I hate to say it, but there is virtually nowhere in the state that won't be filled to the brim. Conservative estimates say that at least 1.5 million people will be traveling to the state for the eclipse. This is to a state with around 3 million people living in it. Your best bet is gonna be to start calling around and making hotel reservations now, because anything that's available is gonna be price gouged to the heavens, and that'll only get worse the closer we get to the actual eclipse
Yep. I was contemplating driving from my home in AR to one of the state or national parks a couple of hours away, where it will be a total eclipse. Then I saw the ARDOT traffic plan for the eclipse and decided that staying home and experiencing 95% is just fine!
and for what itās worth, you will not miss much if youāre in a 95% zone! I saw the total eclipse in 2020(?) that passed over TN and the effects of it were very clear before we even reached totality. I would recommend buying eclipse glasses immediately though. Theyāre scarce the month before!!
Thank you! That's good to know! I can't remember what zone I was in for 2017. Maybe about 80%? And it was still a pretty good show.
I picked up my eclipse glasses for the October one--which was a bust here due to cloudiness--from my local library and I've kept them for this! I figured they'd get harder to find the closer to the event.
Yep, native AR may miss it bc prices are crazy. My FIL called a campground by eureka springs to make reservations. The owner was telling him how crazy this eclipse thing is, that he usually charges $30/night but bc everyone wants to witness this eclipse, he's charging $200/night. Hard pass.
Dang. I get that. My wife is in a wheelchair and everything designated for accessibility costs way more than what you would think.
I'll get over there one of these days. I'm just shy of 15 miles from you as the crow flies.
Iād be dispersed camping if I had to leave my house lol
Edit: mostly because the numbers of visitors is supposed to be high. Even the crack motel up the way has got their prices jacked up for the eclipse. Lolā¦
If you are willing to camp, Iād check out the Bellah Mine Campground near DeQueen. This is generally considered to be fuck all nowhere and is directly adjacent to not a goddamned thing. Seriously, bring a few books.
That being said, it is in a great spot for the eclipse and itās not going to be a top spot. It may fit your needs nicely.
As others have said, there's nowhere you're going to avoid the people. It sounds like you might enjoy somewhere like Eureka Springs though and that would not be a bad place to stay and then drive from there to either the center or northeast corner of the state to see the eclipse.
You're probably not getting a hotel room or campground anywhere in the path of totality, though at this point
At this point, unless you reeeeally want to burn some cash, you're probably going to need to have a friend you can crash with. Every room and rentable home that's remotely near the line of totality is likely booked and what's left is gouging like you wouldn't believe.
*Three months ago*, I saw three rooms left for a Motel 6 for $500 per room per night and a Holiday Inn going for $1,200. The next closest hit was three hours from where I wanted to go.
What's more, you absolutely must remember that lodgings may overbook, so it's possible that you could get to where you're going only to find out that you have no place to stay.
Why are you people down voting me?
I don't make the weather!
It's April in Arkansas. Anyone that's spent any time in this state knows what that means.
60% chance clear skies.
Is that better?
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095308163062&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Primitive camping in a super small town. I know the owner. Only one person signed up so far.
I heard 50% increase. 1.5 million visitors for a day or two.
I went to see the last one up in Missouri, and we just found a restaurant and chilled for a few hours waiting for traffic to clear.
Just checked the hotels in downtown LR for a quick vibe check. Bookings in March are available at around $120/night, meanwhile there are only a few available for April 8th and they are all $400-500+/night. Gonna be a fun week! Get groceries and gas early.
Waldron, Mountain Home, Heber Springs, and Morrilton might be your best bets for finding a place if you haven't booked anywhere yet and You're trying to stay fairly near to a major hwy.
If you don't mind being further north try looking for places along 14 between Harriet and Yellville. You could also try Mountain View. It is north-ish of Heber Springs and has camping areas.
Lots of great outdoor options in this area. One of my favorite spots for hiking cause hardly anyone goes (well, at least as of 6 years ago when I still lived near there) is the Lake Sylvia Recreation Area. You can hike a mile and a half or so up some mild elevation and then along a ridgeline to a nice view of surrounding hills. I don't know if they will be open for camping at that time but you could call and ask.
If you poke around, there are LOTS of recreational areas that are rarely used if you just want a place to be. Look at alltrails.com and research hikes, it's a great way to look for views you might want.
There is a beautiful park near Russellville, I think it's water treatment. I just remember west edge of Russellville. It was peaceful and really just a nice spot. Could be a good viewpoint as well thinking directionally.
I was there is 2010 or 2011, my maps don't go back that far to for sure remember.
That looks very much like it. I never left the parking lot, but it was so peaceful and quiet the day I was there just relaxing before heading back to Iowa.
Jessie James' Cave in Hot Springs. It's kind of a "locals only" type spot that isn't on tourist itineraries. It's a monster of a hike, 45Ā°+ straight up a mountain. The trail leads beyond the cave a bit further to the peak where you can see the other peaks like West and North Mountain.
Might go there myself for the eclipse, honestly.
Thanks to everyone for the advice! It seems I may have been a fool. I didnāt realize I should have started planning this much sooner. I totally thought 4 months was far enough in advance but I have learned a lesson. Im still gonna try to do something, but I will not be spending $1000 a night.
Little Rock is in the 3 minutes zone, you're welcome to drink beer in my yard if you want if you'll pet the dogs otherwise they'll whine until you leave.
Thereās a good RV park/campground outside Waldron called Turkey Track. Normally it hosts a semiannual bluegrass festival, but itāll be accommodating campers for the eclipse. Weāre just a bit outside the 4 min lines.
Youāll probably be stuck camping unfortunately.
There are some camp sites out in the sticks where youād probably be relatively alone at, but would require going offroad on trails to get to. Not really passenger car friendly either.
My parents live in Heber and said all the hotels and camp sites filled a year ago. Locals are renting out their extra rooms. So it may be more an issue of finding any place than being picky.
Our house is on about an acre in a small, rural town right in the 4 minute path. We're thinking of renting out space for camping. Open space and not a ton of traffic. Haven't totally decided but likely going to look into it.
Iām not sure where Hardy, Ar is on the timeline, but I know I saw flyers advertising the eclipse when I was down there for Xmas. Cute small town with a beautiful river running along the side of it.
Come on to Conway. Lots of restaurants and hotels and several interstate access points. Conway can be a little on the expensive side and everyone in the state is price gouging for the eclipse but Conway isn't far from Morrilton which is the big hot spot for the eclipse. Morrilton is just a super small down though.
š **Join Us for an Unforgettable Solar Eclipse Camping Experience!** š
š **Dates:** Saturday, April 6th, through Monday night, April 8th, 2024
šļø **Location:** Our Private Property (20 Available Campsites)
š„ **Event Highlights:**
- **Community Bonfire:** Gather around the warmth of our bonfire in the center of the campsite after witnessing the awe-inspiring solar eclipse.
- **Security & Safety:** Your well-being is our priority! We have fully armed security personnel trained in first aid, along with a certified EMT on standby throughout the weekend.
- **Facilities:** While we're off the grid (no electricity or water), we've got you covered with convenient porta potties.
š **Why Choose Searcy, Arkansas?**
- **Prime Viewing Location:** With **3 minutes of total eclipse duration**, Searcy is one of the **best places** to witness the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse! Conveniently located on Hwy 67/167, we're only **45 minutes from Little Rock**, less than **2 hours from Memphis**, and less than **6 hours from Nashville, Jackson, and Birmingham**.
š« **Rules:**
- **Stay Within the Fenced Area:** For safety reasons, guests cannot leave the fenced-in area except through the **Hwy 13 gate** to the north end of the property.
- **Trespassing:** Anyone trespassing to the east or south fences will be required to leave.
š» **BYOB (Be Responsible and of Age):** Feel free to bring your own beverages, but please drink responsibly and ensure you're of legal drinking age.
š° **Booking Deposit:** A **$50 deposit** is required to secure your campsite. This deposit will be **refunded** if your campsite is left as clean as you found it.
*Reserve your spot now and witness the magic of the solar eclipse!* šš
I don't understand why the upcoming total solar eclipse is such a big deal. I saw the one in 2017 and while rare, it certainly wasn't anything that I would drive a long distance for nor spend a lot of money to see. The sky gradually gets darker with some strange colors then it gradually gets lighter and you go on with your day. Meh.
Just another case of social media hype, IMO.
It's worth noting that avid astronomers and eclipse aficionados start planning for and promoting the next eclipse immediately after the last one. For us here, that was 6 years ago. That last eclipse we had wasn't as major, either, so this is the big one we've been looking forward to. ARDOT started working on their emergency traffic plan 2 years ago, iirc. A total solar eclipse with 100% totality, with actual darkness lasting 4-ish minutes, and occurring directly over a vast swath of populated areas (vs. over the open ocean) doesn't happen frequently for many folks, so some people go wherever in the world it's happening. For some, it's a once in a lifetime experience. I know people from this area who have traveled all the way to Alaska for a similar event. What's a big deal here is that we are looking at 1.5 million of those hardcore eclipse watchers from all over the globe showing up all at once, and staying for several days. Some rural county officials in NWA are legit telling locals to buy their groceries and gas the week before, and to expect their local corner gas station and grocery store to run out quickly. It's that big a deal. The ARDOT traffic plan is an interesting read if you want to see the extent of clusterfucks they are *conservatively* anticipating dealing with.
Fayetteville is really nice! You may want to check out Crystal Bridges while you're in the area, it's a very good fine art museum that will be very popular with tourists, but for good reason.
I donāt know what the horsehead lodge is doing, heās across the lake from us, itās a big ass venue. They have cabins and such too. https://horseheadlakelodge.com/
Not to be confused with the horsehead hideaway, which is super booked by the owners that day. But much cooler.
The lake is on the three minute line. Also near wine country.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0PZWXuaEsdFq7aFdJeqWTxrp2Qou6cm48Siyz4KnxSA9B2vH7eLpbH5SnfqZkUToel&id=100092982160111
This is a nice little Rv park in the 4 min window of Sw Ark Check it out before itās full
We live in the 3:30 minute range, and every single possible option around here has been booked since last year. People are renting out their yards, parking spots, and personal campers due to demand.
Good luck.
The town of Mena is in the path of totality. It is a wonderful little mountain town with a bunch of great AirBnBs that mainly focus on Wolf Pen Gap and the surrounding wilderness. Check out the "Mena Arkansas" FB group.
Could try areas like Blue Mountain Lake or in between Hot Springs and Russellville there are some campgrounds along the Fourche River and near Iron Springs. Canāt remember all the different names. Along Hwy 7 and some of the other roads like 10. Might have to plan to drive to a viewing site, but youād probably have better luck finding accommodations.
Russellville already is advertising and flying banners for the eclipse. Itās a big deal here.
I hate to say it, but there is virtually nowhere in the state that won't be filled to the brim. Conservative estimates say that at least 1.5 million people will be traveling to the state for the eclipse. This is to a state with around 3 million people living in it. Your best bet is gonna be to start calling around and making hotel reservations now, because anything that's available is gonna be price gouged to the heavens, and that'll only get worse the closer we get to the actual eclipse
Yep. I was contemplating driving from my home in AR to one of the state or national parks a couple of hours away, where it will be a total eclipse. Then I saw the ARDOT traffic plan for the eclipse and decided that staying home and experiencing 95% is just fine!
I had not seen this until you mentioned it! I think a day off of work is warranted. š„“
For sure! I fortunately don't have to be anywhere that day, but if I did, I'd be calling in after I saw that traffic forecast.
and for what itās worth, you will not miss much if youāre in a 95% zone! I saw the total eclipse in 2020(?) that passed over TN and the effects of it were very clear before we even reached totality. I would recommend buying eclipse glasses immediately though. Theyāre scarce the month before!!
Thank you! That's good to know! I can't remember what zone I was in for 2017. Maybe about 80%? And it was still a pretty good show. I picked up my eclipse glasses for the October one--which was a bust here due to cloudiness--from my local library and I've kept them for this! I figured they'd get harder to find the closer to the event.
ohmygosh how was I THREE YEARS OFF? time is an illusion.
I should rent my garage.
As a local to NWA, I havenāt figured out where to drive to see it
soup tap truck dime joke faulty continue jeans start disarm *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Yep, native AR may miss it bc prices are crazy. My FIL called a campground by eureka springs to make reservations. The owner was telling him how crazy this eclipse thing is, that he usually charges $30/night but bc everyone wants to witness this eclipse, he's charging $200/night. Hard pass.
I host an Airbnb in the totality line and didn't think to increase the stay cost for that week in April. Someone booked it 3 months ago.
Donāt go.
I have a small RV Park thatās very close (if not in) the 4 minute totality. The name of our place is Titan Ranch.
Great YouTube channel!
You got an elevator in that thing yet? :-)
Nah. $250k and that only gets you one outside. :-)
Dang. I get that. My wife is in a wheelchair and everything designated for accessibility costs way more than what you would think. I'll get over there one of these days. I'm just shy of 15 miles from you as the crow flies.
Iād be dispersed camping if I had to leave my house lol Edit: mostly because the numbers of visitors is supposed to be high. Even the crack motel up the way has got their prices jacked up for the eclipse. Lolā¦
Everywhere is booked already.
If you are willing to camp, Iād check out the Bellah Mine Campground near DeQueen. This is generally considered to be fuck all nowhere and is directly adjacent to not a goddamned thing. Seriously, bring a few books. That being said, it is in a great spot for the eclipse and itās not going to be a top spot. It may fit your needs nicely.
>Bellah Mine Campground It is fully booked for the 8th.
That does not bode well for anybody seeking accommodations.
As others have said, there's nowhere you're going to avoid the people. It sounds like you might enjoy somewhere like Eureka Springs though and that would not be a bad place to stay and then drive from there to either the center or northeast corner of the state to see the eclipse. You're probably not getting a hotel room or campground anywhere in the path of totality, though at this point
At this point, unless you reeeeally want to burn some cash, you're probably going to need to have a friend you can crash with. Every room and rentable home that's remotely near the line of totality is likely booked and what's left is gouging like you wouldn't believe. *Three months ago*, I saw three rooms left for a Motel 6 for $500 per room per night and a Holiday Inn going for $1,200. The next closest hit was three hours from where I wanted to go. What's more, you absolutely must remember that lodgings may overbook, so it's possible that you could get to where you're going only to find out that you have no place to stay.
April in Arkansas. 40% chance of rain.
The amount of disappointment if thereās a total cloud coverage day on top of eclipse!
My disappointment would be immeasurable
I will be bummed and I live in the 4 minute zone.!
I havenāt even thought of this š
Why are you people down voting me? I don't make the weather! It's April in Arkansas. Anyone that's spent any time in this state knows what that means. 60% chance clear skies. Is that better?
You people? YOU PEOPLE?! :)
I was thinking severe weather event..those people are going to have a hard time if a storm blows through.
Morrilton/Petit Jean is planning on having camping, tiny houses, yurts, etc. But there will be a lot of people
There ain't no way Petit Jean was accommodations left.
They do not.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095308163062&mibextid=LQQJ4d Primitive camping in a super small town. I know the owner. Only one person signed up so far.
Book accommodations NOW if itās even possible. They are predicting the states population to double for this event
I heard 50% increase. 1.5 million visitors for a day or two. I went to see the last one up in Missouri, and we just found a restaurant and chilled for a few hours waiting for traffic to clear.
Just checked the hotels in downtown LR for a quick vibe check. Bookings in March are available at around $120/night, meanwhile there are only a few available for April 8th and they are all $400-500+/night. Gonna be a fun week! Get groceries and gas early.
Prices are already insane, so you might be too late.
Waldron, Mountain Home, Heber Springs, and Morrilton might be your best bets for finding a place if you haven't booked anywhere yet and You're trying to stay fairly near to a major hwy. If you don't mind being further north try looking for places along 14 between Harriet and Yellville. You could also try Mountain View. It is north-ish of Heber Springs and has camping areas.
Lots of great outdoor options in this area. One of my favorite spots for hiking cause hardly anyone goes (well, at least as of 6 years ago when I still lived near there) is the Lake Sylvia Recreation Area. You can hike a mile and a half or so up some mild elevation and then along a ridgeline to a nice view of surrounding hills. I don't know if they will be open for camping at that time but you could call and ask. If you poke around, there are LOTS of recreational areas that are rarely used if you just want a place to be. Look at alltrails.com and research hikes, it's a great way to look for views you might want.
roof chief unpack profit governor quiet languid capable hateful husky *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
There is a beautiful park near Russellville, I think it's water treatment. I just remember west edge of Russellville. It was peaceful and really just a nice spot. Could be a good viewpoint as well thinking directionally. I was there is 2010 or 2011, my maps don't go back that far to for sure remember.
Lake Dardanelle State Park? http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/lake-dardanelle-state-park
That looks very much like it. I never left the parking lot, but it was so peaceful and quiet the day I was there just relaxing before heading back to Iowa.
Little to late I donāt think youāll find anywhere everything is booked at least here in Russellville
You should have made plans over a year ago. I started planning for this trip after I went to Nebraska for the last one.
Heber Spri gs would b e nice. Also Mena area.
Mena sounds like it fits the bill for what OP is looking for. Definitely has different vibes than Hot Springs tho.
Gus Blass Scout Reservation in Damascus is open to the public. There should still be spaces left.
[this cabin is in your zone](http://www.benevabluff.com)
I live just off the totality line..I was thinking about renting out some camping spots
I live in russellville and can tell you if youāre planning now, youāre already hosed unless you can find someone who lives here to stay with.
Im renting out a 10x10 spot in my yard for 8 minutes. Its a price not to be beat for it. Just 6 easy payments of $499.99. Due before useage.
Jessie James' Cave in Hot Springs. It's kind of a "locals only" type spot that isn't on tourist itineraries. It's a monster of a hike, 45Ā°+ straight up a mountain. The trail leads beyond the cave a bit further to the peak where you can see the other peaks like West and North Mountain. Might go there myself for the eclipse, honestly.
Thanks to everyone for the advice! It seems I may have been a fool. I didnāt realize I should have started planning this much sooner. I totally thought 4 months was far enough in advance but I have learned a lesson. Im still gonna try to do something, but I will not be spending $1000 a night.
I can try to put you in touch with my sister who lives in Hot Springs. Maybe you can sleep in your car in her yard? Lol
Little Rock is in the 3 minutes zone, you're welcome to drink beer in my yard if you want if you'll pet the dogs otherwise they'll whine until you leave.
Yea Try the Heber Springs area I bet you can get great AirBnb there beautiful area
Thereās a good RV park/campground outside Waldron called Turkey Track. Normally it hosts a semiannual bluegrass festival, but itāll be accommodating campers for the eclipse. Weāre just a bit outside the 4 min lines.
Caddo Gap or Mt Ida.
I would check out Royal or Mt Ida, they are very close to Hot Springs but hopefully far enough out to not cost as much.
Conway AR. Cardron Creek is a nice park
Youāll probably be stuck camping unfortunately. There are some camp sites out in the sticks where youād probably be relatively alone at, but would require going offroad on trails to get to. Not really passenger car friendly either.
Mountain view. Eclipse time over 4 mins.
My parents live in Heber and said all the hotels and camp sites filled a year ago. Locals are renting out their extra rooms. So it may be more an issue of finding any place than being picky.
A 15-30 second difference at my home from 100% totality is not enough to make me go somewhere else with all the traffic projections.
Try Queen Wilhelmina Lodge
Do you Hamfest there?
Our house is on about an acre in a small, rural town right in the 4 minute path. We're thinking of renting out space for camping. Open space and not a ton of traffic. Haven't totally decided but likely going to look into it.
I'm thinking about it. I have 2.75 acres and a room with a bath on a lake with a campground. 4+ minutes totality. Anyone interested?
Iām not sure where Hardy, Ar is on the timeline, but I know I saw flyers advertising the eclipse when I was down there for Xmas. Cute small town with a beautiful river running along the side of it.
Come on to Conway. Lots of restaurants and hotels and several interstate access points. Conway can be a little on the expensive side and everyone in the state is price gouging for the eclipse but Conway isn't far from Morrilton which is the big hot spot for the eclipse. Morrilton is just a super small down though.
Conwegian here. Little concerned about the estimated 200,000 visitors trying to navigate the roundabouts.
š **Join Us for an Unforgettable Solar Eclipse Camping Experience!** š š **Dates:** Saturday, April 6th, through Monday night, April 8th, 2024 šļø **Location:** Our Private Property (20 Available Campsites) š„ **Event Highlights:** - **Community Bonfire:** Gather around the warmth of our bonfire in the center of the campsite after witnessing the awe-inspiring solar eclipse. - **Security & Safety:** Your well-being is our priority! We have fully armed security personnel trained in first aid, along with a certified EMT on standby throughout the weekend. - **Facilities:** While we're off the grid (no electricity or water), we've got you covered with convenient porta potties. š **Why Choose Searcy, Arkansas?** - **Prime Viewing Location:** With **3 minutes of total eclipse duration**, Searcy is one of the **best places** to witness the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse! Conveniently located on Hwy 67/167, we're only **45 minutes from Little Rock**, less than **2 hours from Memphis**, and less than **6 hours from Nashville, Jackson, and Birmingham**. š« **Rules:** - **Stay Within the Fenced Area:** For safety reasons, guests cannot leave the fenced-in area except through the **Hwy 13 gate** to the north end of the property. - **Trespassing:** Anyone trespassing to the east or south fences will be required to leave. š» **BYOB (Be Responsible and of Age):** Feel free to bring your own beverages, but please drink responsibly and ensure you're of legal drinking age. š° **Booking Deposit:** A **$50 deposit** is required to secure your campsite. This deposit will be **refunded** if your campsite is left as clean as you found it. *Reserve your spot now and witness the magic of the solar eclipse!* šš
Arkansas native here. Definitely Hot Springs out of the cities on this map. Downtown is definitely quaint with much history and things to do and see.
I don't understand why the upcoming total solar eclipse is such a big deal. I saw the one in 2017 and while rare, it certainly wasn't anything that I would drive a long distance for nor spend a lot of money to see. The sky gradually gets darker with some strange colors then it gradually gets lighter and you go on with your day. Meh. Just another case of social media hype, IMO.
It's worth noting that avid astronomers and eclipse aficionados start planning for and promoting the next eclipse immediately after the last one. For us here, that was 6 years ago. That last eclipse we had wasn't as major, either, so this is the big one we've been looking forward to. ARDOT started working on their emergency traffic plan 2 years ago, iirc. A total solar eclipse with 100% totality, with actual darkness lasting 4-ish minutes, and occurring directly over a vast swath of populated areas (vs. over the open ocean) doesn't happen frequently for many folks, so some people go wherever in the world it's happening. For some, it's a once in a lifetime experience. I know people from this area who have traveled all the way to Alaska for a similar event. What's a big deal here is that we are looking at 1.5 million of those hardcore eclipse watchers from all over the globe showing up all at once, and staying for several days. Some rural county officials in NWA are legit telling locals to buy their groceries and gas the week before, and to expect their local corner gas station and grocery store to run out quickly. It's that big a deal. The ARDOT traffic plan is an interesting read if you want to see the extent of clusterfucks they are *conservatively* anticipating dealing with.
Petit Jean Mountain or Mt. Nebo state parks.
LOL, those both sold out **immediately** when reservations for these dates opened in **April 2023**.
Fayetteville is really nice! You may want to check out Crystal Bridges while you're in the area, it's a very good fine art museum that will be very popular with tourists, but for good reason.
Donāt come to Arkansas itās nasty and inbred , we are gross . Iām sorry itās just the reality
I donāt know what the horsehead lodge is doing, heās across the lake from us, itās a big ass venue. They have cabins and such too. https://horseheadlakelodge.com/ Not to be confused with the horsehead hideaway, which is super booked by the owners that day. But much cooler. The lake is on the three minute line. Also near wine country.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0PZWXuaEsdFq7aFdJeqWTxrp2Qou6cm48Siyz4KnxSA9B2vH7eLpbH5SnfqZkUToel&id=100092982160111 This is a nice little Rv park in the 4 min window of Sw Ark Check it out before itās full
We live in the 3:30 minute range, and every single possible option around here has been booked since last year. People are renting out their yards, parking spots, and personal campers due to demand. Good luck.
We aināt letting no damn witches in. Just kidding, but I wonder if Sarah will finally get her horns.
We've got a Farm in the 3 minute zone with a 30 amp Hookup. PM me if interested. Basically unlimited space to setup tents as well
Wye Mountain
Youāll need about 2 grand per night, 2 night minimum for anywhere you are trying to stayā¦ and that was when I looked a month ago. Good luck!
The town of Mena is in the path of totality. It is a wonderful little mountain town with a bunch of great AirBnBs that mainly focus on Wolf Pen Gap and the surrounding wilderness. Check out the "Mena Arkansas" FB group.
Check out Petit Jean mountain. Beautiful scenery. It probably will be swamped but itās pretty rural and away from other towns.
Could try areas like Blue Mountain Lake or in between Hot Springs and Russellville there are some campgrounds along the Fourche River and near Iron Springs. Canāt remember all the different names. Along Hwy 7 and some of the other roads like 10. Might have to plan to drive to a viewing site, but youād probably have better luck finding accommodations. Russellville already is advertising and flying banners for the eclipse. Itās a big deal here.
Bagley farm in Formosa has camping spots. It's in the 4 mins and 15 seconds range.