Ozark Campground — Buffalo National River

Nice campground next to the Buffalo river. Spots are on grass and pretty shady. Flush toilets and sinks only. Pretty spot for tents and roof top tent campers.

Camped here during the week, so it was fairly quiet. There seemed to be a church gathering in the walk-in camping area so we moved away from them to a more secluded campsite. It was lovely, right on the river, clean, and had ample room for 2 tents, 2 cars, and all our stuff. River was clear and refreshing. We avoided the busy times at the swimming area because the church group had a lot of kids with them, but it was really great.

Wanted to stay here over the passed weekend. Too many people to try and camp with so many kayaks. I was jealous that we didn’t get to make it in time to get a spot. We were wanting to kayak as well. Ha. We did get to walk down to the water. Beautiful rocks. Nice clean facility, even with all the people there. Hope to come back and have a spot next time!

The campground is surrounded by the river and hills and you can hear the water flowing at night. Fire ring and picnic table at most spots. Pretty trails to hike. During the season they have drinking water hydrants working. They have bathrooms as well.

There’s lots of campground near by but across a bridge is hidden off road that will take you to Carwash Falls. It has a great scenic off road trail and backroad highway. If you looking for a day trip this is one of the favorite Jeep trail.

This wasn’t our first choice, but it ended up being great! Just north of Jasper there’s a dirt road to the left that you take. The campground is just a loop with open space in the middle. Most spots are in the trees so it’s great for seclusion and hammocks. Each spot has a fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms available. It doesn’t fill up quickly. The Buffalo River runs right along the campground and the Buffalo River Trail goes through it. The campground host was very friendly and helpful!

Co Rd 129, Harrison, AR 72601  National Park Service 

Stopped while doing the Scenic 7 road tour for fall colors, well worth the drive down the windy gravel road, best for tents, can hike in as part of a multi-day hike, this is one of many campground for that activity.  Not recommended for large campers or motor homes.  Have cash to pay fee host does not give change.

Star gazing park, meaning park does not light up during night, if they do they are yellow lights not bright but there, flush toilets and a pavilion, fire pits. 

They give discount for senior and disabled america beautiful pass.

Me and my friends chose this campground very last minute. Its a loose dirt road on the way in and out so prepare! If you are wanting private campgrounds with trees, this is not your spot. The camp sites are far enough distance from eachother though. There’s a cool trail that leads to the river. We enjoyed it over all. :)

Floating the Buffalo is a lot of fun! Scenic views to enjoy along the way, pit stops for some amateur cliff jumping and just floating in the cool, clear water is worth the trip.

We stayed a couple of nights this weekend. It was busy due to the holiday, but we managed to get a great spot. The bathrooms were clean and the grounds were kept well. I'll definitely be coming back.

We enjoyed camping here. We came for Memorial Day weekend and the campground was very busy, but quiet hours seemed to be honored. Some of the campsites are walk-in while some are drive-in. Picnic tables and lantern hooks at every site, nice clean working bathrooms, dumpster, and even a volleyball net. The campsite encircles a large field in the center which some people used to play ball, frisbee etc. many of the sites are not very secluded; you could easily be sleeping right next to another tent. RVs are allowed. There is a quick trail leading to the river - if you camp near this, be aware that people will be going up and down it all day and loading/unloading canoes and kayaks. Fees are $20/night and the campground is patrolled frequently by a park ranger (he was very nice). Lots of dogs!

Very nice campground with bathrooms and showers and electrical hookups. Nice pavilion and river access. Beautiful place to camp!

Incredible campground and beautiful park! We saw a ton of Elk and the trails were incredible! Amazing waterfalls!

Arrive to the campground early in order to get a spot. This place becomes very crowded on weekends & during camping season. Campsites are very close to each other so it makes for loud mornings and loud nights. The facilities are a little dated and and in need of repair.

The hiking and swimming made this place a lot better. This campground has great river access. The water was very clear in some spots and that was pretty neat!

The Buffalo River is a must see Arkansas attraction.

Arkansas is one of my favorite places to camp. The state’s focus on their outdoor spaces is apparent when you travel to any one of their campsites or state owned facilities.  They really stick to their “Natural State” theme to say the least.   

I traveled down Scenic Route 7 from Eureka Springs to Little Rock and found Buffalo National River, which until that trip I didn’t know was even there.  And how did I discover it? A sign pointing me into the direction of Ozark Campground and outdoor space.  

At the time of my visit I had no idea what to expect when I got out of my car and started walking toward what appeared to be a hiking trail.  It opened up to the beautiful turquoise waters of the river, something I didn’t know existed in this area of Arkansas.  Nothing I had read or researched had mentioned this natural beauty just waiting to be explored.

Satisfied with my find I looked more into the camping area which included fire rings and picnic tables. There didn’t appear to be anyone settled in due to the recent rains and the moist ground where the primitive dry campsites were located.  I noticed on the entry kiosk there was additional information about the site including that it is a seasonally non-charging facility which sounded way to good to be true considering there were 31 spaces there and had to be a popular favorite when the weather was better.

During the summer months there is a flush toilet, so I went to check it out and it was nothing to exciting but well maintained.  During the winter they did provide vault toilets but no running water.  

A negative I could see for some is the lack of cell signal with AT&T, this was an issue pretty much the entire scenic highway however not just at the campground.  I also noticed it would probably be pretty difficult to travel down the road if weather was icy, with the rain that had passed through it was slick so I can only imagine if the ice was full force, otherwise I would say this would be a great place to get winter mountain photos.

TIPS:

• Check out the river the water here is some of the most clear you will find and perfect for a number of activities. I found it to be perfect for swimming or relaxing but a lot of people kayak here.

• Bring a walking stick. There are several areas around here you will find perfect for hiking.

Plenty of options for tents and RV's. Lovely section of the Buffalo River. Flushable toilets and shower facilities available. Can get crowded and loud during peak season. Several trails to hike of varying intensity levels. Really cool sink hole to look at on one of the trails.

Good campground within 20 minutes of the Ponca elk herd . Nice ,quiet , and clean.

Buffalo River Campground is a great place to camp. Located on the beautiful Buffalo River, the views are incredible. It’s Dog friendly too and there are many hiking trails close by, some of which even connect to the campground. The river is also clear and a great place to cool off, tube or canoe down. I will def. return here!

Loud equipment to repair multiple camp sites around us.. Didn't know the showers were 100% out until we got there.. Got $130 fine for not knowing the seat life preserver was not acceptable.. Apparently you are supposed to know to read the fish and game website to know about the year changes in floating laws.. Even if you don't fish and knew nothing about it.. Thank you Buffalo ranger.. You kinda are not my favorite person right now.. :(

a

Amazing scenic cliffs, breath taking beauty. Park Rangers are all so helpful & welcoming!

The Buffalo National River in northeast Arkansas was the first National River. The river runs for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. When paddling the river you'll pass by some steep canyon walls. There are a number of developed as well as primitive areas to camp. We stayed at the Steel Creek Campground which had a large open field for tent camping. It was surrounded by a groove of trees that ran along the river. There's plenty of space for tent camping and some space for hammock camping, but all the sites are available on a first come first served basis.There are some great hiking trails in the area, but the real attraction is the river and the opportunity to paddle it. In the small town of Ponca (pop.13) there is an outfitter/gas station where you can get equipped and arrange shuttle service for a drop-off and pick-up paddle trip. When hiking around the area you'll often hike in the surrounding mountains which overlook the river. It lends perspective to see the topography up close and personal while paddling the river as well as from a distant while hiking in the mountains.

Ozark Campground is a simple loop of campsites with great sandy river beaches a minutes walk outside the campground. Nestled alongside the Buffalo National River, Ozark is accessible yet hidden at the same time. We chose this area for a perfect weekend getaway and for an exquisite Autumn camping trip. This was also the perfect time try out my new Ledlenser MH2 Headlamp.

Campground Review:

The sites are first-come-first-serve and cost $12 a night (with a maximum of 6 people per site). There are toilets and water spigots around the campground, but no showers. I set up camp at site #4 which was right along the treeline and had plenty of hammocking spots. Each site has a table, fire ring, grill and hook to hang your food or trash.

When we were there, the campground was manned by a friendly older gentleman who pointed us toward the vacant flat areas since we drove in late at night. The campground has a picnic/day use areas, beaches and lots of nature trails (for hiking and horseback riding). We went on a weekend in mid-October and there were probably about 10-15 other sites being used while we were there for 2 nights. So it is a pretty popular spot but I can definitely see why. The weather was fantastic with cool Fall nights in the 40's and nice warm days anywhere from 60 to 75 degrees. This is a great spot for a family getaway. I highly recommend it!

............................

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Ozark Campground, I tested the MH2 Headlamp by Ledlenser. I happen to already have a headlamp, which I got for cheap at a local outfitter store. The MH2 blew my headlamp out of the water! I decided to do the nice thing and give the MH2 to my partner in crime since he has yet to own a headlamp, but by the end of the trip I was full of regrets for not giving him my old one! :)

What I loved about this headlamp:

1. The focus is unbelievable. First of all, my old headlamp has zero focusing capabilities. The MH2 allows you to target anything in the distance. At our campsite, we spotted with the bright setting an animal in the bushes. We were able to focus the beam on whatever animal it was and we were able to see perfectly a little armadillo staring back at us! I looked at the same thing with my old headlamp and barely saw anything but its eyes.
2. Bright as hell! Enough said!
3. So easy to use, with its tilting head for seeing the ground in front of you as well as the three easy-to-set settings (bright, dim, and strobe).
4. It's so light and comfortable for being such a handy piece of equipment!

We will be definitely be using the Ledlenser MH2 for all of our outdoor adventures in the future!

Ozark Pavillion was a fantastic campground. It had several campsites, but there was also a lot of activity and most were being occupied. It is located right on the Buffalo River and has a great place to go swimming on a hot day or wash off after a long hike. There are communal bathrooms (no showers) and a communal water pump. The Buffalo River Trail runs right through the campground so it is a great place to hike out from. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. The sites are also relatively large so you can have privacy from your neighbor. Last, there is a huge grassy field in the middle of the campground which is great for families to play sports and other games.

Beautiful area! The river rose pretty fast when we camped here in May this year after a three day storm, but our camp site drained pretty well.

We were here in the late fall for the leaves and solitude, just tent campers and a few RVs at that point, I don’t think there are reservations allowed but we didn’t need them that time of year. According to our friends in the area this is a very popular campground since it’s right on the rocky Buffalo River, it’s shady, and there’s a big open green area for the kids to run around in. There’s water and outhouses and standard state park style campground, “rustic” but clean, nothing fancy, nothing distracting from the nature. The bluff around the river is very pretty and we found enough to do in the area on the water even though it was too cold for swimming or wading.

The Ozark Campground is one of the best camping sites in the park. Every campsite has river access within a short few minutes walk. Also within short distance are restrooms, and running water for drinking. Very nice place to car camp because you can bring food in a cooler and leave in your car. We brought chicken on ice and used to fire ring at our campsite with a grate to grill up steaks for dinner. Each site also comes with a picnic table which is nice that you do not need to bring seats or a table, unless of course you want to sit around the fire! Beware, bugs can be bad in the warmer Summer months near the river so remember to bring bug repellant. After a long hot day of hiking nearby trails, the river is perfect for cooling off and going for a swim. I saw some people fishing but it didn’t look like there was too many fish from what I saw. Overall the campground is very clean and pretty quiet and $12 a night isn’t too bad, but I wish it was a little cheaper. Neighbors are respectful of one another and there is plenty of room at each site to put up hammocks and tents. Can’t wait to get back!

By far the best campsite reachable by car along the river. Great views from the sites, with adequate shade and river access. Most years there's a large river rock beach to launch boats from. Take a guide trip from the bridge at Rush creek down to the site in about 3 hrs. Great rafting.

The trail up to the top of Buffalo Pass was gorgeous! There was a horseshoe-shaped lake with a stunning panoramic view. The rocks were tough to climb up towards the end, but the scenery made it more than worth it!