RV Rental for Oaklawn Racing Season in Alexander, AR
Planning a trip to the track and want an RV rental for Oaklawn Racing Season without the headache of towing it yourself? Fireside RV Rental, based in Alexander, AR, delivers motorhomes and travel trailers to campgrounds and private sites within reach of the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. The live meet runs roughly December through May, building toward the Arkansas Derby weekend, and we set your unit up before you arrive so race day starts at the paddock instead of in a parking lot.
RV Delivery for the Oaklawn Meet from Alexander
From our base in Alexander in Saline County, the run to Oaklawn is straightforward: pick up U.S. Highway 70 west or take Interstate 30 toward Benton and connect onto Highway 70 into Hot Springs, generally a 45-minute to one-hour drive depending on race-day traffic on Central Avenue. Because the venue sits inside the city, on-street and overflow parking around Oaklawn fills quickly during stakes weekends, so most visitors stay at a campground in Garland County and drive in. We handle the towing, leveling, and hookups on our RV delivery service so you never have to back a trailer into a site near the races.
Where to Camp Near Oaklawn Park
There is no dedicated RV lot at the track itself, so Oaklawn Park camping really means picking a state or Corps of Engineers park within a short drive and having the RV delivered there. Closest options to Hot Springs include:
- Gulpha Gorge Campground — inside Hot Springs National Park, the nearest full-hookup option to Oaklawn, only a few minutes from the bathhouse district and Central Avenue.
- Lake Catherine State Park — southeast of Hot Springs off Arkansas Highway 171, a quiet lakeside base roughly 20–25 minutes from the track.
- DeGray Lake Resort State Park — south toward Arkadelphia off Interstate 30, a larger park if you want room to spread out and don’t mind a 35–40 minute drive in.
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park and Maumelle Park — northeast near Little Rock for groups splitting time between the races and Central Arkansas attractions.
We confirm hookups, length limits, and reservation status at your chosen park before delivery, since Gulpha Gorge and Lake Catherine sites go fast on Arkansas Derby weekend.
Can the RV Be Delivered to a Campground for Me?
Yes — that is the whole point of our service. Reserve your campground site at Gulpha Gorge, Lake Catherine, or DeGray Lake, tell us the site number and your dates, and we deliver the motorhome rental to Hot Springs and set it up. You arrive to a leveled, powered, ready-to-use RV. After the meet ends, we return and haul it out, so your only job is enjoying the races and the bathhouses downtown.
Weather During the Racing Season
The Oaklawn meet spans real Arkansas winter into spring. December and January in Hot Springs bring chilly nights, occasional freezes, and the rare ice event, so every unit we deliver runs furnace heat and we winterize hookups as needed. By the Arkansas Derby stretch in March and April, afternoons warm into shirt-sleeve weather but spring rain and the odd severe-storm day move through Garland and Saline counties — a delivered RV with a dry interior beats a tailgate tent when the weather turns.
Class A and Travel Trailer Options for Race Weekend
Bringing a group for an Arkansas Derby RV rental? A Class A motorhome gives you a full kitchen, climate control, and private sleeping space for a larger party at the lake. Couples or smaller groups heading in for a single stakes weekend often do better with a travel trailer parked at Lake Catherine or Gulpha Gorge. Tell us your headcount and dates and we will match the unit to your site’s length limit.
When to Book
Demand for RV rental Hot Springs races spikes hard around the Racing Festival of the South and Arkansas Derby in spring, when nearby park sites and Hot Springs hotel rooms both sell out. Book those weekends as far ahead as you can. For mid-week winter racing in December and January, availability is easier, but reaching out early still locks in your preferred campground and delivery window.
Reserve Your Oaklawn Racing Season RV
Call 501-681-6043 or email [email protected] with your dates and the campground you have in mind near Hot Springs. You can also start from our home page to see how delivery works across Central Arkansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there RV parking at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort?
Oaklawn does not operate a full-hookup RV campground on its grounds, and on-street space near the track fills fast on big race days. The practical approach is to camp at Gulpha Gorge inside Hot Springs National Park or at Lake Catherine State Park and drive the short distance in. We deliver the RV to whichever site you reserve.
How long is the drive from your Alexander base to Oaklawn?
From Alexander, the trip via Interstate 30 and U.S. Highway 70 through Benton runs about 45 minutes to an hour into Hot Springs, longer on heavy race afternoons. Since we deliver and you drive your own vehicle to the track, that drive time only matters for our setup schedule, which we coordinate before your arrival.
How far ahead should I book for Arkansas Derby weekend?
Arkansas Derby and the spring stakes weekends are the busiest of the meet. Book several months out to secure both your campground reservation near Hot Springs and our delivery slot. For weekday racing earlier in the December–May season, contact us with your dates and we will confirm what’s open.
Which campgrounds can you deliver to for the races?
We deliver to Gulpha Gorge Campground, Lake Catherine State Park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, and other Garland and Saline County parks within reach of Oaklawn. We also serve Pinnacle Mountain State Park and Maumelle Park near Little Rock for visitors combining the races with other Central Arkansas stops. Just reserve your site and share the details.
