Best Tent Camping in Arkansas

Tent Camping Reviews in Arkansas

3023 Reviews of 103 Arkansas Campgrounds

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  Jun. 15, 2024

  Fourche Mountain Campground

  Free Overnight Stay in the Ouachita National Forest

  Stayed here on June 11, 2024. Small 5-site primitive campground. No water. No electric. Clean vault toilets with tp, and a trash barrel. Clean campground & campsites. Sites are small with reasonable separation, but no privacy. Sites have clean picnic tables, fire ring/grill. Some have lantern plies. Gravel drive. Sites nearly level. No tent pads, but tents can be set up. Sites may be able to accommodate a truck camper & smaller. Lots of highway noise from nearby Hwy 27, but not too bad overnight. There was logging activity elsewhere in the national forest, so log haulers were driving by during the day. Campground is located at eastbound turnoff onto Forest Road 83W - a well maintained gravel road. Pine & oak trees in the campground. Probably a beautiful view of distant mountains during the winter. This campground is good for an overnight stay when exploring the national forest or passing by on Highway 27. There is no recreation in this recreation area; no water access, no hiking trails. Good T-Mobile cell service. Despite some of the road noise from nearby Highway 27, I really liked this campground.

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• 

  Dexter I.

  Legend

  Oct. 7, 2019

  Devil's Den State Park Campground

  Ranger Review of Banner & Oaks Bull Tan Hat at Devil's Den State Park

  Amazing State Park with something for everyone

  I have been to Devil's Den State Park twice now and this is my favorite state park in Arkansas. Devil's Den State park has something for every camper, no matter how you prefer to camp. Tent camping, hike in camping, RVs, cabins, they have it all. Want to bring your horse, you can do that as well. Devil's Den has some great hiking and mountain biking trails, from short to long. If you only do one trail be sure that is the Devil's Den Trail, you won't be disappointed on this 1.5 mile trail. If you want a longer trail there is the 15 mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. Devil's Den campground includes 135 campsites ranging from basic tent sites to full hookups for the RV crowed and horse sites. Campground are all paved with paved parking pads. Individual sites have tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings and a first for me, hooks for hanging your lantern. Flush toilets and showers are included. If you like to swim they even have a pool. Park has a store to provide your food needs. Sites all appeared to be well spaced. If you want complete privacy the word is get one of the walk in sites, you will have a bit of a walk but the reward is complete solitude. Lee Creek runs through the park and a 8-acre lake which allows fishing and boating with canoes and pedal boats. You need to reserve your site before hand or at the visitor center. One thing I do like is if you arrive to late to register at the visitor center, then you can just grab an empty site for the night, you just have to register the next day by 10am.

  Ranger Review of Banner& Oaks Bull Tan Hat

  Got the Bull Tan hat and have been wearing it for about a month now. Hat fits great, looks great. This is a very well made hat with quality materials and made in the U.S.A. It has held up amazing well in all weather conditions, sun, heat, rain and even snow and continues to hold its shape. I have a lot of hats and this one is one of my favorites.

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• 

  Amy W.

  Traveler

  Sep. 28, 2020

  Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

  Small campground with CCC-built rock shelters

  This recreation area is as close to off-grid as you can get with so many great options right off the pavement. This campground has no water or electricity but has 4 drive-up campsites with picnic tables, fire circle, and rock shelters that overlook the beautiful Illinois Bayou. I only recall seeing trash receptacles on the lower loop.  An upper loop is accessible by hiking in. These are tent sites only with no rock shelters on the sites. The rock shelters have a large rock fire area.  There's also a vault toilet on the lower loop. A pavilion onsite is reservable and has electricity. There's also several small trails through the campground but it's most fun when the water is low enough, to go down to the water and walk along the creek. The area is close to many great hiking trails and dirt roads to explore around Hector and makes a great home base. Just up the road is a great area to explore with Jeeps or ATVs. Look up Lindsey Mtwy. This area is not on many people's radar so it's possible that you may only see a local or two while you're here. I still had cell service with my Verizon network while I was in the campground but I lost service when I went down by the Illinois Bayou.  Overall, this is a heck of a nice campground for the non-electric camper. If you visit the area, please leave no trace. :-)

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• T

  Thad O.

  Traveler

  Jul. 29, 2018

  Lake Catherine State Park Campground

  Small free for all tent sites

  Small open Campground with no specific sites (Tent Only Area). There is a small lot nearby to park then you must walk everything in. This can be anything from right next to your car to a few hundred feet away depending on where you want to set up. Picnic tables, fire rings and campground grills located throughout but again nothing is marketed as far as site numbers. The area allows for up to six camp permits per night. Could be good for smaller groups. It’s up away from the lake unlike the rest of the campgrounds in the park. There are restrooms nearby with flushing toilets and sinks. Also a playground is located close to the campsite. Overall it was clean but felt cramped among other campers and parking away from the tent made for multiple trips back and forth.

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• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  May. 25, 2022

  Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

  Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI)

  The Bayou Bluff Recreation Area is now called the Bayou Bluff Point of Interest (POI). In summary, there are only 4 campsites, including a group site. Also, these sites are free, first come, first serve. Here's is info directly from the Bayou Bluff  page on the National Forst Service Web site: "Effective October 2021, Bayou Bluff became a Point of Interest. The fees are suspended for camping and day use and is now open all year. Upper loop is closed to camping and will be eliminated completely. Use of the vault toilet, large pavilion, three shelters, and a small pavilion will remain. The pavilions are managed on a first-come, first-service basis. Trash services are managed by visitors as "pack-it-in, pack-it-out," and Leave No Trace ethics are posted on information kiosks. Active partner groups and volunteers are helping extend the life of the current amenities, excluding trash services." Also: "Open all year. No fees. Upper loop closed. Pavilions available on a first-come, first-served basis only. No trash services. Pack it in- pack it out." The NF page also indicates that there is no water available, but there may water in the group site. The vault toilets are clean, and the campground grounds appear to be reasonably maintained. I recommend only tent camping here, as well as car/truck/van camping. Sites appear to be too small for RVs & trailers.

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• 

  Bailey W.

  Traveler

  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.

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• 

  Matt S.

  Legend

  Jul. 23, 2017

  Lost Bridge South

  Stay at South Bridge for Lakeside camping and beautiful scenerey

  I really like Lost Bridge South and Lost Bridge North. They are on the banks of Beaver Lake and are beautiful. The only downside is both campgrounds are built on the slopes of a hill. The RV and camper pads are level with asphalt, but to pitch a tent can be a bit tricky to find level ground.

  Personally I do not like pitching my tent on concrete or rock pads, I prefer good old grass and dirt. Both my tent and my back last a little bit longer when on soft ground versus rocks.

  The facilities were clean nice. The showers and bathrooms were pretty good. The only problem was there were no soap dispensers, so bring your own if you like clean hands.

  This is a solid four star campground. I highly recommend getting a campsite next to the lake. We had a lot of fun with some great views.

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• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  May. 31, 2024

  Spring Lake Recreation Area

  Beautiful Family Campground

  Camped here mid-week on May 28, 2024, just after Memorial Day weedend. The Spring Lake Receation Area is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The recreation area is gated between 10pm and 6am. It has a day use area, and a campground which is a long walk or short drive away from the day use area. The day use area has picnic tables, grills, beach and a central restroom/shower facility. Day use fee is $4. The small campgound is situated in the woods along Spring Lake across from the day use area. Camping fee is $15 ($7.50 for federal pass holders). Sounds from folks enjoying the day use area can be heard in the campground during the day, but it's very quiet during the night when the day use is closed. The campground has 13 sites. All of the sites can accomodate tent camping. Each site is unpaved and has a level tent pad, table, metal fire ring and lantern pole. Most of the sites are small with little privacy between sites. The sites are in the woods and have a view of the lake, with some actually on the lake shore. Our site, #8, has a short walking path to the shoreline - good for bank fishing. The campground has two single unit vault toilets which were reasonably clean. For showers and flush toilets, campers will have to use the central restroom/shower facilites in the day use area. The campgound has two water spigots, and trash reeceptacles. There is also a playground with swings and a group pavilion in the campground. There are no hookups at the campsites. I don't recommend this campground for RV camping; Cove Lake Recreation Area is a better choice. Because of the campsite sizes, levelness and ability to access, I believe sites 1, 5, 7 and 8 can accomodate van, RTT or SUV camping, and possibly small towables such as a pop-up or tear drop campers. In my opinion, all of the other sites are too small with tight access and not level enough for anything other than tent camping. Our site, #8, had a level pad which accomodated our camper van, plus a smaller seperate tent pad. The camp host was very friendly and provided good information. There is an iron ranger with payment envelopes at the campground entrance; cash and checks are accepted. There was no AT&T and T-Mobile reception, although cell reception may be possible at other locations around the lake. I came across three possible disperse camping spots around the lake (see separate listings). Overall, this is a beautiful campground. It was quiet and peaceful during the night. I would stay here again, especially in the Fall.

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• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  Nov. 16, 2021

  Moro Bay State Park Campground

  Noisy Park

  Reserved on-line 202 days prior to arrival. 

  Pros All 23 campsites are full hook up so no dump station in park 

  Restroom/shower facility heated 

  Restroom/shower facility clean 

  Site utility hookups in good condition 

  Site pad is good condition. Level campsite parking pad. No leveling needed. 

  Trash cans at every other campsite so no dumpsters 

  Metal picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole F

  Firewood for sale at Visitors Center Park roadways in good condition. No low hanging tree branches 

  Not charged a fee to make e my own on-line reservation

  Wildlife sightings were bald eagle, white-tailed deer and lots of grey squirrels

  Interesting historical ferry crossing exhibit in park

  Closest Walmart 25 miles in El Dorado

  Good overnight stop only

  Cons

  LOTS and LOTS of road noise from Highway 67. Lots of semi traffic.

  Not dark sky friendly park! Street lights in campground! Sites 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are fully illuminated by street lights. Who wants to camp under a street light?

  Extremely low water pressure to our campsite

  No park Wifi

  1 bar AT&T service No privacy from neighbors or campground roadway

  No campground host

  No security gate closure

  Never saw any park rangers or park security driving through campground

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