South Texas to Arkansas

It's going to be tricky to get from Lake Catherine State Park to Gulpha Gorge. Do not try to go thru downtown Hot Springs. Take the loop. You should check it out in your toad. Hwy 7 in Arkansas is not a good idea for an RV. Very hilly and windy. I would get back on I-30, then take I-430 to Hwy 10 to get to Maumelle. Pinnacle Valley Rd comes up quickly and depending on time of day there is traffic There is a traffic light. They are prepping to widen Pinnacle Valley Road and there may be delays. When we were there earlier this year they were cutting down trees. There is one more park we loved that you may look at before you go to Devils Den. Lake Fort Smith State Park. Completely redone. Remote, quiet large sites. Sites 15 or 17 would get satellite. Not sure if any local channels. No lakefront sites but gorgeous area. The road down to the park is steep but doable if you take it slow. We have been to most of these parks and agree that Arkansas has beautiful parks. DeGray Lake, and Petit Jean Mountain are 2 more great ones. Lots to see in Hot Springs and Fort Smith. Enjoy your trip!

Where were you planning on crossing into Louisiana? The Bridge is still out on LA 7 at the Texas border.

I can suggest maybe take highway 59 north thru Texarkana.

There are some good COE parks on Wright Patman Lake just before Texarkana.

We've stayed at Catherine's Landing RV Park in Hot Springs many times. It's a GREAT park. Nice people, nice clean park. They have concrete sites with asphalt roads. Very nice place.

Clear Springs, Piney Point, Rocky Point and Malden Lake campgrounds with utilities are currently closed on Wright Patman Lake due to flooding - US ACE Wright Patman Lake

As of this morning, the lake is 21.84 feet above the normal conservation pool level. It has been over 20 feet high since mid-March.

We usually stay there when visiting relatives in southwest Arkansas/ northeast Louisiana.
:(

The Beaver Dam Campground on Caney Lake near Minden is a nice FS GC. Heavily wooded loop with some waterview sites. Don't expect to get a satellite signal if you have one for TV. Minden is a bit of a challenge to pass thru with a trailer. Just go slow and swing wide. Folks will avoid hitting your trailer.

I don't have any problems with my 36' TT on Hwy 7 between Arkadelphia and the Arkansas River, going through downtown Hot Springs. But I was driving that road pulling a 20's boat when I was 15.

Gulpha Gorge is a nice CG, but I'd rather stay a couple extra days at Lake Catherine and drive into the NP rather than take the trailer to Gulpha Gorge. Other than a camping loop, the NPS CG has nothing really to offer, and it is not close enough to anything to walk.

Maumelle is a good CG. As noted above watch for the exit from the west loop around Little Rock. Our last visit in November was great.

I vastly prefer Devil's Den over Lake Fort Smith. Yes the lake CG is a brand new one (I remember the old Lake Fort Smith and Lake Shepard Springs - and the old Lake Fort Smith SP in Mountainburg.) They raised the dam and turned the two lakes into one several years ago, requiring moving the SP. The new one is beautiful, and isolated. No neighbors to bother you.

If you want to go to Devil's Den - take a good look at a map, and enter the park from the north on AR-170. DO NOT attempt to tow a trailer into the canyon on AR-74 from Winslow/ IH-540 Exit 45.

The Ouachita and Ozark mountains roads in Arkansas are in pretty good shape, but are frequently steep and many turns. You are not going to get good fuel mileage, and you are not going to travel fast. Avg close to 35-40 mph each hour at the most when off the freeway.

You must be sure your tow vehicle can pull your rig from a stop on an uphill 7-10% grade, and can stop your rig when going down such a grade.

Thank you all very much for the input, will definitely look into the suggested routes and other parks...this is a great site with awesome people. .