Buffalo Outdoor Center, near Ponca, Arkansas, is a scenic campground that offers a mix of relaxation and adventure. With stunning views from elevated sites, it’s a great place to unwind and soak in the natural beauty of the Ozarks.

The campground provides full hookups and clean facilities, including restrooms and showers, which visitors appreciate. Many campers have highlighted the friendly staff and the convenience of the on-site outfitter store, where you can gear up for activities like canoeing and hiking. As one happy camper noted, “The staff was very friendly,” and the food at the kitchen is worth a try, especially the Sasquatch BLT.

For those who love the outdoors, Buffalo Outdoor Center is close to the Buffalo River, offering excellent hiking and mountain biking trails. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the chance to spot elk in the area, adding to the campground's charm. Whether you're setting up a tent, RV, or cabin, this spot has something for everyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

Buffalo outdoor center

Looking for the best campgrounds near Ponca, AR? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Ponca, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Ponca camping trip.

Ponca

The Best Camping Near Ponca, Arkansas

This is a wonderful RV park.  Easy to find, park and setup.  Very large concrete pads to set up RV.  Very clean bathhouse/restroom.  We did not utilize their amenities because we were only there one night.  It is great place if you have time to hike the trails sadly we did not for this trip.  Ponca and the surrounding have many beautiful nature trails.  Of course the wild Elk are a magnificent set to behold.  We have a small motor home and there were areas along the road with plenty of room for us to pull-over and watch the Elk Bull and cows as they came off the mountain.  If you park on the side of the road, which is a normal thing to do, please make sure to pull off the road away from the white line because you will get a ticket. There are a lot of people traveling on a small rural road so it’s important to be far enough off the road for everyone to stay safe.  We make this trip every year and are so happy to have found the BOC RV park the manager and the store in town were great!

BOC RV Park the views go on for miles 

Stopped in here on a recent family vacation through the Ozarks. The Outfitter store has everything you could need and more. The staff was very friendly. The canoe rates and shuttle rates were very fair and the food in the kitchen was delicious. Try the Sasquatch BLT!

This place is awesome!

This park is so unique.  The view is amazing and it is quite literally on top of a mountain. Very clean restrooms and surprisingly good service for how remote it was. We unfortunately had awful weather but will be back in better weather because the area is gorgeous.  Site was pull through and easy to access.

Amazing Views

Full hookups, gorgeous views on top of mtn…just a short drive to Buffalo access points, food, supplies, outfitters, etc…
Staff is super friendly too!!!!

Amazing views + premium LIMITED spots

Beautiful views and definitely wasnt crowded. Convenient location to nearby activities and very economical. 

Location Location Location 

I am extremely disappointed with our recent stay at Buffalo Outdoor Center RV Park in Ponca, Arkansas. After a 7.5-hour drive, we arrived on June 29, 2024, eager to enjoy a week-long stay. Unfortunately, our visit turned into a nightmare within just one hour of our arrival. While setting up our 5th wheel trailer, there was a loud pop followed by smoke pouring out of our TV. Thankfully, my husband was able to unplug it before our trailer caught fire. To our dismay, none of the outlets on one side of our trailer were working, and our TV, microwave, and fan were all fried and non-functional. We immediately contacted an employee who came to our site, inspected the outside meter post by looking at it, not testing it, and nonchalantly stated that since there was no smoke coming from it, the problem must be on our end. When my husband asked for immediate assistance, the employee told us we would have to wait two days, until Monday, and go to a nearby town to find someone to help us. This response was unacceptable and showed a complete lack of concern for our safety. Moreover, the employee had the audacity to shame us by asking if we had a GFI power surge protector plugged into the meter. None of the other RV sites had this, and in our 23+ years of camping, we have never encountered such an issue. Feeling unsafe and unsupported, we decided to pack up and drive the 7.5 hours back home, after being at the site for just one hour. The lack of assistance and options provided by the Buffalo Outdoor Center was disheartening, especially considering we were in a completely different state with no information on what we could do. Upon arriving home, we hooked up our camper at our local campground, and everything worked fine. We also went on another camping trip to a local RV campground, and again, everything worked perfectly. This clearly indicated that the surge was on Buffalo Outdoor Center's end. When we requested a refund, they refunded all but one day. This is unacceptable considering the distress, inconvenience, and financial loss we endured, including having to purchase a new TV, microwave, and fan. Our experience at Buffalo Outdoor Center RV Park was nothing short of a disaster. The lack of customer service, concern for our safety, and willingness to provide immediate assistance was appalling. We will not be returning and cannot recommend this RV park to anyone.

Photos of Buffalo outdoor center

Real photos from real campers