Lake Charles State Park and Village Creek State Park offer popular glamping options in eastern Arkansas, about 30-45 miles from Newport. These parks sit on Crowley's Ridge, a unique geological formation rising 200 feet above the Mississippi Delta plains. Camping options near Newport range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks with water and electrical hookups, with most state parks maintaining year-round availability.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Frierson State Park offers excellent fishing in its 335-acre lake. "Kayaking and fishing was great! Beautiful place to stay!" notes one visitor to Lake Frierson State Park.
Hiking trails: Village Creek State Park features over 30 miles of trails including one of the most well-preserved sections of the Trail of Tears. A camper explains, "The Big Ben Nature Trail offers a great opportunity to identify these unusual plant species and is a short, easy hike. However, erosion is a big issue on the ridge, and sections were somewhat washed out after recent heavy rains."
Swimming spots: Lake Charles State Park includes designated swimming areas for warm weather enjoyment. "Really lovely lake with a great area for swimming. We had kind neighbors and felt very safe," reports a visitor to Lake Charles State Park.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good spacing between camping spots. At Village Creek State Park, a visitor noted, "This is a huge Campground with lots of available activities such as hiking on the Trail of Tears, boating, fishing... the RV sites are flat and they have water and electricity."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathhouses. One camper at Dam Site Campground shared, "Clean bathrooms, warm showers and plenty of TP!"
Peaceful atmosphere: Most sites offer quiet environments away from crowds. At Greers Ferry Lake - COE/Cherokee Rec Area, a visitor commented, "If you want to enjoy the peace and quiet this is your stop. The view is beautiful with all the water sites."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have spotty cellular reception. A Village Creek State Park visitor mentioned, "We had no signal on ATT but there is free WIFI by the office which you can connect to day or night."
Seasonal considerations: Bug activity increases significantly during summer months. A Lake Charles reviewer warned, "The cons: located near a very tiny town, so bring everything you need with you because a quick trip to the store will take you at least 30 min. Also, the biting flies + mosquitos were ROUGH in the morning. You'll need your bug spray."
Limited services: Some parks have reduced amenities in the off-season. At Dam Site Campground, a camper observed, "We like winter camping, but it appears that they close off most sections of the park during the colder months."
Tips for camping with families
Bring bikes: Several parks have paved trails perfect for children cycling. A Lake Charles visitor mentioned, "There are trails for hiking or bike riding all three campground areas have access to the lake for fishing or bring your own boat and explore the lake."
Plan for wildlife viewing: Many campers report regular deer sightings, especially at dusk. A glamping enthusiast at Delta Ridge RV Park noted, "There were lots of frantic birds at dusk everyday I was there."
Check bathroom facilities: Not all campgrounds offer showers. A Lake Frierson State Park visitor cautioned, "The drawback for me is that this campground only has vault toilets and no showers. You have to drive to Crowleys Ridge State Park to use their dump station (10 minute drive)."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Most developed campgrounds offer relatively level pads. At Delta Ridge RV Park, a camper reported, "Each site is a full hookup on a gravel pad with easy leveling. The campground itself is clean and well maintained."
Size restrictions: Some parks can't accommodate larger rigs. A Village Creek visitor noted, "We checked out the other camping areas and they were in much better shape, recently renovated and with full hookups. The sites there are large, and spaced out pretty well."
Utility connections: Available hookup types vary between campgrounds and loops. At Lake Charles State Park, a camper explained, "There was water, electric and sewer hookups in Area C only. Areas A and B had electric and water. All areas are shady and relaxing."