Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Paragould, AR

This campground was perfect for our little family reunion near Paragould. We booked three sites together and they were close enough that it was easy to visit each other. It was also a very nice little campground with lots of shade and the bathrooms were very clean and had showers. We also enjoyed the little lake and playground for the kids. The only downside were the mosquitoes, but one of us had a screened canopy that went over the picnic table, which worked great. We were very impressed with the staff and the campground and will likely return.

I must make a comment regarding two other reviews. A lake is generally deeper than a pond. You weigh the depth and surface to judge if a body of water is one or the other. In Arkansas you will find a pond on a ranch or a farm. Now in some areas of the United States there are lakes that cover masses of acres and I had to laugh at the fact that Lake Charles was being called a pond. In the south we consider Lake Charles a lake even if it is only 645 acres.  Please don't take offense, I meant none, we just look at things a bit different, we are also very proud of Arkansas and the fact that it is considered "The Natural State."

Folks if you travel to very many state parks or Corp of Engineer COE parks in Arkansas you will encounter another southern foible.  Narrow roads.  Most of Arkansas is rural and you will find that most roads are older, narrow and farm equipment or ranching equipment uses the roads.  That also leads toward the "charm" of Arkansas.  If you stay in the larger towns you will manage to get by fairly well but venture towards the campgrounds and we hope you enjoy the state.  Take your time.

Lake Charles State Park is 1/2 more or less hour from Jonesboro on a quiet country road.  It has a 645 acre lake with bass, crappie, bream and catfish.  This park operates year round.  From March to October to will be able to purchase bait and tackle at the Visitor Center.  There are Class AAA sites to tent sites with many on the lake.  There are yurts available.  From November to February a 3-D Archery range is open.  You will find 4 hiking trails and there are several programs offered by the rangers.  Check on the programs offered through the Arkansas State Parks, find the park you want, and plan your stay.  It will be a learning experience for young and old.  So map out everything you want to do and learn.

Fish, kayak, hike, ranger talks, camping, picnicking, what more can you ask for.  Lake Charles was established in 1963 and was dedicated on May 28, 1967.

Picnic tables, grills, lantern hooks and paved pads are at each campsite.  Restrooms and bathhouses are modern and "air conditioned" which come in handy when you are dealing with Arkansas heat and humidity.  There is a dump stationed and trash area shortly after coming into the park.  All sites may be reserved.  Beautiful shades trees, level sites with some a bit tight.  No waterskiing or tubing is allowed.

Four walking trails with the Cedar Trail being paved.  The Butterflies and Blooms Trail is a short gravel trail and the Native Plant Trail uses plants that will attract butterflies and local wildlife.

Swimming area is free of charge and is located in a day use area.  You will not find life guards so please watch over all.  Alcohol, glass bottles and pets are not allowed.  You will find a gently sloping sandy beach.  

A short distance away from the park is Davidsonville Historic State Park and Powhatan Courthouse State Park.  There is plenty to keep you busy and we hope you enjoy a laid back southern vacation.

Word of warning.  Even a native Arkansan quakes when it come summer time and the dreaded flies and mosquitoes come out to play.  Research, find all kinds of options for keeping them at bay, screens on your doors, campfire smoke, anything just don't let them stop you from enjoying.

Have Fun - Stay Safe   Leave No Trace Better Than You Found It

Everything about this park is amazing. They recently redid the swimming area and cleaned and refilled with better water. They have paddle boats you can rent from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We have stayed many trips in this park. Site 1 is our favorite. Features pull through with a large area including tent pad and nice gathering area. We glamp camp and we’re able to set up a 16x20 tent, but the tent did go over the size of the pad. All sites have water and electricity, except for a few primitive sites. There is a nice campground and walking area. Also a great hiking trail which isn’t too hard. The park is close to Paragould with a Walmart and a dollar general is a couple miles away. The only site I wouldn’t recommend is site 9. It has a very steep hill and would only be good for very small campers or tent camping.

Oh yeah, it’s the lake. Apparently it was drained to repair the dam. Looks like and apocalyptic wasteland where the lake was. Walked out to the middle of it and some Perv was flying a drone over my head. Stayed at the tent campsite which was ok because no one else was there, but you can see the rv site and some dumb buildings and a big streetlight. With the amount of dogs barking it sounds like you are in a neighborhood. It was ok. I guess any state park is better than no state park.

this is a nice park, with clean restrooms/bath houses. sites are a comfortable distance apart with good hookups, asphalt or concrete parking pads and patios for solid picnic tables as well as well drained gravel under the hookups, pole for lantern or trash, fire pit with grate, and barbecue. The lake is lovely, turning leaves and night sky astounding. the reasons this wasn’t a 5-star review are 1) WAY TOO MANY bees and house flies. Maybe that’s a time of year issue as some of the trees dropped rotting fruit.Flies were not the biting kind, just annoying and bees were, well, bees. i’m Happy to see a healthy army of bees but my dogs were not. 2) The wifi strength was awesome during the day and pitiful after dark. Wifi reception best near the bath houses.

Another great Arkansas State Park! The campground is small, but the sites are nice. Arkansas has some of the best bathhouses as well! There is a really nice playground and also a walking trail that you can access from the campground.

The lake has finally been repaired and they have begun the refill process after is has been dry for several years.

The town of Harrisburg is close by in case you need to make a store run or grab some food. There is a small store here at the park, but it was closed while we were here, so I’m not sure how much stuff they have to offer.

Wonderful place to visit! We really enjoyed the hiking opportunities this park offers :) The sites were nice, somewhat wooded area. They were not super secluded, but we had enough privacy. The facilities were very clean and near to the sites. So impressed with how Arkansas State Parks are maintained- we were pleased!

Craighead Forest Park is outside Jonesboro Arkansas and pretty awesome on the recreational side. There are several very cool playgrounds, a paved trail that encompasses the park as well as a dirt trail around the outside.

The campground is small, not many camper sites and the primitive area which is walk in, doesn't have much privacy.

This was a pretty, uncrowded state park in Arkansas. Nice small pond with a good walking trail around it.  The park was hard to get to, narrow/windy roads. I enjoyed my stay there and its great if its on your way from point A to point B.

Lake Frierson State Park is a nice stop off on the way to Jonesboro Arkansas.

Nice trails, water recreation and quiet. The campground is small. 7 sites near one of the boat ramps. Your on the road next to the public access so not much privacy at all! There is also a primitive camping area. I guess one plus is it’s not very crowded and if you have enough relatives you can book the whole site for yourself.

Like Charles is definitely a fishing destinations but offers many other activities of camping. 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. The bath houses have just been renovated and the facility is maintained very well. He there is a playground and swimming area, I boat ramp, haste door in the office, and the staff are very friendly and helpful . It’s in Arkansas so don’t forget your mosquito spray after dark.

This is a very pretty little historic park with a small man-made pond. Fishing looked good and the kids loved the Pedal Boats.

There are only twenty sites, but most fit larger RVs and some even have sewer hookups.

The staff here are awesome and keep the place very clean. Besides having a nice little exhibit open to experience, they even are keeping the kayak, canoe and pedal boat rentals open (Other Arkansas Parks are keeping some bathrooms, showers, rental boats and exhibits closed because of COVID). Lake Charles SP even closed their beach?!? and they said they didn’t have enough staff sitting around doing nothing to rent kayaks.

Davidsonville is definitely a great place to visit.

The dancing rabbit trail is awesome: don’t forget bug spray. Spring fed waterfall/wishingwell crystal clear and COLD!!! Fishing w great Very peaceful!❤️❤️

Well kept and very quiet campground. The weekend we went there were lots of park activities and visitors. The camping area is kept away from the rest of the park activities, which made it nice when you wanted to get back away from the crowds. Great views, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife to view. Very unleveled and rocky terrain would be only downside.

The park was great. The tent sites were very close together but still enough room (just no privacy.) There were a significant amount of mosquitoes. I was not expecting this 🤣 we are from Southern part of the state so we didn't think it would be any worse. IT WAS. We toughed it out, I would definitely say make sure to bring firewood to keep a fire going. It seemed to help. We loved the fact that there were 4 easy/short trails that we enjoyed with our kids and the swimming area was very refreshing after a morning of hiking.

They did a stellar job of putting in sites on this ridge. They're pretty level although pretty close together. Water & electric and reasoonably priced. Both ATT & Verizon worked well. The wifi info listed above must be at the office only, as there was not signal near us, we use a hot spotor  our phones.

I didn’t get to spend much time here but I tent camped for 1 night in November. Beautiful park with lots of trees. Clean bathrooms. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do anything but the park looks great.

Great I need to know how much a month if I put my RV or my camper on and stay in it

Stayed one night tent camping. We enjoyed that the park had several different short hiking trails of various length. Only downside was I wish the tent camping spots were spread out a little further, you can hear eachother's conversations because they are all side by side, maybe 15 yards a part.

With the word RIDGE in it's name you pretty much know what to expect. These folks made it work. All sites are pretty level. if not level. Water & electric at all sites with picnic table, fire rine and stand up BBQ grill. Nice tree lined road, albeit very tight with on comming trafic, as are their interior roads. ATT & Verizon cell services were both useable just not the strongest..

Got here Sunday afternoon there wereo only3 others. With my disability pass the one night was only $12.79, tax & all.

This was a great nightover for us and would stay here again, but not as destination park.