Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake camping in Arkansas runs deep: 685 campsites across 11 campgrounds, and 470 of them — 69% — sit within 330 feet of the water. Electric hookups are nearly universal, with 668 of 685 sites wired. The skies stay dark across the area at Bortle class 3–4, and every campground puts a boat ramp within about a third of a mile of camp.
This is a lake for campers who want their boat, their shoreline, and their power pedestal in one place. Tent campers chasing quiet coves and RV rigs hunting waterfront pull-ins both have real options here. Use Campscout to compare every site's water distance, noise, and views — then book the one that fits.
The closest you can sleep to Beaver Lake is 30 feet — and two campgrounds hit that mark: Dam Site River and Rocky Branch Campground. For quiet, two campgrounds stand apart. Hickory Creek Park and Dam Site Lake Campground both rate exceptionally quiet, and at Hickory Creek every single one of its 63 sites clears the quiet bar. Most of the lake's other campgrounds carry real road or boat noise, so the gap matters.
Elevated views are scarce — just 17 bluff sites lake-wide — and Prairie Creek holds 8 of them, nearly half the total. War Eagle Campground claims 4 more and pairs them with 16 sunset-facing sites. Sunrise chasers should look at Dam Site River, where 36 of 58 sites face the morning light over the water.
Best for Water Access
With 470 of 685 sites within 330 feet of the lake and shoreline sites as close as 30 feet, these campgrounds put the most water at your door.
Most Family Friendly
These campgrounds combine swim areas a short walk from camp, easy site access, and amenities that keep kids busy from breakfast to dark.
Best for RVs
With 668 of 685 sites wired for electric across the lake, these campgrounds offer the hookups, dump stations, and pads that big rigs need.
Who It's For
Boaters should start at Lost Bridge North or Lost Bridge South, where ramps sit 90 and 100 feet from camp. Families get the shortest swim walk at Rocky Branch Campground. Big rigs have the most room at Horseshoe Bend, with 186 powered sites. Stargazers get Bortle 1–2 darkness at Dam Site Lake Campground — and it's exceptionally quiet too, alongside Hickory Creek Park, the pick for tent campers who want all-waterfront silence.
Score Every Site Before You Book
Campscout ranks every campsite at Beaver Lake — waterfront distance, shade, privacy, quiet, hookups, and more. Filter by what matters to you, check real-time availability, and book the right site, not just any site.
Free to use. No credit card required.
All Campgrounds in Beaver Lake
- Dam Site Lake CampgroundDam Site Lake Campground posts the highest average site score on the lake, and the stats explain why: 47 of 48 sites sit within 330 feet of water, the swim area is 180 feet from the closest site, and the ramp is just over 300 feet out. Thirteen sites face sunset. Pair that with Bortle 1–2 skies and it's the lake's most complete package.61
- Dam Site RiverDam Site River sits lower than anywhere else on the lake — 920 to 957 feet — down on the river below the dam. Water access is the draw: 51 of 58 sites sit within 330 feet of the river, every site has electric, and the boat ramp is about a fifth of a mile out. Skies rate exceptional at Bortle 1–2, with moderate noise during the day.54
- Hickory Creek ParkHickory Creek Park is the only campground on Beaver Lake where every site — all 63 — sits within 330 feet of the water. Two-thirds of them, 42 sites, face sunrise across the lake. The boat ramp is 120 feet from the nearest site, and dark Bortle 3–4 skies hold up for stargazing. No other campground combines this much shoreline with this little noise.54
- War Eagle CampgroundWar Eagle Campground is the only campground on the lake with zero sunrise-facing sites — it's built for evenings, with sunset views from more than half its 27 sites. Sixteen sites sit near the water, the swim area is 210 feet out, and the ramp about 230 feet. It ties for the highest average site score on the lake despite carrying real noise.54
- Indian Creek CampgroundIndian Creek Campground puts all 33 sites near the water and all 33 on electric — total coverage on both counts. The swim area is about a tenth of a mile from camp and the ramp 120 feet. It runs loud, with just 3 sites rating quiet, so treat it as a daytime water base. After dark, Bortle 1–2 skies deliver.52
- Rocky Branch CampgroundRocky Branch Campground has the closest swim area on the entire lake — 140 feet from the nearest site. It leans hard toward morning light, with 26 of 43 sites facing sunrise, and 30 sites sit near the shoreline. The trade-off is noise: only 13 of 43 sites rate quiet. Nights make up for it with exceptional Bortle 1–2 darkness.52
- Horseshoe BendHorseshoe Bend is the biggest campground on Beaver Lake at 190 sites, and 150 of them sit within 330 feet of the shoreline. The boat ramp is 150 feet from the nearest site and the swim area 240 feet. It splits the light too: 68 sites face sunrise, 37 face sunset. Expect moderate noise, but 128 sites still rate quiet.49
- Prairie Creek (AR)Prairie Creek is the lake's second-largest campground at 114 sites, but only 13 sit near the water — its strength is height, not shoreline. It's also the one campground without dark skies, rating moderate at Bortle 5–6. Noise is middling, with 65 of 114 sites rating quiet, and the swim area sits about 500 feet from the nearest site.49
- Lost Bridge SouthLost Bridge South packs 33 of its 36 sites within 330 feet of the water, with the ramp 100 feet from camp and the swim area 160 feet. It's the noisiest layout on the lake — not one site rates quiet — so come for daytime water access, not silence. Sixteen sites face sunrise, and the night sky still rates exceptional.48
- Starkey CampgroundStarkey Campground is the loudest spot on the lake — only 1 of its 24 sites rates quiet — but it climbs to 1,317 feet, the second-highest ground in the area. Fourteen sites face sunset, the best ratio anywhere on the lake. Only 8 sites sit near the water, though the boat ramp is about a fifth of a mile away and the night sky rates exceptional.47
- Lost Bridge NorthLost Bridge North climbs 320 vertical feet from 1,132 to 1,452 feet — by far the steepest spread on the lake — and its boat ramp sits just 90 feet from the closest site, the shortest walk anywhere on Beaver Lake. All 49 sites have electric. It runs loud, with only 12 sites rating quiet, but the high ground pairs with Bortle 1–2 skies.44
Find Your Site
Filter every campsite at Beaver Lake by availability, waterfront access, hookups, and more.
Search & Filter Campsites →