Go if
You want lakefront camping with hookups and appreciate fall color in the Cookson Hills.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$23 - $50/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
27 campsites
Season
Season runs from Mar...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$23 - $50/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
27 campsites
Season
Season runs from Mar...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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102 E BK 200
You want lakefront camping with hookups and appreciate fall color in the Cookson Hills.
You need pristine restrooms or 24-hour gate access for late arrivals.
Context for the broader area surrounding Applegate Cove, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam is located along the Arkansas River Navigation System. The lake area is beautiful any time of the year. It is especially scenic when flowering shrubs and leaf buds decorate the landscape with a soft glow in spring, or when the brilliant colors of fall start to unfold. You can see these magnificent changes from one of our many Public Use Area's or from our Short Mountain Hiking Trail. For young and old alike Kerr Lake has a variety of recreation for everyone, from swimming on our many beaches to camping ad picnicking in one of our five park areas. Our camping areas include facilities such as boat launching ramps, designated camps sites, picnic areas, drinking water, shower facilities and sanitary facilities. Whether by power boat, sailboat or any type of craft, the broad expanse and depth of the water just above the dam and extending about 7 miles upstream, will satisfy the demand for any type of pleasure craft. Robert S. Kerr Reservoir provides excellent opportunities for fishing and hunting. Principal species of fish in the lake include largemouth and striped bass, white crappie, channel and flathead catfish, walleye and various sunfish species. Opportunities are equally as good for the hunting enthusiast. Principal species present at the project include white tailed deer, fox and gray squirrel, cottontail and swamp rabbit, raccoon, mink, opossum, bobwhite quail, mourning dove and several species of waterfowl.
From Fort Smith, AR, 22 miles west on I-40, 8 miles south on US 59.
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Best season: fall. Fall delivers the best overall experience at Applegate Cove: crisp, comfortable days (about 60–75°F) and cool nights (40s–50s) make hiking, wildlife viewing, and shoreline fishing especially pleasant. The Cookson Hills show good color in October, boating remains enjoyable into early fall, and insect activity drops so evenings are more comfortable. Crowds typically taper after Labor Day, so you get peak scenery and recreation with a quieter, family-friendly campground. Peak months: October, September, May, April Avoid: November, December, January, February
Fall called the best season: comfortable temps, good colors, fewer insects per site notes.
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Applegate Cove provides basic amenities that cater to a variety of campers. There are 27 campsites equipped with fire pits, picnic tables, and electric hookups. Water hookups are also available, though some sites share water spigots with neighboring sites. The campground features two playgrounds, a boat ramp, and a courtesy dock. Reviewers frequently noted the presence of mature trees and spacious campsites, but also highlighted maintenance issues with amenities like water and bathrooms. One user commented, "Paid for electric and water and both were broken at our site," while another mentioned, "Bathrooms were older but clean and serviceable." Gates operate from 6 AM to 10 PM, and quiet hours are enforced between 10 PM and 6 AM.
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Pulled from per-site mentions in 169 reviews.
Sites 2-5 have concrete pads and are described as "nice wide spaces." Site 27 was highlighted as "almost perfect" for its spaciousness and proximity to the…
Site #13 was noted as "very large" but had a poorly placed fire pit and table.
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