Tompkins Bend - Lake Ouachita, near Mt. Ida, Arkansas, is a picturesque campground that offers a fantastic escape for families and friends looking to enjoy the great outdoors. With sites right on the water, it’s a prime location for those who love to fish, swim, or just soak in the stunning views of Lake Ouachita.

The campground is equipped with essential amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, and clean restrooms, making it comfortable for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts. Visitors have praised the beautiful setting, with one camper noting, “What a great site, the campground was FULL but we felt like we were isolated with a great view of the lake.” 

For those eager to explore, there are hiking and mountain biking trails nearby, perfect for a day of adventure. Campers have also enjoyed the convenience of having a boat launch right at the park, allowing for easy access to the water. Whether you're planning a family gathering or a quiet retreat, Tompkins Bend is a great choice for making lasting memories in nature.

## Overview

 Tompkins Bend Day-Use Area on Lake Ouachita, is a great spot to getaway for the day. The combination of lush mountain scenery and wildlife, make this quiet location an ideal place for a family gathering, reunion, or group retreat.\_\_\_\_ [Click here][1] for the Lake Ouachita Virtual Tour. 
## Recreation

 Water skiers, jet skiers and anglers can all enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lake, while hikers enjoy the campground\'s location on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), which meanders across the south end of the lake.\_\_\_\_\_\_ Wildlife enthusiasts can find everything from bobcats to black bears and deer in the forested mountains surrounding the lake, and Bald eagles are often spotted in winter. 
## Facilities

 The Day-Use Pavilion has electrical hook-ups, picnic tables, and lighting. Other amenities include a bathroom facility, a playground, and a grassy wooded scenic view. 
## Natural Features

 Lake Ouachita is fed from the cool waters of the Ouachita River in central Arkansas. Surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest, it\'s crystal waters span over 40,000 acres and extend for 30 miles, making it the largest lake completely in the state of Arkansas. 
## contact\_info

 This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (501) 767-2101. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Head to Hot Springs National Park and discover how it earned the nickname, \"The American Spa.\" Or take a scenic drive through the 1.8 million-acres of Ouachita National Forest. Here, off-roading enthusiasts can take on the Wolf Pen Gap Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System. 

[1]: https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/virtual/ouachita/tour.html

Tompkins Bend - Lake Ouachita

Searching for the best camping near Story, AR? Story is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Arkansas camping adventure.

Story

The Best Camping Near Story, Arkansas

We love camping here with our kids and dogs!!! Nice quiet campground that is close to the water!!!

Awesome family spot!!!!

Beautiful setting on the lake. Our favoryspot. Water, electric, bath &amp; restrooms available. Boat launch with the park. Hiking trails. Deer.

Fantastic RV site

After a day of quartz mining at Jim Coleman we drove 30 minutes south to this campground on Lake Ouachita. This was our first time to this lake and it was beautiful and quiet. Our site 44 was right on the water in a cove with 2 other sites close by. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bbq grill. It was easy to find a level spot for both our tents. Two bathroom/shower houses were close walking distance, were clean, and heated with hot water! There is also a large basin with hot water to wash dishes or fill jugs. It was really nice to have hot water! There is a cool trail accessible from the campground but sadly we didn’t have time to hike. 

Great spot 

What a great site, the campground was FULL but we felt like we were isolated with a great view of the lake. Awesome site

Best Tent site in Tompkins Bend #23

I rented 3 spots 6 months in advance (the max) for our annual friends gathering during Memorial Day weekend. This was our first time in the campground (the previous year was Denby Point) and it was gorgeous. I tell everyone that Lake Ouachita is one of the cleanest and most beautiful lakes in the US. Our sites were on the water except for 77. One family brought their boat and parked docked it right next to the site which made it super convenient. 
There is not sewer at these COE sites so we were prepared with a portable black tank but didn’t end up needed it. There are mountain biking and hiking trails nearby that some took advantage of. My only negative was that there were power surges and low power during random times during our stay. We turned off unnecessary pulls on power and made it just fine. One time my daughter was baking in the convection microwave while the AC was going (so no surprise there) the other times were in the middle of night when the only pull was the AC. Being Memorial Day weekend the campground was completely full and they do allow 2 campers per site so I just chalk it all up to the campground system being overloaded.
We will most certainly camp here again and I’ve already put the reminder on my calendar to book 6 months out for next year. People make fun of me for being so obsessive with my camping plans but they don’t complain when they have a front row seat on Memorial Day. ♥️💙

Photos of Tompkins Bend - Lake Ouachita

Real photos from real campers