Renting an RV in Arkansas

Arkansas gets overlooked a lot when people talk about taking vacations and road trips in their RVs. But with a multitude of natural beauty, scenic drives, and outdoor recreation, Arkansas deserves plenty of exploration. Beautiful rivers, huge lakes, and majestic mountains are all to be found in the state, and you won’t need to stray far from a road to stay near them in an RV campground.

Not an RV owner yet? That’s ok. In fact, Arkansas might be the perfect state to try RVing out by renting an RV. With fewer crowds, it could be easier getting used to your rental RV and offer a more enjoyable RVing experience. Its many sights are found throughout the state, so there’s no need to worry about seeing the entire state on your vacation. Pick a segment, rent an RV, and get out on the road.

Why Renting an RV in Arkansas Is the Way to Go

Tourism is important to Arkansas, but because it’s less of a touristy draw than some other parks with more well-known vacation spots, it’s less likely to be brimming with other tourists. That makes it a little more forgiving when you’re trying to fit your rig into a tight camping spot, or even worse...when you’re holding up traffic by trying to back in for the first time.
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Don’t let that intimidate you, though. Renting an RV in Arkansas offers you plenty of opportunities to get used to RVing at your leisure. You can stay in one place and make road trips to other attractions over the course of your vacation, or hit up multiples. The beauty of renting an RV is you can go where you want when you want.

Not sure renting is for you and would rather road trip in your own RV? That’s ok too. In fact, we’re happy to help you find the one that’s right for you. If you’ve got any hesitancy at all, renting an RV makes for a great vacation.

10 Majestic Places to See in Arkansas in Your Rental RV

Arkansas is loaded with pure, natural beauty. With mountains, cliffs, rivers, and lakes, it’s hard to get tired of the gorgeous views you’ll find in the state. This also means loads of outdoor recreation, especially fishing. These are ten spots you should definitely check out if you go RVing in Arkansas.

1. Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is considered the oldest operational national park in the country. In fact, it was set aside as protected land before the concept of national parks even existed, making it an exciting blend of nature and history. Another thing that makes Hot Springs unique is that it’s an urban park—it’s right in the heart of downtown. There are many miles of trails in the nearby bluffs, however.

If you’re looking to soak in the springs, there are two bathhouses that are open for your enjoyment on Bathhouse Row. For camping and a reprieve from the city, nearby Gulpha Gorge Campground has full hookups for RVs, plus modern bathrooms.

Learn more about Hot Springs National Park

2. Buffalo National River

This natural, undammed river offers loads of recreational activities plus sightseeing that can’t be beaten. You can float on America’s first national river, or hike the trails that run through the park’s 95,000 acres. If you need a break from your RV, there’s backcountry camping available on some trails where you can really rough it.

Otherwise, plan to kayak or canoe down the river, and bring a fly rod to do some fishing for smallmouth bass or rainbow trout. The river is 135 miles long, so you’re going to find lots of space to spread out and enjoy yourself, and dozens of campgrounds, including several with full RV hookups.

Learn more about Buffalo National River

3. Mammoth Spring State Park

Arkansas is full of natural springs, and Mammoth Spring gets its name honestly: over nine million gallons of water flows from it every hour. From there, it pools into a 10-acre lake and then flows into Spring River. Spring River is a great recreational spot for kayaking and canoeing, and of course, fishing. Speaking of, the nearby town is home to the only Gulf Coast striped bass hatchery in the world.

The Frisco Depot is a recently restored spot that houses historical artifacts related to the town and springs, and offer an educational component to your trip. Beyond that, you’ll find a walking trail, picnic area, and baseball field for you to enjoy as you get out of the RV for a while to stretch your legs.

Learn more about Mammoth Spring State Park

4. Mount Magazine State Park

Mount Magazine is one of the most majestic places in Arkansas, and also a park with some of the best recreation in the state. The park itself is the highest in the state, which means unparalleled views all around you. Mossback Ridge and its peak, Signal Point, offer awe-inspiring hikes and scenery.

Come to relax, explore, or just immerse yourself in nature. Feeling more extreme? This is your place. Mountain biking trails, ATV and horseback riding, backpacking, technical rock climbing, and even hang gliding are all options for you at Mount Magazine. There are several campsites in and around the park that offer full RV hookups as well.

Learn more about Mount Magazine State Park

5. Blanchard Springs Caverns

Arkansas can get pretty hot in the summer, so why not cool off in a cave system? You can check out this three-level cave system on a guided tour. Blanchard is the second-longest cave in the state of Arkansas, and inside you’ll find a number of formations that are considered some of the largest in the country.

These caverns are an active cave system, meaning they continue to form every day. You can see some of the more rugged parts of the cave with a more extensive tour as well, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous. Outside the cave, you’ll find Mirror Pond, named for its glassy surface—where you can fish for trout if you so wish. Camping is available, but you’ll be boondocking: there are no RV hookups in the area.

Learn more about Blanchard Springs Caverns

6. Ozark National Forest

The Ozark National Forest covers a whopping 1.2 million acres and is also where you’ll find the state’s tallest point, Mount Magazine, plus Blanchard Spring Caverns. The forest is made up mostly of hardwoods but also has dogwood and redbud. Because of this, think about planning your RV trip for the spring when these trees are in bloom to see a striking array of colors.

There are miles upon miles of hiking, ATV, horseback riding, and other trails across the forest. Or, since you’ll be in your RV, there are over 160 miles of nationally designated scenic byway so you can enjoy the scenery from the road. Otherwise, plan to stay awhile in any of the many campgrounds throughout the forest.

Learn more about Ozark National Forest

7. Ouachita National Forest

Ouachita National Forest is another large plot of land in Arkansas with a ton to do on your RV trip. Scenic drives and hiking, or for the sportsman in your group, in-season hunting and fishing are both good options as well. There’s an extensive trail system that runs through the forest, giving you plenty of opportunities for sight-seeing.

There are five rivers that pass through the forest, and canoeing or kayaking on them is a popular activity. One river, the Cassatot, is hailed as a high difficulty whitewater rafting river. There are tons of places to park the RV and stay awhile, or get out of it and do some dispersed camping.

Learn more about Ouachita National Forest

8. Petite Jean State Park

A popular park in Arkansas with an unbelievable array of beautiful views. As Arkansas’s very first state park, it’s also a great place to bring kids if the kids are new to camping (even from the comfort of an RV). There are normal recreational activities like tennis and basketball courts, plus swimming pools.

While you’re camping in your RV at Petite Jean, you’ll have time to see a number of caves that are located nearby. And of course, you can’t leave the park without taking in the gorgeous panoramic view from the mountain overlook—and don’t forget to see the grave of the park’s namesake and learn the myth.

Learn more about Petite Jean State Park

9. Beaver Lake

Technically a reservoir, Beaver Lake is a great place to enjoy your favorite water-based recreational pastimes. Enjoy motorboating, tubing, swimming, and hiking—not to mention a ton of great fishing. The lake lets out into the beautiful White River which is known around the world for angling.

Modern campsites around the lake offer hookups and fire rings, so there’s room to park your RV and stay awhile. It can get busy though, with 3.1 million annual visitors. If you get tired of the recreation, you can check out a marvel of engineering: the Beaver Dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers, which created the lake.

Learn more about Beaver Lake

10. Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Pinnacle Mountain, the park’s namesake, is a highlight of this place. It features views of the bottomlands of the Big Maumelle and Little Maumelle Rivers surrounding the peak. You’ll find over 40 miles of hiking trails, plus the Arkansas Arboretum full of native trees.

Pinnacle Mountain is very popular for mountain bikers, featuring two exciting trails. It’s also just outside of Little Rock. So if you’re craving a little bit of urban exploration on your RV trip, it’s easy to drive in and see what’s happening in the city.

Learn more about Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Campgrounds and RV Parks in Arkansas

While not one of the busiest states for tourism, Arkansas still sees a good number of vacationers and travelers every year thanks to its beautiful state parks and great fishing. This, along with an active Army Corp of Engineers, means there are plenty of RV-friendly campgrounds and resorts spread throughout the state.

Throughout all of its state parks, national parks, and forests, you’ll find many campgrounds. It’s always a good idea to call and reserve a spot ahead of time, especially if it’s your first time in an RV. It can get tricky backing into spots if there are no pull-throughs available. For parks that don’t allow camping inside, it’s very likely you’ll find campsites for your RV nearby. Check out the Good Sam campsites nearby here.

Things to Note About Camping in Arkansas

Being in the south, Arkansas can get downright hot and humid in the summer. Also, you’ll need to add to that long bouts of drought, and you’ll find yourself sweaty and sticky without much reprieve. Always pack and dress for the weather. If you’re going hiking in the parks, carry lots of water with you.

When a rainstorm does roll through, it can drop several inches of rain at once. With such rocky ground, that can also mean that rivers and streams rise rapidly. If you’re boondocking or camping somewhere with a nearby river or stream, camp uphill from it as best as you can.

If you’re looking to be near rivers or streams and kayak, fish, or float, be aware that water levels can sometimes dip to the point that the rivers go almost dry. Because rivers are used heavily in Arkansas for hydroelectric plans, the number of turbines running often determines the water level in these rivers. Check water levels before you go kayaking: there’s nothing worse than portaging in the dead heat.

Dry Camping or Boondocking in Arkansas

Dry camping or boondocking is when you camp somewhere without hookups. It’s a more rugged, primitive version of RV camping. In your rental RV, you’ll probably want to find a good campsite with all of the hookups, but if you’re feeling adventurous or the campsites are full, boondocking is an option.

Any land maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (and there’s a lot of it) is open for dry camping unless stated otherwise. Many businesses with large parking lots will also allow RVers to dry camp overnight.