Beaver Lake (Corps of Engineers)
Details- Season
- Most parks open spring through fall.
- Sites
- Developed lakeside campgrounds south of the battlefield.
- The largest pool of nearby camping, around the Beaver Lake shoreline.
National Park Service · Arkansas
Pea Ridge National Military Park
One of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the country, where a 7-mile auto tour traces the March 1862 battle that secured Missouri for the Union, anchored by Elkhorn Tavern.
Field briefing
Pea Ridge National Military Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Pea Ridge is free, exceptionally well preserved, and built around a 7-mile self-guided auto tour with 10 stops, so the plan is simple: start at the visitor center for the film and map, then drive the loop.
The tour road is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily; the visitor center keeps shorter seasonal hours. Elkhorn Tavern, the center of the fight, also marks a Trail of Tears route and the historic Telegraph Road. Get out and walk the trails to feel the scale of the ground. Fall foliage over the fields is the standout season.
- Best window
- April to October for the driving tour and trails, with fall foliage especially good
- Signature routes
- Seven-mile auto tour road, Elkhorn Tavern
- Pack focus
- Water, weather checks, layers
Pea Ridge in photos
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Location
Arkansas
Established
1956
Size
4,300 acres
Best time
April to October for the driving tour and trails, with fall foliage especially good
Entrance
No entrance fee.
Nearest airport
Northwest Arkansas (XNA) about 45 minutes
When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Moderate crowds
Mild and green, near the early-March battle anniversary, with wildflowers.
Pack A rain layer and comfortable shoes for the trails and tour stops.
Summer
Moderate crowds
Hot and humid, with the driving tour the comfortable way to see the field.
Pack Water and sun protection for the open battlefield stops.
Fall
Moderate crowds
Crisp and colorful, the prettiest time over the historic fields and woods.
Pack Light layers and a camera for foliage along the tour road.
Winter
Low crowds
Cold and quiet, with the tour road open but the visitor center on shorter hours.
Pack Insulation for cold trail walking and a check on visitor-center hours.
Top things to do
Seven-mile auto tour road
A self-guided drive with 10 stops covering the two days of fighting in March 1862. The backbone of any visit.
Elkhorn Tavern
A reconstruction of the tavern at the center of the bitterest fighting, with the historic Telegraph Road and a Trail of Tears route running past it.
Battlefield trails
Hiking, biking, and horse trails let you walk the ground beyond the road, including a path up Pea Ridge itself for the wider view.
How long to spend
Make Seven-mile auto tour road the timed anchor
Put the timed or highest-demand stop first, then keep the rest of the day close and low-friction. For one day in Pea Ridge National Military Park, time Seven-mile auto tour road first, then keep Elkhorn Tavern and Battlefield trails close enough that the visit still feels relaxed.
- 1Start with Seven-mile auto tour road: A self-guided drive with 10 stops covering the two days of fighting in March 1862. The backbone of any visit.
- 2Add Elkhorn Tavern: A reconstruction of the tavern at the center of the bitterest fighting, with the historic Telegraph Road and a Trail of Tears route running past it.
- 3Use Battlefield trails as the slower finish before leaving the area.
Plan your trip
Turn Pea Ridge's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Pea Ridge National Military Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Pea Ridge National Military Park packing list
0 of 16 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Pea Ridge National Military Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Rain jacket, Insulated jacket, 1 more
Checklist mode
16 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
Gear for Pea Ridge
The buying guides that match what Pea Ridge asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
Pea Ridge is day-use only with no camping inside the park. Most visitors base in nearby Rogers, Bentonville, or Bella Vista, all within 20 minutes, with plenty of hotels and food. For camping, Beaver Lake to the south has many Corps of Engineers campgrounds, and Roaring River State Park across the line in Missouri is another close option.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Free, day-use only. Base in Rogers or Bentonville; camp at Beaver Lake.
Pea Ridge has no campground and no reservation system. The auto tour road is open daily 6 a.m. to sunset; the visitor center keeps shorter, seasonal hours.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Check the official park camping page before choosing dates.
- No entrance fee and no camping inside the park.
- The 7-mile tour road is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily; visitor-center hours vary by season.
- Nearest camping is at Beaver Lake Corps of Engineers parks and Roaring River State Park in Missouri.
Where to book or verify
Search Recreation.gov
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Roaring River State Park (Missouri)
Details- Season
- Generally spring through fall.
- Sites
- Developed campsites and cabins in a trout-fishing valley.
- About 20 miles north across the state line, a scenic alternative.
Getting there and practical info
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Get to Pea Ridge National Military Park, then remove the first-morning friction.
- Nearest airport
- Northwest Arkansas (XNA) about 45 minutes
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- Arkansas
Fly in
Pea Ridge sits on US 62 in the far northwest corner of Arkansas, about 10 miles northeast of Rogers and 45 minutes from the Northwest Arkansas airport.
Shuttle access
The visitor center is right at the entrance, and the 7-mile auto tour loops from there through the battlefield.
Local movement
The park pairs well with Bentonville, Rogers, and the Prairie Grove battlefield to the south for a regional history trip.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to visit Pea Ridge National Military Park?
No. There is no entrance fee, and passes are not sold. The 7-mile auto tour road is open daily from 6 a.m. to sunset, while the visitor center keeps shorter, seasonal hours.
How long does the Pea Ridge auto tour take?
Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours for the 7-mile self-guided loop with its 10 stops, more if you walk the trails or linger at Elkhorn Tavern. Start at the visitor center for the orientation film and battle map first.
What is Elkhorn Tavern?
A reconstruction of the tavern that stood at the center of the fiercest fighting at Pea Ridge in March 1862. It sits on the historic Telegraph Road, which also carried a route of the Cherokee Trail of Tears years before the battle.
Can you camp at Pea Ridge National Military Park?
No. Pea Ridge is day-use only with no campground. The nearest camping is at the Corps of Engineers parks around Beaver Lake to the south and at Roaring River State Park across the line in Missouri.