Waveland Campground

Very quiet between Christmas and New Year's. Beautiful area. Only sites 17-31 were open while we were there. Unfortunately, if you are in one of the odd numbered sites, you will need a long hose to access the water. The spigot at our site was about 50 ft behind the pad. Fortunately, we talked to the staff and he gladly switched out reservation to a site across the way with closer water access. T-Mobile coverage was better than I expected.

This is an Army Corps of Engineer campground and reservoir 13 miles south of Mount Magazine on Blue Mountain Lake. The campground exceeded our expectations. We would give it 6 stars out of 5 stars if we could. The campground was excellent and we would definitely go back. In fact, it was the best Corp campground we have ever stayed at with very modern facilities.

The pluses are: good location and a short drive to Mount Magazine, very nice beach to swim, very spread out camp sites with mature trees for shade, some sites have great views of the lake, modern flush toilets and free showers, very clean bathhouse, about 85% full the week after Labor Day but we still got in without a reservation, most sites are reasonably level, and cost only $12 / night for a tent site with a national parks senior pass.

Unlike most other RV parks, there were no cons that we experienced. The park is well managed and maintained with little to improve. This park is hidden gem and much nicer than the old facilities at many national parks including Hot Springs National Park, which lacks showers and not very well maintained.

Overall, we would love to go back to this campground and stay much longer. A big surprise is that Arkansas has small fresh water jellyfish in many of its lakes. Unlike the larger ocean varieties, they do not harm humans. Thanks to one of the park employees for sharing this fact with us. At first we thought he was joking but a quick online fact check confirm he was right!

Most of this COE campground is set up like RVs in a matchbook, but there are a few gems. 4 and 5 are more secluded—and less level—and a few sites beyond them are lucky, water view ducks too. Site 45 was probably the best in the big RV park type loops while site 51 was like hanging off of a cliff.

Verizon service was the only thing thicker than the rain and most in late March. The reservoir looks beautiful from this spot, and that’s what we’re dealing with here, a place to camp at night while you partake in the waters all the day long. And then stream all the Internet at once.

Though it’s largely made in jest, I’d comment that it’s also comforting to know that here, unlike nearby Outlet Area Campground, should the Army Corps of Engineers work not be up to snuff, you’re not poised immediately in the path of the aftermath. I wouldn’t even joke about that, but after seeing Arkansas in the Spring, and how absolutely nothing — even our nation’s military’s engineers — can seem to get the ensuing swampland to drain, well...I prefer the high ground.