Campgrounds and RV parks near Caraway, AR

Fishing drives most trip planning in this corner of Arkansas. Lake Poinsett State Park surrounds a 640-acre reservoir stocked with bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, with a launch ramp, bait shop, and boat rentals on site. Lake Frierson State Park sits on a 335-acre lake with a barrier-free fishing pier, launch ramp, and rentals for fishing boats, kayaks, and pedal boats; saugeye is among the species caught here. Crowley's Ridge State Park has a 31-acre fishing lake at Walcott Lake, a separate Lake Ponder with pedal boats and a spring-fed swimming beach, hiking trails, kayak rentals, and a sandy beach with seasonal lifeguards. Trails at all three parks are short and family-friendly. Jonesboro, about 20 minutes from Caraway, adds groceries, restaurants, and Arkansas State University attractions for off-park days.

Peak season at the Arkansas state parks in this region runs March through November, when visitor centers operate daily and amenities are fully staffed. From December through February, visitor centers at Lake Poinsett and Lake Frierson shift to reduced weekday hours, but the campgrounds at Lake Poinsett, Lake Frierson, and Crowley's Ridge stay open year-round. Spring brings dogwood bloom on Crowley's Ridge and the wettest months of the year, with thunderstorms common from March through May. Summer is hot and humid, with daytime highs frequently in the upper 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit; the swimming beach at Crowley's Ridge runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Wednesday through Sunday. Fall delivers the most reliable RV weather: mild days, lower humidity, and color on the ridge through October and into early November. Winter is short but damp, with occasional light snow; Lake Frierson has no showers and no dump station at any time of year.

Expect small campgrounds. Lake Poinsett has 29 sites, with 26 water-and-electric pads (30/50 amp) and 3 tent sites, accepting rigs up to about 45 feet on gravel pads with mature shade; there are no individual sewer hookups, but a dump station sits near the visitor center. Crowley's Ridge has 26 sites total, 18 with water and electric on a single loop next to Lake Ponder, plus 8 tent sites; reviewers note older, tighter sites that suit small to mid-size rigs, with a dump station outside the loop. Lake Frierson is the smallest of the three with seven sites, five Class B with 30-amp water and electric and two tent sites, and no showers or dump station. Mosquitoes are persistent near the lakes in summer.