U.S. Forest Service · Ouachita National Forest · Royal, AR

Charlton Recreation Area

Charlton Campground is located 17-miles west of Hot Springs National Park along Highway 270-West. This historic campground constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's has been upgraded with modern amenities. Known as one of the coldest swimming sites in the State of Arkansas, the cool water temperatures can be enjoyed through-out the summer months.

Closed for the season Reservable · Recreation.gov 48 sites 80 ft max Electric hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · big rigs in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · group sites in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗

Photos courtesy of Bill Jackson - US Forest Service, Bill Jackson · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric		20
Standard, no hookups		18
Tent-only		8
Group sites		2

Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

48 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Fits, ft	Surface	Shade	Power	People / vehicles	Fires	Rating
Charlton 1	A	Standard	Back-in	35	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 2	A	Standard	Back-in	35	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 3	A	Standard	Back-in	35	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 4	A	Standard	Back-in	26	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 5	A	Standard	Back-in	35	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 6	A	Standard	Back-in	16	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 7	A	Standard	Back-in	20	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 8	A	Standard	Back-in	52	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 9	A	Standard	Back-in	48	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic
Charlton 10	A	Standard	Back-in	45	Paved	Partial	No	6 / 2	Yes	Basic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:30 PM.

Campground map of Charlton Recreation Area — Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Bill Jackson - US Forest Service. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

Hookups	Electric, water
Max vehicle length	80 ft
Pets	Allowed
Campfires	Allowed, subject to restrictions

- A-Loop campsites do not offer electric or water services available at the campsites. There is no bathhouse/restroom facilities in A-Loop. Campsites in A-Loop are basic campsites with each campsite having a fire ring, BBQ grill and picnic table. Community water spigots are available through-out the A-Loop. A-Loop Group Use Campsite does not have electric or water services available at the Group Use Campsite. B-Loop RV/Tent campsites offer 30-50 amp electrical service and water connections at the sites. C-Loop campsites, 1-10, offer 30-amp electrical service, water connections and some sites offering sewer connections. C-Loop campsites 11-19 and C-Loop Group Use Campsite do not have electric or water services available at the sites. Warm water showers and flush toilets. Paved roadways and campsites with gravel tent pads for setting up tents. Two Group Use Sites offering areas for large groups to set up tents, tents are only allowed at the Group Use Sites. Swimming and picnicking in the Charlton Day Use Area is included as part of the campsite fees.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

Status	Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
Forest	Ouachita National Forest
Fees	Day Use: $5/vehicle OR $2/person (walk-in/bike-in/drop-off). Camping: Single sites- $15/night. Single sites w/ electric: $25/night. Double sites w/ electric: $40/night. Group sites (tents only): $40/night
Rules	Hunting is not allowed in recreational areas. Please read and follow the posted regulations. You are responsible for your fires. Build them in stoves, grills, and fire rings only. No fishing in the swimming area. All pets must remain on a leash while in the campground. No dogs allowed in the day use or swimming areas. There is a fee to use this facility.

Ouachita National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →

The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Blakely Mtn Dam, 11 miles from the campground at 426 feet, station USC00030764 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 58 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 1 inch a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Hot Springs, drive 17 miles west on Albert Pike Road (Hwy 270 West), Charlton Recreation Area is located along Hwy 270.

Nearest town	Royal, Arkansas
Coordinates	34.5168° N, 93.3818° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Camper must cancel their reserved campsite, before reserving a second campsite in the campground. Refunds will not be approved for campsites cancelled.

Supplies & services

RV sales & service	Razorback Camper Sales, Inc. ↗	15.7 mi
Dump station	Dump station ↗	38.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Full-time bikers, how are we living? Finally, Loop (A) Charlton Campground, Arkansas. Walk

Worth a stop

Lake Ouachita Vista - Hickory Nut Mountain Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) Lake Ouachita Hot Springs National Park Historic Hot Springs Quartz Crystal Mines

8.1 mi
Brady Mountain Resort And Marina ↗Boat launch
10.1 mi
Echo Canyon Resort And Marina ↗Boat launch
11.8 mi
Highway 27 Fishing Village ↗Fishing site

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

0.1 mi
Charlton Trail
4.2 mi trail
0.2 mi
Prayer of the Woods Trail
0.7 mi trail
0.8 mi
Clearfork Lake ↗
0.6 mi trail
2.6 mi
Hickory Nut Vista Trail
1.6 mi trail
3.2 mi
Hickory Nut Lakeside Trail
1.7 mi trail
3.7 mi
Lovit - Fire Tower Spur
0.3 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Ouachita National Forest.

in
Ouachita National Forest ↗
National Forest · Forest Service · 2,724,422 acres

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Other campgrounds nearby

Historic landmarks nearby

On Register Atlas →

National Historic Landmark · 19 mi

Bathhouse Row

Hot Springs

Natural features

Located in the valley between two tree covered mountains, the campsites through-out the campground are well shaded. The campground constructed along Walnut Creek, a natural spring-fed stream, temperatures are cool, even through the summer months.

Recreation

Charlton Recreation Area offers a developed day use with swimming and picnicking facilities. A large pavilion is located in the day use area. The swimming area is known by area residents as being some of the coldest water through-out the summer months. Walnut Creek, a spring-fed stream provides refreshing water in the swim site. Hiking trails are located in and around the campground. An amphitheater is located in the day use area for group gatherings. Campsites are available from a basic campsite to more developed with additional amenities, to include 30-50 amp electrical service, water connections and some sites offering sewer connections. A dump station is located at the campground. Walnut Creek runs through the campground and access is available for wading and fishing in the creek.

Guidebooks for Arkansas

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
Jim Warnock, 2017
Find at Bookshop.org
Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook
Tim Ernst and Pam Ernst, 2010
Find at Bookshop.org
Scenic Routes and Byways the Ozarks
Don Kurz, 2013
Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Charlton Recreation Area?

Sites at Charlton Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Charlton Recreation Area?

Day Use: $5/vehicle OR $2/person (walk-in/bike-in/drop-off). Camping: Single sites- $15/night. Single sites w/ electric: $25/night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Charlton Recreation Area?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:30 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Charlton Recreation Area open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Charlton Recreation Area have?

48 sites, including 20 standard sites with power, 18 standard sites without power, 8 tent-only sites, and 2 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Charlton Recreation Area?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Charlton Recreation Area have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Charlton Recreation Area?

Warm water showers and flush toilets.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Charlton Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Charlton Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Charlton Recreation Area?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Hunting is not allowed in recreational areas.