Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Parkin is the way to go. Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. Find our top-rated horse campsites from other campers like you. Plan the perfect trip in minutes.
$25 / night
The 625-acre Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area has 30 miles of shore line and offers the following recreational opportunities: camping, picnicking, swimming, canoeing, fishing and hiking. Sitting atop Crowley’s Ridge, the recreation area offers three campgrounds, two picnic areas, a mile-long nature trail, a swim beach and a handicap-accessible fishing pier which all provide visitors a variety of recreational experiences. Bear Creek Nature Trail provides a one-mile loop winding through a forested area. There are excellent scenic views of the lake shoreline, including Beech Point, and interpretive posts that highlight ecology in action. Trophy Largemouth Bass, Red-eyed Bream and Channel Catfish are just a few of the many species of fish that you’ll find in the lakes and streams in the area. Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by Passenger Car; Fish available include: Bass, Panfish; Types of fishing available include: Shore, Motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait; ADA Accessible fishing access with fishing pier and boat launch The Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area is managed by the Mississippi River State Park. Please call the Mississippi River State Park - Marianna Office for any questions at 870-295-4040.
$14 - $75 / night
Guide
Really enjoyed this trip on 4th of July weekend!! Stayed at site 43 which is close to the swim beach and the bathrooms are very close. They have a really nice visitor center too. Just make sure to have bug spray. Mosquitoes get bad at night and ticks were pretty active. Overall, it’s a great State Park!!!!
Guide
It is definitely not the nicest Park we have been to- laundry facilities are run down, two of the dryers will tear up your clothes, and the bathrooms are never clean. They are working on adding gravel to the spaces, right now though when it rains you are in a swamp. The spaces are also very close together. All that being said, not a terrible monthly price, the trash cans are shared and the wifi is slow in the evening, but you're not paying extra for that or water or power. It is quiet, everyone keeps to themselves, they say it is 3 month maximum but I do know of some who are staying longer. It is in the nicer part of Memphis, so if you are looking for a safe place to stay here, this is it. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway in the country, it is not.
GuideI called ahead and arrived after hours. It was as easy as it gets. They said to just pick an open site and register in the am. I had a lake front site, with a nice fire pit and picnic table and grill setup.
The next morning I registered / paid $44.00 for the night. Super friendly staff. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.
LegendLots of spaces, tons of trails, nice and flexible staff and very affordable. I was clear I had to have connectivity to stay and they let me come out and pick my spot before staying and gave me my.best options.
I'm up in the horse campground which is fine and. The only camper here. The bathroom is warm, water hot and all clean so frankly, with 33 miles of trails, we are staying and working for the week. I had to reply my starlink to get online and it took a few tries to find a workable direction but I did and plugged in to the bathroom which they said was fine. Spent Sunday exploring this huge place.
ScoutWe live 15 miles from this park so we camp here often. It's quiet and peaceful. There is little to no service but we love to just relax without phones.
GuideVery nice park, NO cell phone service though (C-Spire). Enjoyed the hiking trails and views.
TravelerWas told on the phone to just pick a spot and pay on my way out in the morning since I arrived after office closed. Many spots to choose from in several separate loops. Heated bathrooms have very clean showers with hot water. Street lamps around site made me feel safe although I can see how people might find them annoying. You have to drive pretty far into the park to get to the sites but that seems to discourage locals from driving through randomly like I’ve seen in other places. I had 2 bars of Verizon service and was able to text and use data.
LegendPROS
Senior discount
No fee assessed to make on-line reservations
Quiet
light view of lake from #57
Site 57 has no site next to it or behind it
Good distance between campsites
Dark sky friendly except for sites near toilet/shower facilities where there is an actual street light
Climate controlled toilet/shower facility in campground B
Both campground B toilet/shower facilities very clean with ample supply of TP, soap and paper towels
Wood picnic table (on concrete pad), pedestal BBQ grill, metal fire ring with cooking grate and metal lantern hook
Wide roadway in campground B
Small playground
Access to lake swimming area from campground B
Trash receptacles at toilet/shower facility
Lots of deer
Smaller Walmart in Wynne AR
Pops Grill in Wynne real good
CONS
County burn ban in place upon arrival but no signage anywhere alerting of ban. We saw the Arkansas burn ban website and inquired upon checkin if it was enforced and park clerk affirmed ban but we saw many campers had a wood fire burning all the time. So without any signage we understand the confusion and noncompliance. Park should at least place burn ban signage at campground entrance.
Site 57 unlevel side-to-side
No cell service.
No public phone in park.
Parks signage states WiFi at park visitor center could be used to make phone calls. We found this not true with our T-MOBILE service as we purposely went to the visitor center to make a WIFI call. There is WIFI at visitors center but only one bar and too weak to transmit a call. So if there is an emergency after visitor center is closed and you need to make a call, good luck, as there is no public phone nor any camp hosts. We drove approximately 8 miles towards Wynne to get sufficient cell signal to make calls and connect with internet.
Only free WiFi is at park visitor center. We purchased WiFi from park vendor Viasat $20 unlimited for 3 days for one device. Viasat delivered a good signal within 200 ft of toilet/shower facility so it was useless in our campsite#57. Don’t waste your money! Sewer connection at rear of site pad so bring the looooong stinky slinky!
Pets not kept on leash
No security gate closure overnight
Legend
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.
LegendThis is basically a parking lot for RV’s, not a campground. Campers are stacked on top of each other. I would only recommend this place if you are working an event at the Agricenter or if you are passing through town and desperate for a place to stay.
ScoutAbsolutely a hidden Gem! Amazing views and everything is so clean and beautiful! We were even able to spot an Eagle!! Just perfect in every way.
TravelerWe stayed here for ~2.5 months. Will detail good/bad comments below:
Good
1. Owner. Wes. He is awesome.
2. Safety. This is next to police academy, and has several students living in it - never felt danger here.
3. Away from it all. But still close to Memphis. About 15 minutes to downtown, but within cell service.
Bad
1. Workers mainly. Ton of construction, trade, and 0500-1700 workers. This was great from a sleeping standpoint (no one was ever loud) but kids didn't have a scene so to speak.
2. Exposed. In the sun, rain, wind, etc. It was an old mobile-home park, so very exposed to elements.
LegendAfter checking in at the visitors center where there was plenty of space to park multiple rigs of all sizes, we headed up the hill to campground(CG) area B. After passing the cabins area, we turned right into area B and followed the road around to the little cul-de-sac where back-in site 57 with FHUs resides. Back-in was easy and the sites in this area are for the most part level with some having a slight slope in the front or back. The sewer was at the far end of the cement pad so I needed about 20’ of sewer hose and sewer hole is not threaded. The water and electric were placed at the center of the pad. This AAA site has both a standup barbecue and a separate fire pit. We had stayed in site 56 last year, but did not realize that 57 had one of the few lake views in the park. We found on both stays that this cul-de-sac of 6 sites was quiet, probably due to not being conveniently located near a restroom nor the playground, exactly how we like our CGs. We got 1 bar on Verizon and had to put up our WeBoost to get barely usable internet. We went to the nearest restroom, which supposedly had a WiFi hotspot but saw no connection. We did notice since our stay last year that the signs throughout the park had be repainted. Lots of trails to explore in this park. We again enjoyed our stay and would definitely come back.
RangerBeautiful park! Huge green fields and walking paths. Would definitely return. Our site had two different tent pads as well and the parking area for the RV if you have one.
LegendWe loved our stay at Viilage Creek State Park. It was beautiful! We rode our bikes all over the park. It was so green, so pretty and lots of area and trails to walk and enjoy. It had its own equestrian camping area as well. The sites were large, full hookup and there was lots of wildlife. We would definitely go back!
GuideThis is the kind of RV park that you come to to go look at the close attractions. Almost all of the sites are buddy sites where your front door is facing your neighbor's. There is no privacy at all and we actually ran into a problem with our "buddy neighbor". The problem was taken care of by the manager of the park but those are things to keep in mind. They are full hookup sites and offer up to 3 months of stay. We gave it only 3 stars because this is not the kind of park we are used to, we are used to more open sites.
The bathrooms are quite a walk if you are further into the park. There are 2 restrooms with a shower in each. One bathroom was really clean and had a nicely tiled shower. The other bathroom was always dirty and wasn't updated like the other one. The bathrooms are actually located in the farmer's market building which isn't in the RV park itself.
Local attractions: The Farmer's Market (it's an easy walk from the park), Graceland (was about 30-40 min from the park), The Miami Zoo (was about 20 min from the park). I am sure there are a lot more but we weren't able to get to them in the time that we stayed.
ScoutIt was such a lovely place. Beauty everywhere we looked! We stayed in the horse camp which was WONDERFUL! People were pleasant, lots of horses and children, simply magical. There was a Halloween party which we opted out of because we had travelled all day. All The children in the campground sure were excited. Great thing to remember if you have littles.
ScoutThis was our first stay at an AR state park and it will not be the last! Making a reservation was easy, staff were hospitable, and check in was a breeze. We chose to stay in Loop B which offers all concrete pads and both water and sewer hook up. The campsites were very well kept and spaced apart nicely. The bath houses were well maintained. The park is large and offers a number of opportunities for activities but we thoroughly enjoyed hanging out around our site by the lake. Highly recommend this park. We will be back for sure! A few FYIs: park was very dog friendly! Big plus, loop A does not offer sewer hook up and some pads are dirt, loop C is the equestrian loop with stables, pens, etc.
GuideWe went on a Monday, and it was quiet and peaceful. We checked in at the office, bought some ice and drove around to look at the scenery. Lots of deer, and squirrels. There are day use pavilions, a swimming beach, boat dock, and lots of trails. Our campsite was near Lake Dunn Trail head so we decided on that one. It was absolutely beautiful in the evening and in the morning. Signs warn to be prepared entering the trails, as it is a 33 mile trail system. The campsite was well kept, and clean. I did not have phone service at all, but I was able to pay for wifi. $8 for 24 hours.
LegendVery nice place to stay. Quiet. Serene. Peaceful. Glad we stopped in for the week. The staff, Vicky, Nina and others, made us feel very welcomed. We had a small issue with our site and they were very accommodating in helping to resolve it. Thank You! There are plenty of places to stay that are very nice, from just water and electric to full hook-up. They even have an equestrian area if you have a horse. The restroom/bathhouse are cleaned daily and well kept. Many campers used it for their morning shower! There is lot's to do, if you wish. You can hike, bike, fish, boat, rent kayaks or just walk around and enjoy the peaceful setting! Heads up.... The Verizon cell service is sparce. We bought the Via-Sat WIFI svc for a few days while here. It's a bit pricey so be prepared. It's has a decent download but a slow upload.
ScoutGot us in late held our spot
ScoutSo far not impressed. Only one bathroom working and is in disrepair.
GuideThis park was stunning the drive though a little narrow at times was scenic from the drive to the RV site. Pull Through with own area not to close to other sites. Also a short walk to the lakeside beach and park.
Two things l loved:
ScoutGreat facilities. First time at an Arkansas state park and impressed.
GuideVillage Creek has nearly 7,000 acres of forest hills, 33 miles of multi-use trails, playground for children, 2 lakes, Andy Dye designed 27 hole golf course, & visitor center & gift shop. The park has cabins as well as rv sites.
There are three main campgrounds: Loop A (no sewer hookups & mostly dirt pads), Loop B (full hookups & concrete pads), and an equestrian campground with stable facilities. Multiple bathhouses located throughout the park; however, in Loop A the bathhouse as you enter the loop has hot showers, where the lower Loop A bathhouse only has cold. As for the bathhouses they were clean and up to date.
The sites in Loop A were not level and some were very steep. Loop B sites seemed to be mostly level. All the sites contained a picnic table and fire pit.
We stayed in Loop A site 23 at the very end of the loop. This site was probably the steepest site at the park and we had difficulty getting our camper completely level. There is also a sign at the end of the loop that states this area can have storm damage and to watch for falling trees. While we were there a tree limb fell not even 20 feet from our camper and broke in two. If your willing to take a risk though this site is secluded and more private and right at the entrance to the Lake Dunn trail.
This campground also has no cell service or internet. You can pay to have internet and they have different options available but to get cell service you either need to leave the park or find the right spot and stay still.
Pros: •Beautiful campground •Multiple trails to hike •Two lakes to fish in and designated swim areas •Clean bathhouses and showers •Ampitheater with multiple education programs •Rent kayaks/canoes, fishing boats
Cons: •No sewer in Loop A area •Watch for falling tree limbs •Ticks and other insects-do tick checks and bring insect repellent •No cell/WiFi service
GuideIt was a pleasure camping in our RV at Village Creek. We were initially given a spot in loop A, but moved to loop B to be closer to the playground and lake. Loop A was about 2.5 miles away - park is huge! The bathrooms in A looked brand new and really nice. In B, they were more average, but I still enjoyed a nice hot shower. If you have kids, definitely stay in B. Park staff was very accommodating about switching our site, and it no doubt helped that the park wasn’t very busy midweek.
We ended up in a spacious, level pull through site with a little patio with a picnic table, grill, fire ring and lantern hook. There’s a little beach swimming hole there and a lot of space to run around.
There is a lot of wildlife living in the park and the insects are no joke. Make sure to do tick checks when enjoying the hot showers!
LegendThis huge park and campground area were easy to find. Check in was a breeze and we headed to back-in site 56 with FHUs. Backing in was easy in this premium campsite with stand up bbq, separate fire pit and patio. The sewer is at the back of most of these long pads so you need about 20’ of sewer hose. There are 3 campground areas in the park, A, B, and Equestrian. Area A is situated at the bottom of the hill that leads up to Area B and the Equestrian camping. The 2 loops of A sites are a little closer together than the B area. We definitely preferred the B area up on the hill. Site 56 is one of the best(spacious and private) sites in the park. Another good site is 65, though its near the main campground road, it has privacy the way it backs to the woods. We were here during a mid April weekend and there was not a horrible amount of vehicle traffic moving about. All the campsites in our little cul de sac were spacious. Directly across from us were 2 long and straight pull through sites, 58& 59. There’s also another cul de sac loop where sites 42-49 reside. That loop is where the swim beach and a play ground reside. All sites are pretty nice with 47 having the best lake view over the swimming area. Heads up on site 48 as this back-in has a pretty steep incline with evidence of asphalt scars from longer rigs. I wouldn’t put anything over 35’ in that site. We walked through the equestrian area and the campsites were very nice with horse stables available. We got 1 bar each on Verizon and AT&T. You can pay for WiFi but we did not. We got a fair amount of OTA channels. With all the tree cover satellite could be iffy in a lot of sites. The sites along the road between the two B loops have a pretty good shot to the south sky. We saw deer near our campsite plus evening visits by a raccoon. We would definitely stay here again.
Horse camping in Arkansas offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Parkin, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Parkin, AR is Village Creek State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Parkin, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Parkin, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
