Forum Discussion

JWP127's avatar
JWP127
Explorer
Dec 21, 2017

Northwest Arkansas

We're planning our first over the road trip for early summer 2018, and want to go to Devil's Den State Park, which is in northwestern Arkansas.

I'm driving a Ram 6.4 Hemi 2500 (12500# towing capacity), and towing a 33 foot Kodiak 285 BHSL. The dry weight is around 5800#, so I'm guessing around 7300# loaded.

What are the roads like in that area? Steep grades? Narrow roads? Bad roads? Etc...

I'm a newbie, but a cautious newbie...
  • We did I-49 up to Fayetteville in a motor home and it was an easy ride.

    Turning on terrain in Google Maps, it looks like the road from I-49 to the SP runs along a ridge.

    Google EARTH has an elevation feature. Set a route and then right click on the route to get elevation. Here's what I get from Fayetteville to Devil's Den. You leave I-49 around mile 20.

  • I'm not familiar with that area, but looking at the Google maps, I-49 runs near the State Park, so interstate travel will be no problems in that area, (or anywhere). Blow up the area with Google Maps in Satellite view, and you'll see lots of 18 wheeler semi trucks on I-49. If they can do it, any RV can do it too.

    Then the road that leads to the State Park is is 74 (West Devil Den Road). Here again, blow up the maps in Satellite view and it looks like 74 is a 2 lane road with a couple switch backs along the side of the hills the closer you get to the park.

    Now look at the satellite maps of the actual park, and you'll see campers in some of the campsites. All there appear to be longer RV, trailers.

    So you know .... if others can do it... you can too. Go have fun and don't fret. Just drive careful as you always should, think "safety first" over "speed, and I we've go to just get there right away or we'll just met ... attitude" and you'll be fine!

    Looking at the State Park web site and the Google maps and the on-line photos, this might be a destination point for us in our near future!