The 5 Best Places to Camp in Arkansas this Summer

Arkansas is known as “The Natural State” with the Ozark mountains, Mississippi River, the Arkansas Delta and Hot Springs there is so much to see and do. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing swimming and boating at many of the 52 State Parks. There are also some amazing campgrounds, both rustic and modern, for you to stay while you visit. From Lakeside sites to mountain top views, here are the 5 best places to camp in Arkansas this summer!

1. Gulpha Gorge Campground, Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park has a 4,000 year old natural spring that comes out of the ground at 147°! In the park there are several pools where the water has cooled enough that visitors can touch the warm waters. There are also two private bathhouses that allow visitors to soak in a bath of the crystal clear hot spring water. To camp at the springs you can stay at the Gulpha Gorge Campground which has 40 sites with full hookups including 30/50 amp electric, water and sewer. The site are large and suitable for RV’s or tents. They do not take reservations and have a 14 consecutive day limit. Although it is rare to see one, there are black bear that live in Hot Springs parks so be sure to keep your food in bear proof containers.

2. Lake Ouachita State Park Campground

Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in Arkansas at 40,000 acres for swimming, boating and some amazing fishing. Fish for largemouth bass, crappie, bream, catfish and it is known for its striped bass. You will have penty of luck catching some to fry up for dinner at the Lake Ouachita State Park Campground. This campground has 93 campsites total with 71 for RV’s and 12 walk-in tent sites. The walk-in tent sites are on a peninsula and all of the sites are lakeside sites!

The park has restrooms, showers, picnic tables and fire pits. At the center of the State Park is a visitor center, playground, swimming beach, marina and boat launch. You can pack a lunch and go for a hike on the Caddo Bend Trail which is a 4 mile loop out to the Point 50 Overlook where you can see the Hickory Nut Mountain in the background. Then settle back into a campfire, right on the lake!

3. Wooly Hollow State Park

For a smaller campground, visit Wooly Hollow State Park. It is located on Lake Bennett, which is a 40-acre recreation lake that has some of the best swimming beaches. They also have boat rentals so you can try out the pedal boats, canoes, kayaks and fishing boats. The campsite has 40 sites with 30 that have 50 amp electric, water and sewer. The other 10 sites are Class D with no hookups and work great for tenting. Make time to take the Huckleberry Trail to see the dam or try the challenging Enders Fault Mountain Bike Trails. So much to do and see! With such a variety of activities this really is one of the best places to camp in Arkansas this summer!

4. Daisy State Park

If you want access to the mountains, lakes and rivers of Arkansas, Daisy State Park has all three. It sits on Lake Greeson in the Ouachita Mountains and is also on the Little Missouri River. The campground has many lakeside sites so you are right on the water. Have you ever stayed in a Yurt? Daisy State Park has three of them that you can rent while you stay at the park. There are 100 campsites total with a mix of RV and tent sites. Kayaking and fishing are some of the most popular activities at the park with rentals available. The best fishing is for trout with several spots known to produce good size fish. There is also an ATV trail, the Bear Cycle Trail, which many people enjoy exploring!

5. Crater of Diamonds State Park

The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where the public can search for real diamonds! There is a 37.5 acre field that you can pay to sift through the field in search of diamonds. The park sits on an old diamond-bearing volcanic crater and diamonds are still found there today. In 2021, there were 354 diamonds found, 8 of which were more than a carat!

Besides the diamond field, the park itself is beautiful. The campground has 52 sites including RV and tent sites that are in nice large shaded areas. There are fire pits at each site for a relaxing evening campfire. Take a hike through the woods to a wildlife observation blind where you can try to get amazing photos of deer, turkeys and hawks. As one of the best places to camp in Arkansas this summer, you can cool off in the onsite water park after a day digging for your fortune!