Arkansas RV parks or State Parks.

Petit Jean State Park and with the rains that they have been having the falls should be spectacular.

Devils Den State Park in West Fork AR
Bull Shoals White River State Park in Bull Shoals AR (Lakeview)
There is also a Corps of Engineers park in Lakeview AR (www.recreation.gov)

you can read the reviews on www.rvparkreviews.com to narrow it down.

I found Lake Catherine SP to be quite nice. Clean park, bathroom/shower facilities and a swim beach for the kids. They do have lakeside camping, but I'm sure they're booked often.

We are planning to spend next week at Petit Jean State Park. Unfortunately, the weather reports are not encouraging.

On your way up to Fayetteville, there are some nice state parks in the southeastern part of the state. Just to mention two: Daisy State Park and Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Even closer to a route you might take, there is Queen Wilhemena State Park near Mena. We have stayed there several times. Our route to Fayetteville is up US 259 in Texas and Oklahoma to Fort Smith. From the Interstate to Fayetteville is a great drive.

For that matter there are some good places to stay in East Texas should you need a stop there: Tyler State Park is a favorite of ours. There are good COE parks on Lake o' the Pines and Wright Patman Lake.

We have stayed a couple of times at the Southgate RV Park in Fayetteville and found it acceptable. It is the only one of which I am aware in the city. We used to stay up in Rogers at a really nice RV park, but that has gone the way of "development."

Except for Devils Den, all of those other state parks mentioned are three to four hours from Fayetteville. Devils Den is about 30 minutes (if you are not towing) from Fayetteville; reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends.

There is a Good Sam rv park "The Creeks" in Cave Springs which is not far from Fayetteville.

sdianel wrote:
Devils Den State Park in West Fork AR
Bull Shoals White River State Park in Bull Shoals AR (Lakeview)
There is also a Corps of Engineers park in Lakeview AR (www.recreation.gov)

you can read the reviews on www.rvparkreviews.com to narrow it down.

Bull Shoals White River SP is a very nice park. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hey great info everyone thanks, what about in the national park or I guess some of these are in the park? I hear a lot about Hot Springs?

thenkas

Lake Ouachita SP is nice. Short drive in to Hot Springs.

Hot Springs NP have a campground - Gulpha Gorge CG - it is a first come / first served campground. Quite pretty down in the valley between two hills. Satellite won't work. No swimming area if that is what you want. A short drive to dining and other entertainment - but not walking distance.

It is a very nice campground - but can't compete with places like Lake Catherine SP, Lake Ouachita SP or Catherine's Landing RV Resort - except on price.

Since you are not staying in Fayetteville for the whole trip - a nice loop is up to Hot Springs - maybe with a stop near Lake Greeson/ Murfreesboro - then up Hwy 7 to Petit Jean - then up to Bull Shoals or Beaver Lake/ Eureka Springs - or to Branson.

Then Fayetteville and down US-259 with a stop at Lake Wister SP in Oklahoma or Beaver's Bend SP near Broken Bow before the return home.

Or reverse.

Just stay off US-75/US-69 from Denison Texas thru McAlister OK to I-40. Unless you like your rig bucking like it is in a rodeo.

FYI - current rates for Arkansas State Parks are:
$32 - 50A/W/S
$25 - 50A/W
$20 - 30A/W

There is no daily admission fee. You can make on-line reservations - but talking directly to the park is advisable.

Thanks for all the help. This is what we have so far, Leaving home Hill country on the 19th heading to Lake Catherine SP for 2 nights. Then heading to Fayetteville for 2 nights but staying on campus at a RV parking site. Leaving UofA on Tuesday morning but this is where I need help. I have to be back home by Thursday or Friday at the latest and somewhere that's not so far from home. Any ideas would be great and even near Dallas?

Thanks