★ Field-verified · Dave's ownFederal · dispersedFree
Garland County
Drive-up · public land · Garland County, AR · 34.66308, -93.28722
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on public land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A primitive grassy area adjacent to Lake Ouachita, not far from Hot Springs, Arkansas. This is a popular, free camping area for RVs, boaters, and fishermen. It's spacious and serene, however prepare to listen to generators running in the distance throughout the night. Beautiful lake. Fun for boating, and Ouachita wilderness ripe for exploration. Recommended. Some cell service.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 578 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- MMechanic9 mi
- @Mail9 mi
- FFuel12 mi
- GGrocery12 mi
- RxPharmacy16 mi
- WWater17 mi
- HHardware19 mi
- +Urgent care26 mi
- LLaundry38 mi
- DDump41 mi
- ShShower41 mi
- OOutfitter44 mi
- PPropane45 mi
- AAir-up54 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 12 mi out.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
public land · dispersed
Elevation
578 ft
County
Garland County, AR
Coordinates
34.66308, -93.28722
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Nearest townAvant · ~3.2 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelShell · ~11.5 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump stationnone within 31 mi
- GroceriesJoplin Store · ~12.5 mi
- PharmacyWalgreens · ~16.0 mi
- Hospital / clinicHospital · ~17.0 mi
- HardwareTrue Value · ~21.1 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
Had a signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
No
Toilet on site
No
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- RestroomComfort Station, Building 78 · ~7.7 mi N · NPS
- Vault / pit toiletHickory Nut Mountain · ~10.3 mi SW · USFS
- RestroomMens Comfort Station, Building 3-A · ~10.7 mi E · NPS
- RestroomFordyce Bathhouse, Building 105 · ~11.0 mi NE · NPS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Garland County~4.9 mi
- Hickory Nut Mountain Campground~10.4 mi
- Bear Creek Equestrian Camp~11.1 mi
- Loop C~11.2 mi
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (Garland County, AR). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →