Mount Nebo State Park Campground

Steep switchbacks up to the campground.  The campground has private residences dispersed throughout.  The outlay of the park is somewhat confusing.  Be sure to study a map well.  The campground is almost immediately to the right as you get to the top, but you have to go past that quite a ways to the visitor's center to check in.  The views are amazing, but it is windy being at the top of the mountain.  There are cabins but I stayed at a campsite (#14) with a view.  The bathroom facilities near the campground are a bit of a walk from the campground.  If you have your own potty tent, you may consider bringing it.  My site was not level so I used leveling blocks.  I have my Jeep outfitted for sleeping in.  The more interior sites looked to be more level. No big rigs are allowed up the mountain, I think nothing longer than 24'.  I did not take any of the hiking trails, so I can't comment on those.  My old dog just can't do too much hiking anymore.  Staff were friendly.  The electricity worked great, but the water spigot was barely functional.  Bathroom was kept clean and had one shower with typical camp wall spigot.  The road down the mountain leads into a small, industrial type town.  Walmart, Dollar General is nearby as well as many typical restaurants.  I utilize a WeBoost, and a hotspot on my iPhone. I was able to stream shows without much buffering.  I got anywhere from 1-4 bars on ATT LTE.

I was so excited about this trip! I’ve been trying to talk my husband into making the drive up the “2 miles of Wild” for a while now. The drive up and down the mountain lives up to the hype! It was very nerve wracking pulling up and especially going down so that we didn’t melt the brakes. Definitely use your low gears coming down!

We scored a site on the edge of the mountain for amazing views. Unfortunately, the site was extremely unlevel and we had a very difficult time getting our tiny camper set up. The next morning we woke up to being inside a cloud. Zero visibility. Couldn’t see anything from our site with a gorgeous view! This is no fault of the park. Just bad weather timing on our end.

Also be warned that this is a dry county! If you want any adult beverages, plan ahead!

I really love this campground. I love that only small campers and tent campers can stay here, so we aren’t trapped between giant campers. I really hope that I can talk my husband into a 2nd trip one day with better weather!

CAMPGROUND REVIEW:: Mount Nebo State Park, Arkansas https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/mount-nebo-state-park

Turning off I-40 at Exit 88, Mount Nebo is viewed less than 10 miles southwest…a stand-alone mountain.

At the base of the climb, signs posted numerous times, “Crooked and Steep, no trailers over 24 ft”. I have driven up a lot of steep and twisty mountain roads, and these warnings are to be heeded. Grades are up to 18%.

The State Park rests up its summit.constructed by the CCC, many of their stonework craftsmanship can be seen in the buildings and trail system.

The “Rim Trail” is just that…a 3 1/2 mile trail running the top rim of the mountain, with long views. There are two distinct areas of the “Rim Trail” that can be driven to…to capture those special photos…Sunset Point and Sunrise Circle.

Different sections of the Rim Trail range from easy to moderate to strenuous. They are marked. Bicycles are not permitted on the Rim Trail but are permitted on other trails as are horses. So know and exercise proper trail etiquette.

There are bear in this area, and precautions are taken by the park. Park staff informed us of numerous venomous reptilian, too…so be aware on the trails, or if you choose to wander off them.

A large rentable enclosed stone pavilion sits on the end of the mount, between Site 17 and the pool. Yes, a very nice pool (separate daily or annual fee). A standard picnic pavilion also sits out front of the larger stone pavilion beside public parking area.

The beautiful Visitor Center is deeper into the park to the right. You can sit on its back porch and look out over the valley. There are numerous cabins that are available for rental…and appear very inviting.

When you crest the top of the mountain, the camping area is directly to the right, as are the pavilions and pool. Cabins dot the summit, but private residences are interspersed among them. As mentioned, the Visitors Center is further up the road to the right…on the right.

Being on an 1800 ft elevation summit, surrounded by valley…its quiet and enjoys a constant breeze. Enjoying blue skies, the shade trees are appreciated in the camping area.

On a Wednesday, the 1st of August, we had our pick of beautiful and spacious sights. Very few campers on this day. So we chose site 17, directly on the Rim with unimpeded long views and unobstructed breezes. It was a toss-up between 16 and 17 …even 14 is directly on the Rim. $22 + tax a night.

Each of these sites had separate electric, water spigot, fire pit, standing grill, picnic table and lantern post. Metal bear cabinets and resistant trash receptacles were clustered conveniently among the campsites. Though I was surprised they didn’t have timber outlined leveled tent areas. In fact, you need to be somewhat creative in locating a level tent spot.

Restrooms are clean and stocked. The pool showerhouse has but one shower a piece for men and women. The entire park is well-maintained and clean.

Overall, a very enjoyable and relaxing campground.

Pros: Trails Mount Magazine close by Dogs allowed Sites on the bluff Deer Sunset and Sunrise points Burn what you find

Cons: One shower stall in restroom Sites layout is weird and close together Pack of dogs roams at night

I would recommend calling ahead and seeing if you can get the site on the Bluff it looked beautiful. You can burn what you find around the site so that's awesome. There is a pack of dogs that came through at night. So be sure to put up your trash and food at night. Especially since bears could be around.

Mount magazine is an hour away. They do have some less strenuous trails. I think it is worth going to and checking out. The trails in Nebo are a little rough. The map says easy... I think that is if you are an expert hiker. lol. There were some steep points and going down various rock trails.We had 5 dogs and 7 people and we were all struggling a tad. Also the trails do have short cuts but they will be steep. If you go down the mountain then you will have to go back up.

On the way to mount magazine there is a store ran by Mennonites. It's worth a stop to check out. They have fresh eggs and wood for sale. They also have various mats and general grocery items.

A great Arkansas destination for outdoorsy people.The steep road climbing to the top of Mount Nebo keeps the big RVs away. Stop your car at the lookout point before you reach the top. When you arrive, walk into the Visitor's Center and right through the other door on the back to take in the view and step right onto a nice hiking trail. The campground has an open feel, so you might see cars going by on the main road, or strike up a conversation with your camping neighbors. It is nonetheless a nice place, particularly the sites that overlook the bluff. If you have kids, there are two sites that back up directly to a playground. For tent campers, the real draw is the hike-in campsites, which are easy to hike to on a flat, wide trail that circles the top of the mountain (similar in width to a fire road), or the various other well maintained hiking paths that parallel or criss-cross it. Wake up and check out the view at Sunrise Point, enjoy a day of hiking and other activities, then top it off with the view at Sunset Point.