The 15 Best Camping Spots in Arkansas!

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to camp, then you need not look farther than the Natural State. From her hills and valleys to her mountains and plains, Arkansas is home to all four seasons and offers the some of the best camping sites in the Nation. Check out these 15 best camping spots in Arkansas before your next vacation or weekend getaway.

Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake is one of the most well-known camping spots in Arkansas with a variety of campsites featured in the area. This man-made reservoir that also serves as the community’s water source is located in the Northwest Arkansas section of the ancient Ozark Mountains. Beaver Lake was created during 1960-66 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Beaver Dam by impounding much of the White River and flooding much of the valley. The War Eagle Campground, the Beaver Lake Campground, and the Horseshoe Bend Recreational Area and Campground remain among the most popular campsites at Beaver Lake.

Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton, AR

The legendary Petit Jean Mountain, surrounded by its ancient geology and natural beauty, inspired the creation of the first state park in Arkansas, Petit Jean State Park. An Arkansas icon, Petit Jean State Park is a popular camping destination all year-round. At Petit Jean, you’ll find a total of 125 campsites, some of which offer electric, water, and sewer hookups. 

Lake Wedington Historic District

The Lake Wedington Historic District within the Lake Wedington Recreational Area is a lesser-known spot that deserves another look. This U.S. Historic District was built in 1933 by the U.S. Works Progress Act and features six cabins and nearly 20 family campsites.

Devil’s Den State Park, West Fork, AR

With cabins along Lee Creek and over 140 campsites, Devil’s Den State Park has long been a popular camping spot in Arkansas. In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps began building Devil’s Den State Park in the Lee Creek Valley of the Boston Mountains in the Ozarks southwest. 

The Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, AR

The Crater of Diamonds State Park, the world’s only “keep what you find” diamond site, features 47 campsites with water, sewer, and electric hookups. Two modern bathhouses with hot showers are conveniently located on the campground. Not only can they enjoy the beautiful scenery, but visitors can also try their hand at digging up natural Arkansas diamonds.

Hobbs State Park, Hindsville, AR

Located in the Boston Mountains, Hobbs State Park Conservation Area is most-known for being the land that was bought with funds raised in a joint effort put forth by citizens and government agencies. Surely there is something special about a land when folks chip in to buy it. Campers may want to call ahead as Hobbs State Park has five campsites. Five primitive camping spots.

Daisy State Park, Kirby, AR

At the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, surrounded by beautiful timberlands, is Daisy State Park. This popular camping spot features Lake Gleeson, a 7,000-acre lake built in 1950 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mount Magazine State Park, Paris, AR

Near the city of Paris, Arkansas, in the Ozark National Forest is Mount Magazine, the highest point in the Natural State and the tallest between the Rockies to the Alleghenies. Mount Magazine State Park has long been a popular camping destination in the beautiful Ozarks. The state park campground offers nearly 20 campsites with hookups to water, sewer, and electric.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Bismarck, AR

You can’t talk about the best camping spots in Arkansas without mentioning Arkansas’ only resort state park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park. Located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains is one of the region’s five Diamond Lakes known for its stunningly clear waters. Visitors have long-enjoyed the unique experience of camping in a yurt. A yurt, of course, traditionally refers to a portable, round tent that is covered.

Greers Lake

Greers Lake has long been a popular spot for camping. This fun destination features over 250 available campsites at the Dam Site (Greers Lake) Campground. You’ll find this campground at the Greers Ferry Dam, which is located at the foot of Round Mountain in the Ozark Mountains of north-central Arkansas.

Lake Ouachita State Park, Mountain Pine, AR

Lake Ouachita State Park features nearly 100 campsites with varying degrees of water, sewer, and electric hookups. This popular camping spot also features four camper cabin sites at rates that won’t break the bank.

Bull Shoals-White River State Park, Bull Shoals, AR

Featuring over 200 campsites, the Bull Shoals-White River State Park in the Ozark National Forest is another popular camping spot in Arkansas. This state park became known after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Bull Shoals Dam on the White River. Bull Shoals Lake is also a well-known fishing destination.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Mena, AR

Arkansas’ second highest point can be found in Queen Wilhelmina State Park, snuggled in the Ouachita Mountains near the city of Mena. Camping is truly an experience on the nearly 2,700 feet Rich Mountain. Visitors must register with the park lodge before occupying one of the 41 campsites featured at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

The Merrisach Lake Recreation Area and Campground

The Merrisach Lake Recreation Area and Campground features 67 campsites on Merrisach Lake and the Arkansas River. This camping spot is off-the-beaten-path and serves as the perfect site for wildlife lovers as the White River National Wildlife Refuge is located nearby.

Outlet Recreation Area, Havana, AR

Visitors can choose from 26 campsites at the Outlet Recreation Area located on Blue Mountain Lake, which sits in the shadows of Mount Magazine. Nestled between the Ozark and Ouachita National Forest, Outlet is just downstream from the Blue Mountain Dam.

Share your favorites!
Arkansas Search
Best Campgrounds and Camping Sites Near You
Best Campgrounds and Camping Sites Near You
82 Woolly Hollow Road, Greenbrier, AR
This is a classic state park experience with fishing, boating, and swimming on 40-acre Lake Bennett in Greenbrier about 18 miles north of Conway. T... Read More
Interstate 40, Exit 150, North Little Rock, AR
Burns Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country with 1,700 acres. It features a log cabin which was built and used as a store prior... Read More
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton, AR
Petit Jean State Park is an Arkansas classic, a natural and historic treasure that has welcomed travelers for decades. The natural beauty and ancie... Read More
2428 Marina Road, Russellville, AR
This park is located in two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. The main site is in Russellville where you&rsq... Read More
838 McClendon Road, Hot Springs, AR
About Us: Nestled in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs National Park KOA offers a great place to stay when visiting this truly ... Read More
16728 West State Highway 155, Dardanelle, AR
Rising 1,350 feet, Mount Nebo offers sweeping views of the Arkansas River Valley. In 1933, a portion of the mountain was chosen as a park site. Nat... Read More
1200 Catherine Park Road, Hot Springs, AR
This peaceful park is located on Lake Catherine, one of five lakes in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region. The only full-service marina on the l... Read More
101 Reserve Avenue, Hot Springs, AR
About the Park: Hot Springs National Parkis the America's first national preserve predates Yellowstone by some 40 years. A film and exhibits in th... Read More
5451 Mountain Pine Road, Mountain Pine, AR
Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita offers 40,000 acres of clear, clean water surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest. Swimming,... Read More
2027 State Park Entrance Road, Bismarck, AR
Near Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas’s resort state park is located on the shores of beautiful DeGray Lake. Here, you’ll find fir... Read More
150 Blue Heron Drive, Flippin, AR
Blue Heron provides the pleasure of a natural Ozark setting without leaving the beaten path. Forget about traveling miles of back roads to rea... Read More
258 White River Trail, Flippin, AR
We would like to introduce ourselves.  We are John and Charlotte Ramsey and we are the proud new owners of the White River Campgroun... Read More
205 Avenue Street, Newport, AR
In the 1800s, steamboats made Jacksonport a thriving river port. During the Civil War, Confederate and Union forces occupied the town because of it... Read More
16878 Highway 309 South, Paris, AR
Mount Magazine State Park is on the state's tallest mountain, the 2,753-foot Mount Magazine. Sweeping vistas of broad river valleys, deep canyons, ... Read More
153 Dam Overlook Lane, Bull Shoals, AR
Famous for its world-class trout fishing, Bull Shoals–White River State Park lies along the shores of both Bull Shoals Lake and the White Riv... Read More
50 State Park Road, Star City, AR
Located where the Coastal Plain meets the Mississippi Delta, this park offers you the opportunity to experience both in one visit. The trail system... Read More
402 North Walnut, Suite 136, Harrison, AR
About the River: Buffalo National River is America's first national river (1972), the scenic Buffalo National River flows roughly 150 miles and of... Read More
Select a Arkansas town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you