Arkansas Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- The Buffalo National River is the real draw here — one of the few undammed rivers left in the lower 48, flowing free for 135 miles
- Petit Jean State Park is Arkansas’s flagship for good reason — waterfalls, a lake, and genuinely solid full-hookup camping in one place
- Devil’s Den’s mountain roads are narrow and winding — scout the route before bringing a big rig
- Arkansas’s lakes (Beaver, Greers Ferry, Norfork, Lake Ouachita) are genuinely clear — this is a real swimming-and-scuba destination, not just a boating state
The Natural State Earns Its Name
Arkansas is the strongest all-around outdoor state in this batch — Ozark hiking, an undammed river, and lakes clear enough for scuba diving, all within a reasonable drive of each other.
Campgrounds
Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River (Lower District)
The park’s most developed campground, with shaded sites, some electric hookups, cabins, and a seasonal restaurant. The best all-around family base within the national river.
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Ozark Campground — Buffalo National River (near Jasper)
31 drive-up tent sites near a genuinely beautiful emerald swimming hole and sandy river beaches, just a short walk from camp. Best for tent or small-vehicle families.
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Petit Jean State Park — Morrilton
Arkansas’s flagship state park, atop Petit Jean Mountain. 125 campsites, over a third full-hookup, near Cedar Falls (a 95-foot waterfall) and Lake Bailey. A genuine family favorite.
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Devil’s Den State Park — West Fork
A CCC-built park in Lee Creek Valley, with over 130 campsites including 44 full-hookup, plus a horse camp. Note: the mountainous, narrow, tree-lined roads make big-rig navigation genuinely tricky — scout ahead if you’re towing anything large.
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Gulpha Gorge Campground — Hot Springs National Park
A rare full-hookup national park option, right near downtown Hot Springs, open year-round.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Whitaker Point / Hawksbill Crag — Ozark National Forest (near Ponca)
A roughly 3-mile round trip to the most photographed bluff in the state, jutting dramatically over the valley. Arrive early — the lot fills on weekends, and dogs aren’t allowed.
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Lost Valley Trail — Buffalo National River (Boxley Valley)
A family-favorite roughly 2.2-mile hike past waterfalls, a natural bridge, and a cave you can explore with a flashlight. Often the most popular trail in the whole Buffalo River area.
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Cedar Falls Trail — Petit Jean State Park
A moderate hike to a 95-foot waterfall — one of the most spectacular short hikes in the state.
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Yellow Rock Trail — Devil’s Den State Park
A roughly 3.5-mile moderate hike to an overlook above Lee Creek Valley. Crowded on weekends, so plan for an early start.
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Hot Springs Mountain Trail — Hot Springs National Park
An easy-to-moderate walk through a thermal-spring city park, with a summit tower and overlooks — a genuinely unique urban-park hike.
Learn moreLakes & Swimming Areas
Buffalo National River
The state’s marquee waterway — floating, tubing, swimming, and gravel-bar camping along 135 miles of free-flowing water, one of the few undammed rivers left in the country.
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Beaver Lake — near Rogers/Eureka Springs
Clear Ozark water with high bluffs, good for cliff jumping, swimming, and even scuba diving.
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Greers Ferry Lake — Heber Springs/Clinton
Ranked among the cleanest, clearest lakes in the region. Boat out to Sugar Loaf Mountain for hiking, or swim at “Sandy Beach.”
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Lake Ouachita — near Hot Springs
The state’s largest lake, with over 200 islands and exceptionally clear water — genuinely one of the best scuba and swimming lakes in the region.
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RV Spots
Petit Jean State Park — Morrilton
Over 35 full-hookup sites on concrete pads, with big-rig-friendly loops. The top RV pick in the state given the amenities and scenery.
Learn moreCorps of Engineers lake campgrounds (Greers Ferry, Norfork, Bull Shoals, Beaver, Lake Ouachita)
Waterfront electric/water sites with dump stations, on some of the clearest water in the region.
Gulpha Gorge — Hot Springs National Park
Full hookups year-round, walking distance to downtown Hot Springs.
Learn moreNote: Devil’s Den’s narrow mountain roads make it a poor fit for larger rigs — check your route before booking there.
Planning Your Trip
The Buffalo National River should anchor a trip focused on hiking and floating — Lost Valley and Whitaker Point are both easy adds if you’re staying at Buffalo Point or Ozark Campground. If clear-water swimming is the priority, Beaver Lake and Greers Ferry genuinely rival destinations people travel much further for.