Camping spots near Jonesboro, Arkansas tend to be situated along the unique Crowley's Ridge geological formation, with elevations rising 200-550 feet above the surrounding Mississippi River Delta plains. This creates distinctive camping environments with forests, lakes, and wildlife not typically found in northeastern Arkansas. Winter temperatures in the region can drop below freezing but rarely stay there long, making year-round camping viable with proper preparation.
What to do
Hiking trails for all levels: Lake Charles State Park offers multiple trail options for nature exploration. "The trails had interesting bridges and a suspension bridge. Moderate to strenuous," notes a camper who enjoyed the variety of terrain features.
Paddling opportunities: At Davidsonville Historic State Park Campground, visitors can rent paddle boats for exploring the lake. "Has paddle boats, lake to fish, boat ramp to Black River, newly updated campgrounds with all the hookups," reports one reviewer who found multiple water activities available.
Mountain biking: The trail system at Craighead Forest Park provides excellent biking terrain. A visitor mentioned, "Great pad & hook ups. Shower & laundry is clean and nice. Beautiful lake, mtb & and walking trails better than most places."
Golf course access: Village Creek State Park offers an unusual amenity for campers - access to a golf course. As one reviewer describes, "The golf course here is really nice, hiking trails good as well."
What campers like
Clean bathhouses: Facilities at Lake Poinsett State Park Campground receive consistent praise. "Staff were extremely nice. Campground is clean. Bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained," notes a visitor who appreciated the upkeep.
Free firewood: Some parks offer unexpected amenities. A Craighead Forest Park visitor mentioned, "Staff is so friendly and place is so clean and nice. Free fire wood and trash pickup at your site!"
Privacy between sites: While site spacing varies between parks, Crowley's Ridge State Park Campground offers good separation. "Our site was huge, enough room for several tents. There was a trail directly behind our site and another trailhead at the very back of the campground area," according to one camper who enjoyed the spaciousness.
Fishing access: Lake Charles State Park provides good fishing opportunities directly from camping areas. A camper noted, "Some of the waterfront sites in C area need more shade. We stayed in site 78 which was water view but not waterfront."
What you should know
Bug protection required: Insect repellent is essential, especially in warmer months. A camper at Crowley's Ridge warned, "The only thing negative I can say is the mosquitos come out at dark and are pretty bad so bring your mosquito spray."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between parks. At Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, "It's good, not great. Proximity to Memphis was a plus, however, we had 0 service anywhere near our campsite."
RV site levelness: Not all sites provide level ground for larger rigs. A visitor to Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park observed, "We watched a super long RV struggle to back into their site, so I wouldn't recommend this campground to RVs that require pull through sites."
Reservation considerations: Many parks fill quickly during peak seasons. At Lake Poinsett, a camper noted, "Every site was booked but not crowded. Had a wonderful time fishing and hiking the 1.3 mile trail."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Davidsonville Historic State Park offers family-friendly facilities. A reviewer mentioned the park "has paddle boats, lake to fish, boat ramp to Black River, newly updated campgrounds with all the hookups, playground for the kiddos, plenty of trails."
Swimming opportunities: Designated swimming areas provide recreation options. At Village Creek State Park Campground, "There is a small swimming area for campers only, but this lake is not great for swimming as it is pretty muddy."
Kid-friendly activities: Parks often provide specific amenities for children. A Craighead Forest Park visitor shared, "Several different playgrounds and walking trails! Great fishing and even a splash pad for the kids to enjoy!"
Multiple recreation options: Lake Charles State Park combines various activities. "The swim area and the kayak and canoe rentals were closed (again because they did not have enough staff sitting around doing nothing)," noted one reviewer, suggesting that when properly staffed, the park offers diverse recreation.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for size: Davidsonville Historic State Park offers accommodations for larger rigs. "We had a 50amp FHU site and were able to get our 44' 5th wheel in site #2, which allowed us a lovely view of the lake," reported one RVer.
Hookup variability: Available connections differ between parks and sites. A visitor to Lake Charles mentioned, "There was water, electric and sewer hookups in Area C only. Areas A and B had electric and water."
Leveling considerations: Some sites require additional preparation. At Village Creek, "It almost looks like major erosion has occurred since these sites were first built - at every site in this loop, the picnic table and fire ring are IN the woods, and often partway down a ravine."
Dump station access: Not all parks with RV sites have dump stations. A Lake Poinsett camper advised, "Sites were not the fartherest apart, but each was very spacious. Large level gravel sites with water, but no sewer."
