Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve your campsite up to 12 months in advance of your arrival date on the Arkansas State Parks website or over the phone.
- A two- or three-night minimum reservation is required on weeknights, depending on the campsite. Campers are required to book three or four nights on three-day weekends such as Labor Day and Memorial Day.
- If you can't find a spot at Lake Ouachita but want to camp in the area, you may have better luck at Gulpha Gorge Campground, situated inside Hot Springs National Park, or at one of the privately run campgrounds in the area.
When to Go
The most popular time to visit is the summer months—just be aware that this time of year is hot and humid. Spring and fall are great alternatives, with warm temperatures from April into October. If you visit in wintertime, you’ll likely see bald eagles building their nests in the park’s trees; eagle tours are available. Camping at select sites is available year-round.
Know Before You Go
- You can pick up supplies or go out for a meal in the nearby city of Hot Springs, a 25-minute drive away.
- You can rent kayaks and buy bait, boat fuel, and other supplies at the on-site marina.
- You're welcome to swim in the lake, but no lifeguards are on duty.
- County-wide fire bans are occasionally instated during periods of high fire risk. Check ahead before building a fire.
- The park and campgrounds are pet-friendly.
- Guests staying in cabins will need to bring their own linens.
Lake Ouachita State Park
Enjoy fishing, boating, and hiking at this Hot Springs-area park.
On the banks of one of the most popular fishing lakes in Arkansas, a short drive from the resort town of Hot Springs, Lake Ouachita State Park offers year-round recreation and camping, plus a marina and a lakeside visitor center with interpretive exhibits. The park’s Three Sisters Springs, famous since the Victorian era for its curative properties, are a highlight, along with a couple of hiking trails, the longest of which—the Caddo Bend Trail—spans four miles. The Lake Ouachita Campground has 93 campsites, 58 of which have full hookups, as well as eight basic cabins with heating and air-conditioning.
On the banks of one of the most popular fishing lakes in Arkansas, a short drive from the resort town of Hot Springs, Lake Ouachita State Park offers year-round recreation and camping, plus a marina and a lakeside visitor center with interpretive exhibits. The park’s Three Sisters Springs, famous since the Victorian era for its curative properties, are a highlight, along with a couple of hiking trails, the longest of which—the Caddo Bend Trail—spans four miles. The Lake Ouachita Campground has 93 campsites, 58 of which have full hookups, as well as eight basic cabins with heating and air-conditioning.
Activities in the park
1 campground in Lake Ouachita State Park
Some venture off to exotic shores seeking the scuba diving experience, but we don’t see the point when the cleanest lake in Arkansas is yours for the underwater adventuring! Lake Ouachita Campground flaunts that and more along its 975 miles of shoreline. It’s popular for all sorts of water sports, not surprisingly, and is a history-packed place to Read more...
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Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
The most popular time to visit is the summer months—just be aware that this time of year is hot and humid. Spring and fall are great alternatives, with warm temperatures from April into October. If you visit in wintertime, you’ll likely see bald eagles building their nests in the park’s trees; eagle tours are available. Camping at select sites is available year-round.
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —