Best Tent Camping in Arkansas
Tent campsites in Arkansas range from established sites with basic amenities to primitive backcountry options. Steel Creek Campground in the Buffalo National River offers tent sites in a scenic setting with amenities including picnic tables, potable water, and vault toilets. Hickory Nut Mountain provides free primitive tent camping with minimal facilities but excellent views, particularly appealing to campers seeking seclusion and natural surroundings.
Most tent campgrounds in Arkansas feature fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary considerably by location. Steel Creek offers drinking water and accessible vault toilets, while more remote sites like those at Hickory Nut Mountain provide only basic pit toilets. Many tent-only areas require campers to pack in their own water and supplies. Summer camping often means high humidity and temperatures, with spring and fall offering more comfortable conditions. Several primitive tent sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, making weekday arrivals advisable during peak seasons.
Tent camping areas throughout Arkansas provide access to notable natural features and recreational activities. Kyles Landing Campground offers tent sites near the Buffalo River with multiple access options including hike-in and boat-in camping. Sites at Natural Dam accommodate tent campers with access to a scenic waterfall setting. Areas in the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests provide tent campers with trail access and creek-side camping options. A review noted that at Hickory Nut Mountain, "it's a 4 mile drive uphill with only narrow gravel roads, but it's free to stay. We were alone at the campground the entire time we were there." Many backcountry tent sites offer solitude rarely found at more developed campgrounds, though visitors should be prepared for primitive conditions.
