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Finding a true waterfront campsite with hookups for under $30 a night is becoming rare, but Arkansas still has a surprising number of affordable options. With an America the Beautiful Senior Pass, some of these spots drop to as low as $9 a night, making them some of the best values anywhere in the state.
From the riverbanks of the Arkansas River to quiet corners of Lake Greeson and Millwood Lake, these campgrounds combine great scenery with the comforts you expect and at a price that’s hard to beat. Each one offers at least electric and water hookups, with several providing full hookups or a nearby dump station.
So if you’ve been wondering where to park your RV beside the water without spending resort prices, start with these.
1. Tar Camp
Location: Arkansas River – Pool 5, near Redfield/Hensley, AR
Price: $26
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232717
Tar Camp stretches along the Arkansas River in a quiet, wooded area bordered by open farmland. The campground has more than 50 sites, most offering both electric and water hookups, along with a playground and two reservable picnic shelters that each seat up to 60 people. Every site comes equipped with a movable lamp post, grill, fire ring, and picnic table.
Visitors can stay busy both on and off the water. The park features a rock climbing wall and basketball court, plus the usual river recreation. Fishing is a major draw, with anglers catching catfish, bass, crappie, and bream in the tailwaters of Joe Hardin and Emmitt Sanders locks and dams.
At just under 200 feet above sea level, Tar Camp stays mild through winter but reaches the upper 90s in summer, making shade and river access valuable.
2. Springhill Park
Location: Arkansas River/John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake, near Barling
Price: $24–$26
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232710
Springhill Park sits on the banks of John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake, a section of the Arkansas River created by the James W. Trimble Lock and Dam. The campground offers spacious sites with electric hookups, four group picnic shelters, showers, a dump station, and boat ramps. Some campsites sit right on the river, while others are tucked between the lake and Massard Creek.
Surrounding scenery includes bottomland hardwood timber, steep bluffs, and stretches of farmland that create a beautiful setting for boating or fishing. The river is popular for catfish, bream, crappie, and both white and largemouth bass. From late fall to early spring, anglers head just below the dam for some of the best sauger fishing in the region.
3. Maumelle Park
Location: Arkansas River – Murray Lock & Dam Pool, west of Little Rock
Price: $28+
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233098
Located minutes from Little Rock, Maumelle Park offers 128 roomy sites with electric hookups and eight reservable picnic shelters. Campers have access to a dock, showers, a boat ramp, and a playground. The park is set along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, a series of navigation pools that allow ships to travel deep into the state.
Wintering bald eagles are common here, drawn by the open water and fish. The Nuttall Trail runs through the park for easy hikes, while anglers fish for crappie, bream, hybrid bass, and white bass. For campers looking for a comfortable, well-maintained riverfront spot close to city amenities, Maumelle is a convenient and affordable choice.
4. Jefferson Ridge
Location: Dierks Lake, near Dierks
Price: $23+
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232611
Jefferson Ridge Campground sits on Dierks Lake in the Ouachita Mountain region. All 85 family sites have electric and water hookups, with flush toilets, showers, drinking water, and dump stations available. The lake covers 1,360 acres and is fed by the Saline River, creating a wonderful environment surrounded by pine-covered hills.
Boating, kayaking, and swimming are all popular on the water, while anglers target bass and crappie, both known to thrive here. The park stays open year-round, making it a reliable pick for RV travelers seeking a quiet waterfront setting and hookups.
Related: 12 Waterfront RV Campsites Under $30 (With Hookups)
5. Cowhide Cove
Location: Near Murfreesboro, AR
Price: $20
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233469
Cowhide Cove sits on Lake Greeson, a 7,260-acre reservoir on the Little Missouri River. The campground includes 50 sites, 48 of which have electric hookups, and two tent-only sites without power. Amenities include a dump station, showers, a boat ramp, a playground, and a swim beach. Each campsite features a picnic table, ground grill, pedestal grill, and lantern pole.
The surrounding area is heavily forested with loblolly and shortleaf pine, sweet gum, and oak. Wildlife is abundant, with sightings of deer, wild turkey, geese, and bald eagles, especially during the winter months. With quiet water views, affordable rates, and easy access to fishing and hiking, Cowhide Cove stands out as one of the better-value waterfront campgrounds in southwest Arkansas.
6. Horseshoe Bend
Location: Near Dierks, AR
Price: $18
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10050257
Horseshoe Bend Park sits along the Saline River just below Dierks Dam. The area features a whitewater paddling course that spans three-quarters of a mile, with several engineered drops that create Class II–IV rapids when the spillway is open. The site hosted Olympic trials in the late 1990s and remains a top training spot for paddlers.
Twelve riverfront campsites with water and electric hookups are available, along with a pavilion, restrooms, showers, and a playground. The campground rests at the base of a 300-foot cliff, offering breathtaking views of the wooded hillsides that frame the river.
7. Beard’s Bluff Park
Location: Millwood Lake, east of Ashdown near Saratoga, AR
Price: $25
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251361
Beard’s Bluff is known for its bird-watching opportunities and lakeside sunsets. The campground features both waterfront and lake-view sites, each equipped with picnic tables, grills, fire rings, 30/50-amp electric hookups, water hydrants, and lantern poles. A dump station, showers, and flush toilets are available throughout the park.
The area sits directly on Millwood Lake, surrounded by bluffs and dense forest. Birdwatchers often spot egrets, herons, and bald eagles, while anglers head to the coves and submerged timber for bass and crappie.
8. Cottonshed Park
Location: Millwood Lake, near Mineral Springs, AR
Price: $25
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251355
Cottonshed Park lies eight miles southwest of Mineral Springs in a quiet, wooded area on the shore of Millwood Lake. The campground includes both lakeside and lake-view sites, all with 30/50-amp electric and water hookups. Amenities include showers, flush toilets, and a centrally located sewage dump station.
The area is known for excellent fishing, particularly for largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. With flat terrain, shaded campsites, and peaceful views across the lake, Cottonshed is an easy pick for travelers seeking a laid-back waterfront stay.
9. Arlie Moore Campground
Location: DeGray Lake, near Bismarck/Arkadelphia, AR
Price: $20
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233417
Arlie Moore sits on DeGray Lake, one of Arkansas’s “Diamond Lakes” known for clear water and good fishing. Every campsite includes electric hookups, and the park offers a swim beach, amphitheater, playground, hot showers, and restrooms.
Boating, water skiing, and kayaking are popular, and anglers often reel in hybrid striped bass. The Arlie Moore Interpretive Trail winds through the woods near camp and has been recognized as one of America’s top hiking trails.
10. Kirby Landing
Location: Lake Greeson, near Kirby, AR
Price: $20
Link: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233531
Kirby Landing Campground sits on the Little Missouri River at Lake Greeson, surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills. The campground features more than 100 campsites, each with 50-amp electric service and water hookups.
Visitors have access to a swim beach, playground, marina, and boat ramp, along with restrooms, showers, and drinking water. The area’s mild climate and spacious campsites make Kirby Landing a favorite among those looking for affordable lakefront camping with hookups.
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