Are you planning a tent camping trip to Melbourne? We've got you covered. Find the best information on tent camping near Melbourne, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Melbourne campsites are perfect for tent campers.
The Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail is a series of interconnecting loops offering the mountain bike enthusiast 50 miles of trail, much of it single-track. The trail name dates back to an 1800s resident of the area. Eventually the name was anglicized to its current form - Sylamore (SIL-a-more). You'll notice all the tributes to Syllamo in the area - Sylamore Ranger District, Sylamore Creek, North Sylamore Hiking Trail. The various loops can be accessed from four different trailheads as well as Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and Campground. Three trailheads are on Green Mountain Road; the fourth is on AR Highway 5 North. Several parts of the trails have a variety of difficulty - stretches that are pleasant for a beginner, then stretches where a beginner would be wise to walk a bike. Trails are marked with various color blazes on brown fiberglass posts. Remember to wear your safety gear and enjoy the ride. Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail Map The Blanchard Campground may be accessed from the Syllamo Bike Trail at the Jack's Branch Loop. You can camp at Blanchard and ride up to the trails on a spur between the campground and the main trail.
Rush Campground is a first come, first serve campground in the lower district of the park. Rush has 12 tent only sites with no electrical amenities and no flush restrooms. Drinking water is available when fees are collected March 15 - November 14. It is free to camp at Rush in the winter. All sites are limited to 6 people per site and each site is $16 per night. This is a pack in/pack out facility, trash collection is not available.
Eco Adventure Wonderland! From hiking to hang gliding. Canoe or kayak the beautiful Middle Fork of the Red River. Or paddle out on the Forty Thousand Acre gorgeous Island dotted Greers Ferry Lake to Sugarloaf Mountain Island where you can hike one of the first Scenic trails in the country!
Or just stay right here at the Hideaway and explore miles of trails with creeks and waterfalls and even an Indian cave!
All new Tree Fort for the kiddos even!
$15 / night
Spring Creek Campground is a first come, first serve campground near Harriet, AR. Spring Creek has 12 tent only sites with no electrical amenities, no flush restrooms, and no water.
This recreation area is part of Greers Ferry Lake
Scout
Even though their website says they have tent camping they DO NOT
Scout
Park is clean and well run. Along the beautiful White River, trout heaven. 3 “cabins” available, these are park model RVs in permanent spots along the River. Tent sites with no hookups available, but not at rivers edge. You can put a tent on an RV spot. Programs available from park rangers. Store in campgrounds has most of what you may have forgotten. Tent sites have trees for setting a hammock, some better than others.
Traveler
Small very tidy and spacious campground. Stayed in tent. Clean showers and restroom. $45 for tent site with electrical connection and water.
GuideJacksonport has grown since we tent camped here years ago. Great new Visitors Center, still love the museum (it is closed right now because of COVID), the beach is pretty, but we miss the old Paddlewheel. Nice level sites and shaded.
GuideThis a a great park with direct access to the Buffalo River and hiking trails including one with a cave to explore. This loop is perfect for walk-in tent camping.
The Rangers are very helpful and a great resource for new visitors.
TravelerHave stayed here twice so far and love it. Price is cheap and they work off the trust system. They have electric and water camper hookups and tent camping. They also have a little bath house there too. Not 5 star lodging but the view over white river is breathtaking.
Guide
For a small campground, this place has a lot to offer. Well stocked store, RV sites, tent sites, group sites, cabins, pavilion, and even a stage for events.
Quick access to the Syllamore Trail, the creek, and nearby mountain biking trails.
Guide
Relatively quiet during the week. Many great campsites with sun and shade, flat, grassy spots good for tent camping. The sites right on the tree line have several good spots for hanging hammocks as well. Right next to river. Flushing toilets, showers. Beautiful area! We will be coming back to this one.
LegendMainly an RV campground with some tent sites. Camped with our camper van at site #35 along the White River. Long walk to the restroom from here. The RV sites have paved drives & offer views of the river. Most sites are small, feels crowded, although there were many unoccupied "Reserved" sites. No privacy between most sites; can easily hear conversations from neighboring sites. Table, firepit, water & electric hookups included. The restroom/shower house is clean & warm. Campground is popular with fishermen. Big Bluff hiking trail nearby; excellent trail. T-Mobile service is very good. Campground is clean & well maintained. To us, the layout of the RV sites along the river had a mobile home park feel to it. The 20 tent sites are in a wooded section away from the river. These sites appear to be spacious- more so than the RV sites.
Guide
This a a great park with direct access to the Buffalo River and hiking trails including one with a cave to explore. The Rangers are very helpful and a great resource for new visitors.
The park has RV sites, walk-in tent sites and group sites.
RangerBeautiful river among bluffs and forests. This campsite does allow reservations so it’s the safest bet for your trip through the park in the summer. There are some walk-in tent sites too but you won’t be very far from your car. Nice and simple campground, clean, actual hot showers.
Guide
This is primitive camping at its best. They have one vault toilet, 12 tent sites, and a water spigot. Right on the beautiful buffalo river. The sites were patrolled by rangers on a regular basis. However, the rangers were great and knew a lot about area. I can’t wait to go back.
GuideWe had a great time camping Memorial Day Weekend. We tent camped. The campsite was really nice and everyone was very friendly. The visitor center is awesome and the park had several activities available. We went to an owl talk and a bear talk that was very informative. We also did the lake cruise. I would highly recommend this park. This is my favorite camping spot.
Guide
There are a handful of tent sites, a primitive bathroom, and direct access to the Buffalo River.
There is limited shelter during bad lightning storms. The road in is very dicey and a long way off the main road. Does provide a good place to take out or start a canoe trip and it is free.
GuideWe stay here 3 or 4 times a year, they have lots to offer. Bike/hiking trails, horse shoe pits, basketball court, a very large picnic area a store with thing's if you forget something, very nice bathrooms with showers. They offer tent camping area that's pretty nice, and rv camp site with Full hook ups and some with just water and electric. It's a must see, also, some site are available year round
Traveler
We tent camped on a small point of the park-we were the only one in that area. it was a beautiful location, cool breezes off the lake all night, moon rising above. it was wonderful!! Slept with the rainfly off and never got hot! Perfect campsite. Drove to a marina to paddle board and kayak to Sugarloaf mountain the next day. The paddle was a little rough with the current, but making it to the island, hiking to the top and getting that view of the lake-priceless! Bucket list checkoff.
Guide
The staff here goes above & beyond! The campsites are close together but the amenities are worth it. Very family friendly. 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. Tent sites are mixed with smaller travel trailers. We would definitely recommend reserving a River front site! We rented a boat and explored the Buffalo River - it was very relaxing & amazing views.
ScoutThis is an incredible place to camp. Your camp is where the White River and Buffalo rivers merge. If you enjoy fishing this has some of the best trout and bass fishing in the area. The resort has cabins, full hookup sites , tent sites, pool and play area for the kids. If you like to just float or fish they can help you with what you need. There is also boat rentals , fishing guides, just plain relaxing. The resort is family owned,
Traveler
I grew up around here so I return often. The trout fishing can't be beat. This campground is right on the banks of the White River. I tent camped. There is a nice large pavilion with picnic tables as well as really clean shower and toilets.
The owners were a delight to get to know and can rent canoes or even get you a fishing guide.
It is near a bridge so the first night we could hear the traffic but by the next day it became like background noise.
My highlight was the way the fog rolls in at night and disappears in the morning. It was so pretty over the river. Wish I had gotten a picture.
TravelerWe have loved BP for 25 years. We have always tent camped but now we have a camper. This site isn't great for a camper/RV, but at least we were at Buffalo Point! I say it's not great for a camper for the following reasons: Your camper door opens into a BUNCH of brush/bamboo. The picnic table is on the wrong side (not the door side). Other than that, the good things about it are: like I said, you're at Buffalo Point and the river is right below you . You are RIGHT next to the boat launch/swimming area. All that to say, if this was the last site available, we would take it again, it's just not our first choice.
RangerWe tent camped at the Buffalo Point Campground in loop B for a few days. These sites are the closest to the river and the swimming area. The sites are pretty close together, but there were a few that had more room (next time). You can not access the river from these sites. There is a view of the river through some brush.
We rented from Wild Bills and floated to Rush. It was gorgeous! We saw tons of wildlife and were the only ones on the river on a Thursday morning.
The sites being close together and the lack of a super flat area for our tent is the reason for the 4 star. Plus the bathrooms were a little dirty, but they had great pressure and hot water.
Don’t miss out on the Indian Rockhouse trail and the concession restaurant. Get the broasted chicken breast and jojo potatoes. Trust me. Plus a piece of peanut butter pie!
TravelerThis is our go to get away! If you like canoeing and kayaking… it’s here. Like hiking… plenty of trails. Want to just site by one of the cleanest rivers around and enjoy the Ozarks… this is it. We’ve tent camped and trailered here for more than 15 years.
The camp grounds are well maintained by the NPS. The showers and restrooms are a bit, um, rustic. Sites can be hit and miss depending on the time of the year. Be sure and view the campsite online and consider the direction of the site. Some get full sun in the morning but most are shaded in the evening due to the mountain. Also, sites on the river side are frequented by raccoons at night and mosquitos depending on the weather.
I would still pick Buffalo Point as a definite place to stay.
Legend
We stopped for 1 night on the way to Wyoming it is way off the beaten path but what a nice campground. The owners were selling it when we were there they had it a long time. The Pool was so cool and refreshing and no one was there. There's nothing around there so come prepared. There are rolling hills, narrow road and paved.
We almost had the place to ourselves so quiet and well maintained.
FEATURES AND SERVICES: Large, Clean Sites Full Hookups Pull-thrus and Back-ins 20, 30, and 50 AMP Mostly Shaded Picnic Tables Tent Sites 17 Sites and a Library.
Clean Restrooms Laundry Modem Hookup and Fax Service In Ground Pool Playground Shuffleboard and Horseshoes Catch and Release Pond Fishing Animal Friendly People Friendly Recreation Hall Recreation Room.
Traveler
I have camped here for years with my dad. The tent sites are always maintained well and the bathroom facilities are cleaned everyday! It's very close to the Little Red River and you can easily walk down to fish or walk to shore line if the dam isn't releasing water. That would be the one drawback to this camp site is when the dam releases water, the river rises a lot. I'm talking a good 5 feet. Which can make it difficult to fish or enjoy the river. However, there are hiking trails and the trout hatchery all in the same area, so you can find things to do no matter what the conditions. I have and will always continue to recommend this place to anyone that asks.
GuideThis campground is located just past a low water bridge. There is NO cell service in the park. The camping area has a great swimming hole, beach and shaded hiking. Some enjoy jumping off the rocks/cliff, but I would not recommend it. RV sites with water and electric and full bathrooms/showers. Their is another nearby camping area that has has RV sites, bathrooms, tent sites and group sites. The Rangers and very helpful and informative. There is also parking for backcountry camping/hiking nearby.
The main trail connects to a network of trails over fifty miles long. There is also a pound with a dam and old mill structure not that far away. There are guided cave Tours with paved walkways and elevators, plus more rugged off-trail caving tours as well. The visitor center is very informative and has a small gift shop. We come here year round for swimming in the summer, hiking in the fall and spring, and caving in the winter.
Guide
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.
The back camping area has a great swimming hole, beach and shaded hiking. Some enjoy jumping off the rocks/cliff, but I would not recommend it. RV sites with water and electric and full bathrooms/showers.
The upper camping area has RV sites, bathrooms, tent sites and group sites. The Rangers and very helpful and informative. There is also parking for backcountry camping/hiking. The main trail connects to a network of trails over fifty miles long. There is also a pound with a dam and old mill structure.
There are guided cave Tours with paved walkways and elevators, plus more rugged off-trail caving tours as well. The visitor center is very informative and has a small gift shop.
We come here year round for swimming in the summer, hiking in the fall and spring, and caving in the winter.
GuideOn a two day float with kids, made a reservation for tent camping at Buffalo Point for the overnight. I hadn't been there before, but it looked beautiful and on a nice beach at the river. Plus with two pre-teen girls, I thought a chance for a bathroom and maybe some ice cream at the store would be a nice break.
The beach is nice, and right before you get to it there's some cool rock formations to paddle your kayak in and around, BUT the campsites are a good hike uphill from the river. Even if you're comfortable leaving your canoes out of your sight on the beach (I'm not), you've still got to haul all your gear up a pretty good hill and depending on your site, multiple hikes to move your gear unless you're going backpacking light.
We still hiked up to the overlook which was a nice way to stretch our legs, but ultimately decided to stay at a gravel bar further downriver. The sites in the campground were shady, the roads were all in good shape, and the river is always beautiful, so if I'm not floating I'll definitely go back.
Tent camping near Melbourne, Arkansas offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds available, you can find the perfect spot to set up your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Melbourne, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Melbourne, AR is Syllamo with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Melbourne, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Melbourne, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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