First trip to Arkansas

[Davis_Family]

Originally Posted by db7512

What is your planned route into AR? There are a lot of super state parks and corp engineer parks to choose from.

We are from just outside of Dallas, TX so we will be coming up I-30


Cody
2016 Cherokee 264L
2015 Ram 1500 Lonestar 4x4

[conceptumator]

I-30 is the route we usually drive when coming in from Fort Worth, too. South and east Arkansas is mostly low lands, ride fields, etc. with nothing much of interest. Little Rock us going to be your first "hit" on somewhere to stay, etc. DO NOT make the mistake of thinking Burns Park in North Little Rock is a place to go....really bad to the point of plain dangerous with fangs, drugs, etc. When you mentioned having a young son, I told my wife about your post and we agreed Magazine Mountain might not be something you want to try. Petit Jean is great; lots of easy trails like Turtle a Rocks and the Bear Cave area. Also an easy trail to the falls. Maumelle Park in west Little Rock is going to be your best bet for camping in Little Rock and Pinnacle Mountain park has lots of easy trails, like the Kingfisher and Base trails. You can also go to the peak of Pinnacle, though I would rate it as moderate. Eureka Springs can also be nice but it sometimes attracts some rough crowds. Not dangerous, just loud and obnoxious. Check out Bentonville, too, especially Friday nights at the town square for families and the farmers' market on the square on Saturday morning. Your boy will probably enjoy the Amazeum there, too. When we're there (our son lives there), we stay at The Creeks in Cave Springs. It's RV only and nothing for kids but it's pretty limited choices up there. Have fun!

[dcheatwood]

Lake degray SP is nice in the hot springs area.

[db7512]

Try Lake Catherine SP which is located not to far from I30 and close enough to Hot Springs for a visit. On the way to HS you may want to check out the Gardens, just ask the park rangers for things to do while in town.

[Davis_Family]

Originally Posted by conceptumator

I-30 is the route we usually drive when coming in from Fort Worth, too. South and east Arkansas is mostly low lands, ride fields, etc. with nothing much of interest. Little Rock us going to be your first "hit" on somewhere to stay, etc. DO NOT make the mistake of thinking Burns Park in North Little Rock is a place to go....really bad to the point of plain dangerous with fangs, drugs, etc. When you mentioned having a young son, I told my wife about your post and we agreed Magazine Mountain might not be something you want to try. Petit Jean is great; lots of easy trails like Turtle a Rocks and the Bear Cave area. Also an easy trail to the falls. Maumelle Park in west Little Rock is going to be your best bet for camping in Little Rock and Pinnacle Mountain park has lots of easy trails, like the Kingfisher and Base trails. You can also go to the peak of Pinnacle, though I would rate it as moderate. Eureka Springs can also be nice but it sometimes attracts some rough crowds. Not dangerous, just loud and obnoxious. Check out Bentonville, too, especially Friday nights at the town square for families and the farmers' market on the square on Saturday morning. Your boy will probably enjoy the Amazeum there, too. When we're there (our son lives there), we stay at The Creeks in Cave Springs. It's RV only and nothing for kids but it's pretty limited choices up there. Have fun!

Petit Jean is for sure the first place we are heading to!! I showed the pictures and website to my wife and it was game over. Our plan is to go to Petit Jean and then take one day of just driving around all day long looking at other parks and places, if we find one we love and the wife can't wait to camp there then we will pack up and stay there for a few nights. But the great thing is that its so close to us being only about 300-350 miles that we can make a list and take several trips there this year to places we want to see.

[Wayne29BH]

Petit Jean is our favorite, we go nearly every year. Mt. Magazine is nice!!