Primitive Country Camp Spot for Total Eclipse April 8, 2024! 2:38 Mins Totality
Overview
This is a primitive, temporary campground set up specifically for the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, located on 112 acres in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains just outside Benton, Arkansas. Sited about half an hour from Hot Springs, the property advertises a full 2 minutes and 38 seconds of totality (100% obscuration), with a rural setting chosen for wide sky visibility and minimal light pollution. This is an event-specific campsite rather than a standard hotel, meant for guests bringing their own tent or RV.
Accommodations & Booking Terms
Guests must bring their own RV or tent -- no camping equipment is provided or available onsite. Reservations require a minimum two-night stay, beginning at 12:00 noon on Sunday, April 7 and ending at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, April 9, with an early-arrival option from Thursday, April 4 for up to five nights at an additional fee. Each individual site is limited to two vehicles and six people.
Amenities & Facilities
This is a primitive camping setup: sites have no electricity, water, or sewer hookups. A porta potty is available onsite on a limited basis, but there are no showers or sinks. The property is pet-friendly, and limited picnic table space is available near the North Fork River, which is accessible directly from the campground.
Dining & Nearby Services
Onsite dining is not provided, but nearby Riverside Grocery offers food, live music, and karaoke on Thursday nights, plus access to outdoor river activities. For fuller dining options, the surrounding Benton area has numerous restaurants within roughly 5 to 12 kilometers, including The Mighty Crab, Moody's Restaurant, Verona Italian Restaurant, Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Wood Grill Buffet, The Purple Cow Restaurant, All Aboard Restaurant & Grill, Copper Mule Table & Tap, and The Local Tavern.
Location & Surroundings
The campground sits in a rural area outside Benton city limits, within driving distance of local attractions such as Cecil Jones Lake, Lyle Park, The Royal Theater, and the Gann Museum of Saline County. Bryant Stadium and I-30 Speedway are nearby for guests interested in local events or games. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport and Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport are both reachable, at roughly 39 and 45 kilometers away respectively.
Best for
This site is best suited to eclipse-chasers and outdoor enthusiasts willing to camp primitively in exchange for a rural, low-light-pollution viewing spot with a full 2 minutes 38 seconds of totality. It suits travelers who bring their own tent or RV, don't require hookups or showers, and want to avoid the traffic and crowds of nearby Hot Springs on eclipse day. Pet owners are also accommodated, since the campground is pet-friendly.
Travel tips
Plan to arrive at the official noon Sunday check-in (or from Thursday if paying the early-arrival fee) to avoid the heavy regional traffic expected around April 8, and pack in everything needed since there are no hookups, showers, or sinks onsite. Bring cash or cards for Riverside Grocery nearby, which offers food and Thursday-night karaoke and live music, and consider stocking up on other meals in Benton, where multiple restaurants sit within a 5-12 km radius. The North Fork River is accessible from the property for those wanting a break from eclipse-watching, though picnic table space by the water is limited.
What guests say
No guest review excerpts are available for this property, so specific recurring themes cannot be summarized. Prospective campers should rely on the factual details provided -- such as the primitive nature of the sites, limited sanitation facilities, and rural location -- when setting expectations, since no independent guest feedback has been documented.
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