Pitch Your Tent At Crystal Campground For A Relaxing Arkansas Adventure

Crystal Campground is a stunning area but rather underrated. Just pay for the tank of gas and enjoy this quiet escape in the Ouachitas! We especially love this area as a late summer/early fall getaway. Let's pack up the family and head south of Mt. Ida to reach this gorgeous campground.

The best Arkansas gems tend to hide within the backroads of the state.

Today's featured gem is the Crystal Campground outside of Norman, AR. The winding drive will take you on a gorgeous cruise through the Ouachita National Forest and, even better, the area is easy to reach (no 4WD necessary)!

Once you've arrived you'll be pleasantly greeted with a lush forest for an overnight adventure.

Crystal Campground is a quiet and secluded area with nine primitive campsites. Camping is free and the chance for relaxation is bountiful!

Crystal Campground features Montgomery Creek.

The small dam here creates a stunning waterfall, even during the drier seasons. The dam was built along with the picnic shelter by the CCC in the 1930s.

Spend the day exploring the forest or in the creek.

Explorers can hike up and down the creek or head to the nearby Crystal Vista for an official trail. Bring your camera and savor all the natural beauty (and possible wildlife spotting)!

The creek is a beautiful place to just sit and watch any time of the year.

However, during the warmer months, it makes for a great wading pool! The creek stays relatively shallow which means it's perfect for anyone wanting to cool off.

Don't forget, you'll be in the middle of crystal country too!

The "crystal" in Crystal Campground is more than a pretty name - it's a full blown treasure hunt! The Twin Creek Crystal Mine and Wegner Quartz Crystal Mine are both short drives away from the campground.

Pitch a tent and enjoy the natural beauty of Crystal Campground before camping season is over!

We love this campground as an end-of-summer getaway or a gorgeously colorful fall retreat. For more information on this area, visit the Forest Service's webpage right here.

Have you stayed at Crystal Campground before? We'd love to hear about your adventures in the comments below! You can also share your campground photos in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.