If you’ve been craving some time in the great outdoors to unwind and take a beat, we have some great news. The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism officially announced that tent camping is open in all Arkansas State Parks.
“We have been diligently working towards this goal for weeks,” Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann says. “We were first able to open camping back to RVs with self-contained bathrooms on May 1. Now, with proper PPE and training, our parks staff are able to keep the bathhouses and restrooms sanitized according to ADH and CDC standards. Our main concern continues to be the safety of our visitors and staff during this public health emergency.”
While campsites are open, there are still some aspects of the park system that will be limited. Those include:
- Lodges, cabins, camper cabins, YURTs and Rent-A-RVs: They can be reserved but will be managed to allow 24-48 hours between guests for cleaning. While in public spaces within the lodges, visitors must wear cloth face-coverings.
- Restaurants: Lodge restaurants including the Skillet Restaurant at Ozark Folk Center and Williams Tavern at Historic Washington will have dine-in service with limited occupancy and hours. All patrons must wear a cloth face-covering until served.
- Visitor centers: Open to limited occupancy and hours for check-in/check-out only. All visitors must wear a cloth face-covering inside the building.
- Group events: Check with the individual park if reservations have been made. Events will be allowed only according to the size of the group and allowance for social distancing.
- Golf courses: The Ridges at Village Creek at Village Creek State Park is open by reservation only. Please call for tee times. DeGray Lake Resort State Park’s course remains open. The pro shops are open with limited hours. All visitors must wear a cloth face-covering inside the building.
- Museum parks: Exhibits and trails are open with limited occupancy and hours. All visitors must wear a cloth face-covering inside the museum buildings.
- Marinas: Open to limited occupancy and hours for rental equipment and live bait only. All visitors must wear cloth face-covering inside the building.
- Non-fee-based swimming beaches: Open at 50% capacity, first-come, first-served.
Guests are reminded that while camping they still need to follow the recommended guidelines of keeping a physical distance from others not within their family or group. Guests are encouraged to wear a face-covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. Park rangers and staff will remind campers of these guidelines so state parks can remain open for our visitors to enjoy.
You can secure your campsite reservation by visiting the state parks website or by calling a specific park. Campers may check in at the visitor center (cloth face-coverings or masks are required inside public buildings) or by calling the park directly. Park staff will check in campers remotely prior to their arrival when possible. Visitors from New York state or any international location are advised to self-quarantine according to ADH guidelines.
And if you’re overwhelmed by all the great camping options throughout the state, we encourage you to check out this comprehensive map of all the state and federal campsites throughout Arkansas.