We’ve had a busy travel week since leaving Gary, Minnesota, and the harvest season behind. We stayed one night in Shakopee at an Airstream Courtesy Parking location, then headed to my aunt and uncle’s house outside Des Moines, Iowa, for a short visit. We reconnected, talked, ate, and played games. Not wanting to overstay our welcome, we kept our visit to two nights.
Our next stop was just south of Kansas City, Kansas, where we spent one night at another Airstream Courtesy Parking location (more on these in a minute) before landing in Garfield, Arkansas, at Lost Bridge Campground, a Corps of Engineers campground, for a few nights.
Arkansas was one of the few remaining states we needed to add to our map. Fortuitously, our daughter-in-law mentioned one of her bucket-list destinations: the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. And we just happened to be staying not too far away!
Bentonville is a destination in its own right. Not only because of Crystal Bridges, which, for true art aficionados, could easily take more than a day or two to enjoy, but also because of downtown Bentonville. It’s quaint, busy, walkable, and home to the Walmart Museum, a nod to Bentonville’s connection to the Walton family and the retail giant they built.
The best part of the Walmart Museum? A yummy waffle cone with a large scoop of salted caramel ice cream for just $2!
Crystal Bridges was, by far, the main attraction. The museum features interesting architecture, eight different galleries, learning studios, walking trails, and cafes and coffee bars. We saw some well-known Chihuly blown-glass pieces, experienced Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Room, gazed at Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter painting, and admired some antique Tiffany jewelry.
Another highlight in Arkansas was Pea Ridge National Military Park, where a two-day Civil War battle in March 1862 helped keep Missouri in the Union. And I have the stamps to prove we were there in my National Park Passport book!
We’re now in Wagoner, Oklahoma, at the Rocky Point Corps of Engineers campground, with a beautiful view of the lake and rolling hills in the distance. The trees are swaying in the breeze as we enjoy a few days of respite. And another state is being added to our map.
Later this week, we’ll venture to Chickasaw National Recreation Area for a quick exploration and another addition to my National Park Passport book as we head south to Texas for a couple of weeks.
About Airstream Courtesy Parking
As Airstream owners, we became members of the Airstream Club International, which is well known for its Airstream rallies and organized caravans. Before we started full-time RVing, we joined our local Piedmont Airstream group, went on a few excursions, and attended a couple of rallies.
One benefit of Airstream Club International membership is Airstream Courtesy Parking, where fellow Airstream owners open their property or driveway to other Airstreamers for a short stay.
Initially, the annual directory listed these locations, but it was difficult to use. We had to figure out where the locations were, whether they were along our route, and then contact the owners directly. It was a cumbersome process that we simply didn’t utilize.
However, Airstream Club International has now partnered with Harvest Hosts, and Courtesy Parking locations are included on the Harvest Hosts map. What a game changer for us! We can easily see where these locations are in relation to our route and, if interested, reach out to the owners.
We started using Airstream Courtesy Parking in 2025, when we visited our daughter in Fort Collins, Colorado. We stayed at two different locations there. This year, we’ve used courtesy parking locations in Delaware, Connecticut, and now Minnesota and Kansas.
Back to Our Travels
We have Big Bend National Park and Carlsbad Caverns in our crosshairs before landing in the Tucson, Arizona, area just ahead of Thanksgiving.
It’s hard to believe that 2026 is nearing its end!
Keep it riveting!
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