The best camping near Ouachita National Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Ouachita National Forest adventure.

96% (24 reviews)

The Ouachita mountains may become your new go-to for hiking, fishing, and camping in Arkansas.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Ouachita National Forest

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Ouachita National Forest

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Charlton Recreation Area

58 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

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Lake Sylvia Campground

29 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

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Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp

10 sites In Ouachita National Forest

Spacious campsites surrounded by cedars.

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Cedar Lake Campground

90 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

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Shady Lake Recreation Area

65 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

Jack Creek Recreation Area

5 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

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Knoppers Ford Campground

6 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

Little Pines Recreation Area

9 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

from

$16

/ night

South Fourche Campground

6 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

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/ night

Billy Creek Recreation Area

12 sites In Ouachita National Forest

Crystal Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

Big Brushy Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

Camp Clearfork Recreation Area

6 sites In Ouachita National Forest

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Winding Stair Campground

28 sites · RVs, Tents In Ouachita National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Ouachita National Forest

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Thunder Mountain Private River Camp

2 sites · RVs, Tents81 acres · Caddo Gap, AR

80+ acres all to yourself!! This beautiful and very secluded property, with river, kayaks, trails, and creeks is offered to only one group at a time to ensure peace, quiet, and seclusion. No other guests will overlap your stay. You will enjoy the peaceful solitude in nature completely alone! (Note on trails: we are re-working the trails between guests in the spring of 2025 due to forest thinning operations that were done in Dec '24. We hope to have the trails back in great shape by summer 2025.) It's a great location for romantic getaways, silent personal retreats, yoga, playing in the river, or just spending quiet one-on-one time with your spouse or significant other. The last 1/2 mile of dirt road is sometimes rough, so cars with low ground clearance are not recommended. Campers on Thunder Mountain enjoy the entire property, including the unique outdoor bathhouse with outdoor tub and shower, amazing multi-level decks, kayaks, grill, trails, hammocks, and tubes - without the cost of the cabin. The cabin will be vacant during camping stays, but you can still enjoy the WiFi and other amenities outside. ($30-90/night camping; $190-280/night cabin - listed separately) Last minute bookings may have discounted rates. Camping bookings for 1 to 2 nights are sometimes available even if the calendar does not show due to cabin cleaning days. We'll try to move our cleaning days around to help you out if possible. If you see a price of $999, that is a date that can be opened up for you at a low price ($30-50) but will have some restrictions on check-in or check-out time. Just ask!

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(245)

Ouachita River Haven

22 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents14 acres · Pencil Bluff, AR

Welcome to Ouachita River Haven! Nestled between Ouachita National Forest property and the Ouachita River, our Haven is a peaceful little slice of nature for you to take a break, catch your breath, and enjoy the outdoors! Property has 1000 ft of river access, with canoe & kayak docks, swimming hole, volleyball and tetherball, horseshoes, swings. We offer hiking, mountain biking, and river shuttles as well as canoe/kayak/tube rentals and shuttles. Such trips should be reserved in advance by messaging us or visiting our website. Our office sells firewood for $5/bundle. We also have a small array of custom woodwork items from our woodshop, freeze dried snacks and hiking restocks, food from local vendors, and souvenirs! All primitive sites have a picnic table, fire ring, and campfire grill grate. Electric sites are 30 amp, if using for tent camping you will need a 3-prong converter (we can rent one to you for $5 if you do not have your own). RV/Camper MAXIMUM length is 28 feet. Tipi rental is a camping experience only; it does not have electricity, a/c or heat. There are solar lights inside. We do have a Queen Sized outdoor bed and bedding available to add to rental for $10/night. Bunkhouse is a camping experience - bring your own bedding. A/C, heat, electricity, TV & DVDs, Microwave, and Mini fridge are inside. Guests use campground restrooms Campground restrooms and showers are a short walk from campgrounds. We are pet-friendly. Dogs must be leashed at all times that they are not in a tent or camper and friendly with other dogs and people. There is a working dog on the property-he is friendly with all people and dogs.

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Crystal Camp

4 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Mount Ida, AR

The Crystal Camp Campground is a rock hounding paradise and is less than two minutes from the Crystal Vista, Wegner and Avatar Crystal mines. This area of Arkansas produces some of the finest quartz crystals on earth and your chances of finding real treasure at any of the nearby mines is pretty much guaranteed. If your kids like to play in the dirt and hunt for treasure they will fill their pockets with real gems at any of the nearby mines. Please Note: This is a beautiful property and ready for your trip but guests should expect a work in progress as well. The property is newly cleared, we installed new picnic tables and have fire rings, but that's the extent of the amenities right now. This property was basically a 2 acre blackberry patch. About half has been cleared and 4 campsites created but the rest is still in progress. Work will not be performed during your stay. You may see tools and signs of recent work etc.. Located on a paved section of Owley Road in Mount Ida Arkansas. This is a large 2 acre property with four cleared sites that offer plenty of room for any size tent(s). Generators are welcome and pets are too. The property is bordered by old growth national forest and an ice cold spring fed stream is located in the national forest behind the property. Like all wooded areas in Arkansas ticks should be expected while hiking and camping at the Crystal Camp Campground. Please bring tick defense for yourself and pets.

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Hot Springs Campground & RV Park

55 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Hot Springs, AR

Welcome to Hot Springs Campground! Located just a 4 miles from downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, Hot Springs Campground & RV Park is the perfect destination for RV enthusiasts seeking relaxation, natural beauty, and convenient access to the city’s vibrant attractions. Nestled in the heart of the scenic Ouachita Mountains, our campground offers a serene and picturesque setting for your camping adventures. Hot Springs National Park: Situated in the heart of the city, Hot Springs National Park is renowned for its therapeutic thermal waters. Immerse yourself in the soothing hot springs, which have been enjoyed for centuries for their healing properties.

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End of the Trail

5 sites · Lodging65 acres · Boles, AR

This property was once home to American Indians and arrowhead are abundant.Learn more about this land:65 acres on the Foursch La Fave river surrounded by Ouachita National Forest.. This property has access to ATV trails, horse back riding, Kayaking, hiking, along with great sunrises and beautiful sunsets. At the property entrance we have a 3 bedroom 2 bath home that is available for rent thru Evolve.

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(189)

Bluegill Hill

3 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Kirby, AR

Located at the southern foothills of the Ouachita Mountains and the northwestern edge of Lake Greeson, this 6 acre plot of land is part of a gentle hillside that descends into the lake. Enjoy two trails to Lake Greeson and easily access nearby boat launches, public beaches, parks, and much more! Come make yourself at home on Bluegill Hill and enjoy the small lake village lifestyle!

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Sacred Pines

14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents75 acres · Boles, AR

Surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest, enjoy secluded time in nature! Stay in our off-grid treehouses, peaceful campsites, cozy tiny homes, and handcrafted cabins, allowing you to connect with others in the wild. We are located near many hiking trails, kayaking spots, swimming holes, atv and bike trails and so muchg more!

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(45)

Spa City HipCamp Now

5 sites · RVs5 acres · Hot Springs National Park, AR

Welcome to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas! Are you looking for a convenient space to rest your RV, motor home or tent for a night or two? You’ve come to the right place 😊. Let my space be your space! Welcome to my beautiful oasis with 5 acre blessed with trees, pond and creek. Conveniently located just right outside city limits. Close to everything yet secluded enough to have privacy , peace and quite. It has green grass most of the year with lots of lightning bugs at night, abundant wildlife: deers, bunnies, possums, raccoons and squirrels 😁. Very well spaced out mature trees that provides shade and fresh air. Well house for water supply in property as well but no hookups of any kind in place at the moment. Also has concrete custom made swimming hole that freshly feeds off the pond and streams but may be dry right now due to extreme heat and no rain in forecast. My space is suited best for well prepared campers as I don’t offer any amenities on site at this time. Land is close to everything Hot Springs, Arkansas has to offer. 1.3 miles away from Magic Springs 2.5 miles from Gulpha Gorge 4.9 miles from Oaklawn Racing & Gaming 6.1 miles from Hot Springs mall 3.6 miles from historic downtown Hot Springs and Arlington Hotel.

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Brookside RV Retreat

7 sites · Lodging, RVs40 acres · Mena, AR

Ready to Retreat? Come discover Brookside RV Retreat, located and surrounded by the beautiful Ouachita Mountains 20 miles east of Mena and 30 miles south of Mt. Ida, Arkansas. Our RV facilities were designed by people who understand you don't want to be crowded. This is why we have a very limited number of sites, which are spaciously arranged, allowing you as much privacy and solitude as you want. Guests have private access to the Big Fork Creek, a great place to walk or picnic while listening to the sounds of the water. In the warmer months, cool off and take a dip in the crystal clear mountain stream. The creek runs along the backside of a 40 acre plot, all of which you are welcome to explore for swimming holes and waterfalls! In addition, we considered a dark-friendly campground, which means at night, the skies come alive with stars, constellations, and a view of the Milky Way. Learn more about this land: We are a new 2021 RV park located in Big Fork, AR, 20 miles east of Mena and 30 miles south of Mt. Ida. We have 5 pull-through sites with full hook-ups. Sites are very spacious at 75' x 20' plus picnic, firepit, and seating areas. Guests have private access to the Big Fork Creek with swimming holes and waterfalls. We are also located near the Wolf Pen Gap ATV trails, and guests can ride directly to the trails from their RV site. Local rental companies are available for anyone not wanting to bring their own ATVs. There is plenty of overflow parking for trailers for those that do bring their own on the property as well.

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Edendell Campground

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents28 acres · Oden, AR

Edendell is a great place to basecamp out of. We offer 26 full hook up rv sites, tent camping, glamping deck, and guest house. We have 6 Kayaks for rent with optional shuttle service. Near by activities are ATV trails, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, boating, crystal digging, diamond mine is 1 hour away. We also have an airsoft battle ground on site for special occasions.

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Starlight Haven Hot Springs

21 sites · Lodging27 acres · Hot Springs, AR

Surrounded by beautiful views, gorgeous lakes, and abundant wildlife, Starlight Haven Hot Springs has plenty of experiences for nature lovers and urbanites alike. Come enjoy the charming and unique town of Hot Springs. Whether you are a mountain biker looking to hit the Northwood Bike Trails, or a wanderer looking to experience America’s oldest National Park, there’s something for everyone in Hot Springs.

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Diamond Glamping

20 sites · Lodging, Tents5 acres · Anaconda Deer Lodge County, AR

Welcome to Diamond Glamping, Murfreesboro, Arkansas's premier luxury outdoor retreat, nestled in the scenic beauty of nature and just a stone's throw away from the world-renowned Crater of Diamonds State Park. Here, we offer a unique blend of adventure and tranquility, making it the perfect getaway for those seeking both excitement and relaxation. 4 Cabins 4 Tents 2 Treehouses BYOT Option (Bring Your Own Tent)

The best camping near Ouachita National Forest guide

Overview

About

This National Forest delivers year-round. Spring and summer mean lush vegetation and wildflowers, and fall brings you fiery leaves and bright colors everywhere. You’ll find killer views of mountain ranges, places to paddle on the rivers, solid camping options, and good times for all.

Water seekers should check out Shady Lake recreation area, a 25-acre lake with ample swimming options. There’s even a dam that forms a scenic waterfall. Wilderness junkies will find sweet thru-hiking opportunities, and multi-use trails for all modes of transport, so you can lose yourself in the wild. The 192 mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail spans every type of terrain. For those with a little less time on their hands, there are plenty of shorter trails to choose from.

When you’ve had your fill of recreating, head over to the town of Hot Springs to soak off the day’s activities.