Perched atop Petit Jean Mountain, this beloved Arkansas state park campground immerses you in dense hardwood forest while serving as your gateway to some of the state's most dramatic natural wonders. From your wooded campsite, you're just moments away from thundering Cedar Falls, ancient rock formations, and breathtaking canyon overlooks that have captivated visitors since the CCC crews first carved trails here in the 1930s.
Petit Jean Campground includes a mix of sites and lodging: full-hookup (Class AAA) and partial-hookup (Class B) RV sites, a rally-style area with water-only service, and cabins on site. The campground contains multiple wooded loops and more open sites.
Historical Significance
Petit Jean State Park is Arkansas’s oldest state park and contains numerous Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) stone and log structures such as Mather Lodge, trails, and bridges. The park is also associated with the local legend of 'Petit Jean,' whose gravesite is a noted cultural feature at Stout’s Point.Weather and SeasonsWhile the campground welcomes visitors year-round, each season paints Petit Jean in different colors. Spring brings wildflower-lined trails and roaring waterfalls, while fall sets the hardwood canopy ablaze with color—both seasons offering that sweet spot of comfortable temperatures and stunning natural displays. Summer draws families and adventurers despite the heat, and winter offers peaceful solitude for those who don't mind fewer services and the occasional trail iced with morning frost. Pro tip: the plateau sits noticeably cooler than the valley below, and those gorgeous rock trails turn slippery when wet, so pack layers and watch your footing.
Natural Features and SceneryImagine waking to dappled sunlight filtering through towering hardwoods, knowing that today you might explore a 95-foot waterfall, peer into mysterious caves, or stand at the edge of sheer sandstone bluffs that plunge into verdant canyons below. This mesa-top wonderland delivers natural drama at every turn: the iconic Cedar Falls cascading over layered rock, the whispering chambers of Bear Cave and Rock House Cave, the gravity-defying Natural Bridge, and overlooks like Stout's Point where the Arkansas River Valley stretches to the horizon. Seven Hollows Trail winds through terrain so diverse you'll forget you're in Arkansas—until the Southern hospitality reminds you.
Geological RegionLocated on top of Petit Jean Mountain, a flat-topped mesa approximately 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River Valley between the Ozark and Ouachita ranges; features sandstone bluffs, deep canyons, and mixed hardwood forest.
Scenic ViewsCampers have access to both panoramic vistas over the Arkansas River Valley from overlooks like Stout’s Point and close-up geological scenery in canyons and rock formations. Sunrises and sunsets over the valley and cliffs are noted highlights.
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