Advice for Arkansas Trip!

[moniki]

Hi!
I'm revisiting this board after a couple of years now that we're camping more. We're planning to drive from Austin, TX to Arkansas, but have no idea where we're going or where to stay. One of the places we're considering so we can check out Hot Springs, is DeGrays Lake State Park (campground) or Cloud Nine campground. We don't want to be next to the behemoth trailers--prefer a little more seclusion, shade, water, all that good stuff that pop-up people love. Any other suggestions? We have a whole week!

Monica
Jaycoquette

[flyfisherman]

Arkansas has great state parks! Try to get over that way from time to time and fish the White River just outside of Mountain Home. Usually stay at the Bulls Shoal State Park located just below the Bulls Shoals dam. If you happen to be into trout fishing this place is outstanding. But there are several Corps of Engineer C/G located above the dam plus some nat'l forest C/G's not too far away. But a double "A" rating for the state parks!


Fly

[popupcop]

Welcome back to the board!!
 
Also look for Lake Ouachita (Washita) State Park just northwest of Hot Springs. My family and I used that as a jumping off place when we went to Hot Springs a couple of years ago. It is a large state park and you will not be stacked against large motor homes.
 
Other great Arkansas State Parks to visit:
 
Devil's Den (between Fort Smith and Fayetteville) Great hiking and biking trails. Quiet and spaces far enough apart to be comfortable.
Mount Nebo (near Dardanelle) Nebo's road is steep and curvy enough enough that there is a length restriction on trailers. There have been several times we have camped there when we were the only camper. The big rigs are just too big..
 
Here is the link: http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/

[gsm x2]

We stayed at Katherine Lake State Park for a couple of days in November 2001.  Very nice campground with clean restrooms and nice people.  There is a power plant across the lake.  Kind of ruins the view, but otherwise caused not problems.
 
 Here's a link from out log on that trip.
 
 http://www.sccampers.org/bigtrip2001web/day13halfdayhotsprings.htm
 
 gsm x2

[Camping Coxes]

My daughter just did her state report on Arkansas.  As we looked up places to visit, I was really wanting to go to their state parks to camp!  One she highlighted was Crater of Diamonds State Park.  It was beautiful, and you can dig for diamonds too!  Plus they have a water park on site, which would be cool.  We've vacationed in Arkansas twice to visit a close friend.  He recently passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease and bone cancer, so we won't be visiting there anymore and we'll miss it.  Arkansas has so many beautiful areas and so much history.  Be sure to visit some Civil War battlefields.  There is a  lot of information for Arkansas on the internet.

[campincrew]

Devils Den is by far our favorite SP in Arkansas.  I just read on the KHBS TV website //www.thehometownchannel.com, that they had some damage at the park because of a dam break.  But when the trails are back in shape, it has some of the best hiking and a great little cave to explore.

[Old Goat]

We visited Arkansas two years ago and spent two days in Hot Springs. While there we stayed at the local KOA campground, which is close to town...It was handy and quiet at night. It is located on a local expressway and traffic thins out at night making it one of the quietest KOA's we've ever been in....Be sure to tour one of the old bathhouses in Hot Springs and see how people used to live.... While in Arkansas we also stayed at Devils Den SP, Magazine Mountain SP and Lake Charles...All are excellent campgrounds........

[Joe&Sherri+4]

Our favorites so far are Crater of Diamonds SP and Petit Jean SP.
It was fun digging for diamonds....can rent equipment or bring your own and Petit Jean has lots of beautiful hiking trails, one has a waterfall, and beautiful scenery of the Arkansas River Valley.

My brother and SIL stayed at the above mentioned KOA near Hot Springs. Said it was great and the only complaint was that their awning almost touched their next door camper neighbors. Too close for me.

Hope you have a nice vacation in Arkansas.
Sherri

[rock_hound]

My favorite Arkansas SP is Petit Jean.  Lots of great hiking trails, a small lake, antique automobile musuem nearby (Pres. Clintons 65 mustang is there), and a great little resturant ran by the park....I could go on and on.

If you want an out of the way park that not too many people know about, you could go to Shores Lake.  It is a forest service campground constructed by the CCC.  It has electric hook ups but no water.  There are 5 or 6 faucets in the park (to fill your tank).  It also has hot showers.

You might also consider the Buffalo River.  Lots of fun to float but it will probably be crowded this time of year.

[Seguinrv]

Hi!
I'm revisiting this board after a couple of years now that we're camping more. We're planning to drive from Austin, TX to Arkansas, but have no idea where we're going or where to stay. One of the places we're considering so we can check out Hot Springs, is DeGrays Lake State Park (campground) or Cloud Nine campground. We don't want to be next to the behemoth trailers--prefer a little more seclusion, shade, water, all that good stuff that pop-up people love. Any other suggestions? We have a whole week!

Monica
Jaycoquette

Howdy Monica,

I spent several years swimming, fishing and recreating at DeGray State Park.   It is actually located about 30 miles from Hot Springs along Highway 7.  Caddo Valley and Arkadelphia are just a few miles to your east and you will find plenty of seclusion and a beautiful lake/views.  There is some stuff to do there in Hot Springs.  Arkadelphia is dead, you can rest there, right?  There are two universities and a Wal Mart.  I attended Henderson State University for four years.  

The Hot Springs Ducky Ride will give you an hour long ride in and around Hot Springs and of course you can visit bathhouse row.  There are several places to eat there on Highway 7 in Hot Springs if you wish.  It has a small mall, and some interesting side trips of less than 30 minutes - 60 minutes duration.  There is also Magic Springs and Mid America Museum.  A convenience store is located right at the intersection of Highway 7 and I-30 (About 7 miles from the lake, maybe more from your camping location).  I hope this information helps.  Oh, you can go visit Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro if you want to look for a diamond in the rough.  It is about an hour or so away from Arkadelphia. (Less than $5.00 per day entrance fee to the diamond mine fields.  They do have a camp site, but I can't remember if it has ammenities or not.

Added later:  You might also want to drive up to Lake Greeson Dam and beyond and look for campsites there if you go to Murfreesboro to the Crater of Diamonds State Park.  Lake Greeson has a campsite, but I can't remember if it is full ammenities or just primitive camping.  You'll at least get a great view of the Ozark Foothills and see the dam and Little Missouri River below the lake if you drive up that way.  There is Rainbow Trout fishing below the dam in the clear water river.  The Crater Park was building a water park for the kids.  When I was up late last year, it had not been finished yet, but you might want to check it out and see if it has been finished if you will be travelling with children.

There is also a lodge at Lake Degray.  Forgot to mention that earlier.  There is a great seafood restaurant on the way back to Arkadelphia on Highway 7 South. It will be on the left from the lake back to I-30 and it is called "The Fishnet".  If you like indian culture and history, the area is full of it.  You might visit Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village at Murfreesboro and ask the Arkadelphia locals where the Caddo Indian Mounds are near I-30.  You can view one huge mound without leaving your vehicle.


Happy Camping and Traveling
  :theking:

Seguinrv, Seguin, Texas
One Princess, One Queen, One Me and One Boss Big Chihuahua
http://www.bigchihuahua.com

[graywri]

I would highly recommend the Bull Shoals area. I have been going there for years and love it more each time I go. The state park below Bull Shoals Dam is great with nice shaded spaces, bike trails, hiking trails, and activities throughout the summer months not to mention some of the best trout fishing in America. Another good park is the Denton Ferry RV Park at Cotter Arkansas. Great location on the white river, great fishing,great bath and laundry facilties, but since this is a relatively new park it lacks the tree shaded lots.