How to Plan the Perfect RV Trip in Arkansas

What makes Arkansas a great RV destination? Variety. Park your rig in a mountain setting or near a trailhead. Wake up to the sounds of a rushing river or fall asleep to the lake lapping at the shore. Immerse yourself in an Arkansas state park or stay near city sites.

From scenic routes to seasonal highlights to campsites for every kind of rig, this guide covers what you need to plan a trip any time of year.

Scenic Routes to Take

You’ll find the drive as pleasurable as the destination. From the ridges of the ancient Ouachita and Ozark mountains to the flatlands of the Delta, Arkansas highways offer some incredible natural beauty. Plus, Arkansas has 11 scenic byways. Some, like Scenic 7 Byway, run through more than one geographic area.

Roads range from tight switchbacks to straightaways. For example, the Great River Road along the Delta is free of mountain grades, making it accessible for relaxed cruising in a camper van or a long travel trailer. Mount Magazine Scenic Byway along Ark. 309 takes you to the highest point in Arkansas, but the safest route for you and your rig is from the north side out of Paris. The Pig Trail, Ark. 23, should be avoided in large RVs because of its tight roads, zero shoulders, switchbacks and dense canopy of overhanging trees. So, plan ahead based on the size of your recreational vehicle.

Best Time to Visit

The Natural State experiences four distinct seasons, yet the weather is moderate enough for year-round road trips and RV camping.

Spring and Fall Color: Visit in early spring for a pop of white flowering dogwoods that transition into hillsides loaded with shades of green. Fall brings an array of brilliant oranges, yellows and reds sweeping across the landscape. More than half of Arkansas is forested, so you’ll enjoy seeing the trees through your windshield during your drive as well as camping within the lush, colorful canopies.

Campfire Season: Winter, spring and fall offer cool or crisp temps for relaxing in nature surrounded by the smell and warmth of a campfire. Hiking in winter opens up bigger views with leaves off the trees.

On the Water: Spring and early summer are the prime floating times on many rivers, while a few like the Spring River can be floated year-round. April through October is the ideal window for recreational scuba diving at lakes like Norfork and Ouachita. Cooling off in Arkansas lakes and rivers has long been a favorite summer pastime.

Stargazing: Stargazing is great April through October at Buffalo National River, an International Dark Sky Park and unit of the National Park Service. An especially good viewing window is summer when the Milky Way is at its highest and brightest over the Buffalo National River. Book a stay during a new moon for the darkest skies. In the fall, it’s mating season for the large elk herd roaming the Buffalo, the nation’s first national river. Elk bugle and spar for females during this time.

Fishing: Anglers will find a variety of species to fish for year-round, whether it’s the spring white bass run, late summer stripers on Beaver Lake, monster browns in winter on the White River or the fall feeding frenzy of crappie to flathead.

Find outfitters and guides for floating, boating and fishing through Guide ARK, the state's online directory of licensed, vetted outdoor professionals.

Where to Set Up Camp

In Arkansas, travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to RV campsite options. Plan a wilderness-only trip, a big-city trip or a hybrid that offers access to nature and unhurried afternoons in a walkable, low-key downtown.

Arkansas State Parks: Camping is available at more than 30 Arkansas state parks, from full-hookup Class AAA sites built for pull-through big rigs to no-hookup Class D sites for smaller, self-contained setups. Choose from a lakefront site at Petit Jean State Park's Lake Bailey or camp along the trout-filled White River at Bull Shoals-White River State Park. You can dig for diamonds and keep what you find at Crater of Diamonds State Park, which has 47 full-hookup sites. Each park's page on Arkansas.com lists specific hookup types, RV length limits and loop layouts.

Buffalo National River: America's first national river runs undammed for 135 miles past Ozark limestone bluffs and wilderness areas. It’s one of The Natural State’s most iconic locations for hiking, floating and immersing yourself in nature. While the two-lane highways running through the river corridor are manageable and in good condition, they can be steep and curvy, making for slower travel. A vehicle in tow is needed to take full advantage of the scenic river valley. Most river access points are located off dirt roads, some with steep grades. Buffalo Point Campground has the most RV-friendly hookups on the river, with electric and water service for rigs up to 65 feet. Tyler Bend and the river's other NPS campgrounds cap around 35 feet with no hookups, better suited to smaller trailers and vans. For full hookups near the river's upper section, Buffalo Outdoor Center runs a private RV park in Ponca with 14 full-hookup sites that are all pull-through and big-rig friendly.

Arkansas’ Spa Cities: Both Hot Springs and Eureka Springs captivate visitors with walkable downtowns full of retail shops, fine art, restaurants, spas, and more. Hot Springs is known for its thermal waters and Hot Springs National Park, gangster and baseball history, and Oaklawn, a premier thoroughbred racetrack and casino resort. Eureka Springs is known for its Victorian architecture, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Christ of the Ozarks statue, The Great Passion Play and Thorncrown Chapel. Both cities are wrapped in nature with nearby rivers and lakes, and hiking and biking trails. Wanderlust RV Park in Eureka Springs offers 88 full-hookup sites, 51 of which are pull-through and 66 have 50 amps. In addition to restrooms, showers and laundry facilities, amenities include a swimming pool, pavilions, cabins, and two social halls for groups. Plus, it’s pet-friendly and on the city trolley stop. In Hot Springs, choose from numerous RV campgrounds, such as Gulpha Gorge Campground in the national park with full hookups (no pull-throughs) to luxury locations such as Catherine’s Landing, located 10 minutes outside town and offering a dog park, zipline, pool, boat rentals on the shore of Lake Catherine and long-term rates.

Northwest Arkansas: Those looking to go from campsite to trail, whether hiking or mountain biking, will love Bentonville. More than 80 miles of trails for all age and experience levels run through the city, leading to world-class museums, craft breweries, downtown eateries, or nothing but nature. Bentonville’s trails seamlessly connect to about 500 more miles of trail system running throughout Northwest Arkansas. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve's campground has camper van sites with direct access to 20-plus miles of trails and a bike wash and repair station. Blowing Springs has 64 full-service sites, is pet-friendly and has access to the Blowing Springs Trails and The Back 40 Trail. Bentonville Bike Camp caters to RVers with 14 electric sites for small RVs, a dump station, water fill up station, a bike wash station and a community fire pit on 10 acres. Bentonville also has numerous local shops for bike rentals, repair services and shuttle options. 

National Forests: The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest in northern Arkansas and the Ouachita National Forest in southwestern Arkansas account for 3 million acres of public land. Campsite variety ranges not only in hookups, but also in recreational opportunities. For example, Long Pool Recreation Area on Big Piney Creek has 19 campsites with water and electrical hookups. The area is perfect for camping, picnicking, swimming, canoeing, fishing and hiking. It’s also in Piney Creeks Wildlife Management Area, which allows seasonal hunting. Near Mount Magazine in the Arkansas River Valley, Cove Lake Recreation Area offers boat rentals, miniature golf and seasonal food service, and has several campsite units, although no special facilities for RVs. 

Unique Stays: Park your RV close to a Big Cat habitat at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs and receive discounted tour entry fees. Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park has primitive sites spread out for privacy. Stay at Wiederkehr Wine Cellars’ small on-site RV park for access to the winery grounds, tasting room, gift shop and historic Weinkeller Restaurant. Hookup amenities vary from place to place.

Know Before You Go

• While there’s no entry fee to state parks, your travel budget will need to include campsite reservations and boat or equipment rentals. 
• Most Arkansas state park interpreter programs are free, but some guided tours or experiences have a small cost.
• Pet policies vary by state and federal park.
• Cell signal is not always reliable in remote areas, like the Buffalo National River.
• If staying in secluded national forests campsites or boondocking: check whether permits are required, be emergency-ready, prepare for off-roading, Leave No Trace, respect wildlife, and be aware of hunting season.