Sherwood, Arkansas sits at 300 feet elevation along the Arkansas River valley, with camping options spread across both sides of the river. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F between June and September, while winters remain mild with occasional freezing temperatures. Cell service varies significantly between camping locations with Verizon coverage typically strongest throughout the area.
What to do
Fishing access points: Willow Beach offers waterfront camping with direct access to both the Arkansas River and Willow Lake. "Campground located on the river with beautiful scenic views. Covered picnic table and tall fire ring. Spacious camps. Flat pad," notes Shiloh M., though they caution about limited bank fishing spots.
Bridge views: Downtown Riverside RV Park provides unique city views with direct pedestrian bridge access to Little Rock. "Great location, walkable to downtown. Good WiFi, great reception," reports Michelle H., who appreciated exploring without driving.
Military history: Visit the Arkansas National Guard Museum at Camp Robinson, where admission is free (call 501-212-5215 for hours). The 32,000-acre military training center houses historical exhibits from its beginnings as Camp Pike in 1917 through its role housing German POWs during WWII.
What campers like
Spacious riverfront sites: Willow Beach earns praise for its uncrowded layout. "Large sites, Not piled in on each other like RV parks. it's a clean campground outside the city, can't beat it for the price. Waterfront. Covered picnic benches. 50amp + water," explains Justin M.
Level concrete pads: Sweet Escape RV Resort offers 34 full-hookup sites with both 30-amp and 50-amp options. Beth R. from another park notes the importance of this feature: "Concrete, level pads" are a significant advantage for RV travelers seeking easier setup.
Fishing opportunities: Tar Camp provides direct river access for fishing enthusiasts. "Great site on the river. We could watch the tug boats with their barges go by," writes Angela G., highlighting the unique riverside experience.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Tar Camp operates seasonally from March through October. "Great place nice sites good fishing they have been repairing since it flooded they told me it would open up in March 2021," noted Steve S. during a previous closure period.
Limited facilities at some parks: Brannon RV Park offers basic utilities without shower facilities. Steve S. describes it as "A very nice, well kept, shady little park. This is for weekly or monthly guests. Weekly rates are $130. Sites are a little tight but offer electricity, water, and sewer."
Wildlife considerations: Some riverside campgrounds have significant wildlife presence. Jennifer C. cautions: "We encountered lots of snakes. I shooed a few off the road and they disappeared as soon as they slithered into the grass, so to me it's pretty risky walking around or letting kids play."
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Sweet Escape RV Resort offers family-friendly amenities including yard games. Alex L. confirms it's "relaxing calm family friendly" and notes that "in the winter they have complementary hot chocolate and a 15 ft Christmas tree!!!"
Mosquito preparation: Pack insect repellent for camping near water. Kelly E. warns: "It is near water so there are a lot of mosquitos, so come prepared." Jason W. adds that "Temps above 50* mean stock up on big repellent" at riverside locations.
Bathroom considerations: Facility cleanliness varies widely between parks. At Sweet Escape, Alex L. notes "the bathrooms are the cleanest that i have seen in a campground/RV park they clean them daily," while Kelly E. found issues elsewhere: "The toilet paper is out or almost out in all of them and there is no soap in any of the dispensers."
Tips from RVers
Overnight convenience: Camp Conway RV Park offers full hookups in a quieter setting outside town. Burt describes it as having a "Wide-open layout, outside of town, quiet, full-hookups" and notes it's "Convenient to Conway and even Little Rock."
RV length planning: Several RV camping options near Sherwood accommodate different rig sizes. At Willow Beach, Rod A. mentions "50 Amp electric, water no sewer hook up but dump station. Spaced spread out not crowded," noting the park can accommodate longer vehicles.
Security features: Some RV parks offer additional security measures. Jennifer C. notes that at one location "They lock a gate every night at the entrance to the campground, however they do give you the code to the padlock," providing peace of mind for overnight stays.
