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The Ultimate Arkansas Backyard Campout Guide

July 1, 2026

Author Julie Kohl

July 1, 2026

Julie Kohl

Camping is good for the soul. It connects you with nature and with your family, and it’s a rite of passage for kids. The best news is that you don’t have to travel far to have a successful campout. Arkansas is loaded with great campgrounds, but the best campground around might just be your own backyard. You’ll save on gas money, there are no fees, and you’ve got all the comforts of home just steps away.

Every summer, the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Campout encourages families to reconnect with nature, sleep under the stars, and spend time outdoors. Arkansas has a lot of natural beauty to appreciate, but respect and appreciation for the outdoors begin at home. So let’s keep it simple and camp out without going anywhere! This is your ultimate guide to an Arkansas backyard campout, and I’m going to walk you through everything you need to have a great experience in your backyard.

Arkansas Backyard Campout Schedule

If this is your first family campout, a Friday night with no Saturday plans is a great place to start. This leaves room for schedule adjustments and ensures you won’t be dragging around cranky kids who stayed up too late. Although a campout is a kid-centered event, I highly recommend you involve the whole family in the planning and setup. Bonus points to moms and dads who make it all night in the tent! It’s a great way to work together and really connect as a family.

4 p.m. – Set Up Camp

Pitch a tent. Setting up a tent can be tricky, but many hands make light work. If this is your first time using the tent, I suggest laying out all the poles and pieces and checking (and double-checking) the instructions before beginning. Take your time, and allow yourself some grace.

Roll out sleeping bags. You can lay the sleeping bags on the floor of the tent, but adding an air mattress or some extra blankets underneath can add some comfort. My son likes to add his pillow and a favorite stuffie.

Hang string lights. String lights create a fun atmosphere, but aren’t a requirement for a good time. A few flashlights make it fun and are helpful for late-night bathroom runs.

Set up a fan. I don’t have to tell you, but Arkansas is hot. A fan keeps air circulating and makes nighttime a little more restful. We just ran an extension cord from our porch.

5 p.m. – Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt

I always underestimate just how much wildlife resides right in my yard. A backyard scavenger hunt is a fun way for kids to discover the unexpected, plus it gives you a few minutes to gather what you need for dinner.

Look for:

Cardinals, Blue Jays and other backyard birds
Butterflies
Dragonflies
Different leaf shapes
Animal tracks
Wildflowers

You can download a printable scavenger hunt or track your finds in a nature journal.

6 p.m. – Campfire Dinner

One of my favorite parts of camping is eating outdoors. It doesn’t matter if it’s a grilled dinner, something cooked over the campfire or a simple picnic; eating outside is an experience I rarely pass up. Go ahead and light the campfire or fire up the grill and create a memorable family meal.

7:30 p.m. – Backyard Games

Playing a few backyard games is a great way to get the wiggles out before you start to slow down for the evening. The games can be as simple as tossing a frisbee or a football or kicking around a soccer ball. Game time is often the highlight of the night.

Flashlight tag
Glow stick ring toss
Cornhole
Ladder golf
Capture the flag

8:30 p.m. – Arkansas Nature After Dark

As the sun sets, much of Arkansas’s fauna is just waking up. The sky comes alive with birds getting their final snack before bed and bats that are just waking from their slumber. The sound of crickets and cicadas fills the air, and deer tentatively step out of their hiding places in search of some tasty greens. Take a few moments to silently enjoy the transition of the Arkansas Night Forest.

Look and listen for:

If you want to have a little fun with your kids, send them on a snipe hunt!

9 p.m. – Campfire Stories

The highlight of every camping trip has to be the campfire. Grab a few lawn chairs and gather around to grill s’mores and tell stories. It’s a great place to unwind and relax and simply enjoy the silence as the flames dance over the logs.

Campfire Stories:

Note: Use parental discretion when sharing scary stories before bedtime.

Campfire Snacks:

10 p.m. – Stargazing

Arkansas skies offer up some incredible stargazing opportunities. It’s also the perfect time for a little learning disguised as adventure and fun.

Teach kids to find:

Big Dipper
Little Dipper
North Star
Identify planets
Name the phase of the moon

If you live in town, getting it dark enough to observe the stars can be a challenge. Plan a visit to Buffalo River – Arkansas’s First Dark Sky Park in the future.

Bedtime

When it’s time to tuck in for the night, give everyone a chance to head in for a bathroom break before settling in. Sleeping someplace new can be a little scary, but I tend to downplay it as much as possible so there is less chance of a midnight disruption. And don’t underestimate the security of a stuffie and a flashlight.

The Next Morning – Backyard Camp Breakfast

Firing up the campfire or the grill to cook breakfast is a great way to finish the backyard campout before heading back to your regular routine. You can go all out with pancakes, eggs and bacon or serve simple bowls of cereal.

Campsite Cleanup

Campsite cleanup is just as important as the setup. Getting everything put away in its proper place means you’ll be able to find everything you need for your next backyard campout. Challenge the kids to help pack up camp just like you would at a real campground.

Printable Backyard Campout Guide

We often think outdoor adventures require a state park reservation, a camper or a full weekend away. Sometimes all it takes is a tent, a few lawn chairs and a willingness to stay outside a little longer than usual. The Great American Campout is really about slowing down, looking up at the stars and making memories close to home.

Meet the
author.

Learn more about Julie Kohl.

A little about Julie Kohl.

Julie Kohl works from home as a writer and teaches art part-time at a local private school. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas where they raise chickens, farm hay and bake bread. Julie loves adventure and sharing it with her husband and son. They frequent the trails, campgrounds and parks of Arkansas, always on the hunt for new adventures and new stories to share. Learn more on her blog Seek Adventures Media.

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