Widely known for its superb golf course, an excellent equestrian campground, and fantastic recreational activities, Village Creek State Park is well worth visiting on your next RV adventure. Located in eastern Arkansas, the 7,000-acre park has provided habitat to dozens of wildlife species and offered a recreational escape for RV visitors since it was first established in 1976. Most of the park has remained in its natural state, preserving the timeless landscapes and cultural history of the area.
The park lies in what is known as Crowley's Ridge, with the park facilities resting in a long valley carved out by Village Creek. The park is also home to the remains of the historic Memphis-to-Little Rock Road, the first road that allowed people to actually access the area. Parts of the park were also used during the Indian Removal, and a large section of the Trail of Tears is within the park.
In the present day, the park now offers plenty of modern recreation options and is home to dozens of miles of trails and a large 27-hole golf course. The park is also home to fishing lakes, interpretive programs, a fascinating museum, visitor's center, gift shop, and amphitheater. Whether you want to play a round of golf, shoot hoops, swing the tennis racket, or swim on the beach, you can do it all during your RV trip to Village Creek State Park.
The accommodation options at the park are top tier, with 96 campsites (some of which offer full hookups), ten cabins, and an equestrian campground all waiting for you to call home. Everything about Village Creek State Park makes it the perfect spot for your next RV vacation, so come visit!
Village Creek State Park can easily be accessed using various roads. If you are coming from up north, all you have to do is travel six miles south from the nearby town of Wynne, via Highway 284, which will take you right to the park entrance. If approaching from the south, you can reach the park by taking I-40, and then traveling on Highway 284 for approximately 13 miles. Once inside the park, the roads are in good condition and will take you to all of the park's facilities, but won't take you to every corner of the park.
Most of the park has remained undeveloped, and in its natural state, so you should always be careful when exploring unmarked areas. However, the paved roads shouldn't pose any navigation problems, regardless of what you're driving, since they aren't especially narrow and don't have any hairpin turns. If you don't want to take your RV around the park after hooking it up, it's best to bring an extra car or bikes to get around the park. Bikes are a popular choice since many of the trails are suitable for bikes, but if you're traveling with small children bringing an extra car may be easier. Usually, there won't be any adverse weather conditions that would interrupt your journey, but if you are concerned, it is best to call the park to get their advice.
If you are visiting Village Creek State Park for the day and aren't planning on securing a camping site, there is day-use parking available at the Visitor Center and near the beach.
Camp Area B is even closer to Lake Dunn than Camp Area A and offers 24 campsites with full hookups. The sites are very spacious, with the smallest size being 55 feet long. You can expect to find similar site-specific amenities as Camp Area A (such as a picnic table and fire ring), and the campground is also pet-friendly. Bathhouses and a dump station are located in or near the campground, along with a playground for the kids. Unlike Camp Area A, this campground isn't arranged in a loop, with the exception of a few sites, which many visitors find easier to navigate.
The roads from the campground will take you to nearby park facilities, including the Visitor Center, tennis courts, and baseball field. Although no trails can be accessed directly from the campground, it isn't hard to find your way to one of the many nearby trails. The sites within Camp Area B are the most in-demand since there are full hookup sites available, so be sure to reserve your spot before arriving.
Camp Area A is one of two campgrounds within the park, offering 41 campsites, each of which has water and electric hookups. Five of the campsites feature 50-amp hookups, while the other 36 have 30-amp hookups. Although there are no sewer hookups at this campground, there are nearby bathhouses and dump stations. The site lengths vary anywhere from 22 feet to over 100 feet, so the sites can accommodate a wide range of vehicles. Just be sure whatever site you choose can accommodate your equipment.
The campground is just a short walk from the lake and an even shorter walk from the Lake Dunn Trailhead, the beginning of a popular three-mile hiking and biking trail. Most of the sites are well shaded and provide a serene setting to unwind and relax after a day of exploring the park. Each site also has a grill and picnic table so you can cook some meals in the middle of mother nature, even if it's not as primitive as how our ancestors did it. Campground A is open all year round, and reservations are recommended whenever you choose to visit.
A small museum, known as the Discovery Room, is located adjacent to the Visitor Center. If you are longing to learn about the geologic and cultural history of the area and the wildlife within the park, this is a must-see. Even if you participate in one of the interpretive programs, it's worth taking the time to visit the museum because a single program can't cover everything there is to know about the park. The captivating exhibits teach visitors nearly everything they need to know about the area, all in one place.
Interpretive programs are offered year-round at Village Creek State Park, and they are a great way to get educated. Various programs are offered, including guided hikes, that allow visitors to learn more about the unique ecosystems within the park and the various species that call the area home. Programs also teach participants about the rich geologic and cultural history of the park. These programs are especially great for families since they are engaging for people of all ages, but soloist adventurers are welcome to join as well.
When the sugar maples, poplars, and other trees in the park are capped with snow in the winter, they provide the perfect backdrop for horseback riding. Many of the trails are suitable for horseback riding, and you can explore them over the course of more than one day since the park also offers an equestrian campground. Although you aren't getting the same cardio workout you would be if you were to hike, riding horseback is the easiest way to explore the trails with more rugged terrain. The park has some of the best trails in the state, so it is well worth bringing your horse with you.
Thinking about bringing your horse to Village Creek State Park? The park has one of the best horse campgrounds in the Arkansas state park system so your stay will be memorable! There are 30 sites available in the equestrian campground, all of which are equipped with water and electric hookups. You will also have a picnic table, grill, paved parking pad, and two stables. These are very well maintained and have electric, water, and ceiling fans to help keep your horse cool during the warm summer months. Need to clean up? There is also a bathhouse for you and horse wash bays so you won't have to worry about being dirty during your stay.
Reservations for the Horse Campground can be made online via the park reservation system or by calling the park office prior to your arrival. Since this is one of the best places for horse camping, it is advised to make a reservation in advance.
None of the sites at Camp Area A, Camp Area B, or the Horse Camp are available specifically on a first-come, first-served basis, but whatever sites are not reserved when you arrive are open to those without reservations. Campground A is more likely to have sites available since it is the biggest campground, but during the peak season (and especially on weekends) both campgrounds tend to fill up very quickly. If you are making a last-minute trip to the park, it may be worth calling the park office for an update of how many sites are available.
If you want to get out of the RV or you are visiting with a few friends, you should consider staying at one of the 10 cabins available at Village Creek State Park. One cabin has one bedroom, seven have two bedrooms, and the largest cabin features three bedrooms. They are all very modern and feature some great amenities to help you enjoy your stay, including full kitchens, bathrooms, ceiling fans, modern furniture, electrical outlets, televisions, and covered decks.
All 10 of the cabins are available for reservation all year round by calling the park or in some instances using the online reservation system that can be found on the park website.
Although Lake Austell is more popular for swimming, Lake Dunn is the perfect spot to go boating. Located near the campgrounds, the lake has a bait shop and boat rentals available from April to September, so even if you don't own a watercraft, you can still get out and have some fun in the sun. Fishing boats, kayaks, and pedal boats can all be rented, so you have a wide variety to choose from. Many RV visitors love the serenity and grounding effect that spending an afternoon on the lake can have, whether you are paddling hard or just going for a peaceful pedal.
There are so many ways to get out in the fresh air during your RV trip to Village Creek State Park. The park features a whopping 25 miles of trails, all of which are great for hiking, with certain parts also being suitable for mountain biking. All of the trails are great for nature lovers since they allow you to get up close and personal with the local wildlife, but some trails are even better for history lovers. The two-mile-long Military Road Hiking Trail follows the path of the Trail of Tears.
Village Creek State Park features the best golf courses in the state, and best of all, it's open to the public. The course offers a wide variety of holes, with 12 of them featuring water obstacles. The dramatic elevation changes of Crowley's Ridge provides the perfect setting for the golf course. The course features a full-service clubhouse and pro shop, a snack bar, and a driving range. Golf championships are commonly held here, but you can book a time to play like the pros for a fee, so if you love to golf remember to pack your clubs in your motorhome.
