Best Campgrounds near Calico Rock, AR

Campgrounds near Calico Rock, Arkansas span across the Ozark mountains, with several options along water features. Sylamore Creek Camp offers tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin rentals near Mountain View, while Cedar Ridge RV Park provides sites overlooking the White River. Dam-Quarry campground features riverside camping with paved sites and good access to trout fishing. Most campgrounds in this region provide electric hookups and water access, with a mix of primitive tent sites and developed RV areas. The surrounding landscapes include forested mountains, clear streams, and lake access points at various campground locations.

Road conditions vary significantly when accessing these camping areas, with some campgrounds requiring travel on winding gravel roads. "Nice, clean and beautiful! No cell service and that was perfect!" noted one visitor about Gunner Pool Recreation Area, which is accessed via a three-mile dirt road not recommended for large RVs. Several campgrounds experience seasonal closures, with Buffalo Point typically open from March 15 to November 14, while Robinson Point operates from May 1 to October 31. Campers should be aware that water levels can affect site availability, particularly during rainy seasons when flooding may occur. Cell service varies widely throughout the region, with many remote areas having limited or no coverage, making advance planning essential.

Waterfront sites receive consistently positive reviews across multiple campgrounds. Trout fishing opportunities are especially notable at Dam-Quarry campground, which sits adjacent to a fish hatchery. A camper shared, "Great campsites along the river, cold water trout stream makes the air temp several degrees lower." Swimming areas are popular features, particularly at Gunner Pool Recreation Area where visitors can enjoy clear water swimming holes and hiking trails. Several campground reviews mention the peaceful atmosphere created by the surrounding mountains and forests. Maintenance levels vary between campgrounds, with some reviews noting well-kept facilities while others mention issues with tall grass or trash in fire rings. Most campgrounds in the area provide at least vault toilets, with some offering shower facilities, making them suitable for extended stays.

Best Camping Sites Near Calico Rock, Arkansas (160)

    1. Blanchard Springs Recreation Area — Ozark St. Francis National Forests

    24 Reviews
    Fifty-Six, AR
    12 miles
    +1 (870) 757-2211

    $3 - $60 / night

    "I completed my undergrad and graduate degrees in Arkansas about 30ish miles north of Little Rock."

    "Blanchard Springs has great camp sites, great hiking, multiple access to swim/wade into water, plus great caving opportunities! There is NO cell service in the park. "

    2. Gunner Pool Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Fifty-Six, AR
    11 miles
    Website

    "v=jioeWYmI0so)

    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"

    "Tents or pop ups only, no big rigs as this is a little off road."

    3. Dam - Quarry

    11 Reviews
    Norfork, AR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 499-7216

    $24 - $80 / night

    "Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower."

    "close the the river and next to the hatchery Great fishing and it’s neat to watch the water rise from the dam."

    4. Sylamore Creek Camp

    11 Reviews
    Mountain View, AR
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 475-4223

    $5 - $30 / night

    "Quick access to the Syllamore Trail, the creek, and nearby mountain biking trails."

    "Perfect location with lots to see and do very close by."

    5. Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

    34 Reviews
    Cozahome, AR
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 449-4311

    $20 - $50 / night

    "Some sites you may not be long enough for your entire rig and you would park your tow vehicle next to your camper. Shade was plentiful. There are five different loops."

    "Paved roads to all the way to your camp site, showers, and a fantastic dinner 5 minutes away may not sound like luxury but Arkansas hllls usually make you work hard to enjoy their beauty."

    7. Jordan Campground

    3 Reviews
    Elizabeth, AR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 425-2700

    "This is a nice campground right on lake Norfolk. Spaces are alittle close together. Staff at Marina go above and beyond helping you out. Beautiful views!!"

    "Awesome views of the lake and great swimming off the rock outcrops. Water is so clear the only downside is no showers"

    8. Misty Mornings Arkansas Cabins & RV Sites

    2 Reviews
    Norfork, AR
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 405-2620

    $40 - $45 / night

    "You are surrounded by mountains, wildlife, birds, eagles, deer, geese and the confluence of the White & Norfork River is at the end of driveway. Norfork Lake is just a few miles away."

    9. Robinson Point

    6 Reviews
    Henderson, AR
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (870) 492-6853

    $22 - $40 / night

    "I think, if they came and upgraded the site with better pad for the modem rvs, this could be a prime location."

    "If you own a boat, Lake Norfork is the place to be. It offers a big like to boat on or fish."

    10. White Buffalo Resort

    6 Reviews
    Norfork, AR
    17 miles
    Website

    "Right on the White River with easy access to the Buffalo River by boat, canoe, or kayak. Pool, playground, small store with essentials, boat rentals, ping pong, & more."

    "Located at the end of the world, it will take a bit to.get there but the drive is worth it."

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Recent Reviews near Calico Rock, AR

447 Reviews of 160 Calico Rock Campgrounds


  • MIKE J.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Clinton RV Park

    SHITHOLE

    MIKE JONES 1/5 7 minutes ago on Google NO STARS Poor maintained ,reviews are years old like there humor.Don't walk at night and go to friends ...you will be video recorded and thrown out for walking at night knocking on doors. Can't play Bob Sieger during the day ..that gets cops called faster than threatening to kill your dog if not chained up.. Yea when u don't even have foot off brake getting in spot a neighbor walked up to my lady friends who were helping me park and threatened to shoot my dog if not on chain.and still is there today....and that kept on happening to other guest as well, butt it's acceptable behavior it's the Clinton RV Par Camper of the year. rude as possible ,Slande people often , ohh and evict the ones that do pay and stand up for wts jacked up with that place so grab yourself a cold coke out of the broken coke machine and sit back and wait rent will go up even more due to high electric rates but that coke machine sitting there for I know 6 months plugged in helps fight the cost of it.Ohh Todd ..we're is part for washing machine your mom said you had and was fixing it? 5 months ago ? It's the waterpump.....1 hr fix..butt some folks are slow I get that ..And last butt not forgotten...our Man David the owner poor man has no clue what's going on with his RV Park ..it just needs more Rock in driveway..people will tell you all about it some may actually back you up ...hope it won't be to late for the CLINTON RV PARK CIRCLE OF LIES...wifi is free...if you get a signal tho..

  • Patricia
    Jul. 19, 2025

    Into the Woods RV Park

    Tiny home enclave in the making

    We have recently moved our tiny home to this lovely quiet family-owned park. They are open to more fulltime residents and are tiny home friendly. There are no resort-type features. But, there is bath house with laundry and gorgeous tree shaded lots on gravel drives with full utilities. Outside of Yellville, AR there no restrictions against tiny home living. A fourth generation country grocery store is about two miles away and includes a real butcher shop and fresh produce. A Walmart, full service hardware store and the fishing paradise of Bull Shoals Lake(with the only remaining operational ferry in Arkansas) make this a great location to retire. No highway noise but close to Branson with the Ozark mountains all around you make it the spot for us.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 19, 2025

    Misty Mornings Arkansas Cabins & RV Sites

    Misty Mornings

    Great stopover. Hosts are very accommodating. I am the only camper here tonight. Very quiet. PJ'S restaurant was wonderful.

  • Brian L.
    Jul. 13, 2025

    Gamaliel

    New paved areas

    Good concrete pad. Abit short for our 36' camper. Parking available on road or grass.

  • Leslie D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2025

    Denton Ferry RV Park

    Beautiful park great location

    Started there many times for fishing and kayaking. The people are great, can't great the location for fishing and paddling. Look forward to more visits

  • Ethan W.
    Jun. 29, 2025

    Holiday Mountain Resort

    Great Campground

    Creek is full of smallmouth bass, great swimming holes for the kids, and some shallow wading areas to lounge in chairs or find crawfish. Owners are great people and very helpful. Awesome place to stay!

  • Cody L.
    Jun. 18, 2025

    Mt. Hersey Primative Campground — Buffalo National River

    Very remote

    The ride in is a long one with steep grades and rugged terrain. Definitely don't bring a camper down here. Amazing views, very quiet and the river is absolutely breathtaking. This road isn't made for smaller vehicles so bring and SUV or a pickup.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2025

    Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

    Early June ‘25

    We stayed 4 nights (Thu-Mon) in June and went on a canoe trip on Saturday. I stopped at the contact station to see if I needed to check in, but they said I didn’t. The bath house was a little messy and it seemed that one toilet wouldn’t flush. There is a paved walk down to the river from B Loop (that’s where we stayed- I don’t know about the others). We found a cool cave at the far right end of the rock beach. The water was absolutely beautiful Thursday-Saturday, but the area got a lot of rain Saturday starting around 2 am, and the Buffalo River Float Service told us there would be a crest after 5 pm Sat. We were supposed to start between 9-10, but when we arrived they said they were delaying everyone’s start. We got on the river about 10:45 am. Our float trip was amazing and we were on our way back to our vehicle on the 3 pm bus (trip was Dillard’s Ferry to Rush). By 8 pm Saturday, the water at the beach area was completely brown and we could tell the water was up a LOT. We saw a park ranger on Sunday and asked about the water level and she said it had gone up 12 feet by Saturday night and Sunday morning it was 13 feet. We could see the level dropping throughout the day Sunday and into Monday morning. We ate an amazing dinner at the restaurant at Buffalo Point- and also had lunch at The Springhouse. Both were delicious meals!! We did the Over Look trail and it was pretty well maintained. We also went to the Rush Ghost Town and did the short loop to check it out- went out past the Overflow parking at Rush to see the rapids, and drove around the Rush (tent only) CG which looked like it hadn’t been used in some time. The Buffalo Point CG Loop B was fairly well maintained with a few sites not usable due to erosion. There were a few campers who had barking dogs that they didn’t seem to correct, so we slept with our fan on to drown out the noise. We absolutely loved our visit to Buffalo Point and would definitely return.


Guide to Calico Rock

Camping near Calico Rock, Arkansas, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful scenery and plenty of activities, there are several campgrounds to explore.

What to do

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-kept restrooms and showers. A visitor at Ozark Campground — Buffalo National River said, “The bathrooms were clean.”
  • Scenic Views: Many campgrounds boast beautiful views. One camper at Gunner Pool Recreation Area mentioned, “This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds.”
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. A reviewer at John F Kennedy said, “The staff was great, scenery perfect, and fishing phenomenal.”

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Richland Creek Recreation Area pointed out, “Campground is beautiful, but had some decent size mud holes coming in.”
  • Primitive Camping: If you’re looking for a more rustic experience, Sam's Throne Recreation Area offers primitive camping. One camper mentioned, “No running water or showers, just two vault toilets.”
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A reviewer at Gunner Pool Recreation Area noted, “The road is washboard and always steep, and sharp curved.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. At Woolly Hollow State Park, a reviewer said, “There are trails to hike, paddle boats, canoes, and a great swimming hole.”
  • Plan for Bugs: Some areas can be buggy, especially near water. A camper at Lake Charles State Park Campground noted, “There are a lot of bees and house flies.”
  • Bring Outdoor Games: Campgrounds often have open spaces for games. One camper at Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River suggested, “Enjoyed walking on the dock and view of the water.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Bull Shoals-White River State Park mentioned, “The RV sites have paved drives & offer views of the river.”
  • Wi-Fi Availability: Some campgrounds have decent Wi-Fi. A visitor at John F Kennedy said, “Cell service was 1 bar and 2 using the signal booster.”
  • Be Prepared for Road Noise: If you’re sensitive to noise, consider this before booking. A camper at Woolly Hollow State Park mentioned, “The entire park is very well kept and very clean.”

Camping around Calico Rock, Arkansas, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking a peaceful spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Calico Rock campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Calico Rock offer varying levels of amenities. Into the Woods RV Park provides full utility hookups, a bath house with laundry facilities, and spacious sites with 30-50 feet between RVs. For those seeking water recreation, Gamaliel features clean, well-maintained facilities with full bathrooms, a playground for children, and proximity to a marina with boat rentals and fishing supplies. Many public campgrounds in the area offer fire rings/grills, picnic tables, drinking water, and flush toilets. Some locations also provide dump stations, showers, boat ramps, and swimming areas, particularly those near Greers Ferry Lake and the White River.

When is the best time of year to go camping in Calico Rock?

Spring and fall offer the most pleasant camping conditions around Calico Rock with mild temperatures and beautiful scenery. Hill Creek - Greers Ferry Lake operates from mid-May through mid-September, making summer a popular but busier time for water activities. Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River is particularly stunning in early spring when waterfalls are flowing and in October when fall colors peak. Summer brings warm temperatures ideal for swimming and water recreation, but humidity can be high. Winter camping is possible at year-round facilities like some RV parks, though services may be limited. For the best combination of comfortable weather and fewer crowds, aim for April-May or September-October.

Where are the best camping spots in Calico Rock, Arkansas?

The Calico Rock area offers excellent camping options along the White River and throughout the Ozarks. Blanchard Springs Recreation Area — Ozark St. Francis National Forests provides beautiful shaded sites with access to hiking trails and the famous caverns. For a quiet, family-friendly experience, Gunner Pool Recreation Area offers a secluded camping experience just a short drive from Calico Rock with well-maintained gravel roads leading to peaceful sites. Many campers also enjoy the nearby water recreation opportunities at Bull Shoals Lake and the White River, which provide additional camping options with beautiful views and great fishing access.