Looking for the best campgrounds near Salem, AR? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Arkansas camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Salem. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"Several dedicated camp sites that each have fire ring, shepherds hook, picnic table. There is one pit toilet building."
"Great place to go primitive if the weather is right and no matter the weather, the water is beautiful. Our favorite time to go is in the fall when the leaves begin to change."
"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."
"I grew up going here and it is great , there is great trout fishing and several real good swing holes the campsites are right beside the river which is really nice , the only issue is the restroom is a"
"River access and super close to stream/cave/waterfall area. Water from the cave is so fresh and clear! Truly a beautiful area!"
"We had a local with his hounds running around with a flashlight looking up trees for about an hour around 9PM. I'm guessing he was raccoon hunting...?"
"Totally alone with a gorgeous lake."
"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."
"Plenty of shade options. Restrooms are pit-style, so dont expect anything fancy. Did not see shower facilities where we were at."
$50 / night
"There is plenty of wildlife around and a lake not too far away from you. It is around 20 -25 dollars a night. I think this place is perfect for a wedding"
RangerAverage space between sites. Level paved sites with gravel picnic area including picnic table, fire ring, lantern hanger. Some sites had covered picnic area. Limited shade, most sites don’t have trees. Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Garbage cans were outside of bathrooms, as well as dumpsters near the registration building. Friendly staff upon check in. Campground was patrolled regularly. No laundry or recycling. Nearby road with little road noise. Verizon cell signal was excellent. There is a dump station and potable fill station. No store or food for purchase on site. No hiking in campground, but multiple trails nearby. Boat ramp at campground and lots of wading fly fishing in river. Fish hatchery across from campground.
LegendGeneral: We were apprehensive about planning to stay at this campground as the nearby one in Blanchard Springs was closed, we could not make reservations, five of the 27 sites were closed due to potential flooding from Hurricane Laura, and access is via a three-mile winding dirt road (not recommended for large RVs but it was navigable for our campervan), so we made alternate backup plans. There was no need to worry, however, as there were plenty of open sites, including some overlooking North Sylamore Creek when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October for a hike.
Sites/Facilities: Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, tent pad, and lantern pole. There is a central water source.
Activities/Amenities: This is a no-frills campground – no electric or water hookups, dumpster, playground, or flush toilets – just vault toilets. What struck me most was how quiet it was. There is access to the Sylamore hiking trail; you can hike five miles to the Blanchard Springs picnic area.
LegendWe hiked in to this campground from Blanchard and were pleasantly surprised. It is primitive in some aspects but not overtly so. They have vault toilets that were manageable and spickets for water. We grabbed a site that had a bi-level for the tent and picnic table. There was a fire ring as well. Overall, it has some stuff to do being by the river and a longish trail to explore. We may have been to tired to care about some of the finer details so we were pretty happy with this site!
LegendFor Full Video Review. CLICK HERE
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, but well maintained roadway, the campground sat nestled between to sections of the water way. On one side, slow moving water is met by the dam forming the blue toned pool and on the other a gentle flowing stream flanks the massive mountain side.
Along the camping loop, spaces are well separated and have plenty of room to spread out. Each site is equipped with standard camping amenities such as picnic tables, lantern hooks and fire rings. Vault toilets are centrally located in several areas of camp both on the upper and lower loops. In addition locking style garbage cans are placed near restrooms.
When I visited the Forest Service was on property trimming trees and clearing debris from recent rain. Their office is located just a short distance from the entry of the roadway, so they are often here to work on the property.
A little gem in the midst of the campground is located just across from the pay kiosk, the story of the property and the CCC camp which actually created not only this property but also worked on neighboring sites at Blanchard. Definitely check out the story!!
Tips:
GuideBuffalo Point is a very nice, CCC built campground with some old school type campsites. A number of sites are multi-level, meaning the picnic table may be on an elevated platform with steps for access. 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. The A&B loops are the closest to the large Buffalo Point sandbar and boat ramp and the sites are very close to one another. The D loop is slightly more spaced out. The E loop is nice but the pads are short. There is an access to the river between the C&D Loops.
We did not use the restrooms because of COVID19. The ranger stations were closed and there were no programs at this time either.
The Buffalo River is beautiful and with very few people on the river during the week when we visited. The river was very slow and smooth during our visit and perfect for those just learning to kayak.
There are a number of hiking trails in the area. Be sure and check whether or not your dog is allowed on the NPS trails before heading out on your hike.
Our site had a narrow pad and the electric post was located in a position that we could not use the entire length of the pad in order to extend our slide. The seating area of the campsite has great view of the neighboring campsite. But we had some foliar obstruction that provided some privacy from our neighbors on the other side. It appeared that most sites you are going to have a view of your neighbors’ campsites. We did not have enough space to put our patio mat out between our trailer and the picnic table. We spent little time at our campsite so this did not bother us.
The NPS is starting to use motion detector lights at their parks to help with light pollution. Be sure and take advantage of the opportunity to view the stars from a gravel bar by the Buffalo River. Magical!
ScoutThis primitive campground was perfect for me and my dog. We stayed three nights in October 2020. It’s right on a put-in spot on the Buffalo River so there were a couple of buses and shuttles but for the most part it was very quiet. The campsites are a good distance apart, they have plenty of room and have fire rings and picnic tables. Be aware that there is no drinking water and I didn’t get phone service (yay!). There is a vault toilet that wasn’t too bad. I loved this place, and will definitely be back.
GuideTent camped here with a group of private boat paddlers from all over the country. Campground operations had not really started for the season. I arrived after dark and could not find the tent campsites. Nearly drove into deep mud on gravel road past RV sites. Fortunately had just enough cell signal to access their website. Found a campground map three layers deep on reservation page and located my group.
Tent sites were well-located along the river with basic tables and fire rings. I never found the store to be open so paid camping fee at bar and cafe at entrance. Great breakfast. $25/night for tents. Grass had not been mowed and was deep in tent area. RV sites appear to be a work in progress with much erosion around the new pads and access road. What may have been a shower house had key code locks but there was never anyone to ask. Bathrooms near the entrance lacked tp in some stalls. All one afternoon and evening a group of kids with gas weed trimmers noisely worked on a slope adjacent to the RV area.
This campground should improve over time a the management appears to be developing the grounds.
GuideGreat site to camp. Concrete pads and asphalt driveway. Good road around campsites. Pads are very level. Sites have a lot of space between them with many Oak shade trees. Covered picnic table. The table was newer aluminum and clean. Camping at it’s best. Good water and electric hook up. Dump station has two stalls and is in great shape.
LegendStep back in time for childhood memories. This campground is along side a busy city street which can be loud but will quieter down after the work day ends. At Green Acres you will not find a swimming pool or a fancy playground. What you will find is laid back friendly owners and pricing from the 70’s or 80’s. Offer full hook ups weekly monthly rates. Stay six nights get seventh free. Laundry area, mature trees. Shopping and dining with in walking distance Mountain View is a great little town for all kinds of fun. Really, you just have to check it out. For a small town Mountain View has so much to offer it’s guest. It brings our minds to days gone by. Weekends will find pickers on the square or concerts at the Ozark Folk Center. Few campgrounds have a pool but you can always head to a creek to dip your toes. Stand up paddle board, canoe, kayak, Loco Ropes, mountain bikes, hiking, antiquing, movies, trail rides, fishing. I think that gives you a taste. Mountain View has a movie theatre and one of the few drive in theaters left in the USA. First run movies will be found at both. Have fun. Stay safe. Leave No Trace Better Than You Found It.
Nestled in the beautiful landscapes of Arkansas, tent camping near Salem offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a serene getaway or an adventurous experience, there are several options to explore.
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