Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Arkabutla Lake? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Arkabutla Lake, including sites, reviews, and tips. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
This recreation area is part of Arkabutla Lake Class D camping – Kelly’s Crossing & Pleasant Hill Campgrounds: Free 14 days only – no extensions, year round
Amenities at our Class Campgrounds include waterborne toilets and primitive camping, fire ring, service table and grill. Beach Point - 14 campsites All campsites are non-reservable and are available on a first come – first serve basis.
$8 / night
Puskus Lake Recreation Area is a fairly remote area for those who do not like the big crowds and do not need modern conveniences. __The visitor will discover a pleasant and quiet environment. __This recreation area surrounds a 96 acre lake stocked with largemouth bass and bluegill with occasional crappie or catfish. Facilities include 19 campsites, 13 picnic sites, boat ramp, fishing piers, and a 1-mile hiking trail.Puskus Lake Recreation Area is open year-round unless weather conditions require the area to be closed. __Puskus is a fee area and the fee station is located just beyond the entrance gate. __No attendant will be on duty. __Therefore, users should make sure that they have correct currency before arriving at the recreation area.
Class D No Hookups Available first come, first served. Please contact the park at 870-572-2352 or deltaheritagetrail@arkansas.com for more information. Rate(s): $15.00
$13 - $15 / night
Guide
Ample spaces in some campgrounds while some have small area, still larger than most of other camping locations. It can still be better if they can make camp bed with gravel for tent camping
Scout
Found this campsite on the Dyrt and was pleasantly surprised with the location and family friendly atmosphere. Right on the River but not swimable water. In an industrial park but felt very safe. Just a few minutes from the interstate.
The tent site is just a primitive grassy group area but had tons of shade from giant oak trees and is right next to the bathhouse.
Laundry is free on the second story of the bathhouse which was a wonderful treat.
The bathrooms weren’t awful but could use some TLC.
Tent sites do not get picnic tables. No fire rings.
Overall a decent night’s stay - whatever you do don’t forget your bug spray!
Guide
This was such a nice relaxing place to stay. We met a park interpreter who was very nice and informative. We stayed in a small tent camping area beside one of the lakes. The hiking trail was beautiful and we saw several woodpeckers!
ScoutTom Sawyer's RV Park offers a unique camping experience on the Mississippi River with a mix of pros and cons suika game. Visitors praise the beautiful river views, spacious sites, and pet-friendly policies, as well as convenient amenities like free laundry facilities. However, recurring issues include basic or outdated bathroom facilities, limited tent camping options, and inconsistent site maintenance. Overall, it's a great choice for short stays, particularly for those with RVs, looking to enjoy scenic riverfront views and the charm of tugboat traffic.
Guide
Decent camp ground if the grounds were better maintained, lots of trash at all of the sites. We tent camped and the tent pads were ok nothing to brag right home about but functional. Your also nut to butt with all the other sites, talking some are less than 10ft apart. Also there was a mondo dump left in 2 of the toilets at the rest room near our site.
ScoutWe had originally planned to stop here for a night based on good reviews. But once arriving & doing a quick drive thru changed our minds. Tent camping area is just small grassy area behind laundry house. Had to drive all the way thru to even see the river. We did see a tugboat on our drive thru though. Just seems too run down & not cared for. Now rv spots by the water looked nice- but not a good place for tents.
Guide
We tent camped for the weekend at George Payne Cossar State Park in March. It was still a bit cold and the pollen had come out - looked like snow falling in my headlamp. There is a playground for kids and dogs are allowed at the campgrounds. We had a nice fire, roasted marshmallows, and wanted to play disc golf but the lake was too high and covered some of them!
Legend
While the perks of this campground include the proximity to Memphis and spacious sites. The campground was pretty quiet and everything seemed clean and well kept. The downsides outweigh these positives though... The tent camping area was not private. There were some trees, but they were in the RV area of the park. The thing that turned us off the most though, was a terrible smell which we learned is from a sewage treatment plant very close to the park :(
Ranger
This place is a gem if you’re a tent camper. We have camped here once, but most of the time it is closed. I am not sure why. Nice little spot with about 8 tent sites. No hookups of any kind for campers. Bathrooms are currently closed, but we’re nice when we stayed there, but old. Drinking water is available. A short walk to Sardis Lower Lake. There can be a bit of traffic noise as it is nestled between two roads.
Traveler
The view and proximity to the water is truly what makes this spot. All sites are tent sites so you have to be parked in the parking lot but we were the only ones there in early January so was easy to park as close as possible to a spot. There are restrooms at the entrance, all sites have a table, trash can and grill. We went in the off season so it was free!
Scout
We had reservations for another place further down the road but decided to leave a day early and see if we could find something on the road. This place fit the bill! It’s convenient to the highway and while we have our food, there are places to eat close by. The owner was polite and met us at the gate and showed us to our site. There are few big trees and it’s more suitable for RV camping than tent camping but this was exactly what we needed this trip. Thanks so much!
Scout
The campground was well maintained. The bathrooms were well kept, including showers. There is a day use area with a boat ramp, pavilion, beach, and playground. The only downside is the sites are very close together! We stayed in a tent and I booked based on the map. The tent sites are not shown correctly. There are 7 walk in sites grouped together. Each site had their own electric box and shared a water faucet. Not much privacy, but my daughter loved running around with the other kids.
Traveler
My girlfriend and I tent camped here for one night. The campground is large and well-kept, with over 100 sites, and the sites are very spacious. Each has a table, water and electric hookups, a hook, and a tent pad. From what I saw, we were the only tent campers in the campground. We camped in site 64, which is near the lake and the bathrooms. The tent pad was covered in pine needles, making it nice and soft. The only complaint I have is that there is a very bright street light that stays on all night near the boat ramp, but I would highly recommend this campground. Enid Lake and its facilities appear to be top-notch.
Ranger
This is a small campground, consisting of five tent sites. The websites states you can bring a small camper here, but in wouldn’t try it. The bathrooms are run down and have a port a potty feel. The roads in are horrible. There are people riding off road vehicles in the lake bottoms quite often.
Now, that having been said... the view is great. You can see out across the lake. There is plenty of space to hike and explore. It is a free campground, so really, one can’t complain.
LegendThis was our 2nd time camping here. It’s the nicest campground close to home. All of the sites are large with full hookups. They really did an excellent job with this place. The bathrooms are the best of the best (private, suite style rooms). I like that it is not a large park (only 14 RV sites and 3 tent sites) l, so even when it is full, it does not feel overcrowded. I do wish they had more hiking trails, but the bear creek look is really nice. The park office is excellent with a museum area. Fire wood can be purchased at the office as well. Very popular lake for fishing!
GuideWe have been to many states and campgrounds. This is one of our favorites. It only has 14 Full Hookup sites but they are all beautiful. Well kept campgrounds, lake, and facilities. There is also a tent site area and a primitive camping area. The sites stayed booked, so if you want to give it a try, you need to book well in advance of your desired date of travel. We go here at least 4 or 5 times a year. It is only about 40 min drive from Forrest City and a 10 min. drive from Marianna, Arkansas. There is a boat dock where you can put your boat in the water. They also have fishing boats and kayaks for rent.
LegendThis place is still relatively new, but they have really done a great job with it! The park office is first class! The Trotting Fox Trail and Bear Creek Loop trail are very nice! The park office has a large room for exhibits. The Rangers also keep a very full schedule of activities to keep locals and campers busy. They rent out kayaks for those looking to explore the lake! The Beech Point Campground is a gorgeous RV/Tent Campground. I highly recommend it to those that love camping! There is also a really nice day use area.
Ranger
We’ve camped at Village Creek State Park a number of times and we love it! It’s a family friendly park with ball fields, tennis courts, and a first-class golf course. We have tent camped, pop-up camped and RV camped here. We normally stay in the lower campground area which is a great spot for families due to all the green space. The upper campground area is much better for RVs given the access to sewer. There is a renovated playground in the upper campground area as well.
All sites are mostly level. There are a few at the back of the lower campground with steep inclines near the trailhead entries. There is also a creek that runs behind some of the campsites on the lower campground which could be a mosquito haven in warmer months.
This is a great family park! You will enjoy your time for sure!
LegendThis was one of the first state parks in Tennessee I visited on my trip through the state. Despite being an older feeling camp it offered many unique features and options for keeping myself entertained. (Check Out Their Website)
When it came to camping not only were there tent sites but also cabins which had a very rustic feel. I opted for a tent site which ran $25 and had full electrical hookups (site 40), a big perk for charging my devices at the end of a busy day. My site had a bbq grill and fire ring in addition to a picnic table and was well shaded. I felt like the sites along this side of the road were a little more spacious than the other side of the road which were a little more close together.
I was about half way down the loop and a short distance from the restroom and showers which were in decent shape but nothing super special. The water pressure here was good for showering.
My favorite thing about this camp was the outdoor activities which seemed to be everywhere. I hiked both the Woodland and Pioneer Springs trails (MAP), each about 4 miles and along the way enjoyed just taking in the outdoors. I will say that if you do any trails in late summer here you will need mosquito spray because they come in droves.
You can travel to the boat ramp and marina and rent boats there or bring your own to take advantage of the lake which winds through various types of vegetation and allows you to see the lake in a way you cannot from the shore line. I most enjoyed taking out a kayak and exploring the swampy feeling area, though I will say being so close to the Mississippi River I was afraid of what I might find lurking in the water.
TIPS:
Guide
This is an off the beaten path area for standard recreation. It’s technically a boat ramp that accesses Arkabutla Lake with picnic and camping areas nearby. The bulletin board has primitive camping rules and guidelines to follow. The fee has been reduced to free, so enjoy but be respectful! I am visiting at the end of December, so there are hardly any other persons around besides the fishermen out on the water. Private property is close by and you have to travel past them to get to the public day use area so also be aware of that.
Traveler
I have stayed at this campground twice. The first time (2022) was a rainy day and I didn't feel like setting up a tent in my reserved space, so I upgraded to one of the very nice, and at the time quite new cabins for about $75 total. I loved the winding drive down to Helena-West Helena. It was beautiful, the rain was not too bad. The cabin was wonderful. I had such a happy experience that time, I returned to car camp last year (2023) on my way west. I did not bother setting up a tent, but rented an RV space. It was fine. . . lots of mosquitos in the evening (mid-September) and a construction crew was renting out an RV spot across from me. There were no other campers, but I felt safe. The bathrooms (unisex) were not nearly as clean as the first visit, but were ok. The guys across the way were quiet and respectful. The whole thing was ok. . . but I did have the thought expressed in another comment that there is just too much concrete and asphalt in this place. Maybe they are concerned about keeping the jungle at bay, so they paved it . . . but consequently it feels like a parking lot with a beautiful periphery. Is also was pretty expensive for what I needed ($42), since I sleep on a cot in my SUV and don't need electricity, water, dumping, etc. But that is my fault for not asking for a tent site.
I decided to head there at the last minute, and called the office right before closing to rent via telephone (should have asked for a tent site, cheaper). I did not have to make the 14 mile drive to Marianna to check in.
The crew staying in the RV across the way, left vert early in the morning. It was cool and shady in my spot, so I moved my vehicle to sunny spot (tent area!) and had a nice leisurely breakfast before heading out. It was mid-week, and nobody else was there. A ranger (?) drove through pretty early (before I moved my car) and said hi. She knew i had rented a spot. Very friendly, just as the folks in Marianna had been when I went there in 2022.
All in all it is a good spot. Quiet and safe.
TravelerThe tents sites are cheap but this is really for someone passing through. You basically share a feild with a few picnic tables, no fire pits from what I saw. The bathrooms/shower were okay but you get what you pay for. Other than that, the walk over to the view of the river is gorgeous.
Guide
This campground is in the middle of Holly Springs National Forest on Puskus Lake. The campground itself is quite small but the camping spaces have a good amount of room to them so you do not feel like you are on top of each other. Additionally, I have never seen more than 5 or 6 different sites being used anytime that I have been there. It is also relatively cheap to camp there which is always great! While you can boat or fish on the lake, you cannot swim in the lake so keep that in mind if you are going somewhere where you want to cool off. They do have nice docks over the water however to hang out on. There are 2 trails you can walk on around the campsite but they only equal about 5 miles and are not maintained very well in some areas although they are flat and easy to explore. Overall, this spot is great for a night or two when you just want to go out and tent camp for a great price.
Legend
I checked into this park while looking for a place to stay in Memphis, it was a very secure facility right on the state line of Mississippi and Tennessee and it appeared to have good reviews so I wanted to see if they offered tent camping since I had seen nothing about that. I arrived and the staff was very friendly however they were also very thorough in stating it was RVs only.
I went ahead and told them I am a ranger for the Dyrt and also a travel blogger and was interested in passing on the knowledge to other campers potentially looking in the area and they took me on a tour bragging on the facilities which had spacious road that were fully paved and well maintained. The restrooms were large and equipped for handicapped accessibility and there was a neighborhood vibe about this location.
Spaces were a little close together but it seemed as though most of the people here were retirees in larger rigs who didn't want the responsibility of having a lot of space in their immediate "yard". They offer nightly rates along with weekly and monthly however I believe that most are taking advantage of the monthly.
The person giving me the tour, the campground host, did mention that a lot of people misunderstand their RV policy and come in with pop ups or teardrops and those usually are not acceptable. So that s a major thing to know when coming here, you must be in a RV as defined by these standards.
I noticed that the site was incredibly clean. They offered additional storage for sports equipment and other items, a rec center and office and for each site both cable and wifi are available.
All in all this park was great, but not allowing tents or certain types of RVs did knock it down a few notch simply because not everyone would be able to take advantage of this site. I was overall happy to have checked it out for my fellow travelers and maybe one day when I RV across America I will be able to visit again.
RangerMississippi River State Park is in Marianna, AR and was built in 2008 in the St. Francis National Forest. The park office and convention center are beautiful and have several learning stations and activities for kids and families. There is also a simple paved walking trail with identification points for local trees, birds, wildlife, etc.
The campground has only a few sites. I don’t remember exactly but I believe it’s only 18 but all have lake views. All sites are level with electricity, water, and tent pad. Some sites have tiered tent pads that might not be great for kids or “old knees”. If you bring your own kayak, canoe, or boat, you can launch directly from your camp site without any issue. Our kids just wanted to through rocks 😂. There aren’t many hikes but there is a 1.5 mile trail (video included) which was fun. We saw a few snakes but they were just king snakes.
MS River SP is a short drive from Memphis and is a great quick weekend getaway. There isn’t much for small kids to do when the swim beach and swim area are closed but most families will love the serenity and peace that MS River SP offers.
Legend
Wow this place is NICE! This is a small, but beautiful campground! There's only 14 full hook up RV sites and 3 tent only sites. All RV sites are huge, have beautiful water views and most have water access. Many of them are fenced to get you closer to the water and still be safe. The small gravel tent and hang out areas was also nice. We tracked a lot less dirt into the camper than normal. The bathrooms are the nicest we have ever used! There are 4 private suite style bathrooms with your own toilet, sink and shower. All are handicap accessible as well. We walked the nature/hiking trail across the street from the campground (Bear Creek Loop). We were shocked to find out that the trees were marked with educational markers. My husband really enjoyed the trail because of this. The park also has a couple of kayaks that can be rented. There is a boat ramp, fishing pier and swim beach all within view of the campground. The campground also has a small courtesy dock to pull up to or fish from. Water appears to be very shallow at this dock.
One of the Mississippi River State Park Interpreters came out and hosted a short campfire chat on bats. Very informative! We also went to the park office to check out the exhibits. Man this place is first class! The walking trail around the office is a lovely 10-15 minute walk. Firewood and snacks can also be purchased here.
GuideWe stayed at Beech Point campground at site #12 on June 20, 2019. This was a huge campsite with lots of room for our two large tents. It was set back on its own point out into the lake, so our tents were surrounded on three sides by water. The campground was not very crowded on a Thursday night so even pulling in late we still could choose from a few great sites. We were right across from the swimming area which had a sandy wade-in. It was hot and humid at night but still reasonable for sleeping. Sites were very spread out so we didn’t hear the hum of nearby RV A/C units.
Bathrooms and showers were organized in banks of 4 private shower/bath combos and were clean and well-maintained. We didn’t see a camp store on-site (just a gift shop with a few scattered camp supplies) but the visitor center had very helpful rangers. The only real lack for facilities in the camp was a dish-washing station. You can get to the main Mississippi River from the park, but it is about 20 mins drive from this campground.
The visitor center offers a drop-off service for SUPs and we woke up the next morning with the boards dropped right next to our van. There is a small boat dock in the campground - only for carry-able boats since there is no ramp and about 5 steps to negotiate. The lake is smallish but filled with coves to explore and abundant wildlife to see.
Tent camping near Arkabutla Lake in Mississippi offers a unique blend of serene landscapes and outdoor activities, perfect for those looking to escape into nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Arkabutla Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Arkabutla Lake is Kellys Crossing Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Arkabutla Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Arkabutla Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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