Teepee Camping In Arkansas

A campfire reflecting on the side of a teepee at night has a special charm, and sleeping in a teepee creates an exciting backdrop to any camping experience. In Arkansas, two teepee camping adventures offer unusual accommodations reminiscent of eras past. Learn about history and nature at these teepee campgrounds, while also enjoying recreational activities such as fishing, hiking, boating and swimming.

Teepee Campgrounds

Arkansas has two teepee campgrounds: one at Petit Jean State Park and the other at Diamond John's Riverside Retreat. Petit Jean Park has two teepees for rent, from March to November. Teepee rentals include the use of a canoe, oars and life jackets as well. The tepees sit on the banks of Lake Bailey, and the park also features over 20 miles of hiking trails, a 95-foot waterfall and unique geology.

Diamond John's Riverside Retreat rents teepees to its guests year-round and offers kayaks, paddleboats, canoes, fishing (they supply the poles), swimming, hiking, free buffet breakfasts, a hot tub and gem hunts at night by flashlight.

Petit Jean State Park
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road
Morrilton, AR 72110
501-727-5441
arkansasstateparks.com

Diamond John's Riverside Retreat
81 Roy Road
Murfreesboro, AR
870 285-4027
diamondjohns.com

Things to Do

Petit Jean Park offers outdoor recreation in the form of fishing, hiking, boating and swimming, but several unique geological and historical features enhance this vacation. Park officials suggest visiting the park's Rockhouse Cave, which is an ancient rock shelter with Native American rock art, and also the Seven Hollows, a series of interesting ravines or hollows. Fall colors on the trees peak at the end of October.

Diamond John's Retreat offers the usual outdoor recreation activities, but they also offer unique mining experiences. One of the main features of this campground is its close proximity to the Crater of Diamonds State Park, where people can hunt for diamonds and other gems, and take them home, while learning about history and geology. Diamond John's provides free mining equipment to its guests. There is also a popular water park in Crater of Diamonds Park to cool off in the summer.

Crater of Diamonds State Park
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
870-285-3113
craterofdiamondsstatepark.com

Campground Ammenities

The campsite at Petit Jean Park includes flush toilets, a modern bath house with hot showers, and water and electrical hookups. The campground also offers two swimming pools (which are open seasonally), two playgrounds and a picnic area. As of 2010, there is Internet availability at the park's lodge one-half mile away, but not at the campground, and cell phones work in most places in the park.

Diamond John's Riverside Retreat comes with a free towel service and they provide all sheets and blankets for the beds as well. Their teepees come "furnished with a Queen size bed and full size futon, are air conditioned or heated, depending on the season, and have satellite TV." The firepits outside the teepees have barbecue grills and picnic benches and come with free firewood. There is a hot tub on site and flush toilets and showers 40 feet from the teepee camp. As of 2010, there is no Internet connectivity, but cell phones work on site.

Packing for Teepee Vacations

Packing for teepee camping can be a little different than packing for traditional tent camping, since teepee camping usually involves some amenities. Due to amenities provided by Petit Jean Park, for instance, you need only bring bedding, food, utensils/pans, flashlights and bug repellent since flooring, sleeping pads, a cooler, a camp stove with fuel, and lantern are provided, and ice and firewood can be bought on site.

At Diamond John's teepee camp, bedding is included as is a microwave, refrigerator and firewood, so all you really need for this trip is food and lighting such as a lantern. Aside from these details, one would pack as if for a normal camping trip when teepee camping.

Seasonal and Other Considerations

Teepee camping has one seasonal consideration that towers above the rest: rain. Teepees tend to wick rain down the poles, from the top hole and at the doorway. Staff at Petit Jean Park said that when it rains, the teepees get wet from the hole in the top, and there have been times when people got rained out in the teepees. Park officials said it rains most heavily during the early spring months. Staff recommended coming in September or October, when there is less rain, it is not as hot, there are less mosquitoes, and the fall colors are magnificent.

Diamond John's staff also said that rain can be problematic in the teepees. They said that there is an inner liner that helps keep things dry and a cap over the top hole for rain, but that the poles and doors still can make the teepee wet. Staff also commented it is very hot in July and can be uncomfortable, but mid-September is usually perfect temperature-wise. It should also be noted that there is no lifeguard on duty at this campground, and that people with animal allergies may want to stay elsewhere.