Lake Chicot State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Welcome to Lake Chicot State Park, home to a fantastic RV camping park surrounded by over 200 acres of cyprus trees, pecan groves, and lake shore in the Arkansas Delta. Set on Lake Chicot, the largest natural lake in Arkansas, the park is a popular hotspot for outdoor recreation ranging from fishing and hiking, to boating and bird watching.
Most of the activities at Lake Chicot State Park revolve around this beautiful 20-mile-long oxbow lake. Hire a fishing boat and cast your line out for bass, catfish, and bream, launch your own watercraft, or hire a kayak and paddle the lake’s shoreline. If you’re interested in birds, you’ll be in your element at this family-style camping park. Situated on one of the largest flyways in America, the Mississippi Flyway, the campground trails and the shore are perfect for bird watching.
Campers and day visitors alike will find everything they need right here, all year round. Facilities include a park store with all the basic conveniences you need for RV camping, a boat launch area, a swimming pool open in the summer months, bicycle hire, a fishing dock, picnic areas, and a children’s playground. Don’t miss the interpretive exhibitions inside the Visitor Center that tell a tale of the park’s history.
RV Rentals in Lake Chicot State Park
Transportation
Driving
Lake Chicot State Park can be found off Ark Highway 144, eight miles north-east of Lake Village. Located down a paved nine-mile-long farm road, the drive to the park is bumpy but scenic with views of Lake Chicot all the way to the park entrance.
Once inside the park, the roads are narrow and you need to take care if you’re navigating big rigs. In some places, the road has worn away and there are potholes to watch out for. After setting up camp, you can get around on foot, by boat, or bike – bicycles and watercraft can be hired.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Lake Chicot State Park
Campsites in Lake Chicot State Park
Reservations camping
Main Campground
Lake Chicot State Park offers a choice of 122 campsites for tents and RVs as well as 14 cabins with lake views. Some of the campsites have full hookups while others offer partial hookups (water and electricity). Each campsite comes with a picnic table and fire pit. The maximum site length is 60 feet, but 55-foot RVs would be more suitable as the campsites can be a tight squeeze.
Facilities in the park include a boat launch area, marina, and fishing boat, kayak and bicycle rentals. A swimming pool is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and a park store offers food, gifts, fuel and fishing bait. The Visitor Center holds tours over busy periods.
Reservations can be made up to 12 months in advance and are recommended if you want a full hookup site and a water view.
Seasonal activities in Lake Chicot State Park
In-Season
Fishing
The 20 mile stretch of Lake Chicot State Park makes for fantastic fishing opportunities for anglers in Arkansas. Bass can be found in the lake all year round, while crappie and bream can be found on the upper end of the lake, particularly during spring and fall. Fishing boats, fuel, and bait are available in the park.
Water Recreation
Most of the activities at this state park are centered around the 20-mile Lake Chicot, especially during the summer months. Hire a kayak to explore the oxbow lake, go swimming, or rent a fishing boat to fish for bass and catfish. If you’re bringing your own watercraft, you’ll find a boat launch area, fuel, and fishing bait available here. A swimming pool is open seasonally from Memorial Day Weekend through to Labor Day Weekend.
Park Programs
The Visitor Center at Lake Chicot State Park features a range of interpretive exhibitions detailing the history of the park and providing information on the park’s fauna and flora. Park programs run in the summer and include lake and levee tours.
Off-Season
Bird Watching
Located in the Mississippi Flyway, the largest flyway in the country, Lake Chicot State Park offers some of the best bird watching opportunities in Arkanas - and even America - all year round. Visitors can join the park lake and levee tours to view a variety of birds and other wildlife. Tours depart from the Visitor Center.
Fishing
Anglers can enjoy fishing the 20 miles of Lake Chicot all year round, particularly for bass. However, the quieter season (spring and fall) is especially good for catching crappie, bass and bream on the upper end of the lake. Fisherman will find fishing boats for hire, a boat launch area, as well as fuel and fishing bait readily available.
Delta Woodlands Trail
The one-mile Delta Woodlands Trail meanders through mature pecan groves and wildflowers at Lake Chicot State Park. It’s a relatively easy stroll with much to see along the way – keep an eye out for playful squirrels and a plethora of birdlife. The trail should only take you about half an hour to three quarters of an hour at most.
