Campsites near Harrisburg, Arkansas sit within the distinctive Crowley's Ridge geographic formation, a 150-mile long erosional remnant rising up to 250 feet above the flat Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The region averages 49 inches of annual rainfall with hot, humid summers where temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through September. Winter camping offers milder conditions with daytime temperatures averaging 50°F from December through February.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Poinsett State Park's 640-acre lake recently reopened after repairs with specific fishing regulations in place. "Fishing is catch and release only except for Catfish and Brim due to recently reopening the lake," notes Sean D., who stayed at Lake Poinsett State Park Campground over Memorial Day weekend.
Hiking trails: The Trail of Tears runs through Village Creek State Park with well-preserved historical sections. Laura G. describes it as "a particularly stunning trail that includes one of the most well-preserved sections of the Trail of Tears. This made for both a lovely hike and a history lesson for our seven year old."
Bird watching: Delta Ridge RV Park offers surprising wildlife viewing right from your site. "There were lots of frantic birds at dusk everyday I was there," reports Butch K. from his 3-night stay at Delta Ridge RV Park.
Swimming and boating: Crowley's Ridge State Park features a swim beach with unique amenities. "The lake area is beautiful with a small spring fed waterfall, a swim beach area and even a slide into the water," according to Shana D., who visited during winter.
What Campers Like
Clean facilities: Memphis KOA maintains their amenities well despite highway proximity. "The staff greeted us and our pups with smiles, cozies, and treats for the dogs. The site is well taken care of. The laundry and camper kitchen were great amenities," writes Zack L. at Memphis KOA.
Wildlife encounters: Village Creek State Park offers frequent deer sightings. "The Crowley's Ridge region of the state is home to unique geological formations, soil and plant life unlike anywhere else in Arkansas," explains Laura G. after staying at Village Creek State Park Campground.
Free amenities: Multiple campgrounds offer unexpected complimentary services. At Craighead Forest Park, Jared B. was pleased to find "Free fire wood and trash pickup at your site!" This adds value beyond the standard campsite fee.
Accessibility: Some camping areas provide trail access directly from campsites. Shana D. notes at Crowley's Ridge: "There is a trail at the end of the campground that can access the trail with the swinging bridge, or you can go to the right and walk straight to the camp store right from your site!"
What You Should Know
Seasonal challenges: Mosquitoes present significant issues during warmer months. Troy J. noted at Lake Poinsett: "The only drawback that I can think of was the mosquitos. Shower house/bathroom cleaned and well maintained."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. Sean D. reported: "No Cell service for ATT. There is WiFi at the bathhouse, but was very sketchy due to the busy weekend," after staying at Lake Poinsett over Memorial Day.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry routes. At Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Jason J. warns: "The primitive sites are on a separate and unmaintained road off of the campsite loop. Spacious sites, but if the weather is wet, it can be a bit iffy getting to them in a low clearance vehicle."
Swimming restrictions: Not all lakes permit swimming. Sean D. points out: "No swimming at the park. It is not allowed," regarding Lake Poinsett State Park, an important consideration for summer visitors.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Multiple parks offer play structures for different age groups. Andrew H. highlights Craighead Forest Park: "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."
Educational opportunities: History lessons integrate with outdoor activities. Laura G. found Village Creek State Park valuable for learning: "The Big Ben Nature Trail offers a great opportunity to identify these unusual plant species and is a short, easy hike."
Kid-friendly water features: Beyond swimming, parks offer various water attractions. Donna M. shares about Craighead Forest Park: "Several different playgrounds and walking trails! Great fishing and even a splash pad for the kids to enjoy!"
Safety considerations: Some parks have terrain challenges for younger children. Laura G. cautions about Village Creek: "At every site in this loop, the picnic table and fire ring are IN the woods, and often partway down a ravine, with lots of brush, branches and vines hanging around them."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Some campgrounds offer significantly different experiences based on loop choice. Bob M. advises about Village Creek: "If you stay in the B loop, you're about a two mile hike to the hiking trails. The A loop is much closer to that."
Maneuvering challenges: Certain camping loops present navigation difficulties. Gary P. found Lake Poinsett comfortable but notes: "Very nice campground with 30something sites. Mostly 30 amp with a few 50 scattered about. Sites were not the fartherest apart, but each was very spacious."
Overnight options: For travelers passing through, convenient campgrounds exist near major routes. Teresa J. recommends Delta Ridge: "The park is right off the freeway, within walking distance of several restaurants, a grocery store, and Walmart. I did hear some traffic but it was huge noise to me."
Hookup variations: Pay attention to electrical service details when booking. Thomas H. shares about Delta Ridge: "Pull Thru and Back In available, gravel sites, fairly level, small, no table, no grill, no fire ring" - important considerations for self-contained camping.
