Camping is a great way to enjoy the state’s natural picturesque beauty. Arkansas is home to mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, and prairies. Each area provides a lot of outdoor activities and a portal to enjoy nature.
Camping is one of the most attractive activities that you can enjoy in Arkansas. With the pleasant temperature of Arkansas, you can go camping a year around. Usual camping favorites like swimming, fishing, trekking, burgers on the grill, and ghost stories are going to be the most memorable activities for your kids.
What makes the campgrounds in Arkansas apart from the others are the crystalline lakes, and unique picturesque splendor of waterfalls, cliffs, bluffs, and diamond deposits. The sporting options are also comprehensive such as rock climbing, horseback riding, golfing, hang gliding, and even diamond hunting.
Most Arkansas camping takes reservations so you need to call them before you visit. Take a look at the top 11 Arkansas camping in the state:
Top 11 Arkansas campsites for outdoor enthusiasts:
#1. Petit Jean State Park:
Address: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton, AR 72110-9362, USA
Phone number: +1 501-727-5441
The natural beauty and the geology of Petit Jean Mountain stimulated the formation of Petit Jean state park. This park is only about half an hour from little rock.
Petit Jean has 125 individual stunning campsites, they have some group facilities too. You can rent the camping equipment if you don’t carry these.
This park is perfect for families opting for a picnic spot that has tables and grills. There are a swimming pool, playground, Tennis court, and paddle boat rentals. You can also find hiking for any age or fitness level.
#2. Crater of Diamonds State Park:
Address: 209 State Park Road, Murfreesboro, AR 71958
Phone number: 870-285-3113
Crater of Diamond State Park is one of the most stunning campgrounds in Arkansas. It is sited in Murfreesboro. In this place, you can find real diamonds and gems in this eroded crater and you can keep them.
You can bring your mining equipment and also you can rent them from the park. But, it is only not these precious stones that make this place well-known worldwide but it also offers a very nice campground with various facilities.
Facilities include a hot shower, an information center with a gift shop, a water park, and an educative Diamond Discovery Center.
#3. Denton Ferry RV Park and Luxury Cabins in Arkansas:
Address: 740 Denton Ferry Road, Cotter, AR 72626
Phone number: 870-435-7275
Denton Ferry RV Park and Luxury cabins are a great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenic beauty of the White River while visiting the area. This park is located in a riverside meadow in the Ozark Mountains.
This park offers 17 riverfront sides and some land pull sites. All these sites have a grassy lawn space, while some of them have fire pit access. There you can also enjoy a community fire pit.
You can rent the double bedroom luxurious cabins just nearby the White River. These cabins come with amenities such as a hot shower facility, a library, a dining facility, games, and hospitality rooms.
This campground will be a great option for people who would like to spend time on some thrilling fun activities such as biking, hiking, and fishing.
#4. Downtown Riverside RV Park:
Address: 250 S Locust ST, North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone number: 501-340-5312
Downtown Riverside RV Park is situated on the banks of the Arkansas River in Downtown Little Rock. The natural beauty of this campground provides visitors with a variety of fun activities to do. From shopping to exploring the Museums, live music, and comedy shows; everything you can enjoy here.
Outdoor lovers will experience the 15 miles long Arkansas River trailing, this is great for both walking and cycling. The RV Park features 72 sites of water and various electricity services. A Dump station is also available here. For your security, the park is also gated.
#5. Ozark Campground:
Address: Co Rd 129, Harrison, AR 72601
Phone number: 877-444-6777
Ozark campground is set in the Buffalo National River, it is a perfect spot for some good old-fashioned camping. It offers the tent sites to its visitors on a first come first served basis. Each of the camps has a picnic table, lantern hook, and fire ring, provided.
There are no electrical amenities but you can get flush restrooms and water during the camping season. In winter, you don’t need to provide any camping charge.
Right by the campground, there you can find a swimming hole, an amazing place to cool off during a hot summer day. The park is also featuring with numerous biking and hiking trails, fishing, paddle boating, kayaking, etc.
#6. Blue Heron campground:
Address: 150 Blue Heron Dr, Flippin, AR 72634
Phone number: 870- 453-4678
Forget about spending a lot of hours exploring back roads in looking for an ideal campground. Blue Heron campground, on the shores of White River, is easily accessible from the roadways.
If you are coming with a bigger gathering then this is going to be the ideal campground in Arkansas. This campground provides various amenities such as a hot shower, games, a dining place, water for drinking, a dump station, and bathrooms.
Although it is a very small campground you can experience a pleasant atmosphere and the location is beautiful. It offers a lot of outdoor activities such as fishing, paddle boating, swimming, etc.
#7. DeGray Lake Resort State Park:
Address: 2027 State park entrance Rd, Bismarck, AR 71929
Phone number: 501-865-5810
DeGray Lake Resort State Park is situated in Bismarck, Arkansas; it is Arkansas’s only state resort park. This park sits in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains and is nestled along the north shores of DeGray Lake.
This park offers 113 campgrounds with water and electrical amenities. There are campsites on the shores as well as in the wood. You can also rent a permanent tent-like yurt that is included almost everything that you need including electricity.
DeGray is a paradise of water activities. The park provides a golf resort with an 18-hole championship golf course. This area features birds, and wildlife, these all are protected within the parking area.
You can also enjoy some outdoor trails activity such as hiking, biking, and guided tours.
#8. Buffalo National River Park:
Address: Buffalo National River, Arkansas 72675
Phone Number: 870-8611-5522
If you loved to get outdoors but don’t have an RV or are not able to tent camp, then Cabin Camping can be ideal. Buffalo National Park is the part of National Park Service. It has 14 campgrounds, some are primitives while some come with electrical hookups.
The most amazing thing to do in the Buffalo National River Park is the float trip. The Lost Valley accommodations Campsite offers private cabins along the Buffalo National River.
This park is loaded with amazing natural views. You can enjoy various water activities such as fishing, swimming, paddle boating, hiking, and wildlife watching.
You will also love the Lost Valley campsite, the trails take you to the beautiful waterfalls, a cliff, a natural bridge, and a wide range of flora and fauna. The trail ends at a cave.
No matter where you stay in Buffalo National park, you can access the calm and cool water to wet your feet.
#9. Wanderlust RV Park & Cabins:
Address: 468 Passion Play Rd, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Phone number: 479-253-7385
Wanderlust RV Park & Cabin is located about 5 minutes from downtown Eureka Springs. If you are looking for discovering the town and its surroundings then this park is the ideal one for staying. You will appreciate the variety of local attractions such as music shows, craft fairs, bike and car rallies, and a wide range of shopping and dining opportunities.
You can find many hiking and biking trails only just half a mile from the town. The RV has a deep valley where you can enjoy the sunset. It has a calming and peaceful ambiance and offers almost 88 full-hook-up sites. These campsites are including amenities such as hot showers, restrooms, and a laundry facility.
You can rent the Cabins too. Wanderlust RV Park &Cabin should not be missed on your next camping trip in Arkansas.
#10. Willow Beach Recreation Area & Campground:
Address: Park, 11690 Willow beach Rd, Scott, AR 72142
Phone number: 501-961-1332
The peak season of the Willow Beach recreation area & campground has already started but you don’t need to be stressed to find a place to stay at this campground. This campground is located very close to the David D. Terry Lock and Arkansas River Dam. You can bring your RV or tent for camping and enjoying the whispers of nature. You can experience wonderful views and access the fresh, and cool water of the river.
Only a few steps from the Arkansas River and you can find 3 group sites as well as 21 individual campsites. But, you can only use these sites during the daytime. Willow Beach campground has a separate section for a picnic, covered with picnic tables, grills, and water and electric hookups at each site.
This campsite is comparatively small but not so much crowded. It is one of the great places to relax and have fun on the weekends, it is also pet-friendly. You can enjoy a lot of these fun activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, and sightseeing.
#11. Hot Springs National Park:
Address: 838 McClendon Road, Hot Springs, AR
Phone number: 501-624-5912
There are plenty of alternatives available for campers at the KOA campground in the Hot Springs National Park. This KOA location features an ideal arrangement for the campers. There are 75 RV spaces in total, among them 13 are pull-through. There are 66 full hook-up sites available.
There are several secluded, standalone small cottages available for you. So, if you wish to stay in a small cabin then you can book one of them. Each location has a lot of rooms and picnic tables. Here, you can experience a lot of fun activities such as you can play together in the nearby playground, and hiking is simple to get to. You can also visit the nearby Lake Hamilton.
FAQ:
What is your favorite campground in Arkansas?
Ans: Charlton is referred to as one of the best campgrounds in Arkansas. Charlton has 57 sites; 20 have water and electricity, 10 sites have water, electricity, and sewer services; and 27 have no utilities. Charlton is known for crystal clear water, picnic, boating, and fishing.
How much does it cost to camp in Arkansas?
Ans: In Arkansas, each night camping fee ranges from $18 for a class C site, to $36 for class AAA sites with full hookups. The ranges can vary from site to site depending on the utilities.
Conclusion:
Camping in Arkansas offers a wide variety of natural surroundings to enjoy. While camping in Arkansas, you will be amazed at the beautiful scenery and picturesque landscape. With large swaths of open land to abundant bodies of water, Arkansas has something for everyone to get out of and enjoy nature.
So what are you waiting for? Just choose one or more camping sites in Arkansas and pack your bags. Be ready for thrilling activities with your family or friend!
