Best Glamping near Eureka Springs, AR

Jake from the Dyrt here!  Roaring River has a spot for everyone, from tents & RVs to luxurious glamping tents, you have to check them out.  Make sure to share some pics of your stay on the Dyrt!

Stayed four days in Spot 3 over the St. Paddy's Day weekend so that my family could enjoy Eureka Springs. 

It's about a 10 minute drive to downtown Eureka Springs. Very convenient. There is a ziplining business across Hwy 23 from 3B, too. 

Didn't come to use the offroad facilities, but I did get to check things out on my dog walks and there's a lot of offroad opportunities in this park. I didn't hear offroad vehicles until around 10 am each morning and not past 10 pm any day. 

I visited with two kids (age 12 and 10) and two dogs. I felt it was safe enough to let my kids walk the dogs by themselves, but I'd imagine that as the offroading picks up here in the summer it may not be safe enough for that. 

The showerhouse and bathroom facilities were clean. 

There is a big decline in and a big decline out. I seriously suggest 4x4 and no smaller than 3/4 ton in and out of this place if you're towing. 

Very low bandwidth on park internet, and AT&T signal here isn't great. Had 1-2 bars on AT&T 4G LTE with around 20 mbps down and around 1-2 mbps up. Didn't put up my WeBoost but I'm sure that would have improved things. There's enough internet to do your basic business, but I wouldn't rely on any of the signal to send or upload any big video files. You're not here to work anyways, so it shouldn't matter.

We loved our stay at Holiday Island Campground. Camp host is the best host we have encountered. It is a small campground with no more than 20 sites. Sites are not too close together and all of them are shady. Also the bathrooms are great!

There is water access via one small trail that leads to Table Rock Lake however it is not necessarily the best place to be getting in the water. When we were there the water was up and we would have had to wade through gunk to get out into the broader part of the lake. I’d say it would probably be suitable to launch a kayak from but you wouldn’t want to swim there. We had to drive about 20 minutes to get to a swimming beach.

It is a beautiful area to camp in and Eureka Springs is only 10 minutes away. Additionally you are 10-20 minutes from pretty much everything you would want to do including Table Rock Lake, Beaver Lake and White river.

I am a huge fan of the springs in Eureka Springs and and the victorian style of the town itself. You can come here during any given time of year and find something of interest from the motorcycle rallies to the classic vw weekends to the art week or even fiddle fest and one of the most important things when attending any number of these events is finding the perfect site to stay.

I explored many options in my numerous trips to this area from those sites in town to those just outside its bounds, each offering their own unique features to add to the Eureka way of life.

On one trip I check out Lake Leatherwood City Park, a campground only about 10 minutes outside of the historic downtown area. This historic lake has both tent camping and cabin options.

I selected a tent option without electrical connections and it was only $13. My camp included the typical fire ring and picnic table, nothing to special in way of actual provided items. But something that did make #14 a bit better than most were the views of the lake itself. It was located in what they consider the meadow section of the campground, a bit further away from the restrooms but worth the walk because of the lake access.

I was very pleased with the size of my site and the overall feeling of the campground. It was not to crowded, despite it being a weekend. I feel like part of this was because of the time of year I was there, not yet summer. It was easy to maneuver in and out of camp and toward town where I spent the majority of my time.

This option is perfect for those wanting to enjoy the Eureka Springs area without the hassle of finding a place in city limits at a much higher price point. By taking the short 10 minute community you can save nearly $10 on a campsite or on the lower side up to $30 from hotels.

A few fun things to check out at the lake are the swimming beach, the dam area with the unique bridge across and the many trails for both hiking and biking.

TIPS:

• Get a pass for the trolly and park and ride instead of trying to find parking and paying much more. If you want you can park at the Harley Dealership and Pine Mountain Village area (large parking area with a trolly stop).
• Go on a springs tour, you can find maps at the downtown museum for where each of the springs are located and from there you can ride the trolly or walk to the majority of those.

We camped at Ramble Ridge August 6-8 in one of their cabins. We were there for a getaway to Eureka Springs, and decided to camp instead of staying in a hotel. The owners of Ramble Ridge were beyond friendly and helpful. They gave us recommendations on things to do and try while we were there. We had one of our party members forget the frame of their tent. The owners offered us a tent to use because of this. Then, they had someone cancel a stay for the same time period, and allowed our friend to stay in the camper at no charge.

The campground itself is wonderfully secluded and very nature-friendly. We had a campfire both nights we were there while enjoying the peace and quiet of nature. The campground has several great hiking trails that lead down into a valley. We didn't get to see them ourselves, but there are cliffs at the bottom of one of the trails next to a creek. Checkout was a breeze. The checkout time is 2:00pm, which makes it much less stressful to pack up and leave. The owners let us know that since they didn't have another booking for that day, we could check out a bit later than 2:00.

If you want to have one of the easiest camping trips with extremely kind and helpful owners, Ramble Ridge is an easy win. We will absolutely be returning in the future.

I was extremely impressed with my stay at Ramble Ridge. Chance(the owner) was so kind and very informative. He answered all my questions and concerns. When we arrived both Chance and his wife Brandi were very hospitable! They made sure we had everything we needed and they even had a small storefront to buy things we might have forgotten. The location was absolutely perfect. It was 15 mins to downtown Eureka Springs and about 5mins to the lake. On the way into the camp ground you get this breathtaking view of the lake. On the property you are surrounded by nature. My husband and I felt very refreshed from our stay. I can not say thank you enough to Chance and Brandi. Their hospitality was up and beyond anything I have ever seen. I loved their hearts for this place. They want to turn this property into a place where people can get away and be in nature. They want to serve their community and share what they have with others. And you absolutely feel that when you go to this place. Things to keep in mind, this is a new camping spot and they are growing and developing slowly. They had only one cabin when we stayed, but they now have two. The area is very rocky, so if you are wanting to camp in tents make sure to plan accordingly. They have some wonderful places to hike on the property so make sure to pack good hiking shoes and bug-spray. Honestly, my husband and I had such a great time that we are trying to put together a camping trip with my brother-in-law’s family to go down in October. I can not recommend this place enough!!!

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.

The campground and the shower house/bathrooms were very nice and clean. The site we had was on a hill so I wouldn’t pick that one again.Most are flat. They have a yurt that you can rent and a deck with a heavy duty tent over it close to the water. If you want to walk nearby and get in the water it is rocky so bring your water shoes! There is a marina store nearby if you need something. We would camp here again.

No pets in yurts. Yes to Cats ❣️. My cats travel campgrounds and usually are outdoors but here I kept them in cabin because they would not like it outdoors. Cabins had AC but smelled like dust polish. Gorgeous forest views in the shower house. HOT water when shower is on Cold setting. Cold at hot. Cool affordable camp store. Nice people. Too much cinnamon spray in all indoor areas but not cabins. 24 hour rec room w AC and a wall of movies and games and books and cozy couch. Hurricane machine and fresh yummy donuts are not to be missed. My son is Big and found the camp cabin too crowded small and didn't like the leather beds even with our bedding on them. I found it cozy except the polish but couldn't open it up because we wanted the cats indoors here. Great porch swing, nice condition. Microwave and fridge. Friendly staff.

The campground is a hidden gem. The RV and primitive camping are clean and well-maintained. The bathroom/shower requires a passcode to enter and is always clean to use. It's a great escape for off-roading and overloading. Be sure to stop by the Oark Cafe in Oark, Arkansas, which is a 25-minute drive from the campground. They serve one of the best burgers in Arkansas (Wednesday-Sunday).

Near the Mulberry River and White Rock recreation area, the facility is an off road enthusiasts playground! Trails directly into the outback from the facility. Plants of space to stretch out and enjoy the deep Forrest areas of Arkansas

Got a nice little spot on the lake to do some hammock camping for two nights. Was able to get this spot within the week which was a surprise as busy as it was. Campground is close to Rogers, Arkansas if you need any supplies. I used it as a gateway to head in to the Ozark National Forest which is about 1.5 hours away.

Stayed here on a motorcycle trip in May 2018 and had some beautiful weather. The campsite was large with an asphalt path and a nice spot for my tent. First weekend in May and the park was pretty much full. My campsite close to the facilities. It was a nice state park campground, similar to all of the others in Missouri as far as amenities. Cell phone service and lots of walking paths. Close to lakes, the Arkansas border, and Branson was just 15 minutes away.

Found this gem tucked away in Northwest Arkansas. Corps of Engineers Campground. Very well-maintained. Gorgeous lake with lots of lakefront sites. Several bathhouses. Some with vault toilets but some with flush toilets and showers. Sites have electric but not water so fill your tank before you come.

Swimming area was very spacious. Nice playground for kids. (Closed currently due to COVID.) Dump station has easy access.

Sites are in several smaller groups so it would be great for camping with friends and family. Paved, smooth roads in and out. Quiet and good spacing between sites. Deer roaming around throughout. Fantastic price for lakeside camping.

I am extremely disappointed with our recent stay at Buffalo Outdoor Center RV Park in Ponca, Arkansas. After a 7.5-hour drive, we arrived on June 29, 2024, eager to enjoy a week-long stay. Unfortunately, our visit turned into a nightmare within just one hour of our arrival. While setting up our 5th wheel trailer, there was a loud pop followed by smoke pouring out of our TV. Thankfully, my husband was able to unplug it before our trailer caught fire. To our dismay, none of the outlets on one side of our trailer were working, and our TV, microwave, and fan were all fried and non-functional. We immediately contacted an employee who came to our site, inspected the outside meter post by looking at it, not testing it, and nonchalantly stated that since there was no smoke coming from it, the problem must be on our end. When my husband asked for immediate assistance, the employee told us we would have to wait two days, until Monday, and go to a nearby town to find someone to help us. This response was unacceptable and showed a complete lack of concern for our safety. Moreover, the employee had the audacity to shame us by asking if we had a GFI power surge protector plugged into the meter. None of the other RV sites had this, and in our 23+ years of camping, we have never encountered such an issue. Feeling unsafe and unsupported, we decided to pack up and drive the 7.5 hours back home, after being at the site for just one hour. The lack of assistance and options provided by the Buffalo Outdoor Center was disheartening, especially considering we were in a completely different state with no information on what we could do. Upon arriving home, we hooked up our camper at our local campground, and everything worked fine. We also went on another camping trip to a local RV campground, and again, everything worked perfectly. This clearly indicated that the surge was on Buffalo Outdoor Center's end. When we requested a refund, they refunded all but one day. This is unacceptable considering the distress, inconvenience, and financial loss we endured, including having to purchase a new TV, microwave, and fan. Our experience at Buffalo Outdoor Center RV Park was nothing short of a disaster. The lack of customer service, concern for our safety, and willingness to provide immediate assistance was appalling. We will not be returning and cannot recommend this RV park to anyone.

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.