Tompkins Bend

Lake Ouachita — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Mt. Ida, AR, AR

Price: From $14 per night

Price range: $14–$50 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (433 reviews)

Season: May through October

Tompkins Bend on Lake Ouachita, is a great family camping destination. The combination of lush mountain scenery and roomy sites big enough for two camping units, make this quiet location an ideal place for an outdoor getaway. The campground consists of 77 sites including 63 sites with electric hookups and 69 sites with water hookups.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/tompkins-bend to be notified when sites open up.

Tompkins Bend on Lake Ouachita offers roomy sites with lush mountain scenery and clean facilities. Google reviewers consistently praise the spacious campsites, clean bathhouses, and beautiful lakefront views with good spacing between sites.

Wildlife alert: Cedar Waxwing, Barn Swallow, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, River Cooter, Green Anole, and Little Brown Skink documented in the area.

Insider tips for Tompkins Bend: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Request tent sites near the lake for water views (site 64D cited in reviews) Sites on Loop C offer waterfront camping with excellent stargazing

Skip Tompkins Bend if: You need water/sewer hookups — only electric hookups available on select sites. You require year-round access — seasonal operations only. You need hookups at most sites — only some sites have electric.

Best time to visit Tompkins Bend: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Tompkins Bend Day-Use (MT. IDA, AR), Joplin (Mt. Ida, AR), Denby Point (Mt. Ida, AR), Little Fir (Mount Ida, AR).