Rivers, Lakes and Springs

A theme trip across Arkansas

Article and Photos by: Steve Blume, Tiffin Ambassador

When you have itchy feet and a little time but no destination in mind, consider planning a theme trip. Since I like to get to know a single state, this one will be about Arkansas. We know we can’t see it all in our ten-day window, so we decide to have fun with unique campgrounds, based on our theme—rivers, lakes, and springs. Let’s get started!

Arkansas is called “The Natural State” for a reason. The Mississippi River forms the entire eastern border of Arkansas with rich Delta farmland. Central Arkansas smooths out into gentle plains. Pine forests and natural resources define the southern part, which unfortunately we can’t visit on this trip. The rugged Ozark and Ouachita Mountains rise in the west. We’re starting in the east.

Tom Sawyer Campground, West Memphis, AR

It’s hard to believe that Tom Sawyer RV Park, tucked away on the quiet banks of the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas, is just a short 10-minute drive from the heart of downtown Memphis. With its peaceful, natural setting and scenic river views, it feels worlds away from the lively rhythm of Beale Street and the city’s bustling attractions, yet it’s right across the river, offering the best of both worlds. I pull up my location in Google Maps to convince myself that Memphis is just across the river and around that bend.

It’s not a resort – far from it – but large gravel sites just above the river bank provide a front row view of the Mississippi. I can sit quietly for hours watching tugs push their barges easily up and down the river. We already know Memphis, so tonight it’s just us here with the river and our barges.

Downtown Riverside RV Park, North Little Rock, AR

Just two hours west, we easily navigate through a few city streets into this downtown park directly on the banks of the Arkansas River. It’s gated and safe, and the entire property is paved. With only 61 sites, we are excited to have one of the 14 river sites with a spectacular view of the Little Rock skyline.

Just outside the back gate is Junction Bridge, a converted railroad pedestrian bridge that crosses the river into downtown Little Rock, making it an easy walking distance. This is your gateway to all the local attractions, including the William J. Clinton Library and Museum at the end of the bridge. This bridge is part of the Arkansas River Trail, a premier multi-use trail system providing easy access to biking and walking paths on both sides for miles, weaving through diverse landscapes and urban areas. There are several bike rental shops if you are feeling adventurous. It’s a warm, sunny afternoon, so we’re walking across to see the library and city.

As a history lover, I relish any presidential library, so spending $12 and two hours is a no-brainer. Afterward, we stroll through the heart of downtown, weaving past historic buildings, quirky shops, and the scent of something good wafting from corner cafés – then make our way to the river, where we follow the winding path along the water’s edge, watching boats drift by and sunlight dance on the surface. With many food options, tonight we land at a small Cajun-themed chain diner, the Flying Fish. It has a walk-up counter where you can order catfish, shrimp, oysters, crab, gumbo, and anything else Cajun you can imagine. Great choice!

We meander back to our site as the last light fades from the sky. The evening puts on a show – city lights flicker to life in the distance while the nearby I-30 bridge is illuminated with shifting colored lights, casting ripples of neon across the water. I smile and then utter my new Cajun word from dinner: “lagniappe.” It means “a little something extra.” We turn the driver and passenger seats back around to face the windshield and spend the next two hours soaking it all in.

Catherines Landing RV, Hot Springs, AR

I enjoy these short travel days as we continue west for only an hour. Tucked along the peaceful shores of Lake Catherine in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Catherine’s Landing feels more like a boutique retreat than your typical RV park – where upscale comforts meet the kind of lakeside quiet that makes you want to stay a little longer. This 400-acre resort features spacious paved RV sites, fully furnished cottages, and climate-controlled yurts if you are meeting up with family or friends. For those seeking adventure, the resort offers boats, kayaks, golf cart rentals, access to hiking trails, and a disc golf course.

Hot Springs, AR is part of Hot Springs National Park, only six miles from our site. This park is one of those rare places where nature and history sit side by side in the steam – literally. It is famous for its thermal springs – steaming up from the earth at a toasty 143 degrees – and folks have been drawn to them for centuries. Indigenous people came here long before bathhouses lined the street to soak and heal. Later, it was settlers, gangsters, and even baseball greats coming to “take the waters” during Bathhouse Row’s golden age, when a good soak was considered medicine, luxury, and legend all in one.

While here, we visit all the historical bathhouses and experience one of the tubs. Lunch has to be at the famous, or infamous, Ohio Club. Established in 1905, it’s recognized as the state’s oldest continuously operating bar. In the early 1900s, the Ohio Club was where legends kicked back—gangsters like Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and Lucky Luciano slid into the shadows alongside Babe Ruth, who’d drop by for a drink after spring training.

That’s right, baseball. Before Florida and Arizona took over, spring training had roots in Hot Springs. Back then, ballplayers came not just for the warm weather, but for the healing soak of those natural thermal baths—perfect for easing sore muscles and shaking off winter rust. The town filled with the crack of bats and the buzz of baseball talk every spring.

Babe Ruth was no stranger to this scene. In 1918 during one of those spring games, he smashed a towering home run – 573 feet by some accounts – that still echoes in baseball history. Today, a home plate is in the parking lot behind the old Alligator Farm, where that legendary swing began. It’s easy to walk right past it, but if you know, you know. For baseball fans, it’s like stumbling onto hallowed ground.

To learn more about Hot Springs, check out this recent article in Roughing It Smoothly beginning on page 36.

Wanderlust RV, Eureka Springs, AR

Heading 200 miles north, we arrive at this quaint but highly rated park. The views of the sunsets and sunrises are spectacular. If you go, request “Sunset Ridge,” the back sites with the best view. A shuttle picks up at the gate and runs into Eureka Springs. The Great Passion Play is also just a few minutes away.

Eureka Springs is like stepping into a storybook, tucked into the folds of the Ozarks with winding streets, no stoplights, and more charm than it knows what to do with. The whole downtown is historic—Victorian buildings, hidden staircases, and springs that once drew folks hoping to be healed. These days, it’s a mix of quirky shops, cozy cafés, ghost stories, and art around every corner. It’s romantic, a little offbeat, and the kind of place that invites you to slow down and explore. Take the trolley tour! A store signs proclaims, “Will open when it’s time.” That pretty much says it all.

Ozarks RV Resort, Oak Grove, AR

A one-hour travel day north gets us to this luxury RV resort on Table Rock Lake. Amenities include a swimming pool, hot tub, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, disc golf, and a nearby full-service marina. It’s only 30 minutes to Branson, so we catch an Elvis show!

People rave about Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock, so we must check it out. What a great surprise. Founded by Bass Pro Shops creator Johnny Morris, it somehow merges luxury with rustic, with world class golf courses and multiple restaurants. I am blown away by the extensive Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum collections and want to return.

Here are a few ideas for other theme trips to get you started. Pick one then pick your state!

• Historic Towns and Trails
• Natural Wonders
• State Parks Tour
• Waterfalls
• Quirky and Offbeat Places
• Wineries and Local Eats
• Music and Folk Culture
• Local Legends

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