Arkansas State Parks • West Fork

Van Camping at Devil's Den State Park

Arkansas's Most Beautiful State Park

Devil's Den is the kind of place that makes you understand why people love the Ozarks. Caves, bluffs, creek swimming, and some of the best hiking in Arkansas — all tucked into a wooded valley about 45 minutes south of Fayetteville. It's been a CCC-built gem since the 1930s, and it's perfect for van camping.

Camping Options

Lee Creek Campground

The main campground with sites right along Lee Creek. Beautiful setting with water flowing past your campsite. Some sites have electric hookups (20/30 amp), others are tent-only. The hookup sites work great for vans that want shore power, but the electric-free sites are just as good if you're set up for off-grid.

Sites: ~100 total • Hookups: Some electric, no water • Reservations: reserve.arkansas.com • Best sites: Creekside, 40s-60s

Backpacking Sites

If you want more solitude, park your van at the trailhead and hike to one of the backcountry sites along the Butterfield Trail. Not van camping exactly, but worth knowing about if you want the wilderness experience.

Best Times to Visit

Spring (March-May): Wildflowers, waterfalls flowing, perfect temps. The most popular time — book ahead.

Fall (September-November): Stunning fall colors along Lee Creek. Second-most popular.

Summer: Hot and humid, but creek swimming makes it worthwhile. Fewer crowds on weekdays.

Winter: Quiet, occasionally cold enough to ice up the waterfalls. Beautiful if you can handle temps in the 30s-40s.

What to Do at Devil's Den

🥾 Hiking

22 miles of trails from easy creek walks to challenging bluff climbs. The Devil's Den Trail takes you through the main cave area. Butterfield Trail connects to longer backcountry routes. Lee Creek Trail is perfect for a morning walk right from your campsite.

🕳️ Cave Exploration

The park has sandstone caves and crevices to explore — nothing massive, but fun to poke around. Bring a headlamp. The CCC-built dam and structures are historic highlights worth seeing.

🏊 Creek Swimming

Lee Creek has swimming holes perfect for hot summer days. The pool below the dam is the main spot. Cold, clear water — bring water shoes for the rocky bottom.

🚵 Mountain Biking

The park has some MTB-legal trails with classic Ozark terrain — rocky, rooty, technical. Not the groomed flow trails of Bentonville, but fun old-school riding. Check current trail status.

Van Camping Tips for Devil's Den

Cell service: Verizon works in most of the park. AT&T is spottier. Expect weak signal in the valley.
Reservations: Book ahead for spring and fall weekends. Midweek is usually available.
Check-in: The park office can fill your fresh water if you ask nicely.
Dump station: None in the park. Nearest is in Fayetteville or Springdale.
Groceries: West Fork has basics. Fayetteville (25 min) for full shopping.
Height: All campground roads are fine for standard high-roof vans.
Bears: Yes, they're around. Use bear boxes where provided. Don't leave food out.

Combine With

Bentonville MTB (45 min): World-class trails at Slaughter Pen, Coler, Back 40
Lake Wedington (20 min): Small lake with more camping and trails
Fayetteville (25 min): Coffee, restaurants, resupply
OZK Customs (35 min): Stop by our shop if you're picking up or dropping off
Ozark Highlands Trail: Major long-distance trail passes through — hike a section

We're Just Down the Road

OZK Customs is about 35 minutes from Devil's Den. If you're in the area, stop by and see the shop. If your van needs work, we're your local resource.

Van Builds

Beaver Lake Guide

Let's Get Started

Planning a trip to Devil's Den? If you're thinking about van upgrades or a new build, we're nearby. Let us know how we can help.

ADDRESS:

6159 E Huntsville Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701

PHONE:

(479) 326-9200

EMAIL:

info@ozkvans.com