One of the greatest summer activities I remember growing up is camping. If it was with family or friends some of the best memories for me were the camp stories and the roasted marshmallows. Other than a small investment in equipment, camping is relatively cheap. We have a list of five campsites in Arkansas where you can stay for free.

1. Upper Buffalo Creek Deer Camp Waldron

Turn west on Upper Buffalo Creek Road at Needmore off Highway 71 and follow it back several miles. You'll pass through some private properties and then it opens up into forest service land. To get to the site keep to the main road several miles until it forks. At the fork stay to the right and shortly thereafter you'll see the clearing on your right; which is quite popular during hunting season. There are no amenities. The forest service does a nice job keeping this road maintained, as it is a sort of sanctuary for the red-headed woodpecker.

2. Spillway Landing Camping Area Hope

Free camping in the Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMA. RVs are welcome. Boat slip nearby. No other facilities. Excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities.
Bois d’ Arc Lake and the associated creeks and sloughs are also home to the American Alligator. Caution should be used at all times, especially during warm weather, and swimming is not allowed. The lake also has numerous stumps and logs which require slow boat operations.  This area can be seen on google street view. From Hope, take Ark Hwy. 29 south about 6 miles, take Ark. Hwy. 355 west toward Springhill and follow into the area.

3. Sam's Throne Recreation Area Hagarville

Info on the trails can be found here. Very beautiful place with vault toilets only and no running water. There are a few bears in the region so hang your food just to be safe.
There aren't any specific spots for RVs but there are a few cleared areas with room to park an RV or trailer. Near the entrance to the facility right off of the highway there is a large gravel parking lot. This facility has day-use for rock climbing as well.  No trash cans, pack-in/pack-out facility. Donations are accepted.

4. Fourche Mountain Rover

Small mountain-top campground. Directions 5 miles south of Rover, Ark., on Arkansas Hwy. 27. Some sites lists this area as suitable for passenger vehicles, which likely means small pullouts only no RVs.

5. Allen's Ferry Little River Fulton

Free camping on the Little River. There is a boat slip. No other facilities. RVs are welcome. This area is maintained by Hempstead County. Please exercise extreme caution when boating on this river.

To find many more campsites across Arkansas you can visit free campsites in Arkansas.

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