Petit Jean (pronounced “petty Gene”) is an incredible state park in a truly unique setting. Petit Jean Mountain rises straight out of the flat Arkansas Delta and is actually referred to as a “mesa” like those in the American West. The rock formations and unusual geology combined with the cool history makes the area very enjoyable and interesting. The campground is divided by Highway 154 but it’s not a heavily traveled route - in fact only park visitors are allowed after 10pm. We stayed in Area D, an older style campground with water and electric. We had a very difficult time getting set up even though the site is a “pull-through” - it just isn’t designed for today’s RV’s and travel trailers. There is a FHU area - Area A - but we were told reservations are more than a year out. We still enjoyed our time and loved the area! Take some time to go to Morrilton, the closest town with stores, coffe shops, etc. It’s a town on the rebound and we really enjoyed it. Probably the only spot for groceries within 25 miles of Petit Jean.

General: This popular state park offers many activities, although we did not partake in many of them, mostly because we were camping in the “shoulder” season. We arrived after the visitor center/office was closed but were able to find our site in the C Loop without too much difficulty. Garbage and recycling bins were located throughout the park; I appreciate the recycling effort all Arkansas state parks we have visited have.

Sites/Facilities: Our site was located on a “cul-de-sac” in Loop C and not too far from the bathroom. Each site in this loop had an electric hookup, a lantern hook, and picnic table. The sites in this loop were all very wooded which provided a decent amount of privacy between sites. It should be noted that some of the sites in the C loop (73-76?) were not level – we noticed this as we were leaving. The sites in the A loop are full hookup and directly on Lake Bailey and are more open (fewer trees). Site 16 is a large pull-through. It did appear that there was a fair amount of algae in the water. We did not explore the other loops. There is also an overflow camping area which I imagine would be full in the summer. 

Bathhouse: The bathhouse was very clean and had soap dispensers, but you should bring your own towel. I didn’t use the shower so cannot comment on this, however, the changing area was in the open and not very private. 

Activities/Amenities: There are many activities you can enjoy at this state park (most in season): swimming, tennis, basketball, a paved multi-use trail, hiking, plus a playground (not near the campground loops but you could access it via the paved trail). However, our main reason for staying here was to see Cedar Falls but that was not to be. The hiking trail was closed due to storm damage and very little rain meant you could not see the trickle the famed falls had become from the viewing platform. We did enjoy the short hike past the unique turtle rocks en-route to Rock House Cave. 

Conclusion: Since we arrived after the office closed, we had to check-in before 10 am the next morning. The staff was not the friendliest, insisting we might have an outstanding balance (we reserved online so this should not have been the case) and not very helpful in describing open hiking trails.

We tent camped Loop C, site 74. The wooded site backed up on a creek that you can faintly hear at night. There was a large hill between us and the site on the right so they were not visible. The site on the left wasn’t super close and there were many trees between the two. There is a site directly across but 74 is set fairly far back from road and again, wooded. The restrooms were just round the bend and well maintained. It was not super crowded the week we were there but it was mid March. Highly recommend this site. Quiet hours were respected. Wood and ice were available at The Visitor’s Center at $6.00 a bundle and $3.00 a bag. However, when we were there, the visitor’s center closed at 5. There is a very limited gift shop that has a few camping supplies. The nearest other store is at least 15/20 minutes away. Many of the locals also sell bundles of wood on the way into the park. There were tons of things to do in the park. We just did the smaller hikes to Bear Cave and Rock House Cave. They say easy but only the 13 year old thought so, lol. Cedar Creek waterfall was very impressive! So many overlooks.
Drive Red Bluff drive for some impressive views! Speaking of great views, Petit Jean’s supposed grave offers an unbelievable view that I’m guessing is close to 275 degrees around. A must see for sure!

Well run and well kept. The state has spent a healthy amount into the buildings, grounds and maintenance. All of that complements a gorgeous natural setting.

It has a variety of hikes and plenty of other activities.

The Mather Cafe at the Lodge had decent food at okay prices - and a phenomenal view.

It’s worth the effort to see the Cedar Falls from both sides of the creek.

There is a nice coffee shop just outside the park’s east entrance.

Lots of varied camping spots - all seemed to be nicely wooded.

Our only negative point was a loud group of neighbors a few spots down. I think they were the only other ones in Camp D, but they made enough noise to make up for the empty spots.

At one point, judging by the whomping sound, they must have been playing a game that involved throwing a wet 5 pound sack of corn against a plywood wall...maybe some version of corn hole or something? I actually have no idea what it really was - but it was loud and repetitive. Louder than the barking dogs, screaming kids and music they played.

Not the parks fault and that is just part of camping - lots of great neighbors and sometimes inconsiderate ones.

This is a great park. There are several hiking trails of varying length and difficulty, interesting rock formations, beautiful overlooks that you can drive or hike to, a classic CCC lodge building with a restaurant, swimming pools, basketball courts, fishing, and more!

The campsites are layed out in A,B,C, or D loops. A has the full hook-up sites for RVs and is close to lake. These sites are pretty modern, flat, and very nice. It is more open then the other loops, but still plenty of space between campsites. The B,C, and D loops are not as refined, but do have more shade, electric and water hookups. Many of the pads are extremely uneven though, so be sure you have blocks, etc. to use for leveling your camper. Big tent pads at most sites if you are tent camping.

We were there on August 27-30th, and the A loop was full, but there were not too many people in the other campgrounds. We stayed in D and there was only one other camper there!

Would highly recommend this park for any type of camping. If you are bringing kids there is lots to do, if you are just looking for a quiet getaway it is great for that as well. Also, don't miss the fudge at the Outpost just east of the park!

We made it back to Petit Jean State Park for a pre-fathers day weekend. The park was opening back up slowly with COVID-19 closing many of the facilities, but it was almost back to “normal”. We stayed in B loop and grabbed an extra night in A loop on this trip.

B loop pros: -plenty of shade in hot months with the pine grove -easy access to the paved CCC trail -30/50 amp service, water, picnic table, fire ring and trash hook -clean and accommodating bath house -enough space between sites for plenty of privacy

B loop cons: -some sites are angled differently and there is no clear indication how you have to enter the loop to be able to access your site. It can create some frustration when trying to get set up -many sites are unlevel and require significant leveling chocks to get it truly level -some sites have water and the picnic table on the opposite sides of the camper. it’s purely inconvenient and I’m not sure why this is this way. pay attention when you book your site to campsite photos -NO SEWER. (EXCEPT FOR SITES 47 & 48)

A Loop pros: -it’s new, it’s laid out ideally, full hook up sites with sewer, and plenty of gravel and concrete to keep from dealing with too much dirt, mud, sand (we’ve got 2 small kids and a little dirt is great, but a lot of dirt makes for a lot of cleaning). -pull through sites and site facing the lake -much quieter and plenty of space between sites for privacy

A loop cons: -very little shade. would be rough in summer months without shade tents, awnings, etc -“Stays booked 93% of the year” -Park Office. It’s really hard to get a reservation if you don’t book at least a year out in A loop.

Petit Jean is a must for family camping. Mather Lodge has an accommodating restaurant if needed. Plenty of trails for hiking. Pool, basketball and tennis courts. Marina with boats and kayaks. It is a wonderful park and a must for all campers! Book your trip!

As the oldest State Park in The Natural State, in my opinion, Petit Jean sets the standard to which other parks should aspire. We frequently visit Petit Jean every year (2-3 times) and often joke that it serves as “home base” for our camping adventures. It’s just that good. If we’re unsure about where to head next, we always fall back on Petit Jean. By analogy, I view Petit Jean like a PB&J or a grilled cheese. Both are solid options every time, and you can’t go wrong with either. The same is true of Petit Jean. The campgrounds are generally clean and well kept. I also really like the spacing of the sites, as sometimes the sites in state parks make you feel like you’re right on top of your neighbor. Loop A is typically filled with larger campers, as those sites have sewer, and those sites are generally much larger than other areas. Since we have a PUP, I personally prefer Loops B or C. I have camped in D but it is the oldest camping area in the park and it shows. The bathhouse in that area isn’t as nice. Conversely, the bathhouses in Loops B and C are great. Even if the only site available is in D, I’d say it’s still absolutely worth going. The bathhouses are nice and clean, the amenities are numerous, and the scenery is unbelievable. The trails are fantastic, playground is great, and the food at the Lodge is phenomenal. We make it a point to eat in the Lodge at least one night of any trip. However, I would add, there is also a breakfast buffet in the mornings that’s a can’t miss for the price and convenience. Essentially, it is unequivocally the perfect park for a family with kids. However, it’s also perfect for anyone who may think they may want to go camping. In fact, even the most experienced camper would love this park and what it offers. It’s an absolute can’t miss and anyone debating whether they should go should pull the trigger immediately! (NOTE: I would note that you should be aware of a HUGE car show that occurs in the park every Fathers Day weekend. It is absolutely packed and unbelievably loud with old cars and motorcycles. If you go on Fathers Day weekend, do not expect any peace and tranquility whatsoever - you won’t find it.).

I was so excited to stay here based on this being voted as one of the best state parks in this region. The reviews were spot on about the hiking and other amenities. This park is charming right down to its CCC roots. During my stay the new park visitor’s center was being built and it looks to be a lovely addition. 

What I was surprised to discover was my disappointing campground experience. I picked my campsite early and carefully and was hoping to have a quieter experience since I decided to avoid the swankier lakeside full hook up sites. I was wrong. Unfortunately, the park allowed a group of tent campers to camp in sites that were not in the group campground. There were 4 tents per site, some of which were camped on the ground right near the restrooms. 2 campers per tent x 4 per site x at least 6 sites. Well I’ll spare you the math, but Campground D literally turned into a church camp complete with air horns blasting to alert the camper kiddos that it was time to eat, shower, wake up etc.  Nothing against church camps. Just saying Campground D is not a group campsite! Thankfully, I spent most of my time hiking and biking. So I was away from the campground a majority of my stay. 

Site 98 was located adjacent to public property and backed up to the gravel road that serviced the neighborhood. There was a street light that illuminated the road and this didn’t add to the ambiance. All said, the campground didn’t really afford the experience I was hoping for. However, the hiking trails did not disappoint! As many previous reviewers have mentioned, hiking here is awesome. I definitely recommend the Bear Cave trail and the Cedar Falls trail.

Grabbing a bite at the Lodge is recommended too. The food was good and the view was outstanding! 

I’d go back, but I would choose Campground A, pay more and stay right on the lake. The sites are nicely spaced and I think the cost of full hook ups might deter a large group of tent campers from overtaking the campground. Again, nothing against tent campers or church camps. I just thought this is why parks have group campgrounds. I’d prefer not to repeat the group tent camping situation and air horns I ran into on my visit to campground D.