Norfork Lake, AR is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Norfork Lake is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Norfork Lake, AR. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$22 - $50 / night
"I have been camping at Fout's at Gamaliel Arkansas since I can remember. The sites are great but close to each other."
"Close to water, critters, keep your foodstuffs put away. Bring the Deet."
"There are some trails from the sites to the river but nature has mostly taken them over and it is not a safe trek."
"The Blue Spring Trail was really nice; it was moderately difficult in a few areas. Nice views of the North Fork River along this trail. Bank fishing possible in the nearby day use area."
"Like all Arkansas State parks this is a well kept park"
"It's one of the best I've been to in Arkansas. "
$22 - $40 / night
"There was a partial view through the trees of Norfork Lake from the backside of the site. Walked down to the bank of the lake to fish and caught a bass."
"I think, if they came and upgraded the site with better pad for the modem rvs, this could be a prime location."
"You can walk or drive up the road for beach river access thats safer. Felt safe here. Well maintained. Large sites (trees) big rv friendly with easy loop gravel road. No verizon cel service."
$15 / night
"Situated near a mile of riverfront property, you can take out the water toy of your choosing and float down the rive. Come back to home base for a night of stargazing."
$16 - $50 / night
"The campground at the Marina was nice, wooded with level dedicated tent pads, nice picnic tables with firepits and prep tables next to level parking pads."
LegendCamped for one night at site #7 on Oct 23, 2025. It turned out that this was the first night that camping fees were suspended for the winter season. This National Park Service campground has mostly walk-in tent sites - a few near the river were difficult to find. I parked my van in a small parking lot which serves sites 6 & 7 - just up the hill from the campground loop and vault toilet. The campsites include a table, metal fire ring and lantern pole. Sites 6 & 7 are close together, actually just one site with 2 tables and fire rings, good for a group campout. Except for a few fishermen who fished for a little while, I had the campground all to myself. Very quiet, peaceful night. I enjoyed fishing for smallmouth bass here. There is no potable water, and no hookups. Hammock camping and limited Starlink connectivity may be possible depending on the site. There is a his/hers vault toilet located in the center of the loop; it was clean and supplied with tp. Except for a small trash container in the vault toilet, there is no trash service at this campground; I took out the trash that I created as well as trash left by previous users. The gravel roads accessing this campground were in good condition during my visit. This is a beautiful location. There was some AT&T and T-Mobile service.
LegendCamped at site #4 in the Dogwood Loop in Oct 2025. Paid $5 with senior pass. Previous review applies. Trash service available. Vault toilets (3) were open; clean with tp. Water was turned off for the season. There are a couple of hiking trailheads in campground. The Blue Spring Trail was really nice; it was moderately difficult in a few areas. Nice views of the North Fork River along this trail. Bank fishing possible in the nearby day use area. The campsites were large with good spacing between them. There is no privacy, however, between sites. My site was level, but can't say that for all sites. The campsites and roads were paved. The campground appeared well maintained during my stay.
LegendCamped here in mid-October 2025. Free national forest primitive campground. Walk-in tent sites, but was able to find a site at the far end to park my van at the site. It was at the Long Creek Trailhead. It was mid-week, so it was quiet and peaceful here. Only one other camper here during our visit who car-camped in a parking lot. Sites included a metal fire ring and table; some with tent pads. Hammock camping is possible depending on the site. My site had a grass and dirt surface. The vault toilet was clean and equiped with tp. No potable water. Hiking into the Hecules Glades Wilderness Area was wonderful. The trails into the wilderness area appear to be open to hikers, backpackers, hunters and equestrian riding. Hitching rails are available at the campground. Access to the campground on the forest road was good; a 2wd passenger car should be able to make it here. Overall, a nice, peaceful overnight stay.
LegendVan-camped in site #3 in mid-October, 2025. Free National Park Service primitive campground along the Buffalo Ntional River. The property serves as a drop-off and pickup location for kayakers and canoers. Outfitters may be coming and going. Not all sites are level; varies from site to site. Some sites are walk-ins. Clean vault toilet, supplied with tp and hand sanitizer. No potable water. Sites include table, metal fire ring, and lantern pole. Dirt surface. Good separation between sites but no privacy. A handful of armadillos were scrounging around during the evening. There is a partial view of the river through the trees. The road approaching the campground, CR99, is about 3 miles long and gravel, narrow in places. The last 1.5 miles has some minor erosion and rocky in places. There are no hiking trails at this location. No cell service. Starlink connectivity possible depending on the site. Tent and hammock camping possible. Fishing along the river bank. Overall, this is not a bad campground in a beautiful area.
LegendCamping is still not allowed here. The campground itself is overgrown. Did not see any dispersed campsites. This recreation area, however, is a beautiful day use area. Appears to be maintained. Vault toilets in the picnic area were open during my visit. Did not find any potable water. Fishing is permitted at the lake, but I had no luck.
LegendAmazing little Campground that backs right up to the light river with a fantastic bluff behind that. Beautiful! Would definitely come again, friendly staff, quiet, easy. I will say I like site 11, but if you are not camping and pears, you will be camping directly next to site 10. They are pull through sites that are connected basically. We had another couple with us and it a great set up. But if it had just been us it would have been weird.
LegendCamped at site #8 in Oct 10-11, 2025. Our site was on a wooded loop, the first camping section on the left after entering the campground. Good spacing between sites. Our campervan fit nicely on the site; level. Shared water faucet between sites 7 & 8. Our site had 20 and 30 amp power. There was a partial view through the trees of Norfork Lake from the backside of the site. Walked down to the bank of the lake to fish and caught a bass. Sites 5, 7 & 8 are really nice on this loop. Campground is clean and well maintained. AT&T and T-Mobile service. I normally do primitive and dispersed camping, but occasionally use established campgrounds, such as this, for replemishing water and power, and to take a shower. I was very pleased with our campsite and the campground. Did some hiking on the campground trails. The person working the entrance gate wad very nice and helpful. I would stay here again.
LegendCamped 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.
LegendVisited 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.
Camping near Norfork Lake, Arkansas, offers a fantastic escape into nature with beautiful views and plenty of activities. Whether you're into fishing, hiking, or just relaxing by the water, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Norfork Lake, Arkansas, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and with these tips, you can make the most of your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
What facilities are available at Norfork Lake campgrounds?
Norfork Lake campgrounds typically offer clean restrooms with flush toilets, potable water, and picnic tables with fire rings. Robinson Point provides water, toilet facilities, and is big-rig friendly with reservable sites. Cranfield Park offers similar amenities with drive-in access. Some campgrounds around the lake include shower facilities, boat ramps, and swimming areas. For campers seeking RV-specific amenities, several parks in the area offer full hookups, including electric, water, and sewer connections, though facilities vary by location.
What are the best camping areas at Norfork Lake?
Norfork Lake offers several excellent camping options with Gamaliel standing out as a top choice. The sites are well-maintained with a playground for children and proximity to a marina with boat rentals. For a more secluded experience, Bidwell Point Park provides multiple access options including boat-in camping, with reservable sites, water, and toilet facilities. Campers seeking full amenities should consider Cranfield Park, while those wanting a peaceful setting might prefer Robinson Point, which offers beautiful lake views and spacious sites.
Is Robinson Point a good campground at Norfork Lake?
Yes, Robinson Point is considered an excellent campground at Norfork Lake. Located near Mountain Home, it offers versatile access options including boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in camping. The campground features reservable sites with water and toilet facilities, and is big-rig friendly for RV campers. Visitors appreciate the well-maintained grounds and scenic lake views. For those seeking a different experience near Norfork Lake, Misty Mornings Arkansas Cabins & RV Sites offers a peaceful alternative with mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities just a few miles from the lake.
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