Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

Discover the best tent campgrounds across Arkansas. Get back to basics with traditional tent camping. From established sites with amenities to secluded wilderness spots.

20+ Campgrounds4.6★ AverageBest: May-September (peak season)

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Pet-Friendly With Showers Potable Water Flush Toilets Reservable Under $15/night

Featured Campgrounds

Handpicked destinations that define the region

Mountain Home
Norfork Lake

Spacious sites nestle beneath towering oaks and pines, offering natural shade and soft, level ground just steps from Norfork Lake's sparkling waters. The sandy swim beach provides a refreshing retreat after setting up camp, while the forest canopy creates a serene buffer between sites.

MINERAL SPRINGS
Millwood Lake

Tranquil wooded sites on Millwood Lake provide natural privacy with level ground, where lakeside pitches let you fish steps from your tent door. Elevated campsites frame water views through the trees, while the uncrowded setting means you'll wake to birdsong instead of neighbor chatter.

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

Winslow
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Primitive sites nestle among ancient Ozark forests atop a mountain ridge, where level tent pads and towering hardwoods create secluded camping beneath the canopy.

Tents

RVs

About Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

Tent camping in Arkansas offers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in some of the most diverse and scenic landscapes in the American South, from the rugged Ozark Mountains to pristine river corridors and tranquil lake shores. The Natural State lives up to its name with an exceptional variety of tent-friendly campgrounds that cater to everyone from backcountry purists to families seeking comfortable developed sites with modern amenities.

Best Time

The prime tent camping season in Arkansas runs from mid-March through May and September through early November, when temperatures are comfortable and humidity levels are manageable. Spring (April-May) brings wildflower displays, rushing waterfalls from winter rains, and ideal conditions for hiking and river activities, though occasional thunderstorms require weather awareness.

What Makes It Great

Designated tent pads and flat ground
Fire rings and picnic tables
Varying levels of amenities
Scenic natural settings

More Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

Discover 17 additional top-rated tent campgrounds in Arkansas

4.5

(711)

Buffalo Point

Yellville
Buffalo National River

Dedicated walk-in tent sites nestle you beneath ancient hardwood canopies with limestone bluffs towering overhead, offering genuine seclusion from the RV loops.

Blanchard Springs Campgrounds

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Seventeen intimate sites nestle beneath towering yellow pines in the Ozark Mountains, offering tent campers genuine solitude and forest immersion without electrical distractions.

St. Joe
Buffalo National River

Twelve tent-only sites line the Buffalo River's banks, each with fire rings and picnic tables positioned for genuine solitude beneath towering hardwoods.

Bigelow
Arkansas River - Toad Suck Ferry Pool

Spacious sites nestled under towering shade trees provide generous separation between campers, with level ground and picnic shelters that create comfortable outdoor living spaces.

Heber Springs
Greers Ferry Lake

Towering red cedars shade spacious sites that cascade down hillsides toward crystal-clear lake waters, offering tent campers natural privacy in the Ozark Mountains.

Mountain Home
Norfork Lake

Towering hardwoods create a shaded sanctuary across 64 campsites in the secluded Bennetts Bayou area, where tent campers enjoy level ground and natural privacy beneath a mature forest canopy.

Tent campers enjoy spacious sites tucked among mature trees, with level ground and convenient access to Lake Greeson's sandy swimming beach just steps away.

Jack Creek Recreation Area

Booneville, AR
Ouachita National Forest

Towering rock bluffs shelter spacious tent sites throughout this CCC-era campground, where level ground and natural stone features create distinct camping zones beneath old-growth forest canopy.

Beard'S Bluff Park (Ar)

Ashdown
Millwood Lake

Towering hardwoods shelter spacious sites along Millwood Lake's shoreline, where level ground and generous spacing create natural privacy between each camping spot. Watch the sun melt into the water from your waterfront pitch, then return to hot showers that wash away the day's adventures.

Tents

RVs

Campground Locations

Showing top 20 campgrounds near Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

Map of campgrounds near Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

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Map Key

Bidwell Point Park

Cottonshed Park (Ar)

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

Buffalo Point

Blanchard Springs Campgrounds

Rush Campground

Toad Suck

Dam Site Campground

Gamaliel

Kirby Landing

Jack Creek Recreation Area

Beard'S Bluff Park (Ar)

Highway 125 Park Bull Shoals

Haw Creek Falls Point Of Interest

Bellah Mine

Ozark Campground

Bayou Bluff Point Of Interest

Cove Lake Recreation Area

Highway 27 Campground

Shady Lake

View all 119 campgrounds on interactive map

Plan Your Trips

Popular Activities

Tent camping under ancient oak and pine canopiesHiking scenic trails through Ozark and Ouachita MountainsSwimming in crystal-clear lakes, rivers, and mountain streamsFishing for bass, trout, and catfish in diverse watersCanoeing and kayaking on the Buffalo National RiverWildlife viewing including deer, wild turkey, and diverse bird species

Tips & Recommendations

1Reserve campsites early for popular destinations like Buffalo National River campgrounds and White Rock Mountain, especially for weekend visits during spring and fall—many Arkansas campgrounds use Recreation.gov for advance bookings up to six months ahead.
2Bring sturdy tent stakes suitable for rocky Ozark soil, along with extra rope or paracord for securing your setup in case of wind, which can pick up quickly in mountain and lakeside locations.
3Pack layers for unpredictable Arkansas weather, including rain gear regardless of forecast, as afternoon thunderstorms are common from spring through fall.
4A quality sleeping pad is essential for comfort on the sometimes rocky or uneven ground typical of mountain campgrounds.

20 campgrounds ranked

Based on real camper reviews

Curated for Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas

Tent Campgrounds in Arkansas FAQ

Arkansas offers 20+ tent-friendly campgrounds. We've ranked them based on site quality, natural setting, amenities, and user reviews.

Tent camping in Arkansas typically costs $15-35 per night at developed campgrounds. Some national forest and primitive sites may be free or under $10 per night.

Essential gear includes a quality tent, sleeping bag rated for Arkansas conditions, sleeping pad, camp stove, and appropriate clothing. Check weather forecasts and pack layers.