Hot Springs, AR, end of October

[jamesfamilytx]

Digressing a bit from the Crater of Diamonds thread -- to head a bit north! We're planning a trip to the Hot Springs AR area the last week of October. We have never been there so looking for recommendations on campgrounds as well as must-sees in the area. Lake Catherine and Ouachita State Park both look nice on the state park web site and we were leaning towards Ouachita. We do like to stay in the state parks. We don't need anything fancy but full hookups are nice. Your thoughts??

Thanks,
Beth and Dennis James
Austin, TX
2013 Keystone Bullet 248RKS

[Javi]

Check out Lake DeGray State Park, it is my favorite in the area.

[Bob Landry]

We are going to be at Lake Catherine during Halloween week for the third year. It's an annual trip for us and we love the park. They have a big to-do for the kids that's a lot of fun and we love the Hot Springs area. It's a pretty popular destination. I made reservations back in the Spring and I think there were two sites left. You won't go wrong with Quachita either if you can get a site this late. Arkansas in the Fall is almost as pretty a trip as you can make short of the Northeast Color Change.

DeGray is a beautiful park but does not have FHU.

[dhn]

Yes, Lake Ouachita State Park and Lake Cathrine State Park are nice parks. They both offer full hookups. You may need to make a reservation at both parks if coming in on the weekend. Hot Springs has a few things to do, Garvin Woodland Gardens is nice. There are still some bath houses open on Central Avenue. There is Oaklawn Park racetrack, that has live horse racing from January through April, and off track betting and gaming machines the rest of the year. There is always the "tourist" stuff, Hot Springs mountain tower, the Gangster museum and the alligator farm. Lake Cathrine and Ouachita both are good fishing lakes. You can go for day trips to Crater of Diamonds (60 miles) or Little Rock (60 miles).

[jamesfamilytx]

Thanks, friends! Ready for a little bit cooler camping weather and looking forward to Arkansas next month.

[dhn]

We look forward to having you all as guest, hope you have a great time, which every park you choose. Let us know what you think when you get back.

[jamesfamilytx]

Thanks, we will be camping at Lake Oauchita State Park Oct. 26-30. Hoping the national parks are back in business by them so we can check out Hot Springs.

[dhn]

You guys will have a great time, even if the they have not opened the Government back up. If you have not made reservations, it may be full. Everyone from the Corp parks have moved to Lake Ouachita State Park and Lake Cathrine State park. There are some private campgrounds around Hot Springs, but we have never stayed at any of them. Hot Springs is a National park and they say that the trails, paths and even the place where you can get water is closed. This is just in the downtown area of Hot Springs.

[jamesfamilytx]

We already have our reservations, hooray!

[jamesfamilytx]

We LOVED Lake Ouachita State Park! Spacious, clean, and quiet. While we were there, the park interpreter offered a boat tour of the lake. Two hours exploring out on a pontoon boat and we even saw eagles. Hot Springs is a cute town and we walked around the national park, saw the newly remodeled visitor center, and did some hiking. Even soaked in the pools at Quapaw Bathhouse. Hoping for a return trip in the summer with our kayaks!

Beth and Dennis James
2013 Bullet 248RKS
2011 Silverado 2500 HD
Austin, TX

[crash]

Glad you had a great and safe trip.

[Bob Landry]

We did our third year of Halloween week at Lake Catherine. When we checked in I asked about 2014 and was told there were only 5 sites left for that week next year, so I now have a reservation for last week of October, 2014. Lake Catherine is a pretty popular park.