Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Turrell, AR

Excellent weekend camping at Craighead Forest State Park outside Jonesboro, Ar.

The park offers four trails, one gravel pedestrian only, one paved multi-use with excercise equipment, a forest trail and one dirt trail for bikers and runners. Three large playgrounds, pavilions and several small playgrounds. A dog park/beach access area and dog dock. Fishing and watercraft access. Camping and a nature center.

When we arrived at the campground we had the choice of several primitive campsites. There is limited parking in the small gravel lot. There are three sites near the lot and then several others about 200 to 300 ft down the gravel trail.

This is the same gravel trail, approximately 3 miles long, that circles the lake. Needless to say there is a lot of foot traffic on it.

There was plenty of room at the site. We set up two tents and a hammock plus had the picnic table, fire pit and gravel pad which is right on the lake. If you bring your fishing gear or water craft it’s easy to tie off right at your campsite.

Directly across from primitive camping are two very large , active playgrounds a pavilion and restroom. There’s a snow cone vendor with loud music who frequents that parking area too. In addition the park is not closed during the night so we got to listen to several loud conversation, music blaring from a car stereo until about 1:30am and a rather colorful argument at one point.

You drive through the RV area on your way in to the primitive area. There is a nice new bathroom facility with uncomfortably warm cranking heat, the metal fixtures were warm to the touch. One drawback to there being only one restroom about 1/4 mile from the primitive area, you know people aren’t walking that far at night when the need to go…, just saying.

So Pros: centrally located, water access, nice trails, good size sites, a lot to do

Cons: foot traffic, noise, no privacy, noise, not limited access

PROS 

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

Craighead Forest Park was conceived in 1937 when the Young Mens' Civic Club began work on the lake.  It is now a city owned park that is located in the rolling hills of Crowley's Ridge.  The park encompasses 692 acres and should be the pride and joy of Jonesboro.  A residential area has grown around the park which will ensure the peacefulness of the area.  Basketball, bike and running trails, bird watching, camping, disc golf, fishing, horseshoes, playgrounds, softball, volleyball.  There is a great splash pad for the kids.  This place has it all rolled into one great package.  The grass and wooded areas are well maintained to make for a wonderful stay.

• 5 tent sites
• A primitive camping area
• Electrical outlets
• Fire rings
• Picnic Tables,
• Water
• Tolilet and shower facilities
• Laundry facilities
• 41 sites with water and electric
• Dump station
• Reduced rates for seniors
• Free firewood
• Pets They have a dog jumping pier

This is a small, compact campground on a one lane road with a nice turn around at the bottom at the lake.  Some sites are called water sites but I consider them sites with a view of the water.  Most sites are level, some not, so when you reserve ask for one of the sites that has the new concrete pads.  The campground is located away from the ball areas so it is very quiet and not being on a thru street the only traffic is to be the campground traffic.  Sites are wooded and there was a nice breeze coming off the lake.  My first thought when I booked was MOSQUITOES you can't be from that area with out thinking of them.  For the two days we were there not a mosquito and almost no flies.  This is a wonderful surprise for anyone coming through Jonesboro.  We will be back.  Being in the south we all know how hot and humid it can be and a trip to the bathroom/shower facility is often not the most pleasant.  Loved the shower/bathroom facilities.  Air Conditioned, it was amazing with the temps reaching 100 and more while we were there..  This campground had set the bar high and I am sure they will always attain excellence.

The park has approximately 15 miles of mountain bike trails intertwined in the forest, there is a 2.4 mile chat trail that winds around the lake and a 2.9 miles if nicely paved road that circles the park.  There is an area for ATV riders and many trails can accommodate horses.  Check out the three trails that lead to the Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center.

The Forest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center gives the visitor a chance to see the story of a very special ridge that runs along the top of the Mississippi Delta.  They have a 17,033 square foot facility that features an education, exhibit and meeting facility that is on 160 acre prairie.  There is a 2.5 acre pond and about 100 acres of woodlands.  the Nature Center is the perfect accessory to your stay at the Craighead Forest Park.

Jonesboro offers plenty of entertainment not nature related.  Arkansas State University, a great college town, all types of restaurants, chain and local, movie theatre, grocery stores, shopping mall.  There is the Arkansas State University Museum that features a 21,000 square feet of historic, archaeological and natural history exhibits.  It mainly focuses on the history and cultural heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta.

Jonesboro might not be quite the draw of many other areas but I think you might be surprised.

Jonesboro is the fifth largest city in Arkansas weighing in at over 67,000 people