There are three ways up the mountain.
Hwy 272 from US-270/59 is the shortest, steepest and has three or four blind turns with no shoulders or way to avoid traffic coming down the mountain.
Arkansas Hwy 88 from Mena is a bit of a climb, but not as steep as 272. A longer run. Not any shoulders but trees are not right at the edge of the pavement as much as Hwy 272. Definitely a better route to the top in my opinion.
You can OK-1 in from the west in to AR-88 at the state line to the park. This is the route we prefer. We go up to meet US-259 at Broken Bow. Go north on US-259 to the junction with OK-1 and follow that to/ from the park.
I will go down AR-88 if I have to - I will not go down AR-272.
I have not tried to tow the entire length of the Scenic Drive from US-271 north of Talihina, OK. But in general - the OK section of the route has wider lanes than the AR site. Also the 'shoulders' of the road are cleared in OK for 6-12 feet in most places while in Arkansas the shoulders have trees right up close to the pavement.
As far as the actual campground - when we were last camping there in mid-October 2011 - the spaces were tight and several at near 90 degrees from the single access road with a tight turn at the end.
I have not visited the campground part of the park since the rebuilding. I do not know if the campground was rebuilt, or only the lodge. Satellite images are from during a winter during the construction process - and show no changes to the campground.
Almost no over the air TV reception - and very little space for a satellite signal. Cell coverage is spotty.
Full-Time 2014 - ????
โNot all who wander are lost.โ
"You were supposed to turn back at the last street."
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