Army Corps of Engineers · Lake Ouachita · Mt. Ida, AR

Tompkins Bend

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.

Reservable · Recreation.gov78 sites20 ft maxElectric hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Tompkins Bend CampgroundTompkins Bend CampgroundTB11TB41
Photos courtesy of USACE Lake Ouachita, USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric61
Tent-only14
Host/management3
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

75 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01AElectricBack-in40PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
02AElectricBack-in50PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
03AElectricBack-in50PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
04AElectricBack-in70PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
05AElectricBack-in55PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
06AElectricBack-in35PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
07AElectricBack-in40PavedPartial50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
08AElectricBack-in40PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
09AElectricBack-in40PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
10AElectricBack-in35PavedFull50/30/20 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Campground map of Tompkins Bend
Campground map published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to USACE Lake Ouachita. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground consists of 77 sites including 63 sites with electric hookups and 69 sites with water hookups. Most sites will accommodate two camping units. Other amenities include a dump station, fish cleaning station, hot showers, playground and a boat ramp.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Tompkins Bend40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 3.81 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.04 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.01 inches of precipitationApril: 6.17 inches of precipitationMay: 5.44 inches of precipitationJune: 4.77 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.20 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.66 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.14 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.44 inches of precipitationNovember: 5.25 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.82 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.8°F averageFebruary: 45.5°F averageMarch: 53.3°F averageApril: 61.5°F averageMay: 69.4°F averageJune: 77.2°F averageJuly: 81.0°F averageAugust: 80.4°F averageSeptember: 73.4°F averageOctober: 62.2°F averageNovember: 51.5°F averageDecember: 43.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mount Ida Asos, 6 miles from the campground at 702 feet, station USW00053921 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year.

Getting there

From Hot Springs, Arkansas, take US 270 west approximately 24.5 miles to Tompkin Bend Road. Turn right and follow access road 2.4 miles north to park. From Mount Ida, Arkansas, take US 270 east about 10.7 miles to Tompkins Bend Road. Turn left and follow access road 2.4 miles north to the park.

Nearest townMt. Ida, Arkansas
Coordinates34.5688° N, 93.4699° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceRazorback Camper Sales, Inc. ↗21.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗34.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

Tompkins Bend RV Campground Review

Worth a stop

Head to Hot Springs National Park and discover how it earned the nickname, "The American Spa." Or take a scenic drive through the 1.8 million-acres of Ouachita National Forest. Here, off-roading enthusiasts can take on the Wolf Pen Gap Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.3 mi
    Lovit - Thompkins Bend Spur
    0.2 mi trail
  • 0.4 mi
    Lovit - Holly Spur
    0.3 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Lovit - Eagle Vista Spur
    1 mi trail
  • 1.2 mi
    Lovit - Denby Point Spur
    0.2 mi trail
  • 1.7 mi
    Lake Ouachita Vista Trail ↗
    38 mi trail
  • 2.7 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.

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.

Natural features

Lake Ouachita is fed from the cool waters of the Ouachita River in central Arkansas. Surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest, it's crystal waters span over 40,000 acres and extend for 30 miles, making it the largest lake completely in the state of Arkansas.

Recreation

Water skiers, jet skiers and anglers can all enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lake, while hikers enjoy the campground's location on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), which meanders across the south end of the lake. Wildlife enthusiasts can find everything from bobcats to black bears and deer in the forested mountains surrounding the lake, and Bald eagles are often spotted in winter.

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 Tompkins Bend?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Tompkins Bend?

Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Tompkins Bend have?

78 sites, including 61 standard sites with power and 14 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Tompkins Bend?

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Tompkins Bend have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Tompkins Bend?

Other amenities include a dump station, fish cleaning station, hot showers, playground and a boat ramp.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Tompkins Bend?

Yes, pets are allowed at Tompkins Bend. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Tompkins Bend?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Tompkins Bend?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Tompkins Bend?

Water skiers, jet skiers and anglers can all enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lake, while hikers enjoy the campground's location on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), which meanders across the south end of the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Tompkins Bend?

Mt. Ida, Arkansas. Head to Hot Springs National Park and discover how it earned the nickname, "The American Spa." Or take a scenic drive through the 1.8 million-acres of Ouachita National Forest.

Source: Getting there

What if Tompkins Bend is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Joplin (1.6 mi), Denby Point (2 mi), and Little Fir (4.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby