Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Eureka Springs, AR

Arkansas is one of my favorite places to camp. The state’s focus on their outdoor spaces is apparent when you travel to any one of their campsites or state owned facilities.  They really stick to their “Natural State” theme to say the least.   

I traveled down Scenic Route 7 from Eureka Springs to Little Rock and found Buffalo National River, which until that trip I didn’t know was even there.  And how did I discover it? A sign pointing me into the direction of Ozark Campground and outdoor space.  

At the time of my visit I had no idea what to expect when I got out of my car and started walking toward what appeared to be a hiking trail.  It opened up to the beautiful turquoise waters of the river, something I didn’t know existed in this area of Arkansas.  Nothing I had read or researched had mentioned this natural beauty just waiting to be explored.

Satisfied with my find I looked more into the camping area which included fire rings and picnic tables. There didn’t appear to be anyone settled in due to the recent rains and the moist ground where the primitive dry campsites were located.  I noticed on the entry kiosk there was additional information about the site including that it is a seasonally non-charging facility which sounded way to good to be true considering there were 31 spaces there and had to be a popular favorite when the weather was better.

During the summer months there is a flush toilet, so I went to check it out and it was nothing to exciting but well maintained.  During the winter they did provide vault toilets but no running water.  

A negative I could see for some is the lack of cell signal with AT&T, this was an issue pretty much the entire scenic highway however not just at the campground.  I also noticed it would probably be pretty difficult to travel down the road if weather was icy, with the rain that had passed through it was slick so I can only imagine if the ice was full force, otherwise I would say this would be a great place to get winter mountain photos.

TIPS:

• Check out the river the water here is some of the most clear you will find and perfect for a number of activities. I found it to be perfect for swimming or relaxing but a lot of people kayak here.

• Bring a walking stick. There are several areas around here you will find perfect for hiking.

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 stayed here this weekend and it wasn’t what the the website said it was. It was clean and taken care of but they pack you in like sardines, not even 5 feet apart from the camper next to you. They had to move us because our rig didn’t did in the spot they booked for us, you can’t choose your spot. There isn’t much for kids to do. It’s definitely a camp ground to simply stay the night and then go do things in Eureka Springs. The gravel was loose and not great for riding bikes. This is right off the highway. We like a bit more “woodsy” and spaced. There is no play ground and lots of drop offs around the park. The only grassed area was the dog walk area and while there was a sign to clean up after your dog there was dog poop everywhere. We won’t stay here again just because it didn’t work for our family.

This RV pad is located on a secluded 10 acre Homestead that the owners also rent out the upstairs to their Mediterranean style home on Airbnb. We rented their RV site and was welcomed by the owners upon arrival. Very private & secluded with easy access. Surrounded by trees on 10 acres of land with lots of wildlife. the homesteaders have chickens & a seasonal garden, beautiful fire pit area and plenty of open space to put out your cornhole games and set up your volleyball, badminton nets and whatever activities you have. Centrally located to Branson, Missouri, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Bull Shoals lake and the Buffalo national River.