In northeastern Arkansas on the banks of the White River, Batesville is a great starting point for outdoor recreation, sightseeing, and more on your next RV trip. The town, which was previously called Poke Bayou and Napoleon, was established in 1810. It has served as an important access point to the Ozarks throughout its history. Early in its history, the Batesville area was a popular mining spot for marble, limestone, and other rocks. Today, Batesville is home to more than 11,000 residents.
When you arrive in Batesville, take time to tour the Old Independence Regional Museum to learn more about the area's history. You can also stop by the town's three landmarks that are included on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the buildings of Charles L. Thompson, St. Paul's Parish Church, and the Dondy Building. Other points of interest include Lyon College, the Goff Petroglyph Site, the Mitchell House, the Batesville Community Center and Aquatics, the Ozark Folk Center, and Cedar Creek Bridge. This 30-foot bridge was originally constructed in the 1940s.
In and around Batesville, people gather for major festivities throughout the year. Each April, the Ozark Foothills FilmFest brings students and filmmakers together from across the state. In May, games, rides, food, and livestock shows are featured at the Independence County Fair. Each October, Lynn College hosts its Arkansas Scottish Festival with food, dancing, and piping competitions.
Batesville is also a great starting point for exploring the sights and sounds of other small towns nearby. For example, in Newport, which is 35 minutes southeast of Batesville, you can discover the Sonny Burgess and Elvis Presley exhibits at the Rock and Roll Highway 67 Museum. Recreational activities on the water await you at Greers Ferry Lake in Clinton, which is approximately an hour and 20 minutes southwest of Batesville. In Mammoth Springs, about an hour to the north, you will find the state's largest spring-fed lake and great trout fishing.
Campgrounds Near Batesville, Arkansas
At Speedway RV Park, you can take advantage of well-maintained grounds, a relaxed ambiance, and well-placed pad sites. In addition to having access to full hookups, you will enjoy free cable and internet access, bathrooms with showers, a laundry facility, and a dump station on-site. Rates start at $35 per night and $185 per week.
Red River RV Park in nearby Judsonia, 45 minutes south of Batesville, sits conveniently close to Highway 67 and offers 71 RV sites. These include both back-in and pull-through sites with full hookups. Free wireless internet access and a laundry facility are available for guests. In addition, tetherball, swings, a basketball court, and a playground are offered. The daily rate is $40, and the weekly rate is $160.
Sunshine Meadows RV Park is also in Judsonia, and it provides 14 RV sites at competitive prices. The nightly rate is $20, and the weekly rate is $100. Full hookups are available. This RV park features a tranquil setting with gravel roads and tall shade trees. The grounds are well-kept, and the sites are spread out for a relaxed feel.
State Parks Near Batesville, Arkansas
Lake Charles State Park is a beautiful place to spend the day about 50 minutes northeast of Batesville. This 465-acre park includes the pristine Lake Charles, which is periodically supplied with bass, bream, and catfish. At the western edge of the park, a courtesy dock, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier make it easy to enjoy all that the water offers. The four hiking trails provide you with great wildlife viewing opportunities. A playground, a visitor center, picnic areas, and campsites are also available.
An hour and 40 minutes southeast of Batesville, Village Creek State Park is a 7,000-acre natural area that boasts tranquil forests and clear streams. Exploring the grounds and viewing native plant and animal species is easy to do with the park's 33-mile trail system. During your visit, take time to walk along a section of the Trail of Tears, and admire the majesty of Crowley's Ridge. The park also has an equestrian campground, a golf course, a gift shop, a visitor center, interpretive programs, theaters, and more.
Throughout the 3,471-acre Petit Jean State Park, which is two hours and 15 minutes southwest of Batesville, you can appreciate mesmerizing natural beauty with abundant recreational opportunities. In addition to admiring Cedar Falls as it towers 95 feet above the ground, explore natural rock formations like Bear Cave, Seven Hollows, Natural Bridge, and the Grotto. A portion of the Trail of Tears runs through the park, and an additional 20 miles of trails are suitable for hiking. Boat rentals are available at the boathouse on Lake Bailey. You will also find two swimming pools, campsites, a historic lodge, sports courts, playgrounds, and picnic tables at the park.
National Sites Near Batesville, Arkansas
Buffalo National River stretches for 153 miles in the northern part of the state. The river crosses from the Boston Mountains to the Springfield Plateau, the notable community of Erbie, and the Salem Plateau. It is well-known as being the only habitat in the state for wild elk. There are numerous historical structures on the grounds that you can explore. Canoeing, hiking, and fishing are also popular activities. It is located approximately an hour and 45 minutes northwest of Batesville.
At Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, an hour and a half southwest of Batesville, you can view a famous landmark that played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. Little Rock Central High School was built in 1869, but it did not gain national recognition until 1957. At that time, it became a spotlight of forced desegregation based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. While this is an active public school with almost 2,500 students, it is also a U.S. National Landmark. Ranger-led tours over the school grounds are available.
In Missouri, two and a half hours northeast of Batesville, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways is home to two spring-fed rivers. These are the Current River and the Jacks Fork River. On the rivers, fishing, boating, swimming, and canoeing are wonderful ways to spend the day. The protected lands feature historic sites, such as Alley Mills. There are also numerous hiking trails, caves, and freshwater springs on the grounds.
National Forests Near Batesville, Arkansas
In western Arkansas, three and a half hours southwest of Batesville, the Ouachita National Forest covers 1.7 million acres. Within the forest, the Ouachita Mountain Range and Hot Springs National Park are popular landmarks. A car trip across the Talimena Scenic Drive provides magnificent views of rolling hills, valleys, mountain peaks, streams, and other vistas. The 223-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail provides opportunities to view the landscape more closely and see wildlife. While you are in the forest, consider spending time camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, collecting rocks, canoeing, and fishing.
The Ozark and St. Francis National Forests are spread over 1.2 million acres and feature towering pine and hardwood trees. With spring-fed creeks, rolling hills, and captivating overlook points, this protected area is picturesque. Scenic driving routes and trails run through the forests. There are also opportunities to ride horses, hunt, fish, kayak, and camp. Some of the most popular attractions in the area are Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mill Creek Trail, and Blanchard Springs Caverns.
Just north of the Arkansas-Missouri border, two hours and 10 minutes north of Batesville, the Mark Twain National Forest comprises more than 1.5 million acres. Its trail system spans more than 750 miles and is well-suited for mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. The rivers and streams in the area are great spots for fishing, swimming, and paddling. Camping, hunting, and ATV riding are also possibilities here.
