Last weekend we went to one of my most favorite places in the state of Arkansas to camp, Lake Catherine State Park.
The weather was perfect (mostly), and there was a gentle breeze coming off the lake the whole weekend.
Since Lake Catherine State Park is only about 45 minutes from our home, we try to get there as often as possible, but usually, only make it once per year due to it being such a popular vacation destination for locals.
That being said, if you have to run through central Arkansas, this is a great choice to make an overnight stop…especially if you want to stay for a few days!
Let’s get to the review!
LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK REVIEW
Lake Catherine State Park is located at 1200 Catherine Park Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913. You can find their booking website here, or you can call them at 501-844-4176.
LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK CAMPGROUND FEATURES:
- 46 Full Hookup – 50 amp sites ($34 per night)
- 25 Water & Electric – 30 amp sites ($22 per night)
- Tent Sites, 1 Yurt, and Cabin Sites Available
- Most sites have tent pads
- Handicap accessible bathhouses
- Picnic Tables
- Fire Rings/Grills
- Lantern Hanger
- Dog-Friendly
- Large, roomy sites
- Level, paved sites
- Some sites on the lake
- Most sites shaded
- Pavillions available for rent
- Check in time: 3 p.m.
- Check out time: 3 p.m.
- RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST! The chances of getting a site without reservations are slim to none! CALL AHEAD!
CAMPGROUNDS/CLEANLINESS 10/10
Part of the reason we love Lake Catherine State Park so much is that the campgrounds are always pristine! The grass is always cut, debris is always cleared, trash isn’t piled sky high in the cans. It’s ALWAYS beautiful there!
Another reason we love it is that the campsites are absolutely HUGE, as well as shaded. There are a few sites that aren’t shaded, but they indicate on the scheduling site if they are shaded or not.
As if that’s not enough reasons to LOVE Lake Catherine State Park, then get yourself a water-side campsite. What a fantastic way to wake up in the morning…geese on the water and a lovely gentle breeze! 🙂
The only word of caution I would give is that while we stayed, the tent pad puddled up pretty badly. If you are tent camping and rain is in the forecast, look for the high end of the tent pad.
BATHHOUSES 8/10
You know, bathhouses are bathhouses! I’ve come to not expect much of them…especially Arkansas State Parks. It’s not uncommon for them to be extremely utilitarian in nature, but NORMALLY very clean.
Here’s what I would want to know about these bathhouses. They have toilets, sinks (with vanity space and mirrors), soap, hand dryers, and showers (with shower curtains and a dressing area).
As mentioned, they are well-maintained and very clean, which is really what I care the most about and why I ranked it so high.
It’s not that I’m a diva and expect bathrooms like the Shoji Tabuchi venue in Branson, MO, but I wish the state would make them just a smidge nicer. That being said, these bathrooms are definitely decent enough to do what you need to do and not be grossed out! 🙂
LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK AMENITIES 9/10
Arkansas is called The Natural State for a reason. I can’t imagine why you would visit the state if you weren’t wanting to romp around in the woods, or swim in a lake, or take a nature walk, or hang in a hammock by a lake!
Seeing as how Lake Catherine State Park is located right on Lake Catherine’s waterfront, you are free to enjoy the water in whatever capacity you choose. You can swim in it, you can bring or rent a canoe, kayak, or paddle boat, or bring a motorized boat to go fishing or skiing.
Some other amenities inside the park include:
- Amphitheater
- Playground
- Boat Ramp
- Fishing Dock
- Hiking Trails (several to choose from)
- Canoe/Kayak/Boat Rentals
- Marina
- Bicycle Rentals
- Gift Shop
- Volleyball Net
There are so many amenities in this park! They listed many, many more on their website, so here’s the link.
TECHNOLOGY USE 9/10
Here’s the low down on tech usage at Lake Catherine State Park:
When we stayed (mid-May), cell reception was great!
We had a strong 4G LTE signal which enabled us to stream HD shows via hotspot onto my iPad. The only time we had a problem with any of it was when a storm approached and our cell signal/4G LTE got a little laggy.
One of our BFF’s have used their satellite there and the reception was great.
NEARBY ACTIVITIES 10/10
If you like to go and do…this park will be a great fit! The park itself is tucked away about 10 minutes from Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hot Springs has a ton of both natural, historic, and other places of interest. It’s even a large enough city to have a couple of bowling alleys, movie theatres, mini-golf, and a skating rink.
They have big named stores to shop from if you like to shop, and there are lots of antique stores on surrounding highways.
One of the longest privately owned horse race tracks is in Hot Springs, which also has a casino there.
For more on things to do in Hot Springs, check out this post.
Of course, Lake Catherine State Park is about an hour from Arkansas’ capital city, Little Rock. There’s MUCH more to do in Little Rock, so save a whole day for sightseeing!
STAFF 10/10
We didn’t have much contact with the staff, so I will say that the staff we did encounter seemed nice. We joked a little bit with the young lady at check-in and went on our merry way. Since she was basically the only person we contacted, I’m giving them a 10/10! 🙂
It is probably important to note that there is a camp host that stays on the premises 24/7. I think Glynn talked to him and he was nice enough. I wouldn’t rate the park on this though, as the camp host changes fairly often.
PRICE 10/10
At $34 for 50 amp sites and $22 for 30 amp sites, it’s hard to complain about the price! How could you be upset about the price? It’s SUPER cheap…especially considering what you get for the price!
If you’re a local, you have lake access and everything that goes with it for a little more than the price of a steak dinner!
If you’re just passing through, you get the beauty of Arkansas and the safety of a state park without killing your wallet!
From wh
at I can tell on their website, they do NOT have special rates for weekly stays.
If you’re interested in another RV park on Lake Catherine check out this post by Chickery’s Travels on Catherine’s Landing RV Park. https://www.chickerystravels.com/catherines-landing-hot-springs-arkansas/
Don’t forget, if you found this post useful, be sure to pin it on Pinterest! 🙂
Pros
- Huge campsites
- Beautiful, clean surroundings
- Close to Hot Springs
- Secluded
- Pet friendly
- Plenty to do inside the park
- Plenty to do nearby
- Shaded for 3 seasons
- Close to Little Rock
- Great cell signal
Cons
- 30 amp sites aren't full hookups
- Can get crowded on weekends
- Lots of bug near the water...bring bug spray
Leave a Reply