Joplin

Joplin Campground on Lake Ouachita is an excellent destination for pristine lakefront camping. Joplin is perched on a slender peninsula with plenty of attractive scenic views of the water and surrounding mountain terrain. World-class striper fishing goes on in the lake, and wildlife watchers can find everything from bobcats to rare freshwater jellyfish. Prized as one of the clearest lakes in the nation, Lake Ouachita is ideal for scuba diving. Visitors also enjoy hiking, biking, scenic driving, water skiing, fishing and hunting. All 59 campsites have electric hookups, but keep in mind the spaces are small and unpaved, and campsite pad lengths vary greatly from site to site due to the terrain. Water hookups are not available, but a water faucet is located in each loop. Other amenities include a dump station, fish cleaning station, hot showers, boat ramp and a swim beach. Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas, Lake Ouachita spans a surface area of over 40,000 acres, making it the biggest lake completely within the state of Arkansas. The region has a climate with four seasons: spring and fall are mild, summer is hot and humid, and winter is variable with temperatures ranging from below freezing on up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Boat rentals, horseback riding rentals and the Hickorynut Mountain Vista are not far from the campground.