Moving South in the Ozarks

From SW Missouri to NW Arkansas

This is Lizzy‘s 1st time camping in Arkansas (State #42) and our 1st time to actually visit. It was a “fun” drive through the mountains to get here. We’d planned only 2 nights (campground closes today), but discovered we could stay 1 more, so we are. It gave us time to visit nearby Beaver Dam and historic Eureka Springs today, and have a more relaxed time prepping for our next few days of “Dry Camping”.

Beaver Lake Dam
Looking downstream on the White River from Beaver Lake Dam
Wandering around historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Of course, this was after taking yesterday for a…

Visit to 1 new National Park Site (encompassing 2 NSTs):

Pea Ridge National Military Park (#267), site of the Battle That Saved Missouri for The Union. On March 7-8, 1862, over 23,000 soldiers fought here to decide the fate of Missouri. It was a turning point of the war in the Trans-Mississippi. Pea Ridge was the most pivotal Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. We drove the 8 mile Battlefield Road, visited all 10 sites along the way (including Elkhorn Tavern, the only historic building in the park), and drove to another site, to see the Union entrenchments that were built, but never used.
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, which follows the routes of the Butterfield Overland Mail Company, a stagecoach service that operated from 1858 to 1861. The company delivered passengers and mail from Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri to San Francisco, California, passing through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. We were last on the trail just 3 days ago at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, where it ran by the Ray House. At Pea Ridge it ran right by the Elkhorn Tavern.
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, which in this area followed the Butterfield Overland NHT, getting close to Oklahoma.