Camping areas along the Arkansas River near Wilbur D. Mills Pool sit in the southeastern Arkansas Delta region, characterized by bottomland hardwood forests and flat terrain. The area typically experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters where freezing temperatures are uncommon. Late spring through early fall sees higher humidity and insect activity, particularly around sundown when camping near the waterways.
What to do
Boat access fishing: Pendleton Bend offers multiple fishing opportunities with dock access and boat ramps. "We had fun sitting on a dock and watching the cargo boats," reports one camper who stayed at site B-01.
Barge watching: The navigation channels near Rising Star provide opportunities to observe commercial river traffic. "Occasionally a barge would go by. The Arkansas River is part of the McClellan-Kerr navigation system. Approximately 11 million tons of cargo is shipped from the Mississippi River to Tulsa every year."
Wildlife observation: Winter months offer unique wildlife viewing opportunities at Merrisach Lake. "We stayed in e10 Thanksgiving 2020 it was very quiet only 2 other campers in our area... really nice park along of wildlife," notes a visitor who experienced the off-season camping.
Kayaking and canoeing: Cane Creek State Park maintains rental equipment for paddling excursions. A visitor shared, "You can rent kayaks for very reasonable. Do it! The water trail is unlike any I have seen."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites. At Rising Star, campers appreciate that "We had site 15 which was at the end of the park and had a beautiful, large site with plenty of privacy."
Clean facilities: COE Arkansas River Merrisach Lake Park receives positive feedback for maintenance. One visitor noted it as a "Good, clean campground. Family friendly. Great fishing. Merrisack Lake joins the ship canal to the Arkansas River."
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round, offering a different experience. "Went by 1/17/2021 they are open 4 campers there... very shady. No problem with bugs," shared a Pendleton Bend visitor about winter camping conditions.
Pecan gathering: Fall visitors to Rising Star can collect pecans that fall from trees within the campground. One camper noted, "We picked up enough pecans for 2 pies," during their Halloween visit.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connectivity is sparse throughout the region. One Pendleton Bend visitor cautioned, "There is absolutely no cell phone signal and no WiFi, so have physical directions on you."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Some campgrounds have minimal facilities. At Wilbur D. Mills, a recent visitor found "No host, very unkept, dirty, mostly a fish camp with long term campers. Could be much nicer with a little attention."
Seasonal closures: Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds operate March through October. A winter visitor to Wilbur D. Mills observed they "went by 1/17/2021 closed for winter saw a few pelicans."
Flooding affects access: Some areas experience periodic closures due to high water. Notrebes Bend was noted as "closed for repairs from flooding" by a recent visitor.
Insects can be intense: Mosquitoes and other insects are common, especially in warmer months. Cane Creek visitors warn to "watch out for ticks" on hiking trails.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom planning: Consider campground shower facilities when choosing sites. A visitor to Pendleton Bend described the showers as resembling "a prison scene from a movie" with "a large button on the wall you have to push every ten seconds to keep the spit temperature trickle of water running."
Playground access: Arkansas City Trailhead provides in-town convenience with "clean restrooms with flush toilets" and access to the levee trail system for family walks.
Halloween camping: Cane Creek State Park hosts special Halloween events. "Halloween brings thousands of visitors each fall. The campsites all decorate for the holiday and everyone wants to see it!"
Seasonal activity planning: Visit during cooler months to avoid insects. One visitor noted about Cane Creek, "It was a little too cold to fish but from what we've gathered from the visitor's center they have some decent fishing and lots of other activities!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: Some campgrounds have shared utilities positioned between sites. At Pendleton Bend, "the water hookups are half way between the sites to be shared, and my 50ft hose just barely could reach."
Site selection at Merrisach: Different camping loops offer varying levels of maintenance. One RVer advised, "First we were in E campground and it was not very well taken care of. The pads for the campers were starting to become covered up with grass and tree debris... Other campgrounds seemed to be in better shape."
Dump station location: Plan for potentially long drives to dump stations. "The dump station is probably a mile and a half from the campground so if you have a grey water tote tank that you pull behind the truck like me, expect a fairly long drive."
Electric reliability: Some sites have power limitations. A Pendleton Bend visitor noted "Our neighbors had issues with their electricity because they were trying to run an air fryer, and it kept throwing the breaker."
