About Charlton Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 47
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
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Reviews (234)
What Guests Are Saying
Charlton Recreation Area offers a peaceful and scenic environment with spacious, well-kept campsites and clean facilities, making it an ideal spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors appreciate the proximity to Hot Springs and local attractions like crystal hunting and Ouachita Lake. While some have noted the lack of cell service and the reservation-only policy, the overall experience is positive, highlighting the campground's beauty and cleanliness.
What Guests Are Saying
Charlton Recreation Area offers a peaceful and scenic environment with spacious, well-kept campsites and clean facilities, making it an ideal spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors appreciate the proximity to Hot Springs and local attractions like crystal hunting and Ouachita Lake. While some have noted the lack of cell service and the reservation-only policy, the overall experience is positive, highlighting the campground's beauty and cleanliness.
Review Summary
Donna S
VerifiedMay 4, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 10, Loop: C
Gorgeous campground, but be prepared for NO cell service. There are 2 wifi boosters; 1 on the B bathhouse & 1 on the older bathhouse in the day use area. They might help.
Also, there was a water line break & all the bathhouses had backups & mess for a full day.
Again: it is a beautiful area but not a well kept campground. The AR State Parks are much better.
Donna S
VerifiedMay 4, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 10, Loop: C
Gorgeous campground, but be prepared for NO cell service. There are 2 wifi boosters; 1 on the B bathhouse & 1 on the older bathhouse in the day use area. They might help.
Also, there was a water line break & all the bathhouses had backups & mess for a full day.
Again: it is a beautiful area but not a well kept campground. The AR State Parks are much better.
David S
VerifiedApril 23, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 4, Loop: C
Enfoyed our stay
David S
VerifiedApril 23, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 4, Loop: C
Enfoyed our stay
David S
VerifiedApril 23, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 4, Loop: C
Enfoyed our stay
Cheryl R
VerifiedApril 20, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 21, Loop: B
We had a great campsite in a beautiful campground. The only negative was that the shower water temperature was very hot and couldn't be cooled, and the water stream came down too close to the control handle.
Duane R
VerifiedApril 20, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 6, Loop: C
I called to make a reservation, about two months (maybe more) before our stay. The guy said we were set, but did not want my email to send a confirmation. We got there, and there was no one that we found to tell us which site we were supposed to use. Some helpful seasonal campers said it was First-come-first-served on the sites, and to take an empty site.
Later, the campground manager came by, and told me the guy I spoke with was no longer employed with them, so any info he gave me was not reliable. And, it is a FCFS campground. If I had known, I would have found a backup (which, fortunately, I didn't need). We could have easily gotten there with nothing available.
Nice campground, though. Full hook-ups. Water hook-up was in an underground vault, which was different. Did not find any snakes or spiders in it, fortunately.
Cheryl R
VerifiedApril 20, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 21, Loop: B
We had a great campsite in a beautiful campground. The only negative was that the shower water temperature was very hot and couldn't be cooled, and the water stream came down too close to the control handle.
Duane R
VerifiedApril 20, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 6, Loop: C
I called to make a reservation, about two months (maybe more) before our stay. The guy said we were set, but did not want my email to send a confirmation. We got there, and there was no one that we found to tell us which site we were supposed to use. Some helpful seasonal campers said it was First-come-first-served on the sites, and to take an empty site.
Later, the campground manager came by, and told me the guy I spoke with was no longer employed with them, so any info he gave me was not reliable. And, it is a FCFS campground. If I had known, I would have found a backup (which, fortunately, I didn't need). We could have easily gotten there with nothing available.
Nice campground, though. Full hook-ups. Water hook-up was in an underground vault, which was different. Did not find any snakes or spiders in it, fortunately.
Cheryl R
VerifiedApril 20, 2024 • Stayed at: Charlton 21, Loop: B
We had a great campsite in a beautiful campground. The only negative was that the shower water temperature was very hot and couldn't be cooled, and the water stream came down too close to the control handle.
Location Charlton Recreation Area
Address:
Charlton Campground, 11500 Albert Pike Road
Royal, AR, 71968
United States
Latitude & Longitude: 34.5168 / -93.3818
Elevation: 197 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Site types & loops
- C-Loop campsites 11-19 offer no electrical or water services, but community water spigots are available.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 3, 2026
