Best Cabin Camping near West Memphis, AR

Although this is called the Memphis KOA - it is a bit of a hike.  Especially when the bridge (I-40) is out.  

This campground is very typical for a KOA Journey.  Right off the interstate, nice pull-throughs, minimal amenities.  

We stayed here for a couple of weeks while working in Memphis - good/bad comments below:

Good

1. Staff.  Super nice, very helpful.

2. Ease of access to I-55.  

Bad

1. Remote (not in a good way). Kind of far from West Memphis, within 10 minutes to Marion, but nothing is convenient. 

2. Not in Memphis.  Per the name, this is really important to note.  Assume it is 30 minutes to where you are going in Memphis.  45 if the bridge is out.  

3. It floods when it storms.  Like 5 inches standing water.  Should probably be fixed.

Only an hour from Memphis, this campground is VERY nice - three camping areas, two lakes with boat rentals, 6 cabins, and a gorgeous 27 hole golf course. It is always well kept, the staff is pleasant and they have a small store at the visitor center.

This is a really nice campground just outside of Memphis, TN. They have a swimming pool, playground, covered party pavilion, laundry and lots of kids activities. They also have cabins for rent. This appears to be more of a long term rental campground, but it is a great place to stay if you are traveling there for the weekend for local events, baseball tournaments at Snowden Grove or a Memphis vacation. The campsites are very close together and most are in the sun with no shade.

There are nearly 100 sites here at Village Creek State Park. They are Spacious, paved and well maintained. The campground is spread out on plenty of land. 2nd largest park in Arkansas in such a tiny town. Many deer walking freely at night. Water and electric hookups, bathrooms and a museum too. They have concerts occasionally here in the big field. Cabins are great too above the rim of the lake. Many hikes to take here and so peaceful. There are stables and horse trails as well as mountain biking. The park is located in Wynne, Arkansas. I have visited here many times camped in RV and stayed in the cabins. The rangers are always friendly and it is close to my relatives in Forrest City.

The cabins are nice, and there are great hiking trails

Campground is very rustic, shaded and sites are kinda small. Cell service is spotty. Some sites are really close together and some are decent size. The day area around Poplar Tree Lake is nice with kayak, flat bottom fishing boats and paddle boats for rent. Cabins seem very nice from the outside. Lots of nice playgrounds and a disc golf course.

My family and I live about 25 min from the campground at Meeman-Shelby State Park. We have been several times and have camped with tents, pop-ups, and now with our Geo-Pro. We love this campground.

Pros: -49 available sites -all sites with water, 30A, fire ring, grill and picnic table -a variety of hiking/biking trails -update playground -lake with rental kayaks, canoes, boats (in season) -fully functioning bathhouse that is dated but clean

Cons: -no sewer at any sites -some sites on the back sides of the camp ground are subject to erosion and can be unlevel and not ideal for kids -large park so many of the activities outside the campground require driving -1 bathhouse which can be an issue on certain weekends -MOSQUITOS. If you go after the weather warms up, be forewarned that the mosquitos will eat you alive. We mostly camp at Meeman-Shelby in the fall/winter. We do not camp Spring/Summer.

There is a disc golf course that is very popular. There is a nature center that is under renovation that has snakes, spiders and owls to see. There are cabins to rent but we have never stayed in one. They look nice from the outside.

I’ve included several pictures of camp sites and the grounds. All in all, Meeman-Shelby is a great park and is perfect for families. Make sure to schedule a friday night dinner at the General Store. Steak and live music that sets the tone for a great camping weekend!

After 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.

General: This large state park has three camping loops, including one equestrian loop, for a total of 96 sites. All sites are reservable up to a year in advance (we usually try to camp during the off or shoulder season, but it was still necessary to make reservations as the loop filled up by the end of the day). Absolutely no cell service in Area A (weak signal in Area B) but you could purchase mediocre WiFi for$8/day (no thanks).

Sites/Facilities: The sites are spaced a good distance apart even if there is no physical separation between them. We stayed in Camp Area A but after checking out Camp Area B the next day, I think that loop would be more desirable as it is on Lake Dunn with some of the sites having filtered water views. Sites have a long, paved driveway, picnic table, and fire grate, along with a water spigot and electric hookup. There are also 10 fully outfitted cabins and a lodge.

Bathhouse: Both camp areas have two bath/shower houses. During Covid, they alternated closing one each day to clean and sanitize it. They were very clean during our stay.

Activities/Amenities: As for activities, there are two lakes for fishing and boating, tennis courts, golf course, and a large network of multi-use trails. I hiked the Lake Dunn trail, and it was well marked with blazes on the trees. There was a playground in Area B although it appeared to be closed; there was no playground in Area A.

Conclusion: There was an occasional train but the noise was not too loud. Village Creek is a nice park and campground, even if we didn’t partake in all of the available activities.

Village 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

This is a huge campground and the price for a spot was at least double what we would pay elsewhere (nearly $100). We weren’t able to get a campground at Tom Sawyer and the reviews were all over the place for the rest of the Memphis campgrounds that we decided to go ahead and splurge on this one.

This was our first Jellystone and I was shocked at how many campers the campground accommodated - there are RVs everywhere. Most of the amenities and services are located at the front of the campground and includes a store and propane, playground, dog run, pool, showers and laundry, gold mining station, and sports courts (basketball, Gaga ball, and basketball). Further back in the campground, was another playground and dog run and a really cute little lake.

We were staying off-season so there was no activities and they actually deflated the jumping pad, but my kids still had fun and I could see this campground either being a blast in the summer or being a nightmare because of too many people. While we were there, I saw almost no children and several of the camper sites looked like the guests were staying long-term. For a campground that is marketed towards families, the demographics were a bit strange.

That said, it was super clean, well-organized, the landscaping and sites were maintained, everyone was friendly. We got two loads of wash done and my husband said the showers looked good. There were some restaurants and a Walgreen that looked like they delivered to the campground. WiFi worked and they had cable tv.

We reserved a basic site, but for more money you could get a site with Adirondack patio furniture and there were plenty of cabins as well. We reserved same day online and they have a system for late check-ins.

I’m definitely giving Jellystone another go - but next time during the summer. I’m not sure whether this campground is a good base for exploring Memphis - I think if you had a car it would probably be fine as it’s only 20 minutes or so.

This was one of the first state parks in Tennessee I visited on my trip through the state. Despite being an older feeling camp it offered many unique features and options for keeping myself entertained. (Check Out Their Website)

When it came to camping not only were there tent sites but also cabins which had a very rustic feel. I opted for a tent site which ran $25 and had full electrical hookups (site 40), a big perk for charging my devices at the end of a busy day. My site had a bbq grill and fire ring in addition to a picnic table and was well shaded. I felt like the sites along this side of the road were a little more spacious than the other side of the road which were a little more close together.

I was about half way down the loop and a short distance from the restroom and showers which were in decent shape but nothing super special. The water pressure here was good for showering.

My favorite thing about this camp was the outdoor activities which seemed to be everywhere. I hiked both the Woodland and Pioneer Springs trails (MAP), each about 4 miles and along the way enjoyed just taking in the outdoors. I will say that if you do any trails in late summer here you will need mosquito spray because they come in droves.

You can travel to the boat ramp and marina and rent boats there or bring your own to take advantage of the lake which winds through various types of vegetation and allows you to see the lake in a way you cannot from the shore line. I most enjoyed taking out a kayak and exploring the swampy feeling area, though I will say being so close to the Mississippi River I was afraid of what I might find lurking in the water.

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TIPS:

• Bring citronella candles for your table when camping and try to put a dryer sheet in your pocket to ward off mosquitoes. In addition to spray these will make your trip here a bit more comfortable.
• Bring your own firewood if you want to have a campground. There were signs around camp saying not to move wood.

We love this state park. We frequent it regularly. The sites are all mostly level (front to back and side to side), the facilities are well maintained and the rangers patrol regularly. 

This is a very wooded campground, offering lots of privacy. There's a nice playground that my youngest is a big fan of. The campground is also a short drive from Poplar Tree Lake which offers boating and fishing (kayak rentals are available, or you can bring your own); no swimming area though.

Some of our favorite sites are 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 25, and 26. These are in all in the two smaller loops, though the main loop sites are quite nice as well, they just don't feel quite as secluded. 

Also, make sure to check out the Shelby Forest General Store. They sell little bit of everything, including great food if you don't feel like cooking at the campsite!

Village Creek is becoming one of our favorite campground that is close to home! Great for hiking, fishing, kayaking and general outdoor activities!

Choose from 3 different campgrounds within the park: The Lower Loop is more rustic and offers water & electric hookups. There is a nice, small creek that runs along the back of the campground behind the sites opposite the main road. Plenty of flat ground for football, baseball or badminton. Very nice “suite style” bathrooms.

The Upper Loop has larger camp pads with full hookups. There is walk up water access at the end of the cove between sites 46 & 47 with a swim beach (looks like it is about to undergo some renovations) and playground. The bathroom is extremely clean.

The Horse Camp looks nice, but I don’t know any details on that.

The park office offers WiFi (very limited cell service in the park), wood for sale, ice for sale, other snacks and bike rentals.

Several tennis courts, a basketball court and a baseball backstop can also be found within the park. There is also a beautiful golf course for the golfer campers!

We stayed on a super cool double decker campsite in Loop A. This particular site wasn’t very level for a camper, but we made it work because we wanted this site! It would be super cool for several tent campers to use. We love the privacy of the suite style bathrooms! There is a creek that runs behind sites 1-22. We explored behind the single digit sites to check out the creek. Not sure how much water is in it during the summer, so it could be a mosquito trap!

We took a wonderful guided hike on a portion of the trail of tears. I hear the golf course is amazing, but we didn’t have time to check that out. The park offers several planned activities throughout the day. They also offer tennis courts and 2 different lakes to fish! Boat rentals are available, but we didn't look into any of that. They have wood for sale at the office.The Class AAA campground (loop B) was really nice. Loop C is a Horse Camp. The only draw back was that we had absolutely ZERO cell service (AT&T). Zero. Zilch. Nada. 

We really enjoyed our Fall Camping trip here and love the proximity to Memphis. It was only about an hour drive for us.

Great facilities. First time at an Arkansas state park and impressed.

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.

We camped at Village Creek State Park in the Crowley’s Ridge region of Arkansas over Labor Day weekend. We booked two class B RV sites - one for ourselves and one for my husband’s parents - in advance. On our way to camp we got a call informing us that they had accidentally deleted one reservation assuming it was a duplicate (same name), and that there were no longer two sites together in that loop. They offered to re-book us in the only section that still had side-by-side campsites available. Village Creek is a somewhat unique park in that has an Equestrian Camp offering with stables, exercise corrals, water, mounting blocks and the like available for those who would like to travel with their own horses. While it was not what we originally booked, staying in “Horse Camp” was really cool and different - a BIG hit with our kids. The park has over 30 miles of equestrian trails and is a popular destination for horse owners. While all of that made for really cool atmosphere, the sites themselves left a lot to be desired. It almost looks like major erosion has occurred since these sites were first built - at every site in this loop, the picnic table and fire ring are IN the woods, and often partway down a ravine, with lots of brush, branches and vines hanging around them. We tried to use the table and fire ring on our first night and abandoned it for the rest of the trip. Our inlaws’ table was in such a dangerous location that we couldn’t access it at all, and we quickly realized was a cozy home for copperheads. Our water hookup had a wasp nest inside it. All of these details made it hard to relax as we were constantly on our guard with our kids and dog. We checked out the other camping areas and they were in much better shape, recently renovated and with full hookups. The trails at Village Creek were BEAUTIFUL. There is a particularly stunning trail that includes one of the most well-preserved sections of the Trail of Tears. This made for both an lovely hike and a history lesson for our seven year old. The Crowley’s Ridge region of the state is home to unique geological formations, soil and plant life unlike anywhere else in Arkansas. 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. There are two small lakes that are popular with anglers. A couple of boat ramps are available for fishing boat launch. There is a small swimming area for campers only, but this lake is not great for swimming as it is pretty muddy. Take lots of bug spray in summer, and maybe only consider horse camp if you HAVE a horse. It’s worth a walk through in the morning or late afternoon when riders are tacking up or returning from rides.

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