Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 2,395 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 24
- Longest rig
- 68 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 24 campgrounds shown
- Austin TrailheadSeason not published
- Barkshed Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Bayou Bluff Point of InterestFirst-come, first-served
- Bear Creek Lake Recreation AreaYear round · The Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area is managed by the Mississippi River State Park . Please call the Mississippi River S
- Blanchard Springs CampgroundsFirst-come, first-served
- Brock CreekSeason not published
- Brock Creek Lake Recreation AreaYear round · First-come, first-served
- Cove Lake Recreation Areato 68 ft · 37 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Gunner Pool Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Haw Creek Falls Point of InterestSeason not published
- Horsehead Lake Recreation Area4 sitesFirst-come, first-served
- Lake Wedington Recreation Areato 30 ft · 27 sites · Electric · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Long Pool Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Mill CreekYear round
- Moccasin Gap4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Mountain Man TrailheadSeason not published
- Ozone Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Redding Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Richland Creek Recreation Area4 sitesYear round · First-come, first-served
- Shores Lake Recreation Area28 sitesFirst-come, first-served
- Spring Lake Recreation Area4 sitesFirst-come, first-served
- White Rock Mountain Recreation Areato 20 ft · 13 sites · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Wolf Pen Recreation Area4 sitesFirst-come, first-served
- Zing TrailheadSeason not published
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
The Ozark – St. Francis National Forest is a United States National Forest that is located in the state of Arkansas. It is composed of two separate forests, Ozark National Forest in the Ozark Mountains; and St. Francis National Forest on Crowley's Ridge. Each forest has distinct biological, topographical, and geological differences.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Leatherwood Wilderness16,791 acres
- Hurricane Creek Wilderness15,333 acres
- Upper Buffalo Wilderness12,057 acres
- Richland Creek Wilderness11,674 acres
- East Fork Wilderness10,585 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Ozark-St. Francis the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.