Camping At Hot Springs National Park
First, to be transparent… this is not camping AT Hot Springs National Park.
This is camping NEAR Hot Springs National Park. I picked a camp spot a quick and pretty 20 minute drive away from the park, directly on Lake Ouachita.
Crystal Springs campground.
There is a campground directly in the center of this Arkansas town in the National Park itself, but when I went online to get a site (it was around 4 months out), everything was completely booked. I was sad at the time, because my whole stay there was going to revolve around getting a spot in the Gulpha Gorge campground.
In the end, this was for the best. I ended up finding a nearby campground on Lake Ouachita instead. I would gladly go back to this campground and even the same site!
Crystal Springs Campground was a fantastic find. The sites were spacious. You have a lot of choice in where to sleep. A spot directly on the lake, one surrounded by other sites, or one tucked into the woods like I picked.
On to the details!
Crystal Springs Campground
Name: Crystal Springs Campground
Location: 1130 N Crystal Springs Rd, Royal, AR 71968
Directions: From Hot Springs, take 270 west for a little over 15 miles to North Crystal Springs road. Campground is around 3 miles down the road. The drive out here is absolutely gorgeous.
Cost: $14-80, depending on what site. I payed $24/night
Number of campsites: 68 sites
Hookups: 63 sites have electric & water. Dump station available.
Check in/out: Check in time is 6pm. Checkout is 4pm. Please note these times as they are later than the average campground.
Amenities: picnic tables. Firepits. Full bathrooms with clean showers. Fish cleaning area. Boat ramp. Swim beach on the lake. Playground.
Privacy: Other sites are visible. Some are closer together than others.
Parking: Paved roads
Noise: It was quiet while we were there. It would probably depend on your neighbors.
Cell signal: Service with Verizon.
Scenery: Lake. Forest.
Pets allowed: Yes, on a 6 ft leash.
Seasonal: Open year round.
Visited: October 2022
This stop was just for a few nights along my road trip through northwest Arkansas. I took a one week trip that included spots like Hot Springs, Eureka Springs, and Bentonville. Some towns like Hot Springs and Eureka Springs were incredibly dog friendly!
My Experience
I stayed at site 70c on this trip. It’s tucked back into a tree line with a view of the lake, but far back enough from other sites that I felt pretty comfortable without anyone being ‘right on top of me’. It was a quick walk to the bathrooms from here as well.
The only site I would have liked a little more than this was site 69, because that one had no neighbors on one side, while still being pretty far from site 70.
This campground is not one that has a full staff working. It was a self check in, and someone came around once or twice a day to check on sites.
Everything was flat, level, and easy to set up.
I had plenty of room to set up a hammock between trees, a 10×10 popup for some shade, and do a long tie out for the pup to give her plenty of room.
I was very comfortable walking around this entire campground. There are multiple loops where we did some dog walking. Lots of space to stretch out at the waters edge and either just hang out, walk, or fish.
It seemed like fishing was a big thing in this area.
Comparing this campground with Gulpha Gorge
If you’re debating between this and camping at Hot Springs National Park in the Gulpha Gorge campground, there is one thing to keep in mind. While Gulpha Gorge might be closer to the National Park itself, it does NOT have showers.
This campground, Crystal Springs, not only has them… but they’re clean! If you are in an enclosed camper that has a shower, this might not be a big deal for you. If you are a more primitive camper who prefers to tent camp or rough it… you know how important it is to have a nice hot shower when you’re spending all your time hiking and exploring.
Crystal Springs has firepits at each site. Gulpha Gorge does not (it only has a group fire ring).
The main difference I really noticed between the two is that Crystal Springs was a lot more ‘chill’. It wasn’t overrun with people. Even though most of the campsites were taken while I was there at the very tail end of the season (October), it still felt very peaceful. Gulpha Gorge seemed… more… busy. Lots of people coming and going. Not a whole lot of quiet.
The campground you choose will mostly depend on if you want to be RIGHT in the middle of it all, or if you don’t mind a short drive at the end of the day to get back to your basecamp.
Extra Amenities
I wasn’t there during the time of year you’d probably want to get in the water, but there was a beach right on the lake that looks like it would be amazing during the warmer months. Not only that, but they have TWO separate areas for this. One is for campers, and the other is a day use area. So yes, you can pay just to get in for the day to use the beach if you don’t feel like camping!
There is also direct access here to the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT). This is a mixed hiking and biking trail. The entire trail is over 35 miles long and stretches the south rim of Lake Ouachita. It’s super popular for backpacking, and considered a hard trail.
Crystal Springs Campground sits near the middle of this trail. If you want a quick day hike you can hop on and go either direction for as many miles as you want!
Other Camping Areas Outside of Crystal Springs
I’m big on free dispersed camping. I decided to book a campsite instead of finding a free spot for this area because I wanted a ‘home base’.
Somewhere I could set everything up and leave it while I went exploring and know that everything would be safe when I returned. I also wanted a shower!
If you would prefer to try dispersed camping, there is a nearby area for it! You’re incredibly close to the Ouachita National Forest.
This national forest has so many free camping options! If you decide to do this, please remember LNT (leave no trace). Always leave an area better than when you found it.
In and around the area
Hot Springs National Park Arkansas is one of the few National Parks where you do not need to pay for a National Parks pass to get in.
I made a short guide on the things we did that were completely dog friendly, including hikes and a stop at the local brewery.
After spending a few days here, I drove north to Eureka Springs where I did a self guided dog friendly tour of the Crescent Hotel, then over to Bentonville for a few days (I highly recommend the outdoor art museum there), and then down to Devil’s Den State Park, before heading back to Texas.
