We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Buffalo National River. Find the best cabin camping near Buffalo National River. Search nearby cabins or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Buffalo Point is a convenient, fun-filled destination for families and adventurists of all types. It's perched along the Buffalo National River, providing exciting river sports and hiking opportunities. In peak season, a restaurant is open at the facility, serving up meals for those who want a break from preparing them.
The wild river is a gathering place for water activities. Many campers spend their days fishing, hiking, canoeing or kayaking. Evenings are ideal for gathering next to the fire to revamp for another great day out on the river.
The campground is set along Buffalo National River, one of the few free-flowing rivers remaining in the contiguous United States. The river runs 135 miles without dams and cuts through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River. The region is surrounded by droves of lush hardwood trees and grassy open meadows.
Two popular attractions within the Buffalo Point Area are the Indian Rockhouse Trail and the Rush Historic District. Rush was a zinc mining community until the zinc market collapsed and the settlement was deserted. Tours about the town's history are available. Buffalo Point is the former Buffalo River State Park developed in the 1930's as project of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Blanchard Springs Caverns, an extraordinary living cave, is a one-hour drive from Buffalo Point.
Please see the Recreation.gov Rules and Reservation Policies.
$20 - $50 / night
This recreation area is part of Bull Shoals Lake
Blue Heron Campground provides the pleasure of a natural Ozark setting without leaving the beaten path. Forget about traveling miles of back roads to reach that special camping spot. Our RV park is just off the highway and right on the banks of the White River, a premier trout fishing destination. This is RV camping at its finest. You can fish, bird watch, or simply enjoy the Ozark Mountains scenery.
Tucked away on 13 acres but close to town. One mile east on 206 from the scenic 7S. Our beautiful campground has tent sites, water/electric sites, full service 30 and 50 amp rv sites which can handle the biggest of rigs, and beautiful camping and full service cabins. In addition, we have multiple restrooms and showers located throughout the campground which are immaculate. We have added a propane fill station and just finishing a splash pad for all to enjoy during the warmer months. Please visit our website to find out more.
We are located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains near The Buffalo National River, just outside of Jasper, Arkansas. We have a variety of cabins and cottages for your stay. We also have tent and RV camping. The surrounding area offers great hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, caverns, hunting, elk viewing, and many other outdoor activities and community events. We strive to provide you with an excellent camping experience. We are happy to share our Campground, RV Park, and Resort with you and look forward to your visit with us soon! We are Christian owners who first of all want to bring glory to God through our lives in all we do. We strive to maintain the highest integrity in how we do business and in how we treat you. Whether you call or stop by, our family is on site daily to serve you with joy, honesty & respect. Let us know how we can help! Business Office Hours: M-S 9am to 6pm Sunday 10am to 6pm
$5 - $245 / night
Located right on the banks of Sylamore Creek with the tall bluffs of the Ozark National Forest on the other side. Just 5 miles north of Mountain View, & 7 miles from Blanchard Springs Cavern, Sylamore Creek Camp offers swimming and fishing along with a friendly place to park your RV.
$5 - $30 / night
Guide
Beautiful area near the Buffalo National River. Lost Valley Canoe & Lodging has a yurt, campsites, cabins with hot tubs on the deck, bunkhouse, showers, allows pets, and is family owned. Loyal customers return year after year. Canoeing, kayaking, or hiking. LVC store has groceries, even organic, supplies, and friendly folks.
Ranger
The lots are all privately owned and some owners offer their sites for rent. All streets are paved as are the lots. FHU on all sites, pool, hot tub, boat dock. Gated community with guards.
Guide
The campground in nestled in the Buffalo National River Wilderness offering many options on the river or hiking the mountains and bluffs. There are several river access spots throughout the campground.
There are floating outfitters in the area that will drive you up river to float back down toward the campground.
The bathrooms are on the smaller side, but the showers were clean.
GuideWe camped at Buffalo Point on the Buffalo National River over a long weekend in early October and found it to be lovely. We towed our 27ft camper, and while the sites are somewhat compact, they are also quite pretty, and there was plenty of room for the two of us on this trip. When we return with our kids, we’d probably opt for a different site, but we loved the beautiful rock wall and terraced tent pad (which we used as a seating area) at our site. The Buffalo River itself is a national treasure and a jewel in the crown of our native Arkansas. The Buffalo Point site also offered great hiking trails, which we enjoyed. We particularly loved the Indian Rock House trail, which was a beautiful and moderately challenging 4 mile loop. Our Sunday was spent on a 10 mile float of the river, booked through Dirst Canoe Rental, located just outside the park. The rental and shuttle service was convenient and courteous, and the float itself was breathtakingly beautiful this time of year. Floating on a Sunday in early fall meant the river was not crowded at all - a totally different experience from the summer. Most park services were closed due to COVID, so I can’t comment on any of them, but we found it very simple to do everything we needed without assistance. Sites were easy to back into, though we did see that some are quite short - be sure to double check site length when booking!
GuideMy visit to this lovely campground was just simply amazing! The camp site I stayed at was perfect for tent and hammock camping. It was very shady for the hot summer time and it rained a little bit but we had no problems. The Buffalo National river was right next to our campsite. All I had to do was walk down a hill or a path and it was right there for me to swim in. I also got to kayak down the river and that was the best time I've ever had. There are lots of things to do without even leaving the campground. They have lots of trails to hike. One of them even takes you to an old Indian rock that is simply breathtaking.
GuideBuffalo national river is the first national river established in the US and let me tell you it's gorgeous!! There are many places to camp but we stayed at Buffalo Point. There are a few different loops to stay on, we stayed in A. Each site has parking, for car or RV all differing in length, and you walk behind the parking to an area with benches, picinic table, lantern hanger, and fire pit. The river is behind the sites and you can swim in it. I recommend swim shoes because its all rocks to get to it and entering in and out of the water. Behind A loop on the opposite side from the ramp before the curve in the river is a rope swing. Its across the river so you must be a strong swimmer to beat the current. The bathrooms are well kept and there is trash bins available. Pets are allowed too. The loop that we stayed in was first come first serve and there was a self pay station near the bathroom. If you are up early enough, you may see bald eagles flying around the river like we did!
Ranger
What it's like....
The campground has sites available for camper/RVs, tents, and also has six platform tents that you can rent to sleep at. The platform tents have electricity available in the tents, but thats about it. The platform tents are pretty big and they do have cots, chairs, tables, inflatable mattresses, etc.. available to rent if you want to up your platform tent experience. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, and there is access to a dump station for the RVs and campers. They have an onsite general store that has about everything you could want from sandwiches to spark plugs you should be able to find what you need. There are also some disc golf holes set up, a basketball goal, and a "hammock city" area in the middle of the primitive campsites. The bathrooms are pretty magical with access to 25 cent/min showers and the campground even has WIFI, which isn't a reason to go camping, but when you don't have any cell service it comes in pretty handy.
What to do....
The campground is located about 10 miles north of the Boxley Valley in Arkansas which has some of the best hiking and canoeing you will find in the US. If you like to canoe or kayak and you haven't been on the Buffalo National River, you are truly missing out on one of the most scenic rivers out there. There are also ton's of hiking trails many taking you to the various waterfalls in the region. If you are stumped on which trails to go on my two go-to hikes in the area are the "Lost Valley Trail" and the "Whittaker Point (Hawks Bill Crag) Trail". Both are pretty accessible to all and will not disappoint.
What I thought....
I've been to the area before so I knew the hiking / waterfall chasing would be amazing, and it was, but I had never heard about the campground before. I was more than pleased with campground. Everyone we ran into who worked there was extremely helpful and I could not have been more impressed by the cleanliness of the park and its amenities. I was especially impressed by by the bathrooms at the grounds and that the campgrounds had WIFI. The only reason I gave this campground a 4/5 and not 5/5 was how close it was to the highway. Being in the middle of know-where helped keep the traffic down at night, but if there was anyone passing you were going to hear it. Regardless, I would 100% go back and probably do so pretty soon and take the whole family.
Scout
This is an incredible place to camp. Your camp is where the White River and Buffalo rivers merge. If you enjoy fishing this has some of the best trout and bass fishing in the area. The resort has cabins, full hookup sites , tent sites, pool and play area for the kids. If you like to just float or fish they can help you with what you need. There is also boat rentals , fishing guides, just plain relaxing. The resort is family owned,
Scout
Blue Heron cabin was awesome! It was so so clean, and beautiful! Over looking the water can’t get any better! The cabin was so nice! Michael was great to work with and very professional and very nice! Can’t wait till next time ❤️
Legend
This is a mixed use place. It appears that there are long time campers, some weekend campers and nice cabins along the River. The White River is incredible with amazing trout fishing, so this is a great place to take in the views of the river! Location is close to town, the Marina & State Park and also Gastons. Giving it 4 stars for the cabins, but not so much for the campground.
Guide
We drove up from Florida for a late March early April camping experience. We loved this campground and plan going back soon! We stayed for 6 nights (5 @ site E and our last night we stayed in the "Mink" cabin.) Staff was very friendly Site "E" was huge and right on the water! The "Mink" cabin was incredible with a porch and swing right on the water! Perfect location with lots to see and do very close by.
Scout
My Drive to the campsite was beautiful. The new owners are extremely kind & accommodating.
My cabin was perfect for my dog & I. I’m excited to see the updates to visit again.
Legend
Ashley here from The Dyrt! It was great to add this property with gorgeous cabins. A great location for all of your outdoor adventures. Check them out and leave them some love!
GuideFor a small campground, this place has a lot to offer. Well stocked store, RV sites, tent sites, group sites, cabins, pavilion, and even a stage for events.
Quick access to the Syllamore Trail, the creek, and nearby mountain biking trails.
Traveler
Horseshoe canyon ranch is an awesome place. There are many places to camp as well as bathrooms. It is a spectacular place to climb from beginner to advanced! The ranch also has cabins and horseback rides. Check out their website for more info.
Scout
Location is easy to find. Love being next to the water! Heard there is a dog park coming this summer. Great place to go if u want to vacation with someone that doesn't have a camper because of the cabins on property. we will be back.
Scout
Camp hosts are amazing. They make you feel like you're family and they will even walk your dog for you if you need them to. Campground is very shady, quiet. Plenty of room between sites. Cabins are beautiful. Plenty for kids to do. Close enough to Harrison and other towns. We'll be going back to visit with our new camp host friends.
TravelerThis place is not your run of the mill rest stop. Car camp, hammock, tent camp, or rent one the cabins to enjoy the roaming goats and horses around the property. Infamously known in AR as one of the best climbing spots. It does get quite busy, so it’s best to arrive earlier in the day to claim a good spot.
TravelerWe celebrated a birthday with family and friends at Blue Heron - we traveled from Texas. What a GREAT place. Beautiful views - so many amenities - they have everything you need to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Can’t wait to return and stay in one of the riverfront cabins. SO nice. Cheryl and Michael were so helpful and made sure our trip was one for the books.
Scout
Park is clean and well run. Along the beautiful White River, trout heaven. 3 “cabins” available, these are park model RVs in permanent spots along the River. Tent sites with no hookups available, but not at rivers edge. You can put a tent on an RV spot. Programs available from park rangers. Store in campgrounds has most of what you may have forgotten. Tent sites have trees for setting a hammock, some better than others.
Legend
Family style theme campgrounds are always fun. Not really so much about the hiking and outdoors as many other camps in the area but the amenities and attraction of the campgrounds are usually the selling point.
I have seen many Jellystone Parks in the past, and I will say this one is a bit less themed than others. However what it lacks in theming it does make up for in charm as the cast and staff are extra friendly and involved. They ensure that children have interactions with Yogi and that there are plenty of fun activities for the entire family to enjoy!!
They host daily activity times for foam parties, scavenger hunts, interactions and crafts which is really fun and makes for a great family style outing especially for the younger kiddos. Additionally they have a splash pad, swimming pool, hiking areas which are a bit less challenging, playground and ranger station.
Though they do have an all inclusive style approach to entertainment they also have show tickets available for purchase for venturing into Branson itself, a great touch for additional entertainment as there are many things the entire family will enjoy.
Tent camping along with RV camping and Cabins is available but something unique to the park is the RV rental service where you can rent an RV to stay in, something not to many parks in Branson offer.
When I visited the park, some of the amenities and special attractions were currently closed due to the conditions going on in the world, but they still made sure to make it an exciting experience for all staying there.
Legend
This campground is one that is hands above the rest when it comes to upgrades and amenities. With that said it also is a bit higher in price point so when it comes to finding something in the area it is best to ask if you want or need the additional luxuries.
Much like other KOA parks this one offers group activity spaces. A pool, playground, outdoor bbq area, group pavilions and an indoor gathering space are wonderful when available. However when we visited due to the slow roll out of openings due to the things going on in the world, these features were not available.
So then it comes to looking at the more standard and basic services. There are campion options for all styles of camping including tent, RV and cabin campers. The RV areas are the majority of the space however ai was impressed by how many cabins and the size range of cabins they had on site.
Tent camping is located toward the back of the property and was a bit lacking however the space provided was nice for spreading out and still having some covered areas for cooking and dining. There is a shared pavilion/kitchen shelter in this area which offers water and electricity. The tent pad areas are grassy and well maintained.
All visitors have access to fire rings and picnic tables at their sites and trash pick up service is available daily.
KOA offers those who can connect high speed WIFI and cable. As a tent camper the WiFi is great even though I can’t use the other. This helps me to find the best attractions in the area quickly and both upload or download content. The overall cell signal here wasn’t bad though so it just was an added boost bonus!!
This campground has a small store area but is also located very close to the main areas of town for more complete shopping needs. They also have both a dump station and propane for those needing to fill or empty.
I noticed that since they are close to the lake they had an option to rent a pontoon here as well, something I hadn’t seen at other parks in the area. This boat can be towed from the park to the lake and is equipped with a truck to pull it!!
This campground has thought of pretty much everything!!!
Legend
Located in the Branson West area, the Tall Pines Campground welcomes visitors of all camping styles to their shaded sites with a variety of options to best suit every day camping needs.
For those coming to the area with their RV in tow options area available for both larger and smaller units with ample spacing between sites to allow for comfort. Tent campers are welcome at this campground with sites including both primitive and improved with amenities standard to the sites including fire rings, picnic tables and common spaces for activities such as pavilions, a pool, laundry facility, restrooms with hot showers and more!!!
An additional feature of this campground is that they offer small cabins on their lower levels of the camping loops. These are prefect for groups which do not choose one of the camping options or who are flying into the Branson airport which is only 12 miles away. This allows those who would like the outdoor feel and experience to enjoy this without having the urban features of the strip of Branson beating on their backdoor at a hotel.
Staff here are very welcoming and friendly. They often offer upgrades to those staying without additional charge when they are not busy or overly booked to encourage people to return on their next trip. This is even echoed in how they answer their phones, very professional and informative!!
The campground feels like an older campground, and not in a bad way. If lacks the overwhelming feel of being modern where everything is branded or looks like a commercial for another attraction. This one instead feels more like a home for the weekend where you can wake up and have your coffee with a neighbor or even just enjoy the sounds of the nature. Because most of the sites have enough distancing, especially on the back loops, you will have a lot more quiet during quiet hours than many of the more packed and close proximity campgrounds which worry more about cramming in campers than the experience itself.
The only downside in my personal opinion, the roadway through camp is in need of improvement. It is narrow at best in some areas and if you were attempting to navigate with a rig that was larger it could become problematic. This is mainly an issue in the rear of the campground and near the cabins, where you wouldn’t need to worry much about larger units.
**Tips: **
Legend
This isn’t a campground, but it is an awesome resort that started in the 50’sand has grown to what it is today. They have lots of different cabins/cottages to choose from on the river. There is a landing strip for small planes and an awesome restaurant with an amazing view of the River. There is a store on site and a game room for the kids. They also offer fishing guides, because, at the end of the day, it is the world class trout fishing that brings people here! They also have a really nice outdoor nature trail area filled with at least a dozen or more peacocks. I could just spend the afternoon here watching the planes land and take off! If you are looking for a campground close by, I would recommend Bull Shoals White River State Park.
TravelerDogwood Springs in Jasper AR is definitely rustic and unpolished with regard to its setting. RV sites do have full hook-ups although we had an issue with the sewer draining properly on site 31. With only one bath room each for men and women and one shower each as well, they do provide the basics. We had an opportunity to peek into a cabin and we were very impressed with the set up, having a full bath and mini-kitchen. It was well appointed and inviting.
The lay-out of the campground is a bit odd in that some sites are only accessible by driving through another.
The view from site 31 included that of Round top mountain but also vacant, declining commercial buildings near the campground.
Proximity to stores and restaurants in Jasper was handy.
LegendThe campground is beautiful and has one of those mountain settings you will not forget anytime soon!! In the mornings you often will find someone enjoying their coffee as they watch the fog roll across the waters, a picturesque view that is well worth a visit.
The campground itself is available to both RVs and tent campers, although they are shared spaces and with that comes a few challenges. When several RVs are side by side it seems a bit more congested. As a tent camper I had ample space when I set up and felt comfortable. The downside to shared spacing however is that tents must set up on gravel and this can be uncomfortable and post the problem of anchoring.
I myself laid down several blankets before getting comfortable and this ensured I would not be stabbed by a rock in the night. Since the ground is gravel anchoring was difficult at best so I opted to weight my tent down from inside instead, this seemed to work well.
In addition to camping you can also rent cabins which come in a variety of sizes. These seem to be pretty on course for pricing to other cabins in the area and compare in sizing as well.
This is a Good Sam Campground, and with that you have several improved and upgraded amenities, those come at a hefty price tag. As a tent camper I often try to stay within a budget but with this space there are no primitive sites or sites designed for tents specifically that means you will pay the same as an RV which is in excess of $42 for a regular site or $51 for a lakeside site. Discounts for Good Sam do apply to take down this cost a little, but still that price is a bit hefty!!
For me personally I had to see what kind of amenities I would be receiving for this so I could well take advantage. A basketball court and pool were nice, a dog park and playground were good as well but less likely for me to utilize. Laundry was something I was very happy to see in addition to their regular restrooms. Additional parking for trailers and boats was again something I wouldn't personally use but I could see as a marker in justifying the price point.
The thing that really struck me as a huge and unique offering was the storm shelter. The shelter is marked clearly on the map and explained when you check in and it is something I have never seen at any other park or campground I have stayed at. That in itself made me feel instantly more secure as a tent camper.
The overall impressions of this park are good. The people are nice, the facility as a whole is nice and the waterfront is picture perfect. The dock is amazing to go sit on and enjoy but the price for tent camping is still a bit high in my book. Staying here again I would hope to be in a cabin or RV to justify the price point.
Scout
Arkansas' claim to fame! The first national river.
Great canoeing, fishing, swimming and tuning on one of the cleanest rivers around! If you come help keep it that way!! Several outfitting choices near by with reasonable rental and shuttle rates.
Ccampground is always a favorite! Running water and electricity at the sites. A bit disappointed with no flushing potties or showers this year due to maintenance.
Hinking trails are abundant... check out Panther Creek or the old mining town Rush!
No cell service...great time to disconnect from reality!
Cabin camping near Buffalo National River, Arkansas offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Buffalo National River?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Buffalo National River is Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River with a 4.5-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Buffalo National River?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 cabin camping locations near Buffalo National River, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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