Best Tent Camping near Batesville, AR

Average space between sites. Level paved sites with gravel picnic area including picnic table, fire ring, lantern hanger. Some sites had covered picnic area. Limited shade, most sites don’t have trees. Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Garbage cans were outside of bathrooms, as well as dumpsters near the registration building. Friendly staff upon check in. Campground was patrolled regularly. No laundry or recycling. Nearby road with little road noise. Verizon cell signal was excellent. There is a dump station and potable fill station. No store or food for purchase on site. No hiking in campground, but multiple trails nearby. Boat ramp at campground and lots of wading fly fishing in river. Fish hatchery across from campground.

General: We were apprehensive about planning to stay at this campground as the nearby one in Blanchard Springs was closed, we could not make reservations, five of the 27 sites were closed due to potential flooding from Hurricane Laura, and access is via a three-mile winding dirt road (not recommended for large RVs but it was navigable for our campervan), so we made alternate backup plans. There was no need to worry, however, as there were plenty of open sites, including some overlooking North Sylamore Creek when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October for a hike. 

Sites/Facilities: Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, tent pad, and lantern pole. There is a central water source.

Activities/Amenities: This is a no-frills campground – no electric or water hookups, dumpster, playground, or flush toilets – just vault toilets. What struck me most was how quiet it was. There is access to the Sylamore hiking trail; you can hike five miles to the Blanchard Springs picnic area.

For Full Video Review. CLICK HERE

While traveling through this portion of Arkansas I stumbled upon a small roadside for Gunner Pool Recreation Area just a short distance past Blanchard Springs.    3 miles down a gravel, but well maintained roadway, the campground sat nestled between to sections of the water way.     On one side, slow moving water is met by the dam forming the blue toned pool and on the other a gentle flowing stream flanks the massive mountain side.   

Along the camping loop, spaces are well separated and have plenty of room to spread out.   Each site is equipped with standard camping amenities such as picnic tables, lantern hooks and fire rings.      Vault toilets are centrally located in several areas of camp both on the upper and lower loops.   In addition locking style garbage cans are placed near restrooms. 

When I visited the Forest Service was on property trimming trees and clearing debris from recent rain.   Their office is located just a short distance from the entry of the roadway, so they are often here to work on the property.

A little gem in the midst of the campground is located just across from the pay kiosk, the story of the property and the CCC camp which actually created not only this property but also worked on neighboring sites at Blanchard.   Definitely check out the story!!

Tips:

• Bring your own envelop for the pay kiosk, when I visited the paper envelops were soggy and unable to be used.    You can easily pull one but putting money in them they simply fell apart.
• Bring everything.   There are no stores in the camp in addition to no fire wood available at the campsite so make sure you come prepared.    The closest store for major things is located over 15 miles away.

• Open All Year
• 91 Sites Water/electric
• 50 amp available
• 55 Non Electric
• Reservation accepted (877-444-6777)
• 3850 Highway 330E, Clinton, AR  72031

Boat Ramp, drinking water, dump station, marina, day use picnic area, playground, fire ring/grill, fish cleaning station, picnic table, restrooms with flush toilets, and showers

Choctaw is located several miles outside the town of Clinton Arkansas.  I would advise stocking up before leaving home or in Clinton.  Located in the gently rolling hills of the Ozarks.  The roads are in good shape but like most roads in Arkansas they could be considered, not narrow, but not exactly wide.  The campground is located right off the road so watch for your turn.  Choctaw is one of the few parks in the Greers Ferry complex that is right off the main road.

The site numbers are well marked on the entrance of each site.  Some sites are more level than others and some are shorter than others.  Longer rigs will have to pay close attention to the size of the sites.  Area is well wooded giving a large amount of shade and a lot of needles and leaves.  If you don't carry a good broom you might want one to sweep your pad.  Trees are mainly pine so shade will continue through winter.  While we were there it was time for mowing but generally COE parks are well maintained

Little Red River and the Greers Ferry Lake produce an amazing outdoor experience.  Sitting all along the banks of Greers Ferry Lake you are able to have your pick of any number of COE campgrounds and private campgrounds.  Choctaw is a good example.  

Arkansas is called "The Natural State" and it does live up to its name.  Greers Ferry is located in Cleburne County Arkansas with several small towns dotted around the lake.  There are between 30,000 to 40,000 acres of crystal clear water depending on the season and the rains.  You may fish, scuba dive, water ski, SUP, kayak, canoe, swim or just relax at your campsite.  Your choice but is geared toward the outdoor life.

Fishing is the sport of the day here.  You will find some of "The Best" fishing in the south with some bragging "In The World".  The lake holds the record for bass at 27 lbs 50 oz.  Tournaments begin in April and go through October.  Whether you are a local or a visitor fishing is done year round.  Every game fish native to Arkansas is stocked and maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish.  Depending on the time of the year you are able to look forward to trophy size striped bass, walleye, and trout.  That is not to say you shouldn't hook your share of channel catfish, bigmouth and white bass and crappie.

Have fun.  Stay safe.

LNT

Better than when you found it.

Happy Trails

Step back in time for childhood memories. This campground is along side a busy city street which can be loud but will quieter down after the work day ends. At Green Acres you will not find a swimming pool or a fancy playground. What you will find is laid back friendly owners and pricing from the 70’s or 80’s. Offer full hook ups weekly monthly rates. Stay six nights get seventh free. Laundry area, mature trees. Shopping and dining with in walking distance  Mountain View is a great little town for all kinds of fun. Really, you just have to check it out. For a small town Mountain View has so much to offer it’s guest. It brings our minds to days gone by. Weekends will find pickers on the square or concerts at the Ozark Folk Center. Few campgrounds have a pool but you can always head to a creek to dip your toes. Stand up paddle board, canoe, kayak, Loco Ropes, mountain bikes, hiking, antiquing, movies, trail rides, fishing. I think that gives you a taste. Mountain View has a movie theatre and one of the few drive in theaters left in the USA. First run movies will be found at both. Have fun. Stay safe. Leave No Trace Better Than You Found It.

Check in Check out 2 pm

Maximum stay– check to see from Memorial Day through Labor Day

$15 per day no hook ups 1 site with electric $20

Open all year 

No reservations     FCFS 

Tent camping or small RV/trailers

Dump station Picnic table toilets hot showers drinking water grills lantern poles

High water can lead to campground shut down. There are two group camp sites that are by reservations only for a minimum of 8 and maximum of 50. Call 877-444-6777 for reservations or info. 

You will find a trailhead connecting the campground to the North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail. There is also access to the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. If the cavern is open, right now it is closed due to COVID, it is an excellent cavern to visit as it is a “live” cavern. It is still growing and evolving. A must visit is to see Mirror Lake which was created by a dam built by the CCC. Along the same path you will discover the remains of an old mill. Mills once dotted the Arkansas hills but few remain. A hike to the“Blanchard Springs”. The water that is coming out of the rocks is actually coming from inside the cavern. 

The road to Blanchard Springs is steep going in but the road is in very good shape. To get to the campground you will have to cross a “low water bridge” that is made of concrete and the creek flows over the concrete. Adds a bit of excitement for the kids if they have never been across one.

Carry in all the supplies you will need so you will not have to leave the area until you are ready. The creek is amazing, clear and cool.

LNT 

Better than when you found it

Stay safe Happy travels

May - Sep with 93 sites and 57 of those have electricty

$16.00 non electric $18.00 electric

Reservation 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

Boat ramp, drinking, water, dump station, marina, day use area, picnic area, playground, flush toilets, showers, lantern pole, fish cleaning table

Nicelyspaced sites with some water sites.  Wooded and a lot of nice shade, a large bath house with toilets.  The swimming beach has sand and an amazing view of Sugarloaf Mountain.  There is a loaning life preserver station with a great number life preservers on offer.  The site numbers are well placed and easy to read and see.

LNT

BTWYFI

Travel safe