Campgrounds and RV parks near Mena, AR

The signature draw is the Wolf Pen Gap trail system in the Ouachita National Forest. The complex offers roughly 40 miles of connected loop trails ranging from easy to most difficult, winding through some of the most rugged and secluded areas of the forest. Riders staying at Wolfpen ATV Campground can access the surrounding OHV network directly, including connections to Fourche Mountain routes and hundreds of miles of surrounding forest and county roads legally open to riders. Non-riders have plenty to do. Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits atop 2,681-foot Rich Mountain with sweeping views from the fully renovated lodge. Several designated trails provide mountain biking opportunities, and interpretive programs cover Rich Mountain's fauna, flora, and the history of the three inns that have graced the mountaintop site. The Talimena National Scenic Byway runs west from the park along the crest into Oklahoma, a common half-day drive.

Spring and fall are the practical windows for RV travel here. Spring brings wildflowers on Rich Mountain and the greenest forest, but it is also the wettest stretch of the year, with May typically the wettest month. Expect afternoon thunderstorms and the occasional trail closure. The Wolf Pen Gap trail system can close when heavy rain occurs or is predicted; contact the Mena-Oden Ranger District at 479-394-2382 for current status. The designated OHV routes are seasonally open from the first Friday of March through October 31, with two additional holiday windows: three days before Thanksgiving through two days after, and December 22 through January 2. Summer is hot and humid at lower elevations, though the ridge at Queen Wilhelmina runs noticeably cooler than town. Fall delivers the most reliable weather, with hardwood color across the Ouachitas peaking in mid to late October. Winter camping continues at Queen Wilhelmina, but water at individual campsites is turned off December through February; a fill-up spigot at the bathhouse remains available.

Roads into the mountains are paved but winding, with grades and switchbacks common on approaches to the ridge. Winding mountain roads lead to Queen Wilhelmina's elevated campground, where paved sites accommodate larger RVs with electric and water hookups, though some layouts favor motorcoach pull-in over trailer back-in. Sites have water and electric but no sewer, so plan a dump-station stop on departure; a dump station sits near the campground entrance. Cell service is spotty on the ridge and in the deeper canyons of the national forest. Wildlife is active: deer are common in the campground and black bear are present in the surrounding forest, so keep food secured. Wolfpen ATV Campground offers RV sites with 30 and 50 amp service, water, and sewer, which makes it a practical full-hookup base for riders who want to stay near the trailheads.