Tent camping options near Elizabeth, Arkansas center around Buffalo National River access points and surrounding forest lands. Most sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with seasonal availability influenced by water levels and weather conditions. During spring and fall, temperatures typically range from 45-75°F with summer months seeing consistent 80-90°F days and occasional thunderstorms that can affect road access and river conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Buffalo River offers smallmouth bass, sunfish, and catfish fishing, particularly at Dillards Ferry where one camper noted it's "not my favorite camp site but it is my favorite swim spot" with "clear water right beside the camp."
Mountain biking trails: The Syllamo trail system provides extensive mountain biking opportunities near camping areas. A reviewer at Syllamo mentioned "This is a series of trails with multiple trail heads. Each trail head has a course gravel parking area and a very nice pit toilet. Bring lots of drinking water."
Canoe trips: Plan multi-day float trips with Buffalo River access points serving as starting or ending locations. According to one camper at Rush Campground, "This is the last stop before you enter the wilderness area of the Buffalo River. It was amazing... This is a great place to go if you are a beginner level for canoeing."
What campers like
Stargazing conditions: Limited light pollution in primitive camping areas creates excellent night sky viewing. A camper at Spring Creek Campground mentioned "I didn't get phone service (yay!)" and that "for the most part it was very quiet," creating ideal conditions for night sky observation.
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campsites report regular wildlife sightings. One Spring Creek camper observed "A handful of armadillos were scrounging around during the evening" while others mention frequent deer, bird, and small mammal sightings throughout Buffalo River camping areas.
Stream-side settings: Several campsites offer direct water access for both recreation and ambiance. Rippee Conservation Area received praise as "a beautiful spot on the Bryant creek" that "has great fishing, nice and peaceful and not well known."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds require navigation of unpaved roads that deteriorate after rain. A Spring Creek visitor warned about "a rather janky gravel and dirt road leading to it. In the rain, the road would be extremely difficult. Very steep."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites offer minimal amenities. As one Rush Campground camper explained: "They have one vault toilet, 12 tent sites, and a water spigot. Right on the beautiful buffalo river."
Seasonal crowding: River access sites become busy during peak floating seasons. One Rush camper described it as "beautiful campground for the entire family. Fairly quiet at night after 11pm. Very busy during the day and evening time. Water gets crowded with canoers and people with kayaks."
Verify campground status: Some formerly listed campgrounds are no longer operational. A visitor to Norfork Lake Tecumseh Park reported: "No review since due to build of new bridge campground is gone."
Tips for camping with families
Site separation preferences: Families often value privacy between campsites. One camper at Spring Creek Campground appreciated that "The campsites are a good distance apart, they have plenty of room and have fire rings and picnic tables."
Ranger interactions: National Park Service rangers regularly patrol Buffalo River campsites. A family camping at Rippee Conservation Area described it as "a very great family friendly campground" and "a really quit and nice place."
Budget options: Free camping is available at select locations. One visitor noted Rippee Conservation Area is "free, and it's about as nice as you can expect from a free campground" with "firepits and grills" despite having only "four campsites."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV access: Most campsites near Elizabeth focus on tent camping with minimal RV facilities. The Buffalo River campgrounds generally lack hookups and have size restrictions due to narrow access roads and small camping pads.
Alternative accommodations: Some visitors use vans rather than traditional RVs. One Spring Creek camper reported: "Van-camped in site #3 in mid-October... Not all sites are level; varies from site to site" indicating potential for small self-contained vehicles despite limited designated RV spaces.
