Summer’s fully underway, but with many families’ vacations canceled or rescheduled, searching for a safe place for an alternative getaway can get tricky. One solution worth exploring is booking a stay in one of the beautiful cabins, lodges or camping facilities at Arkansas’ acclaimed state parks, which reopened to overnight guests in mid-May.
Of Arkansas’ 52 state parks, 13 have cabins or lodges available, and many more offer RV sites and campsites. While you’re there, you can enjoy all the free or low-cost amenities the parks have to offer, including picturesque hiking and fishing and other family-centered activities.
Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann says, “We have some of the best accommodations in the most scenic places in The Natural State. Our park teams are dedicated to helping visitors connect to a sense of place to make lifetime memories and experiences.
“We do have some safety guidelines in place during this health emergency. Our park staff continues to provide the excellent customer service that our guests are accustomed to receiving when they visit an Arkansas state park to help ensure they enjoy their visit. Everyone is welcome at an Arkansas state park; you belong here.”
To find a cozy spot and book your stay, visit arkansasstateparks.com/reservations.
And for the latest on the state parks’ COVID-19 guidelines, openings and closings, visit arkansasstateparks.com/covid-19-update.
One of the many rustic cabins, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, at Devil’s Den State Park. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM
Lake Fort Smith State Park’s spacious cabins feature modern amenities. Opened in 2013, the Lake Fort Smith State Park cabins and group lodge are among the newer accommodations in the Arkansas State Parks system. photo Jenny Boulden
Exterior of a two-bedroom cabin at Lake Fort Smith State Park, located between Mountainburg and Winslow. photo Jenny Boulden