Join the fun near Buffalo National River. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Buffalo National River, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Buffalo National River and user-submitted reviews.
"So many options to make your home away from home! Grassy meadows or river side oasis, you choose! This is definitely the place to go to enjoy magnificent scenery and not be distracted by technology."
"I just tried to make a trip up there at the end of April (2022) and the final stretch of access road was blocked off due to erosion according to NPS. Not sure when main road will reopen."
"There are surrounding trails that lead to some nice spots for a stunning sunset. These seem to be free established campgrounds, not dispersed."
"There are a few bears in the region so I would hang my food just to be safe. There aren't any specific spots for RV's but there are a few cleared areas with room to park an RV or trailer."
"100% of Wildlife Management Areas in the state of Arkansas require a Hunting license or WMA camping permit purchased though Arkansas Game and Fish."
"Spoke with Arkansas Game and Fishing Commission Ranger. No despersal camping but you can camp in the 2 designated campsites. Well designated, my post is on the further east site from Carver."
"This area is a wilderness area so camping is plentiful. However in this particular are there is no organized campsite specifically. "
"Hercules Glades Wilderness Area is part of mark Twain National Forest. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worth it for a day hike or a bit of backpacking."
"We got here on a pretty hilly/twisty road late at night, found a spot close to the trailhead and had a quiet, peaceful night sleep. We saw just one other camper with a trailer close to the inlet."
"Nice camping spots at the trailhead for Hercules glades. It was a beautiful, quiet area."
LegendNot sure if the location pin is correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.49995, -92.80930. A large, wooded dispersed site situated above Brock Creek off of Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trail area. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road. The dispersed site can accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles - campervan size and smaller. There are 2 access driveways into the site. Access for a truck camper is tight due to the location of trees on the site. Access for 2WD low clearance vehicles may be rough due to some erosion. The dispersed site is a dirt surface with some embedded rocks jutting out. Some leveling may be required depending where the rig is parked. Tent camping is possible. There is a vehicle turnaround at the rear of the site. The site is shaded, so solar charging is limited. Except for a little bit of glass and some bullet shell casings scattered about, the site was clean at the time of my visit. The site has a large rock fire ring. There is a wide track that leads off the site toward the south along and above the creek. This track does not appears on any of the current forest service maps (including MVUM) that I have, so I'm assuming that it is not a legal motorized vehicle track. The track is hikeable. The site is convenient to OHV and multi-use trails. It was a pretty site during my summertime visit, but I bet it's beautiful during the Fall season. It is set back from Charleston Road. It is a really nice spot.
LegendCoordinates: 35.58695,-93.20723. Camped here Dec 29, 2024. Set well off of Meadows Knob Rd. Expect pinstriping along the access track to this secluded dispersed campsite. FR1802A toward the site has some erosion; low clearance vehicles may high center in one or two spots. The main forest road into this part of the Ozark National Forest is okay. The campsite is in open area, located in an old clear cut area. There is a partial view of the distant mountains. The site is a level, dirt surface. Not a large site; okay for one rig. Tent camping possible. No nearby mature trees for hammock camping. The site is overgrown with grass and weeds; a weed whacker is needed to clear the rock fire ring. There is a spot on the ground where a previous campfire was made. Good AT&T and T-Mobile 5G service. No shade; access to Starlink is possible. No hiking trails, although there is a 2-track for hiking that leads down into Graves Creek Canyon and some unnamed waterfalls. The hike along this trck is nice. This is not a pretty dispersed site, but it is well off of the main forest road; very private. Access to the site may be difficult for some vehicles. High clearance 4x4 vehicles should have no problems.
LegendLarge clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou. Located on Middle Fork Road, about a 1/4 mile in from AR Hwy 27, near Hector, AR. The site is on national forest land and appears to be popular. It's large enough for 3 car/truck/campervan rigs. Area is level for rigs & tents, although the ground is mostly hard buried gravel - maybe uncomfortable to sleep on without pads. Three large puddles on the site. Three ways to enter the site from Middle Fork Road. Middle Fork Rd itself can easily accommodate 2wd passenger vehicles. Other dispersed sites further down the road along the creek. The site is not pristine, but it's nice to camp close to the bayou. Very peaceful, but there is occasional faint truck noise from Hwy 27. A half dozen or so vehicles passed by, some were residents who live further down the road. No facilities; need to bring your own water. No trash pickup; pack in, pack out.
LegendCoordinates: 35.50873, -92.81549. Group dispersed site located less than a 1/4-mile south of the Zing Trailhead on Charleston Road. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road located in a popular national forest OHV area. This dispersed site is a level with a dirt and grass surface. The site can accomodate multiple vehicles; tent camping is possible. There is a large rock fire ring at the rear of the site. The site is open with little shade, making recharging with solar panels possible. Other than accommodating a group of OHV and offroad enthusiasts, and stargazing at night, there is nothing remarkable about this campsite.
LegendThis area is a wilderness area so camping is plentiful. However in this particular are there is no organized campsite specifically. Instead there are several areas where you can with permissions hike in and stay.
My suggestion for camping along this area are to check with local restrictions, there are some that you will want to make sure you know first hand. Sometimes fire restrictions do change and these can be found at the beginning of the trails on the kiosks. Some areas also are not permitted for overnight parking so you want to check those out before venturing into the wilderness for a lengthy time.
Check with rangers of the area to make sure you are not in a register only or permit only area for camping!! Very important in this region.
Bring everything and then plot your course.
The 4 mile hike is amazing and has many beautiful view points however it is also quite treacherous in some areas. This area is also one which you will find many snakes lurking during warmer months so beware!!!!
I always suggest on wilderness hikes to not hike alone or camp alone but this one I found to be more problematic with limited to no cell service for assistance should you encounter danger.
Be careful but have fun!!!
LegendPin location may not be correct, so here are the coordinates: 35.52534, -92.83158. Located on Charleston Road in a popular national forest OHV area - 1/2 mile southeast of the Mountain Man Trailhead. Charleston Road is a well maintained gravel road. The site is at the beginning of an old unnamed, closed, dirt track - close to Charleston Road. The site has a dirt surface; not quite level, but more level toward the rear. It is a pull-in site which can accommodate one campervan and smaller. Tent camping is possible. The site is mostly shaded. There is poison ivy around the perimeter of the site. The site includes a large rock fire ring. Except for a little bit of trash in the fire ring, the site was pretty much clean. The old track is gated just past the site,; the track is hikeable, leading up to the northern-most Stoebuck Mountain (there are two "Stoebuck Mountains" in this area). Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site. It is good for an overnight stay.
GuideHercules Glades Wilderness Area is part of mark Twain National Forest. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worth it for a day hike or a bit of backpacking.
Since it's wilderness area, you can camp just about anywhere with few restrictions. There are a few primitive sites at the trailhead, no water or toilets.
A few hundred yards from the Coy Bald Trailhead there is a fork in the trail. Going left gets you to the falls and the majority of the camp sites with the shortest route, about three miles.
The trail is pretty rough and rocky with moderate elevation changes. I'd rate it on the low side of moderate difficulty.
About a mile in you'll cross the river for the first time. There are camp sites with fire rings on both sides of the river. This is a scenic area with bluffs on one side of the river, but forested, so no views to speak of.
About three miles in, you'll cross the river the second time. There are a number of camping areas with fire rings along the river.
Downstream a few hundred feet are the falls that most people go to see. Unfortunately for us, there wasn't enough water for them to be running. There was enough water to wade around in and soak the feet. It was quite nice!
The area is pretty and quiet, we saw only a handful of people in the two days we were there. The only issue was the ticks, they were the worst I'd dealt with in some time.
All in all, a nice hike and a nice bit if camping. I'd go back to see the falls again.
LegendCoordinates: 35.49123, -92.80548. Large open dispersed site set back from Charleston Road, just north of Bell Rd (Forest Road 1334). Located in a popular national forest OHV and multi-use trails area. Charleston Road is a wide, well-maintained gravel road. Access to the site from Charleston Road is on a 400 foot long narrow dirt track; pinstripping is possible. The dispersed site has a dirt surface with some embedded rocks. It's on a rise above the lake, offering a nice view. Solar recharging is possible in this open site. The site is on what appears to be a parking area along an old dirt track; this track appears as an older section of Charleston Rd on some maps. There is a dirt ramp into the lake. There is room for multiple rigs at the campsite. Some leveling may be required depending on the spot the vehicle is parked. There are two rock fire rings - one large and one small. Tent Camping is possible near the fire rings. The lake was drained at the time of my visit; otherwise, it's a really nice view.
LegendNot sure if the pin location is correct, so here are the exact coordinates: 35.53654, -92.80322. Small dispersed campsite just off Wilderness Trail Road. Wilderness Trail Road is a wide gravel country road located in a popular national forest OHV area. More specifically, the site is located on multi-use/OHV trail Brock Creek #42, Forest Road 2321 - just a few hundred feet south of Wilderness Trail (not in the trailhead parking lot, where camping is not allowed). Its a small, level dirt site, mostly shaded in a small clearing in the trees, close to the track - not private. It has a small rock fire ring. Tent camping is possible. It's a pull-in site which can accommodate one vehicle - truck camper and smaller. Except for being convenient to OHV trails, there is nothing remarkable about this dispersed site.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, where nature lovers can find serene spots to unwind and explore. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best spots for dispersed camping on Buffalo River in Arkansas?
Among the best dispersed camping options near Buffalo River are Charleston - Bell Roads Dispersed, which features a large wooded site with easy access off Charleston Road. This spot is situated alongside a rocky creek and offers proximity to Brock Creek. Another excellent option is Brock Creek - Charleston Rd Dispersed, a spacious wooded site situated above Brock Creek in a popular OHV area. Both locations are accessible via well-maintained gravel roads. For those seeking more seclusion, the Austin Trailhead Dispersed site off Wilderness Trail Road offers a smaller but more private camping experience.
Where can I find dispersed camping along Buffalo National River in Arkansas?
Dispersed camping is available in several areas near Buffalo National River, particularly in the surrounding Ozark National Forest. Middle Fork Dispersed Site AR Ozarks offers a large clearing along the Middle Fork of the Illinois Bayou, about a quarter mile from AR Hwy 27 near Hector. The site can accommodate multiple vehicles and is level for both rigs and tents. Another option is FR1802A, Meadows Knob Rd Dispersed, which provides a secluded experience though access requires navigating some erosion points. Most dispersed sites in the area have established fire rings but minimal to no facilities, so come prepared with water and supplies.
Is free camping available at Buffalo National River?
Yes, free camping is available in the areas surrounding Buffalo National River, primarily in the Ozark National Forest. Adams Mountain Rd Dispersed Campsite in the Piney Creek Wildlife Management Area offers free camping with established fire rings. It's located at a high clearance ATV trailhead off a gravel road. Similarly, Group Dispersed, Charleston Road provides a level site with dirt and grass surface at no cost. While these free dispersed sites lack amenities like water or toilets, they offer flexibility without reservation requirements. Remember to follow Leave No Trace principles and check for any seasonal fire restrictions before your visit.
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