De Gray Lake area
 

My spouse and I are taking a camping/motorcycling trip the end of October (spur of the moment trip--next week). Looking for Ideas for day trips in that area. Have read lots of feeds from previous forums. Since we are on the motorcycle we tend to stay away from the big cities if we can because they haven't outlaw texting or hand held cell phone usage. Too many close calls.
Going to drive from Central Iowa to the De Gray Lake area. But may pass through Eureka Springs to catch the Crystal Bridges Museum on the return trip before getting home. Not for sure.
We travel a lot! We love being off the beaten path and want to eat where the locals love to eat. We are spending about 5 days give or take depending on the weather. See many byways on the map but looking for good ones. Read about the Talimena Drive. How long would that really take to do a loop incorporating that from the Arkadelphia area?? And read about the Rte 7 to Petit Jean SP and Mt Nebo and 309. We are trying to stay south and west of the Arkansas River. Thinking of planting our stakes at the De Cray Lake SP???? Don't need to know about cutesy shops, no take home space or time. Want to stay away from the "eureka springs feel". Anything cool around Camden, Monticello, El Dorado, Magnolia, De Queen, Fordyce?

We live in the NE Texas area and are motorcycle riders. All the riders around here make trips up to the Talimena several times a year. It gives us a "mountain" fix. Lots of curves and you are riding along the ridge with great views. My husband just did the ride this past weekend and said the trees were just starting to turn so I don't know how they will be when you get here.

Are you camping or staying in motels? There is a state park lodge on the east end of the drive west of Mena, Ark. Queen Wilhilmena State Park. They renovated the lodge and campgrounds recently. It has a restaurant too. If you are camping I can tell you about a couple more campgrounds in the area.

Hwy 7 is probably the best known drive/ride through Arkansas but there are many others in the NW corner. At DeGray Lake, you are on the southern end of the mountains, trees and scenery. Int 30/40 is the dividing line for the state. Not much in Arkadelphia. For sure,I would base further north.

Camden, El Dorado, Fordyce and Magnolia are way south of the best part of Arkansas.

The area around Hot Springs is great but the town itself is not worth your time IMO and I think many here would agree.

We've enjoyed riding in the Eureka Springs area. Not a straight road to be found. Here is a website with suggested routes:
http://www.eurekaspringsmotorcyclerides.com

We've also enjoyed riding/driving to the top of Mt. Nebo, Mt Magazine and Petit Jean. Petit Jean is voted as the state's favorite state park year after year. It and Mt. Magazine have lodges and restaurants. Mt. Nebo is smaller. You can rent cabins there. Not sure if the cabins are part of the state park or private?

Arkansas' website has a section for suggested motorcycle rides. http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/motorcycling/

Like I said, let me know if you are looking for campground info.

Whoops just noticed you are interested in camping.

At the west end of the Talimena drive, just east of Talihina, OK is Talihina State Park. Small but nice campground. We usually stay there when doing the ride.

Friends have enjoyed camping at Lake Catherine State Park just south of Hot Springs. We've enjoyed camping at Lake Ouachita State Park NW of Hot Springs.

Magazine, Nebo and Petit Jean State Parks have camping. BTW, they are all three on the top of little mountains. Just so you know, Mt Nebo's drive up is VERY steep. They don't even allow RV's over a certain size to drive up. Not so of the other three.

The NW part of the state has a large selection of campgrounds--probably more than any other area of the state but I camped in that area so I can't speak for them.

"other area of the state but I camped in that area so I can't speak for them."

Should have said HAVEN'T camped in that area......

We were picking De Gray area due to a warmer forecast. Russellville has a good forecast too. We may decide to base out of there. Any thoughts?

Russellville is at the base of Mt Nebo and not far from Mt Magazine and Petit Jean State Parks--within 30-40 miles. I would choose any of them over the DeGray Lake area. It makes a great central base.

thanks connie, for all your great info. Looked at the motorcycle routes from the state visitor guides. Those were very nicely done.