Best Cabin Camping near Ethel, AR

Cane Creek State Park Campground and Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area offer cabin accommodations near Ethel, Arkansas. Cane Creek's cabins provide electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp options available, making them suitable for year-round stays. The cabins are situated on asphalt sites with water hookups and access to a central bathhouse facility. Bear Creek Lake cabins are available during the operating season from April through Labor Day. Both locations feature cabins with access to clean bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and fire rings. "The sites were level. We did have several fire ant hills that we had to deal with and quite a few red wasps. We were able to watch numerous birds and even saw a swamp rat swimming in the lake," notes one visitor about their cabin experience.

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Cane Creek State Park operates year-round while Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area has a seasonal schedule. Both parks require reservations for cabin stays, which can be made through their respective websites or by phone. Cane Creek offers a rental cabin that receives positive reviews for its amenities and location. According to one visitor, "They have one rent-a-camp that is very nice." Pet policies vary between the two locations, with Cane Creek allowing pets in designated cabins while Bear Creek Lake may have restrictions. Alcohol is permitted at Cane Creek cabins but prohibited at Bear Creek Lake.

Most cabins include basic furnishings but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary by location, with some cabins offering limited kitchen amenities. Both parks feature on-site stores where basic supplies can be purchased. Cane Creek has a bait shop that also sells some provisions, while Bear Creek Lake offers a market for essential items. Firewood is available for purchase at both locations. A reviewer mentioned, "The bait shop has minnows, worms, and crickets." Visitors staying during warmer months should prepare for insects, particularly mosquitoes, which several reviews note can be problematic during summer evenings.

Best Cabin Sites Near Ethel, Arkansas (2)

    1. Cane Creek State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Star City, AR
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 628-4714

    "Ok this is the most beautiful place we’ve found in Arkansas with kayaking among the trees and flowers. They have tons of events like moonlit full moon kayak, we didn’t get to do it - next time!"

    "I grew up in Star City and have been to this park many times. It is not a breathtaking place, but it accurately portrays the nature of south Arkansas."

    2. Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    LaGrange, AR
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (479) 964-7200

    "Beech Point Campground is an amazing lakeside spot. Our site came with a bench to view the lake and tent pad is in the perfect spot."

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Recent Cabin Photos near Ethel, AR

2 Photos of 2 Ethel Campgrounds


Cabin Reviews near Ethel, AR

16 Reviews of 2 Ethel Campgrounds


  • K
    Sep. 30, 2016

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    Cane Creek State Park

    Ok this is the most beautiful place we’ve found in Arkansas with kayaking among the trees and flowers. They have tons of events like moonlit full moon kayak, we didn’t get to do it - next time! They have all kinds of boat rentals here including some with motors. The camp sites have trees and shade, water right next to your tent, wasn’t too much of a trek to the bathrooms and shower houses, which were clean and modern.

  • Joseph  B.
    Jun. 7, 2019

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    A quiet and pleasant place

    I grew up in Star City and have been to this park many times. It is not a breathtaking place, but it accurately portrays the nature of south Arkansas. I have seen ducks, deer armadillos and eagles live here as well. The playgrounds are good. The pavilions are clean and the AC works well. Halloween brings thousands of visitors each fall. The campsites all decorate for the holiday and everyone wants to see it!

  • Lacee G.
    Jul. 16, 2019

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgoeus park with fun activities

    We visited Cane Creek over Memorial Day weekend. The sites were level. We did have several fire ant hills that we had to deal with and quite a few red wasps. We were able to watch numerous birds (pileated woodpeckers) and even saw a swamp rat swimming in the lake (resembles a beaver with a skinny tail). You have to walk through thick brush on a slope to reach the water. My husband mostly chose to walk down to the fishing pier and docks. It was about a two minute walk away from our site. We stayed in site 17 I believe.

    There are water and electricity hookups with a bathroom close by. We rode bikes so it didn’t take long to get the the restroom. Our neighbors had issues with their electricity because they were trying to run an air fryer, and it kept throwing the breaker. We ran our box fan without any issues.

    You can rent kayaks for very reasonable. Do it! The water trail is unlike any I have seen. Don’t miss out on the hiking trails, but watch out for ticks!

    You can rent an RV here as well. It’s set up at the entrance of the campground. It seemed like a nice setup. We rode past it several times on our explorations of the park.

  • Jen K.
    Dec. 11, 2021

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    Very nice little park off the beaten path

    Staff is wonderful! Sites are large to accommodate any size rig & truck. Smaller campground with many nearby trails thru the forest. Very peaceful quiet place. Hot showers, bait shop, rentals & a little campstore as well.

  • Steve S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2022

    Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area

    beautiful

    Beech Point Campground is an amazing lakeside spot. Our site came with a bench to view the lake and tent pad is in the perfect spot. It was peaceful and provided the perfect place to recharge our batteries! The bathrooms were very nice. Throughout the campground, sewer hook-ups are available.

  • Steve S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2020

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    great park

    nice sights ,quiet ,beautiful but mosquitoes are terrible went by today 1/31/2021 it was nice and clean they have done some upgrades nice new handicap trail from camping area to boat dock ,boat, canoe , kayak, and bike rentals no mosquitoes this time of year , at campsite 9 great spot stayed an extra night tried to stay Friday night too but had to move to site 21 even better site right beside the new trail and I love their new shirts update February 2021 about 15" of snow and lake froze over awesome back again 3/10-14/21 no bugs yet and frogs are singing ,great weather

  • Brian G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2023

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    Nice Weekend Getaway

    My family and I had a nice little getaway to Cane Creek State park. The sites are all asphalted and have electric and water. The dump station is on the way out of the park. The boat dock is really nice and the bait shop has minnows, worms, and crickets. Also, the bathrooms are located in the middle of the park and are clean. There are also a few concreted walking trails. The only bad part of the weekend was the bugs were really bad after dark so we had to go inside early. I would recommend this place to anyone and we will be back.

  • Chris V.
    Jun. 20, 2019

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    Our first camping trip was a great success. We camped 2.5 days at Cane Creek State Park in Star City, Arkansas.

    Our Review: The camp sites were very nice, all had either 30 amp or 50 amp electric hook ups and water. The electricity was super convenient with having the space heater in the tent. Most of the sites have nice views of the water too! 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! Cane Creek offers several options like fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, etc. There was a boat dock specific for campers closer to the campsites. We were very pleased with the bath house which was really clean and fairly central to all campsites. We will definitely be back when it warms up to test out the fishing!

  • Kathy E.
    Jun. 14, 2018

    Cane Creek State Park Campground

    2 Many Bugs

    We visited this park twice. The first time it was great. The second time it was unbearable because a hurricane had blown in trillions of "love bugs". Our visit was during the bugs' mating season. The bugs were so thick that you could not even go outside your camper without getting a mouth full, nose full, eyes full, and ears full of these bugs. It was like a plague! The air was black with the bugs. We were unable to do any outside activities because of the mass numbers of the bugs. This campground has water and electric on the sites. It has a dump station too. They have one rent a camp that is very nice. If the bugs are gone, I would recommend this campground. They have very nice fishing docks and boat docks. The water is only visible from 2 of the campsites. There is lots of shade. It is very enjoyable when the bugs are not present.


Guide to Ethel

Cabins near Ethel, Arkansas offer a mix of woodland and lakeside environments in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain region. This low-elevation area features cypress and hardwood forests with seasonal wildlife viewing opportunities. The region experiences high humidity in summer months with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while winter nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing.

What to do

Water trails for kayaking: At Cane Creek State Park Campground, visitors can rent kayaks at reasonable rates to explore unique water trails. "Ok this is the most beautiful place we've found in Arkansas with kayaking among the trees and flowers. They have tons of events like moonlit full moon kayak, we didn't get to do it - next time!" reports one camper.

Fishing from dedicated piers: The fishing docks at Cane Creek Lake provide convenient access for anglers staying in nearby cabins. A visitor notes, "You can rent boats for very reasonable. Do it! The water trail is unlike any I have seen. Don't miss out on the hiking trails, but watch out for ticks!"

Wildlife observation: Cabin stays offer opportunities to spot local wildlife in natural habitats. "We were able to watch numerous birds (pileated woodpeckers) and even saw a swamp rat swimming in the lake (resembles a beaver with a skinny tail)," shares one camper about their experience.

What campers like

Clean, modern facilities: The bathhouse facilities near cabin accommodations receive positive reviews for their maintenance. As one visitor to Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area states, "The bathrooms were very nice. Throughout the campground, sewer hook-ups are available."

Lakeside views: Many cabins provide water views that enhance the camping experience. "Beech Point Campground is an amazing lakeside spot. Our site came with a bench to view the lake and tent pad is in the perfect spot," reports a visitor to Bear Creek Lake.

Seasonal activities: Holiday celebrations draw significant attendance at some parks. One camper notes about Cane Creek, "Halloween brings thousands of visitors each fall. The campsites all decorate for the holiday and everyone wants to see it!"

What you should know

Insect preparation: Seasonal insect activity requires proper preparation, particularly during warmer months. A visitor to Cane Creek State Park warns, "We did have several fire ant hills that we had to deal with and quite a few red wasps," highlighting the need for insect repellent and awareness.

Water access considerations: Some cabins require navigation through vegetation to reach water. "You have to walk through thick brush on a slope to reach the water. My husband mostly chose to walk down to the fishing pier and docks. It was about a two minute walk away from our site," explains one camper.

Power limitations: Electrical systems at some cabins may have capacity restrictions. One visitor reported, "Our neighbors had issues with their electricity because they were trying to run an air fryer, and it kept throwing the breaker. We ran our box fan without any issues."

Tips for camping with families

Visitor center activities: Families staying in cabin accommodations can take advantage of organized programs. "The campgrounds are nice and the visitors center offers fun activities for the kids," shares a Cane Creek State Park visitor.

Playground access: Some cabin locations include play areas for children. A frequent visitor mentions, "The playgrounds are good. The pavilions are clean and the AC works well," providing options during hot weather periods.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Bird watching can be an educational activity for families. "We were able to watch numerous birds and even saw a swamp rat swimming in the lake," notes one camper about their wildlife sightings from their cabin area.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for lake views: For RVers using cabins as additional accommodation, site location matters. A visitor to Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area advises, "There are 14 full hookup sites that all have a water view, some actually by the water. Very small campground but up to date."

Electric hookup variability: RV sites near cabins offer different electrical capacities. One Cane Creek visitor explains, "The camp sites were very nice, all had either 30 amp or 50 amp electric hook ups and water. The electricity was super convenient with having the space heater in the tent."

Accessibility considerations: Some cabin areas provide easier access than others. "Easy to get into most spaces, flat long, asphalt RV sites. Quiet. Dock is just down the hill from the RV spaces," notes one RVer about their experience at Cane Creek State Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Ethel, AR?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Ethel, AR is Cane Creek State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 13 reviews.