13 Amazing Places To Stay Overnight In Arkansas Without Breaking The Bank
By J.B. VanDyke|Published May 07, 2016
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J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
It’s almost vacation season! Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway weekend for two, some quality time with the family, or an adventure with a group of friends, we’ve got a list of places you can stay in Arkansas on a budget. Ranging from campgrounds to cabins to hotels, none of these places will break your bank.
If you want to spend some time in Eureka Springs without breaking the bank, try Hotel 62, where rooms start at $54/night. It’s positioned right beside the trolley line, so you’d be just a trolley ride away from all the downtown Eureka attractions.
Lions and tigers and campground oh my! Turpentine Creek is a wildlife rescue specializing in big cats—and guess what? You can also stay the night there. Tent and RV sites are only $25/night. There are also lodges, suites, and a tree house available, though at a higher rate.
If you’re visiting from November to March, you can camp here for free. Otherwise, it’s only $10 to set up for the night. The best news is that you can see Roark Bluff from your tent. (Pictured is Roark Bluff.)
Enjoy the awesome Eleven Point River at Shady River Getaway. You can rent a cabin that sleeps five for only $150 per weekend night. They’ve got tons of activities for the whole family, and staying during the week is even cheaper.
Proximity to Bull Shoals Lake? No problem. At Lighthouse Point Resort, cottages sleep four and can be had starting at $110. Is your party small? Sleeping rooms and housekeeping rooms start at just $50/night.
Want to enjoy Hot Springs on the cheap? At Hot Springs KOA, you can rent a one room cabin for $66. Tent sites are around $25/night and you can hook up your RV for around $35. Plus you’d be camping less than 10 minutes from downtown Hot Springs.
You can relax in the beauty of Mount Magazine for very little money. The campsites begin at $28 dollars per night. You can also rent a room at the lodge for $128 a night. Private cabins are available at higher rates.
11. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area (Mulberry)
White Rock is one of the prettiest places in Arkansas, and you can definitely stay there without much cost. Cabins that sleep two begin at $70 with a small $5 additional fee per additional person. If you’d rather camp, you can snag a campsite for $10 per day, year round.
Here’s the view you can have with just a hike up the trail:
Lake Fort Smith offers some great views of the Ozarks with a cool little recreation area. It's got a visitor’s center (pictured above), playgrounds, a marina, and a pool. Campsites begin at $20, and you can get a cabin starting from $132.
Feel like lingering at Devil’s Den, taking your time to explore the many trails? Want to do a little fishing? You can camp there for $12/night. Cabins start at $114.
If you’re an early bird (a really, really early bird) you can hike the trails and catch the sunrise from the overlook: