Arkansas State Parks to Begin Phased Reopening of Camping and Other Services

 

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst today announced that beginning May 1, campgrounds at Arkansas State Parks will reopen for RV campers with the following limitations:

  • Campers must use private recreational vehicles with self-contained bathroom facilities.
  • Camping will be only for Arkansas residents.

Park staff will be checking vehicle license plates for adherence to these guidelines.

“We believe that these precautions will allow Arkansans to enjoy the normalcy of going camping while maintaining appropriate social distancing,” Hurst said.

Tentatively, May 15 is the target date to reopen other services, including retail shops, exhibitions, lodges, cabins and Rent-A-RV. The date is subject to change, depending upon health and safety considerations, and will include restrictions, such as limits on the number of people allowed inside visitor centers, retail stores and exhibitions. Social distancing will be enforced. Restrictions will be placed on:

  • Restaurants and food service facilities
  • Museums and exhibits
  • Retail stores, including gift shops and golf-pro shops
  • Visitor centers
  • Marinas and rental equipment stores

After May 15, reservations for cabins, lodges and Rent-A-RV services will be restricted to Friday through Monday to allow for thorough cleanings in between uses. Reservations will continue to be for in-state residents only.

Bathhouses will remain closed. Camping reservations listed under out-of-state addresses are canceled through May 14. All guests, including Arkansas residents with reservations for lodge rooms, cabins, camper cabins, YURTs, Rent-A-RV and Rent-A-Camp are canceled through May 14. Guests without on-board bathroom facilities, including water and electric hookups, also are canceled.

“Arkansas State Parks looks forward to opening all of our facilities and inviting guests from around the state and country in the coming months,” said Parks Director Grady Spann.

Some trails, including at Pinnacle Mountain, Devil’s Den and Petit Jean state parks, will remain closed. You can find the latest updates at www.arkansasstateparks.com/covid-19-update.

 

About Arkansas State Parks

Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 54,400 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities and unique historic and cultural resources. The system includes 1,100 buildings (including 183 historic structures), six National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark, 16 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and War Memorial Stadium.

The state parks have 1,800 campsites, 1,050 picnic sites, 208 cabins, five lodges, and 415 miles of trails. Eight million visitors annually come from all regions of the country. Park staffs provide over 42,000 education programs, activities and special events to more than 700,000 participants each year.

Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism, and provide leadership in resource conservation. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and visit ArkansasStateParks.com and ArkansasStateParks.com/media to learn more about everything we have to offer.