Campgrounds and RV parks near Newark, AR

Fishing drives most trips. Lake Charles State Park sits on a 645-acre lake stocked with bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, with a fishing pier reached by a paved path from the campground. The White and Black Rivers at Jacksonport offer bank fishing, a boat ramp, and paddling from the state park. Families get a mix of swimming and history. Jacksonport State Park includes a picnic area, playground, swim beach on the White River, the half-mile Tunstall Riverwalk trail, a boat ramp, and a visitor center. The restored 1872 courthouse now serves as a museum covering the town's steamboat and river-port history. Lake Charles State Park offers four hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate, plus picnic areas, a playground, a pavilion, a swim beach, and an interpretive nature center. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the park.

Northeast Arkansas has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers, mild springs and falls, and short cool winters. Spring is the wettest stretch, and thunderstorms can push river levels up quickly along the White and Black Rivers, which matters when choosing a riverfront site at Jacksonport. Summer is the peak camping season. Camping at Lake Charles State Park is available year-round, with the busiest weeks falling in the summer months. Expect heat and humidity from June through August, and reserve early for weekends. Fall brings cooler nights, lower humidity, and good conditions for hiking and fishing. Winter camping is possible but stripped down. At Jacksonport State Park the campground is open year-round with drinking water, trash collection, and a dump station, but the flush toilets are only open March through November. Bait, tackle, and camping supplies at the Lake Charles visitor center are stocked most heavily in the warmer months. Plan on reduced services outside those windows.

Roads into the state parks are rural. Lake Charles State Park sits along narrow country roads that require careful navigation, particularly for larger RVs, though the drive leads to three distinct camping areas with varying amenities. Drivers of longer rigs should plan turns and avoid arriving after dark. Hookup levels vary by park. Loop C at Lake Charles provides full hookups with water, 50-amp electric, and sewer, while Loops A and B offer 30-amp electric and water, and most sites accommodate RVs up to about 60 feet, though a few spaces are tighter than advertised. Jacksonport offers 20 Class A campsites with water and 50-amp electric, plus a swim beach, pavilion, playground, boat ramp, and the half-mile Tunstall Riverwalk. Cell service is generally good in the area. Bring bug spray in summer and expect paved pads with a picnic table, fire ring, and grill at state park sites.