RV Rental Jacksonville, AR

Explore Jacksonville, Arkansas

First occupied by European settlers around 1805, Jacksonville was named after Nicholas Jackson, who provided the land for constructing the Cairo and Fulton Railroad in 1870. A community sprouted around the railway depot as small businesses sprang up until its incorporation in 1941. The same year, the government constructed the Arkansas Ordnance Plant (AOP) as the main ammunition plant for manufacturing detonators and fuses for the Second World War. While in Jacksonville with your travel trailer, visit the Jacksonville Museum of Arkansas Military History to see parts of the AOP. Jacksonville received its first bank in 1949 with Kenneth Pat Wilson as its first president. Wilson and other community members favored having an air base in central Arkansas, so they proposed the U.S. Air Force with the proposal. After receiving authorization from the forces, the residents fundraised money. They bought a large parcel of land near Jacksonville to establish the Little Rock Air Force Base, which opened on October 9, 1955. The military base is still active today, with over 2,000 military members posted there. Today, this city of less than 30,000 people has plenty of attractions to explore in your Jacksonville, AR RV rental. It's home to Holland Bottoms Wildlife Area, where you can engage in fishing and hunting. Paradise Park offers hiking and picnicking opportunities, and the ACFF Shooting Sports Complex is the place to be if you enjoy shooting targets. Tour downtown Jacksonville in the evening to dine in its colorful restaurants and buy souvenirs in its quaint shops.

National Forests Near Jacksonville, Arkansas

Ozark and St. Francis National Forests are about one and a half hours west of Jacksonville and nearly two hours north of Hot Springs National Park. Besides giving visitors access to the Mississippi River, the forests offer caving and geocaching opportunities. Anglers can catch bass, bluegill, and sunfish in the Brook Creek Recreation Area and Upper Buffalo River. Plenty of multi-use terrains exist in the twin forests for bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The entry point of Ouachita National Forest is about 50 miles east of Jacksonville, which is less than an hour's drive on Arkansas Highway 10. This 1.6 million-acre forest is a haven for water leisure activities thanks to its streams, rivers, and lakes. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail, spanning 192 miles throughout the forest, is suitable for hiking while viewing wildlife. Mark Twain National Forest is a unique forest with nine noncontiguous sections in Missouri. The forest has more than 750 miles of diverse trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and motorized use. You can take a casual drive in your motorhome along the Glade Top Scenic Highway to experience 23 miles of picturesque vistas.

Events Near Jacksonville, Arkansas

• Jacksonville Wing Ding Festival – Haul your fifth-wheel trailer to this family event featuring food-eating competitions, live entertainment, and more. The festival is held every year in October.

• Mimosa Festival Little Rock – This one-day event in downtown Little Rock features live music, food trucks, and vendors just 17 minutes from Jacksonville. This festival occurs every year in late May.

• Juneteenth Arkansas Festival – Attend this soul food festival celebrating the end of slavery in the United States with your camper van. This one-day event happens in Little Rock in June every year.