Petit Jean

[Piper18O]

If I wanted to fly in and camp, is the camping area on the opposite end of where your plane would tie down, or would you be able to tent somewhat close to the plane? For those who have flown in and camped, what is the layout there? Is it realistic to be able to not need ground transportation, or have access to a shuttle in the park?

 

[CJones]

There is aircraft parking a ~50' away from the on-airport camping. The campsites are actually pretty nice (at least they were when I was there almost 15 years ago) - the tent pads are raised a bit with landscape timbers and filled with pea gravel so they drain well and aren't hard lumpy. There is a solid bath house there with showers I believe.

The actual state park is across the lake or valley from the airport. If you call the state park, they will send a van over to pick you up and shuttle you to the main park where there is the lodge (maybe restaurant) and hiking trails.

Also - the airport campground is at the 'far end' of the runway - away from the dinky "fbo building" (which is unattended).

 

[Cricket1]

I was there back in late June, airport was literally locked up/ deserted. The gate across the parking lot was locked. We had flown into Hot Springs and drove to Petit Jean. Nice runway, ramp and rather new fuel farm, which doesn't work/ is turned off. I have no idea why the state of Arkansas doesn't promote the airport more, as they've obviously spent alot of $ there over the years.

Petit Jean is a beautiful park, great lodge/ restaurant and outdoor pool. We stayed in one of the cabins, which are also nice, almost all with amazing bluff/ overlook views.

I had heard that while the lodge will pick you up from the airport, they charge $20 each way.

From the comments on AirNav, they quit selling fuel there before COVID, so I dont think the sad state of the airport can be blamed on it.

 

[Ravioli]

Just don't go on the weekend of the Vans RV fly-in (usually in October). They'll laugh a PA28 off the mountain.

(Actually we won't, but you'll stand out like a sore thumb)

 

[keen9]

Just don't go on the weekend of the Vans RV fly-in (usually in October). They'll laugh a PA28 off the mountain.

(Actually we won't, but you'll stand out like a sore thumb)

The PA28's just get parked in "big wheel" parking. No laughing as long as you are building an RV at the time!

PS the Rockefeller's spent all of the money on the airport, and the local EAA chapters make it nice ahead of the fly-in. Not sure the state does a thing for the airport these days except let the EAA'ers have free reign to take care of it.

 

[CJones]

That's funny. The one time I flew in (in an RV-7A), we 'interrupted' a C-170 fly-in. They were good folks and very welcoming. I think the park basically let the group use one of their vans free-will because we had so many people. Didn't know there was a cost associated with the shuttle now. That's a shame...