Army Corps of Engineers · Greers Ferry Lake · Heber Springs, AR

John F Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Park is located on the Little Red River just downstream of Greers Ferry Dam in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of north-central Arkansas. In his last major appearance before his death, President John F. Kennedy stood on a flag-draped platform overlooking the just-completed Greers Ferry Dam and spoke of the prosperity the lake would bring to the region. Today, a million visitors flock yearly to the scenic waters for family camping, fishing, boating and hiking.

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · big rigs in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · group sites in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
John F Kennedy Park Entrance SignFishing PierCollins CreekJohn F Kennedy
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric67
group shelter electric2
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

69 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
A02AElectricBack-in55PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A03AElectricBack-in53PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A04AElectricBack-in31PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A05AElectricBack-in40PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A06AElectricBack-in47PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A07AElectricBack-in43PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A08AElectricBack-in72PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A09AElectricBack-in68PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A10AElectricBack-in70PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes
A11AElectricBack-in60PavedFull30 amp8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length80 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This campground offers 68 sites with electrical hookups, 44 of which also have water hookups. Additional amenities include flush toilets, showers, a dump station, picnic shelter and a boat ramp.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near John F Kennedy30°40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 3.79 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowFebruary: 3.84 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowMarch: 4.94 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowApril: 5.35 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.69 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.72 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.37 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.78 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 5.09 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 4.92 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.1°F averageFebruary: 42.2°F averageMarch: 50.2°F averageApril: 59.5°F averageMay: 67.9°F averageJune: 76.1°F averageJuly: 80.2°F averageAugust: 79.3°F averageSeptember: 72.4°F averageOctober: 61.2°F averageNovember: 50.0°F averageDecember: 41.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Greers Ferry Dam, less than a mile from the campground at 527 feet, station USC00032978 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 53 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 3 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Heber Springs, AR, take SR-25 north 4 miles, cross the dam, and turn right on the second road.

Nearest townHeber Springs, Arkansas
Coordinates35.5159° N, 91.9965° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSulphur Creek Outfitters ↗23.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗32.6 mi
RV sales & serviceMoix RV Supercenter ↗37.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

John F Kennedy Park - Greers Ferry Lake, AR

Worth a stop

With over 30,000 acres of water surface, the lake serves as a playground for all kinds of water sports. Eighteen parks around the shoreline provide modern campgrounds, boat ramps, swim areas and marinas. The Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, in Heber Springs, located below the dam, offers free tours. Built in 1965, the hatchery produces about one million rainbow trout a year for restocking the Little Red and other Arkansas streams.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

A dense mix of red cedar, black gum, red oak, elm, pecan and sweet gum trees forest the area, providing shade in the summer months and beautiful fall colors in autumn. Wildlife is plentiful around Greers Ferry Lake. Visitors commonly see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, squirrels and a wide variety of birds.

Recreation

Greers Ferry Lake is an outdoor enthusiasts' dream, with boating, sailing, water skiing, swimming, scuba diving and fishing opportunities. Hikers enjoy the area's three National Nature Trails and one multi-purpose, fitness trail. The William Carl Garner Visitor Center is just west of the dam, with exhibits, a children's touch table, and a replica of the world record 40 lb. 4 oz. brown trout caught in the Little Red River downstream of the center.

Guidebooks for Arkansas

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
    Jim Warnock, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook
    Tim Ernst and Pam Ernst, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Scenic Routes and Byways the Ozarks
    Don Kurz, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at John F Kennedy?

Sites at John F Kennedy are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at John F Kennedy?

Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does John F Kennedy have?

70 sites, including 67 standard sites with power and 2 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at John F Kennedy?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does John F Kennedy have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at John F Kennedy?

Additional amenities include flush toilets, showers, a dump station, picnic shelter and a boat ramp.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at John F Kennedy?

Yes, pets are allowed at John F Kennedy. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at John F Kennedy?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at John F Kennedy?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at John F Kennedy?

Greers Ferry Lake is an outdoor enthusiasts' dream, with boating, sailing, water skiing, swimming, scuba diving and fishing opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to John F Kennedy?

Heber Springs, Arkansas. With over 30,000 acres of water surface, the lake serves as a playground for all kinds of water sports.

Source: Getting there

What if John F Kennedy is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dam Site(Greers Ferry) (0.4 mi), Old Highway 25 (1.9 mi), and Heber Springs (4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby