I spent a ton of time researching everything there was to do in Perry County because I had heard it was a great spot for getting outside, I heard that there was a historic country store I needed to visit with famous fried bologna sandwiches & homemade pie, & a great recreation area managed by the state parks.
This is a perfect summer camping road trip for people who love camping AND for people who want to camp but don’t really love to mess with a tent. It gives you the perfect blend of outdoors & inside amenities!
45 minutes from Little Rock & 3 hours from Northwest Arkansas
Day 1:
I landed up my car with my camping gear, my dog, & a plan to stop at Hollis Country Store since it’s a historic landmark in the state. I pulled up & was immediately taken in with the stone construction of the building, I knew it was going to be awesome.
I walked in, was greeted by the owners of the store, & offered their friend bologna sandwich, a slice of homemade pie, & an old fashioned glass bottle of coca-cola. I can’t tell you the last time I had bologna but that was the best sandwich I’ve had a LONG time!
I spoke with Donnie for a long time. The store was built in 1930, his family bought the Hollis Country Store in 1940, he had photos of his dad sitting on the steps of the store framed on the counter. He showed me all the additions to the building, he showed me where crystals had been put in a 1950s addition to the outside (look for those when you stop by!), & he showed me their new dining space they just opened up. It’s going to be a great spot to visit!
Donnie asked me everything I was going to do while I was in town & I started listing off my plans & he told me he had some better ideas. This is why locals are always the best for finding the spots you must visit!
I told him I was staying at Lake Sylvia Recreation Area in the cabins, he told me I would love those (he was right!) But then he told me I needed to go to Flatside Pinnacle for sunset, Harris Brake Resort for sunrise, & Forked Mountain Falls for a great hike. They also recommended I head over to Lake Nimrod Dam.
First, I went over to Lake Sylvia to get checked in to my cabin because I knew the cabins were walk up & I didn’t want to be checking into the cabins in the dark as a solo woman carrying all my stuff & the dog.
Click HERE to book these cabins!
There are 7 cabins here, one of them sleeps 6, the rest have full size beds & sleep 2 people. They don’t have a kitchen, but they have a shower, a toilet, a sink in the main area, a wifi router (great for watching movies with tired kids or a tired mom!), 2 chairs, AC/Heat, a picnic table, a small fridge & freeze (think dorm sized) & a charcoal grill.
Check in works like this: There is no lodge or office to check in to your cabin. Make your reservation online, then on the day of check-in check your email, & there will be your cabin code to unlock the doors.
These cabins are walk in cabins (just like some tent campgrounds), so you have to park, & haul your stuff into the cabin. Have no fear! There is a wagon in each cabin for your use & they are so so handy! It wouldn’t hurt to bring your own if you have one & you’re taking our family because you usually have a ton of stuff (it’s one of those foldable ones like you use for sports weekends). I saw lots of families making multiple trips with the one provided by the park & they did just fine.
There is also a community cooking area with a gorgeous & massive stone fireplace, patio area, fire pit, & large grill.
There is a brand new playground, a swimming dock & swimming area for summer seasons, a walking path around the lake, & a great sunset view behind the small lodge!
What You Need to Bring:
- Your own linens
- Camping Kitchen
- Groceries
- Ice Chest
- Folding Chairs
- Towels
- Swimsuits
- Toilet Paper (they provided 2 rolls, so if you need more bring that)
- Paper Towels
- Charcoal
- Fire Starter
- Marshmallow Roasters (Walmart has these for SUPER cheap!)
- Lantern or Headlamps for walking the camp at night
- Misc Items you feel like you might need
Day 2:
I totally meant to get up for sunrise, but let’s be real, I was a mom away from her kids who got to sleep in for the first time in forever. So I opted for sleeping in, ha! I have been told by Donnie & his wife that the Harris Brake Resort is THE place to watch a sunrise. So if you’re up with kids or up for getting up to an alarm, make the 15 minute drive over there.
When you’re done watching the sunrise head over to the Lucky S Cafe to get a home made breakfast. I’m telling you, it is delicious! They stop selling breakfast at 11 & then they have homestyle lunch specials (lasagna was one of them the day I was there!)
From Lucky S, head back to Lake Sylvia & go walk their walking path. It is beautiful, quiet, puts you right in the middle of the national forest, & gives you a taste of nature. Some of it is paved too!
There is also a playground & a fantastic swimming area over here. Don’t miss out.
If it were me, I’d make some sandwiches, spend the afternoon swimming, & then come back to shower. After showers, I’d start cooking your favorite campground meal. We usually pre-cook our dinners. Our favorites are a pasta with chicken or beef sausage, with a side salad, & some fruit. I like to keep it simple. You can wash your dishes in the larger sink in the cabins (this was so handy!)
If you want, drive over to Flatside Pinnacle to take in the sunset. The view there is incredible. Obviously, make sure you have flashlights & headlamps for getting down in the dark. If you don’t want to walk the 0.2 miles in the dark (don’t blame you!) then you will still love this spot in the day time. The view might be the best one in the state. I’m so serious!
Be sure to use the community fire pit to have a campfire & roast s’mores. It’s not camping without those!
Day 3:
Checkout is at 11. So spend the morning making a fun breakfast, clean the cabin up, enjoy your view of the lake on the porch, make your trips back & forth from the cabin to the car to load everything up. The cabin locks automatically at 11, so I’d have everything out on time!
I really didn’t know what to expect from this area, but it blew me away! I definitely plan on taking my kids this summer, they will flip for the massive dock they have in the swimming area! It’s also so quiet & small, that you really do feel like you’re out in nature completely alone.
I loved it & will definitely be back!
Below is some of our camping gear, it’s all affiliate links, but it is things we use & have used for a long time!
- Camping Kitchen Link https://amzn.to/4tmHSRH
- Coleman Cascade Stove https://amzn.to/48KjvWA
- RTIC Cooler
- Nalgene Water Bottles
- Propane Hose (so you can use a bigger propane tank if you’re cooking for a longer period of time)
- Cast Iron Skillet (I have 2-3 of these, I bought mine at several places)
- Pie Iron (great for making s’mores, toast, quesadillas, pizzas, etc)
- Dutch Oven (8QT)
- Lantern