RV DESTINATION, STARKEY CAMPGROUND, Arkansas

Starkey Campground, in NW Arkansas, is a small ACOE campground with only 23 sites. The area is beautiful, and this campground sits on a ridge with the lake on two sides.

Sites are comfortably spaced, and have lots of shade. The sites are equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and electric hookup. There is a small playground. There are no water hookups, and the only two hydrants I saw, were near the two bathrooms. We had site #18, which appeared to be the only site angled backward. And, there are no signs to give you directions to the campsites, so just drive around in circles like I did.

The road leading to the campground is narrow, twisting, and steep. The road through the campground is also narrow, twisting, and steep. This is definitely not a campground for big rigs. Most of the campers were in tents and small rigs. The largest RV I saw was about 30 ft.

The sites are not real level, and there’s no good places to pitch a tent. There is also no designated swimming area, but there was a decent looking place at the tip of the campground that people were swimming. The road through the campground is steep, so if you go for a walk, expect a workout. There are no hiking trails, but walking the loop around the campground will give you an exhilarating ¾ mile hike. Also, a bike would be almost useless here.

Starkey Campground reminded me of the old campgrounds from when I was a kid. which probably means this little campground gets overlooked for updates by the COE. But, overall, I enjoyed Starkey Campground.

From Rogers, Arkansas, take Highway 62 east for approximately 28 miles. Turn right onto hwy 187 towards Beaver Dam and travel 5.5 miles. Or, form Eureka Springs, travel miles west to hwy 187, and turn left toward Beaver Dam and travel 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Mundell Road and follow it 3.9 miles to the campground.

Latitude 36° 23′ 24.0000″ N Longitude 93° 52′ 36.9599″ W

THE JOURNEY

On any epic journey, the road is always longer than you imagined, the travel is more strenuous, and the labor more weary. The hours of traveling are longer, and the hours of resting shorter.

So it was, with our hero and his fair maiden. After a journey of many moons, the road they traveled had become narrow and winding. Around and around it went, up hills and down hills, on and on. The road twisted and turned, and doubled back, and they seemed to be simply going in never-ending circles. The road appeared to be a roller-coaster maze, from which there was no escape. Perhaps it had been built by goblins, for the sole purpose of ensnaring our hero and his fair maiden.

But, of course, it was their own fault. The caution sign had boldly proclaimed its warning, for any who would give heed. But, they had ignored it.

The sign had said, “Welcome to the Ozarks”.