Lake Camping Near Fort Smith, Arkansas, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2026

Welcome to Hipcamp, the ultimate camping resource for outdoor enthusiasts in the United States! If you're looking to camp near Fort Smith, Arkansas and have a preference for lakeside adventures, you're in luck. We offer over 248 options in the area that cater specifically to your desire for a lake experience. Whether you're seeking a serene fishing spot or an action-packed wind sports destination, you'll find the perfect campsite that suits your needs. Some of our top campsites in the area include Heavener Runestone Park (210 reviews), Bluegill Hill (121 reviews), and Fresh Life at Rocky Branch (76 reviews). With prices starting as low as $10 per night and an average price of $29 per night, you can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without breaking the bank. Rest assured, popular amenities such as toilets, potable water, and trash facilities are available at these campsites. So pack your gear, grab your fishing rod, and get ready for an unforgettable lakeside camping experience near Fort Smith, Arkansas!

98% (421)

Top-rated campgrounds

Welcome to Hipcamp, the ultimate camping resource for outdoor enthusiasts in the United States! If you're looking to camp near Fort Smith, Arkansas and have a preference for lakeside adventures, you're in luck. We offer over 248 options in the area that cater specifically to your desire for a lake experience. Whether you're seeking a serene fishing spot or an action-packed wind sports destination, you'll find the perfect campsite that suits your needs. Some of our top campsites in the area include Heavener Runestone Park (210 reviews), Bluegill Hill (121 reviews), and Fresh Life at Rocky Branch (76 reviews). With prices starting as low as $10 per night and an average price of $29 per night, you can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without breaking the bank. Rest assured, popular amenities such as toilets, potable water, and trash facilities are available at these campsites. So pack your gear, grab your fishing rod, and get ready for an unforgettable lakeside camping experience near Fort Smith, Arkansas!

98% (421)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Sacred Pines

100%

(46)

45mi from Fort Smith · 17 sites · Tents, Lodging · Boles, AR

Surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest, enjoy secluded time in nature! Stay in our off-grid treehouses, peaceful campsites, cozy tiny homes, and handcrafted cabins, allowing you to connect with others in the wild. We are located near many hiking trails, kayaking spots, swimming holes, atv and bike trails and so muchg more!

2. Heavener Runestone Park

97%

(515)

33mi from Fort Smith · 17 sites · Tents, RVs · Heavener, OK

This 55 acre park is home of a large sandstone that contains 8 markings believed to have been made by Vikings many years ago. The park features a seasonal waterfall, covered picnic areas, playground, amphitheater with seating, community building, scenic views, gift shop and approximately 2 miles of nature trails. Be advised that most tent sites have a tent pad but a few are primitive mountain terrain (rocky). The one RV site is for 16 ft. or less vehicles and smaller teardrop trailers with limited hook-up and no dump station. Restroom and shower facilities are located within the park. Individual campsites DO NOT have onsite toilets. Forest setting while still close to stores in case of forgotten items. Variety of small wildlife in the area. All sites allow campfires UNLESS we are under a county wide burn ban. *Note moderate cancellation policy for most dates - full refund 3 days before check-in time. * ** Special event camping is a strict no refund policy.

3. Lake Wilson Retreat 🌲

100%

(10)

47mi from Fort Smith · 1 site · Lodging · Greenland, AR

The Lake Wilson Retreat is our 35 acre private property, peacefully situated atop the wooded mountains near Lake Wilson. On the property is The Shed, a simple campsite where you'll find a fire pit and a simple sleeping cabin with a full size platform bed frame and wood stove to enjoy. An ideal place to clear your head. The Shed comfortably sleep two (2) adults, but you are welcome to bring tents for up to to four (4) other additional campers. We provide a full size platform bed frame, but guests will need to bring their own blow up mattress or camp pads for comfort — as well as all bedding / pillows / towels. About Lake Wilson: Lake Wilson Park is comprised of approximately 320 acres of land with 28 acres of water. Park visitors can experience boating, fishing, nature watching, picnicking, and hiking. The park is also an off-leash dog park with both sunny and shady places for pets to enjoy. The nature trail runs almost entirely through the woods with views of the lake and ancient rock formations. There are also lots of beautiful wildflowers in the spring!

4. John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake

100%

(2)

47 sites · Scott, Arkansas

Not to be confused with John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake extends 26 miles along the Arkansas River in both Arkansas and Oklahoma. Its shoreline is characterized by bottomland hardwood timber banks, steep bluffs, open fields, and urban developments. There are oodles of recreational opportunities among four smaller parks, most notably fishing. The fertile waters harbor all kinds of fish native to the state, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks the lake with striped sea bass and sauger. Year round catch includes catfish, bream, crappie, white and largemouth bass. Multi-purpose trails are also a popular activity.

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

Campfires

5. Ozark Lake

87%

(5)

102 sites · Mulberry, Arkansas

Discover the serene beauty of Ozark Lake and its myriad outdoor activities.

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

Campfires

6. Lisa Christiansen’s Childhood Home

94%

(17)

49mi from Fort Smith · 3 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Tahlequah, OK

A place carved out of history dating back over 200 years ago. This is where history welcomes you to the Cherokee culture. This land has been handed down for generations and has stayed in the family beginning on my mother’s side of the family, Mary Ann Groundhog, the fourth generation great granddaughter of Sequoyah on the “Dick” side of my family tree. My mother was heavily involved with AIM (American Indian movement). My dad was the last monolingual Cherokee. His name was Mack Vann, he was a man who loved culture and sharing it with visitors and handed down that passion to me. My hip camper site is named after my daddy, I am still a daddy‘s girl. The land originated before Sequoyah. who created the Cherokee syllabary. Sequoyah was my fifth generation great grandfather and I am very proud of my Cherokee heritage, I would love to share my culture, my tradition, and my passion with you. Learn more about this land: Come and experience the authenticity of Tahlequah, Indian country, Oklahoma where almost every resident is Cherokee, Native American, Nature at its most organic state; A place where deer run free, the sunset paints a new picture each evening with glorious colors of warmth and serenity. Away from the hustle and bustle, peaceful, and inviting. Just a short hike or drive to Todd’s access or you can swim, fish, or float down the beautiful Illinois River. Welcome to Oklahoma’s best kept secret. * * * * FREE HIGH SPEED WIFI * * * * Up to 1,000 Mbps upload and download speeds With upload speeds matching download speeds, you can transfer and back up large files with ease. Unlimited data usage, no data caps or throttling. Capacity for all your devices

7. Arkansas River - Robert S. Kerr Pool

94 sites · Brent, Oklahoma

Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam is known for its fishing and swimming beaches. Anglers will be excited about the abundance of bass, crappie, catfish, walleye, and sunfish. Yum! There are also three swimming beaches here, so bring your swimsuit and sunscreen. Got a boat? Bring it! Launch your sailboat, motorboat, or kayak on the refreshing waters and check out the great surrounding views of spring flowers or fall foliage. There’s a short hiking trail in the park if you want to wander around a bit. This park is ideal for campers seeking a quiet, relaxing getaway on the water.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

8. Lake Fort Smith State Park

100%

(4)

40 sites · Chester, Arkansas

Discover the serene beauty of Lake Fort Smith State Park.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

9. Brushy Lake State Park

14 sites · Slick, Oklahoma

Discover the serene beauty of Brushy Lake State Park.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

10. Devil's Den State Park

100%

(27)

161 sites · Winslow, Arkansas

Hike past ancient rock formations or take a pedalboat out on the lake.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

11. Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

98%

(37)

312 sites · Farmington, Arkansas

Two distinct forests rolled into one package! That means twice the amount of outdoorsy goodness to explore. The Ozark National Forest covers most of the Ozark Mountains, including the highest peak in the state. It’s awesome here when the dogwood and redbuds bloom in the spring, and when the leaves change color in the fall. The St. Francis National Forest is more diverse, with the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers running through it, as well as lakes, valleys, and tons of wildlife. It’s the only place in the national forest system where you can access the Mississippi River from the shore, so that right there is a must do! The whole expanse of land is filled with multi-use trails, hundreds of campsites, spots for swimming, fishing, and boating, and even some amazing caves to explore. Mother Nature crushing it as usual.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

12. Ouachita National Forest

96%

(25)

342 sites · Mount Ida, Arkansas

The Ouachita mountains may become your new go-to for hiking, fishing, and camping in Arkansas.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

13. Wister Lake State Park

100%

(1)

153 sites · Wister, Oklahoma

Discover the natural splendor of Lake Wister State Park.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

14. Tenkiller Ferry Lake

50%

(7)

550 sites · Redbird Smith, Oklahoma

Named for the prominent Cherokee family who owned the land and ferry, Tenkiller Ferry Lake is steeped in history and picturesque views. With the clearest body of water in Oklahoma, the lake offers abundant water activities: fishing, scuba diving, jet-skiing, sailing, the list goes on so be prepared to get wet! Be sure to check out the floating restaurant too! Farm to table? More like lake to table. Off the lake, explore the rocky bluffs and lush vegetation. Get a nice view of the water from the shore, and have your breath taken away with the spectacular sunsets. Tenkiller Ferry Lake is sure to become an annual trip.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

Public campgrounds near Fort Smith

100%

(2)

Springhill Campground

4.2mi from Fort Smith · 47 sites · Tents, RVs · in John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake

83%

(4)

Clear Creek Campground

13mi from Fort Smith · 41 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ozark Lake

Short Mountain Cove Campground

23mi from Fort Smith · 32 sites · Tents, RVs · in Arkansas River - Robert S. Kerr Pool

Applegate Cove Campground

25mi from Fort Smith · 27 sites · Tents, RVs · in Arkansas River - Robert S. Kerr Pool

Cowlington Point Campground

26mi from Fort Smith · 35 sites · Tents, RVs · in Arkansas River - Robert S. Kerr Pool

100%

(4)

Lake Fort Smith Campground

28mi from Fort Smith · 40 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lake Fort Smith State Park

Brushy Lake Campground

28mi from Fort Smith · 14 sites · Tents, RVs · in Brushy Lake State Park

100%

(27)

Devil's Den Campground

31mi from Fort Smith · 161 sites · Tents, RVs · in Devil's Den State Park

100%

(1)

Aux Arc Campground

32mi from Fort Smith · 61 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ozark Lake

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area and Campground

100%

(14)

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area and Campground

33mi from Fort Smith · 12 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

100%

(2)

Little Pines Recreation Area

35mi from Fort Smith · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ouachita National Forest

100%

(1)

Knoppers Ford Campground

37mi from Fort Smith · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Ouachita National Forest

Stories from the community

O

Olivia

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Lake Wilson Retreat 🌲

The property was gorgeous! The area felt really safe and the neighbors were very friendly. The shed was very cozy. Be sure to bring a mattress/bedding and some extra fire wood. Overall, it was the weekend we were looking for!

Cory

November 2025

Tent

2 nights at Sacred Pines

It was quiet and the grounds were well kept. Beautiful view!

Travis

November 2025

With pets

3 nights at Lake Wilson Retreat 🌲

Very convenient and easy to get to, while still being away from everything and quiet. Everything was set up nicely. The host was very friendly and easy to contact. You can watch the sun rise from the deck in the morning. Perfect place for a quiet getaway! Thanks!

site features 2 tent pads with space for a couple other tents. Also has 2 tables and a grill

A

Allison

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

My family and I loved tent camping here! The views were beautiful! We were at site #8, it was very pretty and peaceful. Lots of trees for nice shade and great spot for a hammock. There even happened to be a big event at the overlook one of the days we were there, but there was still enough separation that it wasn’t too loud and we still felt like we had our privacy. The Runestone didn’t disappoint! We thought it was cool. We really enjoyed hiking the trails too.

Campsite is pictured on the right side of the photo.

E

Erick

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

Beautiful spot and park! Will definitely visit again.

Ashkan

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Sacred Pines

We loved the vibe and our cabin. It might look a bit expensive, but you would get more than what you need.

G

Greg

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

3 nights at Heavener Runestone Park

Incredible location, great views, and check-in couldn’t have been easier. Highly recommend a stay here at the park!

Lori

November 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Heavener Runestone Park

Watching the sunset at this location was breathtaking! The campsite, restroom, grounds, and gift shop were clean and well maintained. Everyone there was friendly and very informative. We came for an educational event that was fun and well organized. My family loved every moment of our stay from hiking, seeing the runestone, and tent camping!

R

Roger

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

The campsite was absolutely lovely! The forest felt more like the Black Hills, SD. I had no idea Oklahoma could look like this. It was SO peaceful I could've been 100 miles from civilization, yet Hevener was nestled beautifully in the valley below. Hearing those spooky train horns every hour or so was neat-my boy couldn't get enough! The short hike to the runestone was fun, and that sweet young lady in the gift shop went outta her way for our yard game. What a cozy Oklahoma spot! Terrain was a bit rough and steep and rocky so be advised.

Loreena

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

Excellent campsite for our first time visiting the park! The trails were great and easy to navigate, amenities offered worked well, and the host was communicative too. If you plan to stay at this campsite (or probably anywhere in the park), just be mindful there’s a very active train station below the park so you’ll hear it both day & night—earplugs were an essential for me. However, that doesn’t deter my recommendation. The fall leaves were gorgeous, so we picked the perfect weekend to stay.

R

Russ

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

Cool views. #10 spot is a lot more of a upward hike than it lets on. It's too far from the site to your vehicle.

J

Justin

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Sacred Pines

This campground was nothing short of amazing! The owners were incredibly kind, friendly, and helpful despite us staying during Scary Pines Fall Festival. The said festival gave our group plenty of things to do, but even without that the kayaking and hiking that my group did was amazing. All around this place is amazing and I couldn’t recommend it enough!!

k

kellimeyer723

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

A quaint little park with unique history and the perfect hikes for beginners or those needing an hour to waltz with nature. You're outside of town but not so far away that running back for something you forgot to be a real problem. Campsites are as you would expect, a platform that is just big enough for our large sundome tent (8 person), a firepit and metal grill for each site and a concrete and wood picnic table. They even have shepherd hooks for campers to hang a lantern or lights. The camping area is lit up at night by a string of bulb lights, giving just enough glow to get down to the bathrooms without being a nuisance when trying to sleep. A wonderful setup for a relaxing weekend. My son and I were the only people in the park at one point and it was very peaceful. Crows, woodpeckers, and squirrels abound but not much else in the way of wildlife. A definite for families or someone looking for a quiet place to pitch a tent or hang a hammock.

Kathy

November 2025

Tent

With pets

3 nights at Heavener Runestone Park

Wonderful rustic park! First is the runestone, whose conjecture seems entirely plausible and fascinating! Second, the park was developed around 1970 and looks like it’s basically been unchanged. Third, it’s just plain beautiful. The staff are awesome and very responsive. We loved it.

M

Micah

October 2025

With pets

2 nights at Sacred Pines

We loved our stay at Sacred Pines! We stayed in one of the tiny home cabins. Beautifully constructed, had everything we needed and more. The grounds surrounding us were a beautiful spot to walk our puppies around. Super peaceful and close to so many awesome hiking trails. Not great cell service out there (it’s the country, duh. We loved it, really made us more present and hangout with each other rather than be on screens) Perk: our tiny cabin had an awesome pizza oven that we used to make some home made pizza after a long hike! Thank you Miranda for creating such an awesome space, we will be back

A

Ashley Randolph

October 2025

Tent

With kids

3 nights at Sacred Pines

Incredible place to camp 🏕️ ran to Hot Springs for a quick day trip! Kids loved the pond, zip line and swings! Second time here and already can’t wait to come again!!

S

Saul

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

Amazing spot! We stayed through the weekend! Great views! Amazing amenities, ZJ helped us get power to our camping spot (Overlook Pavilion). Kiddos loved the scavenger hunt and the different hikes. Over all we will be coming back soon! Thank you to all the staff!

C

Charlotte

September 2025

16 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Heavener Runestone Park

Heavener Runestone is breathtaking! This is our third time, and not our last! We even golfed at nearby Wolf Mountain, on a very well maintained golf course. Clean bathroom and shower house. We found this campground 4 years ago, and have built it into our travels. Highly recommend!!

J

Jacob

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Sacred Pines

My two boys and I had a great weekend here. Highly recommend camping here with kids. The movie night was a great touch as well.

J

Janae

July 2025

Weekend Trip to Sacred Pines

We stayed at Sacred Pines for our anniversary and such a relaxing time. We loved playing frisbee golf and cornhole, and even had a couple surprise visits from their sweet dogs! The loft bed can be a little tricky to get up to, but I have to say, it was one of the most comfortable beds! The whole place had a peaceful vibe, and we definitely recommend it. We hope to stay here again someday for sure.