Although it's known for limestone caves and mountains, Arkansas also has over 600,000 acres of lakes. The three top rental locations are Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville. In these cities, you can find a wide range of RV types in the inventory, ranging from Class C and toy haulers to large fifth wheels and Class A models that accommodate up to 10 people. The travel trailer model is the most popular rental in these parts, ranging from 21 to 33 feet long. The pricing for RV rentals in Arkansas can vary depending on size, style, and model but generally range from $60-$285 a night.
Little Rock, the state capital, sits on the banks of the ever-flowing Arkansas River in Pulaski County and west of the Pinnacle Mountain State Park. If you're into watersports, rock climbing, hiking, and boating, consider renting an RV out of Little Rock. The Delta begins just east of town. There you can see the views of the river from your bike as you take the trail eastward past sleepy lakes and by moss-draped cypress trees.
Fort Smith lies on the Arkansas and Oklahoma state border 63 miles from Fayetteville. This city is full of ways to relive history through its stories and reenactments of soldiers, outlaws, lawmen, and the Trail of Tears. Fishing opportunities abound with the Arkansas River Navigation System filled with many native Arkansas fish. Other recreation nearby, like canoeing, hiking, and biking, can be found at Mulberry River and Devil's Den State Park.
Fayetteville is the second-largest city in Arkansas after Little Rock. This thriving city has boutique shopping, exciting nightlife, fine arts, live music, and a community theater. Fayetteville is centrally located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, where there are hiking and biking trails, lakes, rivers, and picturesque views.
Springdale is the fourth largest city in Arkansas. The city has several parks, such as Bobby Hopper Park, Shiloh Memorial Park, and Murphy Park for outdoor recreational activities. Springdale has seven moderate hiking trails ranging from 2.4 to 7.6 miles and from 1,207 to 1,633 feet above sea level, providing scenic views of lakes, woodlands, caves, and more.
Arkansas has one national park, Hot Springs National Park, but it’s unique and beautiful. The park features 26 miles of hiking trails with views of beautiful forest greenery, giving you a feel of nature and all its glory amid the city. There are several hiking trails within the park including the West Mountain Trail and North Mountain Trail. Both of these trails are relatively short, interconnected trails. These trails can be reached from the Stephen's Balustrade, grand staircase, behind the Fordyce Bathhouse. The Sunset Trail is the longest in the park, covering about 10 miles one way or 15-17 miles if you take the whole loop around through West Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Stonebridge Road.
Outside of hiking, this park has amazing natural thermal springs that come out of the ground at 147 degrees Fahrenheit yet are cool enough to touch by the time the water makes contact with the pools. The largest visible spring in the park is at Arlington Lawn, where it comes down the hillside and flows under a pathway until it reaches a downward fall over a steep cliff into two pools. Visitors can enjoy these waters but only in the Buckstaff and Quapaw Bathhouse Row facilities. The park provides other activities such as biking, birdwatching, camping, culture, history, and educational programs.
Lake Ouachita State Park features the largest lake in Arkansas with 40,000 acres of clear, clean water and is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, making it the perfect outdoor oasis. Swimming, waterskiing, scuba diving, hiking, fishing are a few activities that visitors enjoy here. There are 93 campsites where you can park your RV for the night while you explore this amazing part of Arkansas.
Rent a kayak at Lake Fort Smith State Park marina and explore the 1,490-acre lake. The park sits in the Boston Mountain Valley of the Ozarks, offering hiking, mountain biking, camping, and fishing. The 240-mile western terminus of the Ozark Highlands Trail features ridges, valleys, and beautiful waterfalls.
Mount Nebo State Park sits in the Arkansas River Valley, 45 minutes from Arkansas Wine Country. It rests atop 1,300-foot Mount Nebo in west-central Arkansas, offering spectacular views of 34,000-acre Lake Dardanelle, the Arkansas River, and the surrounding mountains. Monte Nebo is one of the five parks that is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site where five tribes were removed along the water route of the trail.
Village Creek State Park encompasses nearly 7,000 acres of gorgeous forested hills and clear streams with 33 miles of multi-use trails for exploring. It also has the most intact segment of the Trail of Tears, which was not only traveled by the Cherokee but also Creeks, Choctaws, and Chickasaws during their removals.
Arkansas is a fabulous place to explore and enjoy outdoor recreational activities, so why not stay a while and get more out of your visit? You can find some great options for camping near Little Rock, such as the Little Rock North KOA Journey Campground, which is big rig-friendly with pull-through sites that extend up to 95 feet. Here, you can experience the scenic wooded atmosphere and nature while being minutes from downtown, in addition to having the finest of amenities such as a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, hot tub, bike rental, and RV repair service.
The Downtown Riverside RV Park is another great camping option in North Little Rock. It sits along the riverbanks of the Arkansas River and is within walking distance of nature and city nightlife. Amenities include full hookups, a dump station, free Wi-Fi, and restrooms. Fort Smith also offers some great camping spots such as the William O. Darby RV Community Campground, which sits in the Chaffee Crossing area. This secluded country setting is the perfect place to relax, yet it is just minutes away from all the amenities and actions of Fort Smith. The campground offers full hookup options, cable TV, and free Wi-Fi for a small fee of $24 a night plus tax.
Little Rock dump stations are fairly easy to find in campgrounds and RV parks, such as the U.S Army Corps of Engineers – Maumelle Campground. This campground offers free dump station access to all registered guests but charges $6 for non-registered guests. There are also some great dump station options near Fort Smith, like Park Ridge RV Campground in Van Buren. It also permits registered guests to use the dump station for free, yet there is a small fee for non-registered guests. If you choose to stay in a campground or RV park that doesn't provide full hookups, you have nothing to worry about as you're sure to find a nearby Arkansas dump station. Some places to look are travel plazas, truck stops, rest areas, and gas stations. Of course, many dump stations are only open during business hours, but in some instances, you can find ones open 24/7.
Arkansas State Fair – The event takes place in fall with amazing exhibits, livestock shows, food, and carnival rides. It also is known to provide live music on two stages strategically placed on the grounds.
Johnson County Peach Festival – This festival began in 1938 and has become one of the oldest peach events in Arkansas. The event has handmade arts and crafts, music entertainment, a parade, and other activities.
Freshgrass | Bentonville Music Festival – This upcoming two-day annual music celebration is geared towards today's bluegrass and roots music and is held in the first week of October. The event features Grammy award-winning artists, workshops, legendary late-night jam sessions with professional musicians, and pop-up performances.
Cabot Strawberry Festival – This festival is held around the third week of April as one of the main fundraising projects for the Junior Auxiliary, focusing on family fun and promoting local strawberry growers. It has food trucks, live entertainment, a carnival, and many delicious strawberries.
Crater of Diamonds State Park has visitors swarming from all over to search the 37-acre field, which is an eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for gemstones, minerals, and a variety of rocks. The best part is that anything you find is yours to keep. The park also has walking trails, camping, picnic sites, and a gift shop.
Thorncrown Chapel is nestled in a woodland setting and rises 48 feet into the Ozark sky along Highway 62 West just outside of Eureka Springs. This magnificent wooden structure sits atop over 100 tons of native stone and colored flagstone, blending into the forest setting. It features 425 windows, over 6,000 square feet of glass, and plenty of parking spaces for buses and RVs.
Christ of the Ozarks stands 67 feet high overlooking the Victorian village of Eureka Springs and is one of the more recognizable Arkansas landmarks. The foundation consists of 340 tons of concrete, with the statue having 24 layers of white mortar on a steel frame. The arm spread from fingertip to fingertip is 65 feet.
Learn the geology of the Blanchard Springs Caverns and how the rock formation was laid. It's believed that streams flowed over the land in the weakest places producing sheer bluffs, deep valleys, and rugged topography. Visitors will have an opportunity to watch a short movie introducing the underground world. Tours throughout the year provide different views of the cavern as it is ever-changing.
On average expect to pay $147 per night in Arkansas.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Arkansas?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Arkansas from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Arkansas?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Arkansas?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Arkansas.