Along I 55 in Arkansas

[Limit4]

We need a safe campsite for one night along I 55 in Arkansas. Any where along the route would work. We will just be sitting in lawn chairs and sleeping getting ready for the next days drive.Thanks

[jaycocamprs]

US-412 from Hayti MO to Jackson TN is good 4 lane road. I would then take US-45 to Tupelo, and US-78 to Birmingham AL and I-65 south.

[down_home]

I'll add my reccomendation for Memphis KOA in Ark, off I55. It's a few miles from there to Memphis is you want to go and there are chain eateries on the Arkansas side along I40. They did have a rental car, if you didn't want to unhook.

[clydengail]

Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis is a neat stop. Only a few miles off I55 and right on the bank of Mississippi river.

[padredw]

Just looking at the map, one possibility would be to take US 412 to Jackson, TN. I am not familiar with this part of the route so cannot make any specific recommendation, but it looks reasonable on the map.

From Jackson you could take US 45 all the way to Meridian, MS. Again, I have to say I have not traveled on this route.

At Meridian you could take HY 19 which becomes HY 10 in Alabama to Butler, AL then pick up HY 17 at Butler all the way down to US 84 then over to Coffeeville.

Now, I have driven this route from Meridian to Coffeeville. These are pretty narrow state roads, but I have towed a 34' fifth-wheel on them several times. We had friends who lived in Monroeville, AL and this is the way we often traveled.

Don't take this a advice or recommendation. It comes from a study of the map and your preference to avoid Memphis, plus a familiarity with the last part of the route.

[Limit4]

Our next night will be in Coffeville Ala. at Service C.O.E. campground for one night and then to Destin and Henderson Beach State park. I will look at the map about crossing at Dyersberg and seeing how that would tie in for getting on down to Alabama. If I could miss Memphis that would be great as I am not a big fan of Interstates. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Shadow_Grey]

padredw wrote:

Sorry, but you better study Google Maps again. I have traveled that route many times and even thought you don't go thru the downtown area you do go thru the Southwestern part of Memphis. And you only go thru about 25 to 30 miles of the extreme Northeastern part of Arkansas.

Hi friend, I think most our difference is in the use of language. For example, I am making a distinction between Memphis, TN and West Memphis, AR. Not a big deal, but a very understandable distinction.

And I should have edited my post to say "NORTHeastern" Arkansas. I just didn't bother because, again, it is just a use of language.

And, I know it's not that far but I figure it nearer to 65 miles then to 25 or 30.

No doubt we are both familiar with that bit of geography, we are just describing it a bit differently, and sometimes difference get exaggerated because we are not speaking but only have the written language.

Sorry about that, you are correct it is about 65 miles.

[padredw]

Sorry, but you better study Google Maps again. I have traveled that route many times and even thought you don't go thru the downtown area you do go thru the Southwestern part of Memphis. And you only go thru about 25 to 30 miles of the extreme Northeastern part of Arkansas.

Hi friend, I think most our difference is in the use of language. For example, I am making a distinction between Memphis, TN and West Memphis, AR. Not a big deal, but a very understandable distinction.

And I should have edited my post to say "NORTHeastern" Arkansas. I just didn't bother because, again, it is just a use of language.

And, I know it's not that far but I figure it nearer to 65 miles then to 25 or 30.

No doubt we are both familiar with that bit of geography, we are just describing it a bit differently, and sometimes difference get exaggerated because we are not speaking but only have the written language.

[doxiemom11]

We have not found a good one in Arkansas. We take I-57 to I-55. There is one in Sikeston MO not far north of Arkansas. We went from there to Enid Lake south of W Memphis. The corp of engineer parks there were Persimmon Hill campground and Wallace Creek . There is one other that we used to use called Memphis South in Coldwater MS just off I-55 south of Memphis, but the last time we were there is was turning into a dump and they had raised their prices so we avoid that now.

PS - DO NOT stop at Grizzly's in Blytheville !

And - the I-55 we take doesn't stay in Arkansas very long 50-60 miles going either north or south.

[DUNEBUGGYDOUG]

Shadow Grey, I think you need to look at the maps, it is about 100 miles from Memphis to the Missouri state line via I-55 .If you are coming from Festus I suggest you cross the river at Dyersburg and come south on Hwy 51.Shelby Forest State Park west of Millington is an excellant place to overnite.Traffic is a nitemare thru West Memphis due to construction

[Shadow_Grey]

padredw wrote:
Just for clarification: If you are taking I-55 north it does continue for quite some way up Eastern Arkansas, and does not go through Memphis at all if one approaches from the Southwest as we do.

I have no experience of following I-55 through Memphis and south. My response was to the question about I-55 in Arkansas.

We all tend to view routes from where we plan. I'm not even sure where the OP is going from I-55 in Arkansas.

Sorry, but you better study Google Maps again. I have traveled that route many times and even thought you don't go thru the downtown area you do go thru the Southwestern part of Memphis. And you only go thru about 25 to 30 miles of the extreme Northeastern part of Arkansas.

At least that is the I-55 I take heading down that way...

[padredw]

Just for clarification: If you are taking I-55 north it does continue for quite some way up Eastern Arkansas, and does not go through Memphis at all if one approaches from the Southwest as we do.

I have no experience of following I-55 through Memphis and south. My response was to the question about I-55 in Arkansas.

We all tend to view routes from where we plan. I'm not even sure where the OP is going from I-55 in Arkansas.

[edm3rd]

For clarification, Arkabutla Lake is in Mississippi, as well as Sardis Lake, Enid Lake, and Grenada Lake, all with either COE or state park campgrounds. Another option would be taking US-61 south from Memphis and staying at one of the Tunica casino campgrounds-with an easy return to I-55. All of the above are not far off of I-55.

This will get you south of Memphis traffic for your next day's drive.

[garmp]

55 isn't long in Arkansas before it gets to Memphis. Once you break through Memphis, Arkabutla Lake isn't very far off 55 and offers a couple of COE parks. Always nice for a night. We plan on hitting it on our way to New Orleans.

[padredw]

Yes, that is the one I was talking about.

But the reason I post is that I have found that the Hayti KOA is now just the Hayti Campground and no longer with KOA. I think the campground has not changed, just no longer with KOA.

Interesting, as traindriver says, that the Memphis KOA used to be ABC--America's Best Campground. Our stays there have all been since it bacame a KOA.