Searching for the best camping near Ouachita National Forest, OK? Ouachita National Forest is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Ouachita National Forest, OK. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Washita Primitive Camping Area
18 min away
Crystal Campground
29 min away
$12 - $40 / night
"Grills, fire Rings, and picnic tables available. Nice shaded area for tent camping. They are very close to the outfitter drop spot. Right on the river."
"It is located a little south of central Arkansas so it’s easily accessible to the whole state. It’s also very affordable and has great amenities."
$25 - $65 / night
$30 / night
"Very convenient place to stay only 2 min from town and just a short drive to any location you might want to visit."
$45 - $95 / night
"Has cable, WiFi, full hookups and a very nice bathhouse. Sites are very level and it’s convenient to Hot Springs National Park. All sites are pull through and some are located on Lake Hamilton."
"Nice, quiet park. Laundry facilities nice and clean. Clean showers. Nice dog park. Management friendly. On lake, so some boat noise."
$13 / night
"$12 a night, full hookup potential AND you are walking distance to the mine!!! For $20 you can go spend the day diggin through dirt and finding crystals."
"This RV park is small, private and has beautiful trees. All amenities are clean and in good repair."
$41 / night
"Small RV park but easy to get in and out with big rigs and full hookups. So quite you could hear a cricket fart and the babbling creek running through the beautiful property."
"This park was very peaceful and quiet. You can hear the bullfrogs at night. JJ - the owner was the ice on the cake. Just such a nice fellow. There are several full timers there."
$32 - $45 / night
"There are a lot of long term people and a few that seem to rotate. The bathrooms were fantastic and so was the laundry room. Theres a little boat dock and good sized dog park too."
"(Not at night usually around midday), it's a quiet and comfortable place to stay. It has a small dog park near the lake. The owners are very friendly."
$25 / night
"It was off the beaten path. Very quiet and peaceful. It seemed most people were gone during the day, maybe working. We explored the state park down the road and went on some fun drives."
"Very friendly, helpful owners, full hookups and laundry, showers..."
"Grocery store not far. Shower water smells funny but it will take your first lawyer of skin off. No laundry that I saw, but I didn't ask."
$85 / night
"Located in Hot Spring proper. Easy access to everything. The Dog Park, laundry facilities, and restrooms/showers are of course new and clean. Casino and Racetrack are right around the corner."
"Close to downtown and walk to the casino. Hosts go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Spa showers, trash pickup, happy hour! This park is above and beyond all the others!"
LegendCatherine’s Landing is a great RV park with lots of amenities and things happening. This park is an RVC Outdoor Destination property which is known for their “resort” amenities. The park is set on 400 acres with one mile bordering Lake Catherine and about eight or nine miles from downtown Hot Springs.
All roads, sites and patios are paved and this is definitely a big rig-friendly park. Every site has water, 50/30 amp, sewer, cable, and wifi. Fire pits and picnic tables accompany all sites. There are a variety of sites ranging from waterfront back-in, pull-thrus, or interior back-in. Waterfront sites have a nice view of the lake from the back of the site and access for fishing. The park also has yurts and cottages (some of which are pet-friendly). Adjacent to the yurts is a nice, large covered picnic area with grills, a dish washing station.
Lots and lots of amenities here. Hiking trails, swimming pool, fitness center, lounge, playground, dog park, zip-line, boat rental, boat launch, store, and disc golf. Some amenities (boat rentals and zip-line) are an extra charge.
Hot Springs is a nice little town nestled in the Ouachita Mountains with interesting history and natural beauty. We found plenty to do from hiking the National Park to learning about the bathhouse history to discovering the gangster influence. We spent four nights and could have stayed longer with all that the town offers. Most people come here to bathe in the soothing warm mineral waters but there is also a horse racetrack, science museum, off road track, water/theme park, alligator farm, and a few museums. Hot Springs National Park has miles and miles of great hiking trails and a great place to spend an afternoon. The town of Hot Springs is very dog-friendly and we found many places that would allow them in and on the patio for lunch.
Pros:
Cons:
ScoutGravel parking lot with painted stripes, a patch of grass growing under the picnic table, and full hookups. Be sure to back in centered, others are complaining about hitting their slide outs. Watch your step. One of the long-term residents isn't picking up their dog waste. The nicest spot in the whole place is the little fenced-in dog spot overlooking the canal that makes its way out to the lake you can't see from here.
TravelerWe liked our week long visit here.. It was off the beaten path. Very quiet and peaceful. It seemed most people were gone during the day, maybe working. We explored the state park down the road and went on some fun drives. Easy pull through sites with full hook up. Dog friendly (I think) but there weren't any dogs running loose. There are also a couple cabins in the back it looked like.
**This rv park is not in walking distance to the Cossatot River
RangerBeautiful, clean, great location. Camped here in Feb 2020, right on the river. Full hookups, mostly back-in but some pull throughs. Paved, level. Tent sites, too. Clean bathrooms, little camp store. Close to town. Would camp again.
TravelerD26 Back-in full hook-ups, fire ring & picnic table. 2 nights - Memorial Day weekend. Good spot, close to bath rooms/shower house/cafe. Pretty level - just 1 leveling block was all we needed for our pop-up. Lots of amenities- cafe, fishing pond, small general store, playground and off leash dog area. Staff was very friendly. Escorted you to your spot and helped us back in. Shower house was always clean. Loved the dog park! We are just starting to travel with our 2 boxers and was so nice to have an area for them to run a bit. Cons - spots are very close, no privacy. Each spot has a very bright “porch” light that is on until Midnight
RangerStayed 2 nights in a basic one room cabin. Had a double bed and bunk bed. Heat /air and cable tv. They advertise WiFi but we didn’t get good reception even though our cabin was very near the office/pool/bathroom. Clean and well kept. Porch swing, fire ring and water at the site. Friendly staff. Clean facilities. Pool is small. Dog play area and kids playground. Good location for exploring hot springs area.
LegendHot Springs is unlike other national parks in the fact that it is an urban park, located in the middle of Hot Springs, Arkansas. To camp inside the park, your only option is Gulpha Gorge. When we visited in February, we found this campground almost empty, adequate, and an easy way to save money while visiting the national park.
Amenities at Gulpha Gorge include basic flush toilets, picnic tables, and hookups at every site. Sites all run $30/night, and they are all first-come, first-served. This was not a problem for us, since we were visiting in the off-season, but during summer it probably fills up quickly.
Our main motivation for staying here was that we wanted to camp inside each national park we visited. But in an urban park like Hot Springs, the experience wasn’t much of a scenic one. If we return, we’ll opt for camping in the nearby Ouachita National Forest or something a bit cheaper and more secluded. Gulpha Gorge was perfectly adequate for an in-park camping experience.
The rest of our time at Hot Springs was spent touring the historic bathhouses (free ranger tours!), hiking the trails -- we liked the Sunset Trail! -- and ending our day at the NPS’s only brewery: Superior Bathhouse.
You can read much more about our three days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Hot Springs)
RangerLocated in Ouachita National Forest, this campground is easy to get to. Ideal for tent, vans, even tear drop campers. No hook ups. Some sites had really good solar potential, most were well shaded. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. The spring water is refreshing! There are bear proof trash cans and pit toilets. Decent hiking trails, heard rattle snakes but did not see any. Bugs were not too bad.
GuideThis is to update my previous post. We are now in the Old Cowhide Cove Campground. We have a beautiful spot backed up to the lake with a wonderful view. There are two widely separated camping areas: New Cowhide Cove and Old Cowhide Cove. We ae in OLD Cowhide Cove so this review is specific to that area. Very adequate campsites are well spaced with picnic table, fire ring., 50 amp electric and water. There is a well situated dump station right on the way out. Even though the sites are long enough for most rigs, there is a paved parking area between most sites. Old Cowhide Cove Campground is a small area with only a few sites--a plus for me.
I highly recommend this campground. The unreasonably late check-in time is a responsibility of the COE. There was no one to check us in which was no problem for us as we had advanced reservations and an assigned site which was easy to find and presented no difficulty in backing in.
RV camping near Ouachita National Forest in Oklahoma offers a blend of scenic beauty and convenient amenities, making it a perfect getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best RV camping spots in Ouachita National Forest?
For top RV camping in Ouachita National Forest, Gulpha Gorge Campground — Hot Springs National Park offers full hookups with both back-in and pull-through sites on paved, level surfaces. Located right on the river, it provides excellent access to Hot Springs National Park. Another excellent option is Cowhide Cove Campground, which features beautiful lakeside sites with stunning views. The campground is divided into two areas (New and Old Cowhide Cove), with the Old section offering particularly picturesque waterfront camping spots. Both locations provide the perfect balance of natural surroundings and RV-friendly accommodations.
What amenities are available at Ouachita National Forest RV campgrounds?
RV campgrounds around Ouachita National Forest offer various amenities to enhance your stay. Hot Springs National Park KOA provides full hook-ups, a cafe, fishing pond, small general store, playground, and off-leash dog area. They even offer cabins with heat/air and cable TV. At Cossatot River RV Park, you'll find easy pull-through sites with full hook-ups in a peaceful setting that's dog-friendly. Other campgrounds in the region typically offer water and electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The more developed sites include shower facilities, dump stations, and trash service. Amenities vary by campground, so check specific locations for details.
Do I need reservations for RV camping in Ouachita National Forest?
Yes, reservations are recommended for RV camping in Ouachita National Forest, especially during peak seasons (spring through fall). Outlet Area campground, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, requires reservations through recreation.gov for their 38 electric and water hookup sites. Fees range from $18-$40. At Catherine's Landing, an RVC Outdoor Destination property near the forest, reservations are essential due to its popularity and resort-style amenities. While some smaller campgrounds may offer first-come, first-served sites, the best RV spots with hookups fill quickly, particularly on weekends and holidays. To secure your preferred location, book well in advance.
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