Craighead Forest Park

Beautiful relaxing place. I’m a fan of dispersed camping yet this was still private even for a campground. Nice bathhouses with laundry. Individual campsite trash cans. They provided free wood! Nice flat paved sites with water and electric for only $25

It's a small camping area but very nice! There's a lake that allows canoeing, walking trail with exercise equipment. huge playground, huge parking areas with pavilions, bathrooms with hot water, water fountains throughput. They have a movie theater type to teach you about the land & heritage with mist that sprays on you to give live effects. $25.per night whether RV, Pull along, or tent camping. Bath house with toilets, showers, hot water. All camping spots have water, electric, sewage, and personal trash cans. Cons- were one area to camp The tenants were very stand off-ish and a bit rude. The folks caring for the property were nice at first then became judgemental, had the law constantly come through plus the park rangers/co-workers would sit and watch our every move, and be very nosey. I felt safe but also felt luke I was walking on eggshells the whole time. Tent camping here is not recommended but acceptable. We were visiting from out of state to get away from a hurricane in our home state and our visit was quite disappointing to say the least as far as what I've mentioned but enjoyed the park.

We LOVED our stay here. Playgrounds and a splash pad our kids loved. Norm, the site host, was SO helpful. We were having battery issues and he helped us diagnose and fix it.

Very nice. Clean restrooms, hot showers, reasonable laundry. Lovely lake with a 2 mile trail that goes around. It has several pavilions and playgrounds. The only downside is lots of looky-loos come through the campground and the sounds from the various playgrounds travel over the lakes and can seem quite loud. 

Staff were extremely nice. Campground is clean. Bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained. We had the site closest to the water. Nice fishing pier and plenty of room for the kids to play.

Craighead Forest Park was conceived in 1937 when the Young Mens' Civic Club began work on the lake.  It is now a city owned park that is located in the rolling hills of Crowley's Ridge.  The park encompasses 692 acres and should be the pride and joy of Jonesboro.  A residential area has grown around the park which will ensure the peacefulness of the area.  Basketball, bike and running trails, bird watching, camping, disc golf, fishing, horseshoes, playgrounds, softball, volleyball.  There is a great splash pad for the kids.  This place has it all rolled into one great package.  The grass and wooded areas are well maintained to make for a wonderful stay.

• 5 tent sites
• A primitive camping area
• Electrical outlets
• Fire rings
• Picnic Tables,
• Water
• Tolilet and shower facilities
• Laundry facilities
• 41 sites with water and electric
• Dump station
• Reduced rates for seniors
• Free firewood
• Pets They have a dog jumping pier

This is a small, compact campground on a one lane road with a nice turn around at the bottom at the lake.  Some sites are called water sites but I consider them sites with a view of the water.  Most sites are level, some not, so when you reserve ask for one of the sites that has the new concrete pads.  The campground is located away from the ball areas so it is very quiet and not being on a thru street the only traffic is to be the campground traffic.  Sites are wooded and there was a nice breeze coming off the lake.  My first thought when I booked was MOSQUITOES you can't be from that area with out thinking of them.  For the two days we were there not a mosquito and almost no flies.  This is a wonderful surprise for anyone coming through Jonesboro.  We will be back.  Being in the south we all know how hot and humid it can be and a trip to the bathroom/shower facility is often not the most pleasant.  Loved the shower/bathroom facilities.  Air Conditioned, it was amazing with the temps reaching 100 and more while we were there..  This campground had set the bar high and I am sure they will always attain excellence.

The park has approximately 15 miles of mountain bike trails intertwined in the forest, there is a 2.4 mile chat trail that winds around the lake and a 2.9 miles if nicely paved road that circles the park.  There is an area for ATV riders and many trails can accommodate horses.  Check out the three trails that lead to the Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center.

The Forest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center gives the visitor a chance to see the story of a very special ridge that runs along the top of the Mississippi Delta.  They have a 17,033 square foot facility that features an education, exhibit and meeting facility that is on 160 acre prairie.  There is a 2.5 acre pond and about 100 acres of woodlands.  the Nature Center is the perfect accessory to your stay at the Craighead Forest Park.

Jonesboro offers plenty of entertainment not nature related.  Arkansas State University, a great college town, all types of restaurants, chain and local, movie theatre, grocery stores, shopping mall.  There is the Arkansas State University Museum that features a 21,000 square feet of historic, archaeological and natural history exhibits.  It mainly focuses on the history and cultural heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta.

Jonesboro might not be quite the draw of many other areas but I think you might be surprised.

Jonesboro is the fifth largest city in Arkansas weighing in at over 67,000 people

My granddaughter and I stopped here to stay the night. Had no idea there was a massive playground, a water park, and a beautiful lake to paddle the kayak on. We had a fantastic time. Campground host was so hospitable and very helpful. Free firewood and trash pickup. Each site is nice size, lots of trees, feels like being in the wilderness. Would definitely come here again and stay longer.

Sit back and relax right next to Lake Craighead located only approx. 10 short minutes from the buisness heart of Jonesboro, Ar.

Staff is so friendly and place is so clean and nice. Free fire wood and trash pickup at your site !

Wonderful campground! Friendly park hosts. Great view. Very clean! Would definitely stay there again. Watch our video that has Craighead Forest Park https://youtu.be/Kw3BTjl8io8

Several different playgrounds and walking trails! Great fishing and even a splash pad for the kids to enjoy!

Fantastic place. Close to civilization. Great pad & hook ups. Shower & laundry is clean and nice. Beautiful lake, mtb & and walking trails better than most places. Highly recommended.

This is a great park with many things to do. Splash pad, multiple playgrounds for all ages of kids. a new walking and biking path. hiking trails. a lake that is great for fishing. very family friendly park.

This campground is in the outskirts of Jonesboro, Arkansas. This is a small park and reservations cannot be made. All sites are first come first serve. There is a large playground for the kids. I didn't see anyone fishing so I'm not sure if fishing is allowed or not. This is a great place to stay and then go to the mall to shop. There are many nice restaurants and fast food places so no need to pack your refrigerator! Lots of shade.

great campground. perfect for family’s. the lake is nice for fishing and feeding the ducks. bathrooms are great.

Excellent weekend camping at Craighead Forest State Park outside Jonesboro, Ar.

The park offers four trails, one gravel pedestrian only, one paved multi-use with excercise equipment, a forest trail and one dirt trail for bikers and runners. Three large playgrounds, pavilions and several small playgrounds. A dog park/beach access area and dog dock. Fishing and watercraft access. Camping and a nature center.

When we arrived at the campground we had the choice of several primitive campsites. There is limited parking in the small gravel lot. There are three sites near the lot and then several others about 200 to 300 ft down the gravel trail.

This is the same gravel trail, approximately 3 miles long, that circles the lake. Needless to say there is a lot of foot traffic on it.

There was plenty of room at the site. We set up two tents and a hammock plus had the picnic table, fire pit and gravel pad which is right on the lake. If you bring your fishing gear or water craft it’s easy to tie off right at your campsite.

Directly across from primitive camping are two very large , active playgrounds a pavilion and restroom. There’s a snow cone vendor with loud music who frequents that parking area too. In addition the park is not closed during the night so we got to listen to several loud conversation, music blaring from a car stereo until about 1:30am and a rather colorful argument at one point.

You drive through the RV area on your way in to the primitive area. There is a nice new bathroom facility with uncomfortably warm cranking heat, the metal fixtures were warm to the touch. One drawback to there being only one restroom about 1/4 mile from the primitive area, you know people aren’t walking that far at night when the need to go…, just saying.

So Pros: centrally located, water access, nice trails, good size sites, a lot to do

Cons: foot traffic, noise, no privacy, noise, not limited access

Craighead Forest Park is outside Jonesboro Arkansas and pretty awesome on the recreational side. There are several very cool playgrounds, a paved trail that encompasses the park as well as a dirt trail around the outside.

The campground is small, not many camper sites and the primitive area which is walk in, doesn't have much privacy.