RVing Arkansas: Choices Abound From the Natural Life to Nightlife

April 23, 2004

RVing Arkansas: Choices Abound From the Natural Life to Nightlife

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Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

Arkansas is the quintessential retreat for recreational vehicles owners who want to get away from it all -- whether in a mountain setting, beside streams, on the lakeshore or in the heart of wine country -- after all, this is The Natural State. But those who enjoy city nightlife, museums, spa treatments, roller coasters, historic architecture, shopping, golf and fine dining have plenty of escapes to choose from as well.

Just getting there is pleasurable, too. From the ridges of the ancient Ouachita and Ozark mountains to the Delta flatlands leveled by the Mississippi River, Arkansas highways offer some incredible natural beauty on about 10 state or federally designated scenic routes. And, Arkansas interstates are optimal for traveling due to a $950-million program to improve more than 350 miles of the state's system. (Thirty-three of 50 highway projects -- 236 miles of the 356 miles -- are complete and detailed information on the project can be found at www.arkansasinterstates.com.)

The following are choice destinations for RVers, including information on navigating these locales.

RVing at The Natural State's Spa Cities

Those in RVs who plan to stay in Hot Springs won't quickly run out of things to do. The city is home to a national park, bathhouses, a leading thoroughbred racetrack, a 210-acre botanical garden, bathhouses, the Mid America Science Museum, a plethora of restaurants, live music and magic shows, and a combination theme and water park. Also, three area lakes afford water-based recreation, private resorts and two state parks.

RVers can see more of the city with a vehicle in tow; however, some large parking lots in the downtown area accommodate RVs. Travelers can then utilize the city trolley to see more of Hot Springs, including the Hot Springs National Park's mountain tower, reached by a winding road difficult for big rigs to maneuver. A list of 11 RV facilities, some in the city and some along lakeshores, can be found at the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site, www.hotsprings.org, where coupons for select parks can be printed. Or contact the CVB at 1-800-SPA-CITY.

Recommended RV Park: Hot Springs KOA amenities range from modem dataport hook-ups and laundry facilities to a convenience store and small catch-and-release pond. Deluxe pull-through sites with a maximum length of 70 feet, shaded back-in sites, and 30- to 50-amp services are available. Pavilion and meeting room space accommodate large groups, and cabins present a haven for additional guests. The KOA also provides tours, planned activities, on-site events and shuttle services. Open all year, the KOA takes reservations online at www.hotspringskoa.com. For toll-free reservations, phone (800) 562-5903. For general information, phone (501) 624-5912.

Arkansas' other spa city, Eureka Springs, is a quaint small town nestled in the Ozark Mountains and was named as one of a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The city is home to The Great Passion Play, which is the nation's most attended outdoor drama and which depicts the last week of Jesus' life on Earth. Only minutes from the play, Eureka's downtown district is comprised of unique boutiques full of antiques, fine art, contemporary and vintage clothing, handmade crafts, restaurants and more. The best way for RVers to see the sites is via the city trolley -- RVs are not allowed on the city's narrow and twisty historic loop.

Outdoor opportunities abound with nearby rivers for fishing and canoeing, and Beaver Lake is ideal for swimming and water sports. The area is also popular for mountain biking and horseback riding.

Recommended RV Park: Wanderlust RV Park, a Good Sam Park in Eureka Springs, offers 90 full-hookup sites, 57 of which are pull-through and 41 have 50 amps. In addition to restrooms, showers and laundry facilities, amenities include a swimming pool, pavilions, cabins, two social halls for groups and modem hookup. Open March 1-Nov. 15, Wanderlust online information can be found at www.eureka-net.com/wanderlust/ or by calling (479) 253-7385. For reservations, phone 1-800-253-7385.

Wanderlust is a city trolley stop, as are two other RV parks (Green Tree Lodge and Kettle Kampgrounds) and three satellite parking areas (the city visitors information center, Pine Mountain Village and the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway). For more information, call 1-800-6EUREKA or visit www.eurekasprings.org.

Riverside RV Respites

The nation's first federally protected stream (1972), the Buffalo River flows roughly 150 miles, includes nearly 95,000 acres of public land along its corridor, and descends nearly 2,000 feet through layers of sandstone, limestone and chert. Hidden away, ready for discovery, are numerous geologic marvels -- limestone bluffs, springs, caves, waterfalls, natural bridges and box-like canyons, where trails are abundant. While spring and early summer are the prime floating times, the lower section of the Buffalo can be floated year-round. Numerous outfitters service the river.

Travel in Buffalo River Country is definitely for the more adventurous RVer. While the two-lane highways are manageable and in good condition, they can be steep and curvy and make 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. For more information, phone (870) 741-5443 or visit www.nps.gov/buff.

Recommended RV Parks: Buffalo Point and Tyler Bend are the two most developed campgrounds on the Buffalo National River. Buffalo Point has 83 sites with water and electricity hookups. No pull-through sites are available, and there are a limited number of spots for big rigs. Tyler Bend has 28 sites with water available, but no water or electricity hookups. Both campgrounds have modern restrooms with hot showers and dump stations. Buffalo Point is on a national reservation system (www.ReserveUSA.com; 1-877-444-6777). For more information on Buffalo Point, contact the Ranger Station at (870) 449-4311 or for Tyler Bend phone (870) 439-2502.

In the north-central Ozarks, the White and North Fork rivers and Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes are the main attractions. And trout fishing below U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-built dams is a major draw as well. Full-service marinas and guide services are available. In towns throughout this area, numerous other campgrounds as well as resorts on rivers or lakes accommodate the RV traveler. For more information, phone 1-800-682-MTNS or visit www.ozarkmountainregion.com.

Recommended RV Park: Bull Shoals-White River State Park features 105 campsites, 60 of which are located on the river bank. All sites have water and electricity hookups, four also have sewer connections and the park has a dump station. There are no pull-through sites, and the length of sites range from 38 feet to 62 feet. Sixty percent of the sites can be reserved, which is advisable for those traveling from June through October. Year-round interpretive programs are offered and facilities include picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds and trails. A trout dock furnishes boat, motor and canoe rentals, supplies, equipment and gifts.

Exploring Mountain View and Blanchard Springs Caverns

Also located in the north-central Ozarks, the Ozark Folk Center State Park is less than a mile from downtown Mountain View, a small, quaint town that has a variety of music shows, interesting shops, restaurants, plus impromptu folk music gatherings on the downtown square and yearly festivals. The Ozark Folk Center is a "living museum" of traditional pioneer skills, such as furniture making, quilting, blacksmithing, tintype photography, woodcarving and other craft demonstrations, and concerts with songs and instruments from America's past are performed in the park's 1,000-seat theater. The center also offers a restaurant, lodge, conference center, visitor center and gift shop.

Recommended RV Park: Ozark RV Park in Mountain View has 73 sites, rental cabins, a bathhouse, restrooms, laundry facilities and pavilions situated on more than 10 acres. It offers full and partial hookups as well as primitive camping. A Good Sam Park and member of Woodall's, Ozark RV is open from March 1-Dec. 1. For more information, phone 1-866-OZARK RV or visit www.ozarkrvpark.com.

Numerous RV parks service this area, from one located two blocks from the town square to another in the Sylamore Creek recreational area of the Ozark National Forest. Eight sites are listed on the Mountain View Web site, www.mountainviewcc.org.

Located deep in the Ozark National Forest just 15 miles north of Mountain View, Blanchard Springs Caverns is ranked among the most beautiful underground discoveries of the 20th century. This limestone cavern is the only developed cave system operated by the U.S. Forest Service and is open throughout the year. Lighted walkways lead to stunning formations and massive rooms, one as large as six football fields. And adventurous souls who want to stretch their legs after spending time behind the wheel can opt for the "Wild Cave Tour."

Recommended RV Park: Blanchard Springs Recreational Use Area provides scenic campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, a massive natural spring and a trout lake. The campground has 32 sites, but no hookups. Water, a dump station and bathhouses with hot showers are available. Take a hike to the natural spring area; the road is not recommended for RVs. While the road to the visitors center at the caverns is easily accessible in a RV, the long hill down to the recreational area ends in a tight turn-around loop and not advisable for RVs more than 32 feet long. For more information, phone 1-888-757-2246 or visit www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/recreation/caverns.html.

Sampling Arkansas' Wine Country

Near Altus in the Arkansas River Valley, four wineries offer free tours, wine tastings and special events: Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Chateau Aux Arc, Mount Bethel Winery and Post Familie Winery. Visitors to the area can also learn more about the region's coal mining history at the Altus Heritage House Museum. In nearby Paris, Cowie Wine Cellars also offers tours and tastings and is home to the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum. All of the wineries have parking areas to accommodate the RV traveler.

Located about one and a half blocks from the Altus downtown square is Hy 'N By RV Park, from which guests can walk to unique restaurants, a coal miners' memorial, a city park, and gift, craft, antique and flower shops -- all part of "The Simple Life" for which Altus became known during the television reality show of the same name. Drivers can easily maneuver Altus's wide downtown streets, where parallel parking is geared toward even large RVs. For more information, contact the Altus Chamber of Commerce at (479) 468-4191.

Recommended RV Park: Wiederkehr Village RV Park at Wiederkehr Wine Cellars has about 20 sites with water and electrical hookups. Restroom facilities do not include hot showers and the park has no dump station. The park is within walking distance of the winery, cellars, vineyards and the famous Weinkeller Restaurant. For more information, phone 1-800-622-WINE or visit www.wiederkehrwines.com.

In Search of Gems

In southwest Arkansas near Murfreesboro, the Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world's only site where, for a small fee, anyone can dig for diamonds and keep what they find. The park's visitors center offers an audio-visual presentation giving tips on diamond hunting, a display of diamonds in the rough and exhibits detailing the site's history and geology. The park also has a picnic and play area and a new water play area is expected to open in early summer 2004. It will feature a shallow pool topping 4,100 square feet, with two water slides, waterfalls and a central water-spray playground feature designed with a mining theme.

Recommended RV Park: Crater of Diamonds offers 59 sites with water and electricity hookups and a dump station. There are no pull-through sites, but there are several sites more than 50 feet long. Two sites are oriented toward groups, and the park is wheelchair accessible, including an easy, paved hiking trail (about one-third mile) that leads to the Little Missouri River. Persons 65 or older receive half-price rates on camping fees, and the park accepts the Golden Age Passport. The park's restaurant is open during the summer.

Additional RV camping is available about eight miles away at Lake Greeson. For more information, contact the park at (870) 285-3113 or visit www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com.

NOTE: More Information on camping or RVing in The Natural State is available at www.arkansas.com.

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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]

May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"