Hot Springs AR to Mena hwy 270

On our last trip to Mena, we took US 270 from Hot Springs to Mena and had no problems towing our 5th wheel on that highway. It winds around a lot, but no steep grades and very few towns. Actually a fairly scenic drive through the Arkansas forest.

BTW, we stayed at the Lake Catherine State Park cg in Hot Springs and loved it. Had a tree-shaded site that backed up to the lake with a view of the lake from our rear picture window. The park and cg were built by the CCC in the 1930's and a lot of the old wood and stone buildings are still there. If we ever had to stay in that area again, we would certainly stay at that SP.

I spent 2 nights at Queen Wilhelmina state park in August,it is a nice place, though we had very heavy fog both mornings, so thick I could not see the RV 2 spaces down at one point shortly after sunrise, maybe 100 ft away. No issue with wind though, will go back again, it had been 30 years since I was last there.

p.s. if you go take the scenic drive on Ark 88 not the shortcut on 59 / 270 from Mena

We have stayed or tried to stay at every RV park and state park campground in Mena.

Several years ago we paid for 3 nights in March at the Queen Wilhelmina SP cg, but left after one night due to extremely high winds nearly blew our trailer over. We were the only campers in the cg that night, but got a refund and moved to the RV park at the bottom of the mountain the following 2 nights. I don't remember the name of the park (maybe Rich Mtn.?), but it was at the intersection of the northwest park entrance road (AR 272) and US 270/59. Poorly maintained grass sites, but had hookups and a reasonable price.

On another trip, we tried to stay at the Iron Mountain RV Park on US 71 south of Mena. But we could find no one around to pay for a site, so we stayed just north of there at the Shadow Mountain RV Park. The Shadow Mtn. sites were a little overpriced for narrow hillside sites and the traffic noise from the highway a little louder than anticipated. Nice manager, but she only took cash or checks, no credit cards.

We may stay at Shadow Mtn. again the next time we are in Mena. However, we will check out the new 4 Seasons RV Park north of town first to see if it is any better.

Check rvparkreviews.com for Mena Arkansas. There are several good rated campgrounds listed with information about the campground and reviews.