Best Camping Sites in Arkansas

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Arkansas is a state that is full of natural beauty and some of the best camping sites in Arkansas to give you the opportunity to experience and admire that beauty. If you haven’t experienced much camping in Arkansas, the year affords you plenty of opportunities in our beautiful state! We will give you a guide through some of our favorite spots!

From the beautiful lakes to the abundant forests and national state parks, if you are thinking about taking a camping trip to Arkansas or planning an upcoming camping trip for the family, these camping sites will make the trip more enjoyable. These camp sites will provide you with a variety of different outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, boating, swimming, and picnicking.

dad and children look out over one of the best camping sites in Arkansas, Mt. Magazine State Park from the Mt. Magazine Lodge

The Best Camping Sites in Arkansas Are Spread Throughout the State

From northeastern Arkansas to central Arkansas to the western part of the state, you will find gorgeous and adventurous Arkansas camp sites!

Crater of Diamonds State Park

209 State Park Rd, Murfreesboro, AR 71958

Phone: 870-285-3113

Located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, the Crater of Diamonds State Park brings you a one-of-a-kind experience that lets you search for real diamonds, minerals, rocks, and gemstones. Anything that you find in your journey is yours to keep and you can even rent or bring your own mining equipment that meets the guidelines. Our friend, James, found a diamond a couple years ago when he and some of our family members went digging for diamonds!

After a long day of enjoying the scenery, the trails, or hunting for diamonds, take the kids and head over to the Diamond Springs Water Park to cool off and have some fun in the water. The family can enjoy the wading pool, water jets, water slides, and more.

When it comes to camping, the state park has over 47 Class AAA campsites that include water, electric, and sewer hookups for campers. If you’d prefer to enjoy the site in a tent, there are plenty of tent pads located throughout the park as well as five walk-in tent sites.

I still remember my first visit to Crater of Diamonds State Park when I was a kid. It was early August when we camped at the Crater of Diamonds campsite and went digging for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds. Along with my parents and me was my uncle who was visiting from Central America. Boy, was it hot! I would suggest scheduling a visit to hunt for diamonds at a different time of year than early August in Arkansas!

Ozark-St Francis National Forests

Russellville, AR 72801

Phone: 479-280-8162

New adventures are around every bend and the 1.2-million-acre national forest provides plenty of opportunities for fun for hikers, kayakers, fisherman, camping, and everything in between. The area of Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is full of some of the most beautiful wilderness areas, scenic rivers, and picturesque areas in the state.

Visit Mount Nebo State Park for One of the Best Camping Sites in Arkansas

16728 West State Hwy. 155, Dardanelle, AR 72834

Phone: 479-229-3655

Sitting atop Mount Nebo, overlooking the Arkansas River, and just 45 minutes from Arkansas Wine Country, Mount Nebo State Park is perfect for those who want to enjoy the outdoors, hike, and mountain bike. History lovers will also enjoy the certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site as they learn more about the history of the land and events.

Enjoy the rustic style cabins or campsites that are located along the bluff and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views the area has to offer. The park also offers a swimming pool, various events throughout the camping season, tennis courts, and a visitor center.

Mount Nebo is one of our absolute favorite weekend getaway spots. The lookout points are just gorgeous. In May, the park hosts the Hot Air Balloon festival, which is loads of fun to experience!

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs, AR 71901

501 620-6715

Explore, learn, and relax at the Hot Spring National Park. Not only will you get to experience the natural beauty of the area, but the park offers amazing mountain views, hiking trails, and ancient thermal springs. Check out The Bathhouse Row where you can see historic and beautiful bathhouse buildings that were built as early as the 1800’s.

The Gulpha Gorge Campground in the park offers a variety of different campsites that vary in size and accommodations to enjoy. Each campsite has hookups for electricity, water, grills, picnic tables, and sewer. The only downside to the sites is that they are not pull-through and reservations will need to be made before you visit.

Explore the area through hiking or biking throughout the park as you see and learn about the various bird species found in the area. The landscape of the area also offers plenty of opportunities to take your photography to the next level by capturing the beautiful views. Guided tours also give you the opportunity to learn more about the area, the history, and to see some of the most breathtaking areas of the park.

A lot of people associate Hot Springs only with Oaklawn or the natural springs. And while both of those are cool to experience, Hot Springs offers so much natural beauty for hiking and exploring, too!

Lake Ouachita State Park

5451 Mountain Pine Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956

Phone: 501-767-9366

Sitting on Arkansas’s largest Lake, and near Hot Springs, Lake Ouachita State Park is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest. One of the best camping sites in Arkansas, the area offers over 90 campsites. Camper cabins, fully-equipped cabins, and walk-in tent sites are all around the area and have plenty of facilities that the whole family can enjoy.

During your visit to the state park, you can enjoy the swimming area, kayaking, exhibits, guided hikes, scenic tours, and hiking trails. If that’s not enough to do, you can take the family scuba diving, water skiing, or do some largemouth bass fishing. These are all offered year-round.

We have had some of our best family trips to Lake Quachita! Lake Quachita is an absolutely gorgeous lake with plenty of options for tent camping, cabin rentals, or AIRBB rentals.

We often rent one of the Ouachita State Park cabins. A three bedroom loft cabin fits us and my parents. My mom and dad enjoying the short walk to doing some fishing as do my Hubs and the girls.

little girl dressed warmly on rocky area of shore at Lake Ouachita

man finishes from edge of shore at Lake Ouachita

Crowley’s Ridge State Park

2092 Hwy. 168 North, Paragould, AR 72450

Phone: 870-573-6751

Crowley’s Ridge State Park is in Northeast Arkansas and is known for its beautiful scenery and native log and stone structures that were built in the 1930’s. It extends for nearly 200 miles and provides the beauty of lush mixed forest and uncommon hardwood trees.

Walcott Lake, which is located in the state park, is a 30-acre lake that offers a ton of fishing options where fishermen will be able to catch anything from bass to catfish.

Rustic cabins, tent sites, and other camping sites offer you the ability to enjoy the park in comfort. While staying at the park you will be able to swim in the lake, attend various events that provide an educational experience, take out pedal boats, or enjoy the water in a kayak.

Mountain Magazine State Park

16878 AR-309, Paris, AR 72855

Phone: 479-963-8502

Mount Magazine State Park is unique in its own way and offers a place to enjoy some of the best scenery the state has to offer. It’s the perfect destination to study nature, enjoy some outdoor sports, rock climbing, hang gliding, and more. There is something for everyone here and you won’t be disappointed when visiting.

There are plenty of cabins, tent areas, and campsites that you can reserve. There is also a lodge that offers everything you need without the hassle of camping if that is more your style.

We highly recommend a stay in the lodge at some point if you are okay with splurging on your getaway. We enjoyed our stay at Mt. Magazine Lodge so much a couple years ago! Our parents, who don’t travel without their sweet doggie, were able to enjoy a nice weekend with a pet-friendly room in the lodge.

Mt. Magazine State Park - one of the best camping sites in Arkansas

I hope you enjoyed our run down of some of the best camping sites in Arkansas! Arkansas is home to some of the best camping areas in the United States and each offers its own unique and beautiful area to explore. These are just a few of the best camping sites in Arkansas and they all offer something everyone in the family can enjoy. We love our beautiful state and love to see visitors from all around at our parks and campgrounds!

Maybe we will see you at one of them soon!