Free Camping in Arkansas

194 sites across 5 federal and state land agencies. 1 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

18 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Arkansas Post National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo National River
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Point Visitor Contact Station
    Developed· Indexing
  • Carver Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Smith National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gulpha Gorge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hot Springs National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kyles Landing
    Developed· Indexing
  • Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pea Ridge National Military Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Steel Creek Campground
    Developed
  • Tyler Bend Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Woolum
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

35 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Aux Arc Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Pioneer
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campground Area A
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campground Area B
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 1
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 10
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 2
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 3
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 4
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 5
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 6
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 7
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 8
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 9
    Developed· Indexing
  • Carter Cove Public Use Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cossatot Falls Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Delta Heritage Trail State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ed Banks Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Equestrian Campground (Area C)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Smith Alma RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Group Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hickory Nut Mountain Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mill Creek Outfitters
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mississippi River SP - Beech Point
    Developed· Indexing
11 more PRIVATE sites in Arkansas.

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

111 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • ALPINE RIDGE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Murray Lock and Dam
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Norrell Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Pool 3
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Pool 4
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Pool 5
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Rockefeller Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Terry Lock and Dam
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Toad Suck Ferry Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arkansas River - Wilbur D. Mills Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • ARLIE MOORE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arlie Moore Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • AUX ARC
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aux Arc Day Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Avery
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Creek (AR)
    Developed· Indexing
  • BEARD'S BLUFF PARK (AR)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • BIG COON CREEK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Mountain Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Ridge Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • BRADY MOUNTAIN
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brady Mountain Day-Use
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bull Shoals Lake
    Developed· Indexing
87 more US Army Corps of Engineers sites in Arkansas.

US Forest Service sites

18 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Barkshed Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • BLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREA
    Developed· Indexing
  • Charlton Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • FRAZIER HORSE CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gunner Pool Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • LAKE WEDINGTON
    Developed· Indexing
  • Little Pines Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Long Pool Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mill Creek OHV Trail Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Moccasin Gap
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ouachita National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
    Developed· Indexing
  • Redding Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Shores Lake Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Shores Lake Recreation Area Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Spring Lake Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Wolf Pen Campground
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

12 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Lake Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery
    Developed· Indexing
  • Overflow National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Arkansas

How long can you camp on public land in Arkansas?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Arkansas is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Arkansas have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Arkansas right now?
Fire restrictions in Arkansas change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Arkansas state office page and the USFS Arkansas forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Arkansas?
Dispersed camping in Arkansas means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Arkansas allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Arkansas?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Arkansas with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Arkansas prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Arkansas?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Arkansas when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Arkansas are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Arkansas in winter?
Winter access in Arkansas depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Arkansas often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Arkansas?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Arkansas do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Arkansas?
Coverage in Arkansas varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Arkansas sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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