Rather have scenic sites, full hook ups, quiet and peaceful, no train tracks nearby please :). Do not require pull throughs. Cycling and fishing a plus but not necessary. Day trips to nice restaurants, quaint towns (Little Rock ok), shows. Thanks in advance.

Stayed once at Crater of Diamonds SP and it was interesting. You can dig for diamonds and it is close to a very quaint town.

Check out Petit Jean State Park. Some full hookups on the lake. Very pretty park.

Eureka Springs or Hot Springs are both small but quaint towns in Arkansas that are fun to visit and have lots of campgrounds close. Eureka Springs has COE campground - Hot Springs has Lake Catherine State Park or Lake Ouachita State Park are both very nice parks. I like to visit Eureka Springs better but you cant beat Arkansas State Parks where ever you go.

Our favorite is Lake Ouchita State Park outside Hot Springs, AR. Nice full hook up in one loop with sites on the largest and cleanest lake in the state. Reservations are required. You are approximately 20 minutes outside of town.

Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs. Our favorite.

Middle Arkansas recommendations, please | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Bob806
Explorer III
Dec 17, 2016
garmp1 wrote:
Petit Jean State Park.
X4 or whatever. Just great!

x13 lol

Also, it's kind-of north central, but check into the Buffalo River NRA. Some great hiking and scenery. When we visited there after Petit Jean, we camped at Shady Oaks CG near Jasper.

Lake Catherine x7
garmp
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2016
Petit Jean State Park.
X4 or whatever. Just great!
GoPackGo
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
I've stayed at Crater of Diamonds State Park and really liked it. Really a nice park AND you can take a shot at finding some diamonds - which happens every day.

I also recommend Cloud Nine Park just outside Hot Springs. Extremely nice people and a nice clean park. $25/night for full hookups with Good Sam discount. They bought in a professional BBQer and offered a free BBQ on Memorial Day. They are located on top of a hill (can't really call it a mountain I guess) and you do feel like you're in the clouds. I'll stop there whenever I'm in the neighborhood.
one_strange_tex
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
sdianel wrote:
Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs. Our favorite.

X2

One of the quietest, most peaceful campgrounds I have stayed in. Great sites if you reserve early.
Timeking
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
Once again, worry about my Trailblazer towing OK has been for nothing. It went right up Mt Magazine no problem. Also went all the way to Oregon over the Cascades and no problems there either.
Timeking
Explorer
Mar 07, 2016
ok, thanks. seems I will be OK with my v8 Trailblazer towing a 5000 lb travel trailer. Always best to know what you are up against!!
Tom_Trostel
Explorer
Mar 07, 2016
Mount Magazine SP is the highest point in the state, so it's a climb to get there. We came in from the south (Havana) and had no problem with our minivan towing our 17' Bigfoot. We didn't drive north to Paris, no help there. Enjoyed the park greatly and food at the lodge.
Timeking
Explorer
Mar 07, 2016
How steep is the road coming from the south going up and over to Paris AK?
rvnutts
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
We love Lake Catherine state park. Ten minutes from Hot Springs and short drive into Little Rock.
DRbillZ
Explorer
Apr 16, 2015
Petit Jean looks good. We'll be in Searcy and it doesn't look too far from there. I'll make sure I have a50 ft hose