gravel that we are surprised didn't ruin our tires" at certain access points, while another noted many sites themselves "were gravel so I'm not sure if it would be super comfortable to sleep here in a tent."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for comfort: When tent camping with children, ground conditions matter significantly. At Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, a reviewer found "soft ground" at certain sites, making for more comfortable tent setups compared to the predominant gravel surfaces reported elsewhere.

Bug protection strategies: Hillbilly Hippie Hideaway provides designated camping with amenities that reduce insect issues. Their established sites include facilities that families appreciate when managing younger campers during buggy seasons.

Weekday timing: For the best tent camping near Wilburn, Arkansas with children, consider non-weekend visits. Multiple reviewers noted significant traffic differences, with one camper at Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA stating "there is noone else out here" during a weekday stay, creating safer play environments.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling considerations: The terrain at many dispersed sites requires preparation. At Mill Creek Recreation Area one RVer noted the parking areas were "slightly graded but an RV would be cool" suggesting minimal leveling equipment needed at certain locations.

Overnight stopover potential: Several areas serve well for single-night stays during longer journeys. One RVer described Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA as "a great place to stay for a quick stop along the road heading west" with easy highway access, making it suitable for transit camping rather than destination camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wilburn, AR is Mill Creek with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Wilburn, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.