Offroading Nearby

Ouachita Campground at Edendell

15 RV Sites, 10 Tent Sites, 2 Lodges

Between Mena and the Talimena Scenic Drive on one side and Mount Ida—the self-proclaimed Crystal Mining Capital of the World—on the other, Ouachita Campground at Edendell in Oden, Arkansas occupies a basecamp position in the geographic heart of the Ouachita Mountains that is genuinely hard to improve upon: full hookup sites with EV charging, cabins, a pond, kayak rentals, walking trails, and a guest facilities building with free showers, bathrooms, laundry, and kitchenette all included in the reservation, in a year-round property surrounded by Ouachita National Forest and the river, crystal mine, and scenic byway access that makes the Arkansas Ouachitas one of the most rewarding outdoor destinations in the American South that most travelers haven't discovered yet. Full hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp electric accommodate big rigs in the forested Ouachita Mountain setting, and EV charging reflects a forward-looking property investment that serves the growing community of electric vehicle–towing RV travelers on the Ouachita circuit. Cabins provide the enclosed accommodation option for non-RV guests exploring the region, and the guest facilities building's free showers, bathrooms, laundry, and kitchenette—included in every reservation—represent an unusual amenity commitment that eliminates the coin-operated laundry and pay-per-shower calculus that characterizes most campground infrastructure. A pond on the property supports fishing and the leisurely campground waterfront experience, and kayak rentals provide access to the nearby Ouachita River and Little Missouri River float opportunities that define this part of western Arkansas. Oden sits in Montgomery County in the Arkansas Ouachitas, where the folded and faulted ridges of the east-west mountain system—a geological formation unique in North America for its ridge orientation—create the landscape of parallel ridges, narrow valleys, and stream-cut hollows that characterizes the Ouachita Mountains' distinct topography. The Ouachita National Forest encompasses 1.8 million acres of this terrain in Arkansas and Oklahoma, representing the largest national forest in the South and one of the most biologically diverse forest ecosystems in the eastern United States—home to black bears, elk (reintroduced successfully in the 1980s), and the pine-hardwood forest community that produces exceptional spring wildflower displays and consistent fall foliage. Mount Ida, approximately 25 miles east, serves as the gateway to the quartz crystal mines that make Montgomery County the most significant crystal-mining location in the United States—a geological consequence of the Ouachitas' quartz-rich Ordovician geology. Crystal mines near Mount Ida allow visitors to dig their own quartz crystals from the productive soil for a fee, producing the tactile geological experience that makes the Ouachita crystal country a memorable stop on any Ouachita itinerary. The Talimena Scenic Drive (Oklahoma Highway 1/Arkansas Highway 88) runs 54 miles along the Ouachita Mountains' ridge tops between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma—one of the most spectacular scenic byways in the South, with the ridgeline views across the Ouachita forest in fall foliage producing some of the finest color drives in the region. Ouachita Campground at Edendell operates year-round, providing access to the Ouachita Mountains' four-season character—the spring wildflower season from March through May, the summer river float season on the Ouachita and Little Missouri, the fall foliage on the Talimena Drive in October, and the winter crystal mining season when the mines are accessible and the forest crowds are absent. The campground's stargazing, in the genuinely dark skies of remote Montgomery County, is exceptional on any clear night regardless of season. Reserve your site or cabin at Ouachita Campground at Edendell and let the crystal country, the scenic byway, and the wild Ouachita Mountains show you the Arkansas that most travelers drive straight through on their way to somewhere else.

from $20/night

Mena Cabins

Mena Cabins in Mena, Arkansas, offers cabins and modern glamping units in the Ouachita Mountains at the base of Rich Mountain, the second-highest peak in the state. On-site dining, walking trails, and WiFi serve a mountain property built around trail riding, hiking, fishing, and stargazing in the Arkansas-Oklahoma border country. The accommodations are the product here. Modern glamping units come with climate control, furnishings, bed linens, kitchenettes, fire pits, and covered outdoor spaces that make mountain weather manageable — the bridge between camping and lodging. Cabin options provide fully enclosed, private shelter in the forested Ouachita setting. On-site dining covers meals, and WiFi reaches the property. Walking trails run the grounds along the creek, with fishing, hiking, and picnicking from the property. The dark mountain sky makes stargazing one of the genuine draws. Off-roading is nearby — the Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail system has made the Mena area one of the most active outdoor recreation destinations in western Arkansas, and riders form a significant share of the local visitor base. Mena sits in Polk County in the Ouachita National Forest's ridge-and-valley terrain. The Talimena Scenic Drive runs the ridgeline from here toward Oklahoma, carrying some of the best fall color in the mid-South, and Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits atop Rich Mountain. The property serves the Ouachita season across the year, with trail riding, hiking, and fishing shifting through it. October foliage on the Talimena Drive is the most spectacular window and the busiest — reserve well ahead for fall color weekends, when lodging across the Mena area fills.