Crain Ford Jacksonville

Mar 19, 2020

Load up the dog, the kids, and all your gear and go camping this summer. It’s a terrific way for the whole family to bond while exploring the great outdoors. The area around Jacksonville, Arkansas is a hotspot for those residents that want to spread out a sleeping bag and stargaze around a fire. From seasoned adventurers to novice explorers, here are some of the best camping spots in the area. 

Downtown Riverside RV Park 

Located at 250 S. Locust St., Downtown Riverside RV Park offers campers a choice of 56 sunny, full-hookup RV sites. Nestled on the banks of the Arkansas River, this urban oasis is close to all your favorite modern amenities and destinations. Explore local museums, shop for one-of-a-kind antiques, catch a live show, and dine at one of many restaurants that are conveniently located nearby. The park offers an on-site dock gives access to the river. Go boating, canoeing, or kayaking and try your luck angling for striped bass, catfish, and crappie.

Pinnacle Springs Campground

Getaway from it all at the intimate Pinnacle Springs Campground in nearby Woolly Hollow State Park located at 82 Woolly Hollow Road in Greenbrier. Lose yourself in this easy to access, primitive camping experience. This small, yet beautiful space truly feels off the grid and is a welcoming spot under a canopy of pine and oak trees. Each rough and rugged site is equipped with a picnic table, fire pit and grill, lamppost, and level tent site.

Pinnacle Springs offers riverside spots to pitch your tent on the banks of central Arkansas’ premier whitewater stream. Cadron Creek’s north fork offers guests swimming, paddling, fishing, floating, basking in the sun, and other popular outdoor pursuits.  While camping in this wildlife sanctuary, you may be lucky enough to spot deer, turkey, and other wildlife. Enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and the nine-hole Frisbee golf course or wander along the network of trails that criss-cross the property.

Burns Park Campground

Burns Park is a four-season outdoor lover’s paradise geared toward active families. Located about 17 miles southwest of Little Rock Air Force Base at 4101 Arlene Laman Drive in Jacksonville, this 1,700-acre park offers 54 tent and RV spots, many with full-service hookups.

Amenities include an archery range, basketball courts, amusement park, 36-hole golf course, and a 36-hole disc golf field. There are numerous sports fields, playgrounds for the kids, and plenty of picnic areas scattered across the grounds. Lace-up your sneakers and explore the network of trails that snake around the campground. Discover the on-site covered bridge, a pre-Civil War-era log cabin, WWII tank, and Union Pacific caboose. With access to the Arkansas River, there are loads of water-based entertainment activities, including fishing, water skiing, and a boat launch.

Whether you love roasting marshmallows over a campfire or the idea of sleeping with nothing between you and the wilderness than a thin sheet of vinyl, camping might be the thing for you. Use our handy guide to find the best camping spot for you near Jacksonville, Arkansas.