In the northern half, the Ozarks, a heavily forested, deeply carved plateau that some people confuse with mountains.
In the southwest, the Ouochita Mountains, some of the oldest mountain cores in the U.S. part of North America, including hot springs and diamond mines.
In the southeast, the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta.
In the middle, Little Rock, where school desegregation got started, and the Clintons built their wealth in land development, and rose to political prominence.
The Lake Ft. Smith state park is absolutely unbelievable. Each parking pad is 3 individual spaces for you to use, small visitors center and large lake. Not too far east of I-540 south of Fayetteville. If the weather is good, instead take the Boston Loop bypass just south of exit 62 on I-540 and enjoy the scenery. It's just a short hop then to get back on 540 after visiting the park. The leaves have already changed now and most are on the ground.
See my post on Arkansas Parks. Let me caution you about Devils Den since you say you have a BIG RIG!
We solo'ed DD during our stay at Lake fort Smith. DD is great-BUT, it is very narrow, steep, windy road to get into the park. A little better from the north approach, but impossible from the south approach!
The camping is nothing like Lake Fort Smith. It's pretty and has many photo op's, but a day trip would be my recommendation.
sansouci2 wrote: Patmo, thanks for the heads-up about getting big rigs into DD. Are there any other parks that I may want to avoid for the same reason?
Posted By: Drbolasky on 11/01/09 08:44pm
Crater of Diamonds State Park!!
Drbolasky, do you mean that Crater of Diamonds is a great place to visit, or that it is a bad place for big rigs?
If I HAD to spend 5 weeks in Ark, I would start at Mena and move north along the river, get to the top and swing East to Mountain Home, Eureka, Branson, stopping along the way at the natl parks (wild and free camping), dropping south and ending up at the Diamond mine .
I do believe that 5 weeks in Ark will show what other places are missing.
sansouci2 wrote: Patmo, thanks for the heads-up about getting big rigs into DD. Are there any other parks that I may want to avoid for the same reason?
Posted By: Drbolasky on 11/01/09 08:44pm
Crater of Diamonds State Park!!
Drbolasky, do you mean that Crater of Diamonds is a great place to visit, or that it is a bad place for big rigs?
Thanks,
Hal
They were speaking of Devils Den. And you would need to come in from the North with the big rigs.
Crater of Diamonds does have spots you can bring a big rig into. It is also close enough for day trips into Hot Springs National Park, or over to Historic Washington State Park. The lakes around Hot Springs have many Corps of Engineer's campgrounds, state Parks, etc.
Also someone mentioned traveling Scenic Highway 7, but many with big rigs choose to avoid it as it is 2 lane, steep and winding.
* This post was
edited 11/02/09 08:34am by TheMcCullahs *
Sheri and Mick McCullah
Russellville AR
Forest River Roo 21BH
2006 Dodge Mega Cab tow vehicle
Offline
