15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Petit Jean State Park near Shirley offers distinctive glamping experiences, with luxurious yurts featuring electricity, comfortable bedding and private decks overlooking the natural landscape. The park's glamping accommodations include climate control systems, allowing year-round stays regardless of weather conditions. Other glamping options around Shirley include Greers Ferry Lake's Cherokee Recreation Area, where modernized canvas structures provide a blend of outdoor immersion with hotel-like comforts such as real beds, quality linens, and in-unit power. Holiday Mountain Resort has upscale glamping cabins with amenities rarely found in traditional camping, including full bathrooms, kitchenettes and furnished outdoor spaces. One visitor noted, "Absolutely breathtaking! A must see for the family!"
Guests at Sylamore Creek Camp can enjoy glamping accommodations situated directly along the creek, offering immediate water access for swimming, fishing, and kayaking without leaving their luxury camping site. The glamping pods feature large viewing windows that frame the natural surroundings while maintaining privacy and comfort. According to a camper, "We stayed in the Mink cabin which was incredible with a porch and swing right on the water!" White Buffalo Resort provides premium glamping structures with thirty-amp electrical hookups, well-appointed interiors, and dedicated fire rings for evening gatherings. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with most glamping options operating from early April through late October, though Petit Jean State Park maintains year-round service for their deluxe outdoor accommodations. Most locations require advance reservations, with weekends booking several months ahead during peak summer periods.
"This Campground is quiet, secluded jewel in Clinton, Arkansas. Tall trees everywhere you look. Every campsite is shaded. Perfectly spaced trees for the hammock lovers."
"Bathrooms and showers nice enough."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"This campground is right around the corner from Greers Ferry Dam. Our family enjoyed several days and made countless memories here."
"This is such a beautiful campground with great fishing and floating nearby. The campground sits on the tail waters of Beaver Lake and is gorgeous!!"
"went here on a fishing trip, and i pulled out so many rainbow trouts from this lake!"
"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."
"We love having direct access to creek. It is kayak, family, pet friendly. The only thing it is lacking is internet connection, which for us is a plus for disconnecting."
from $5 - $30 / night
Check Availability"PROS No reservation transaction fee
Senior discount
Quiet
Moveable metal picnic table on a concrete pad, pedestal BBQ grill, fire ring with cooking grate, and one hook lantern pole
Site 14 partially"
"The open closet had plenty of shelving and hangers for clothing and bags. The bathroom was standard with water that quickly got hot for your bath or shower."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Very kid friendly for swimming or walking or biking around in the campground. We will be back"
"The resort is well maintained and the staff is friendly. There's a pool in the summer and a ping pong table. The bathrooms do not have air conditioning, but are clean."
"This location was our maiden voyage with our new fifth wheel RV. White buffalo resort is a beautiful place to stay with very friendly and helpful staff. Met some friendly, long-term RV’ers."
"We could see most of the Dam of Norfolk Lake from our site. Bathhouse are air conditioned. Nice clean campground. Hosts were very nice. Park rangers and sheriff dept patrolled at least once a day."
"Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability"We got all setup and enjoyed our time around Gilbert. The quiet little town with some live music occasionally."
"The campground is small and a bit sparse, but the location to the river is unbeatable. The camp owner and store manager “Jim” is a delight…as is “homer” the camp dog."
from $38 / night
Check Availability"We stayed for 3 nights on sites 64 and 65. Absolutely beautiful views. Some damage from flooding but didn't really notice. Bathrooms and bath house were clean. Stay if you get a chance."
"I think, if they came and upgraded the site with better pad for the modem rvs, this could be a prime location."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe stayed here for 14 days. I would recommend trying for a site right on the bank of the water. We could see most of the Dam of Norfolk Lake from our site. Bathhouse are air conditioned. Nice clean campground. Hosts were very nice. Park rangers and sheriff dept patrolled at least once a day. Sites are paved with water and electric and a dump station. Definitely will go back.
LegendPROS
No reservation transaction fee
Senior discount
Quiet
Moveable metal picnic table on a concrete pad, pedestal BBQ grill, fire ring with cooking grate, and one hook lantern pole
Site 14 partially shady
Good condition asphalt parking pad with gravel and grass surrounding
Good view of lake from Site 14
Sites well spaced
Campground A toilet/shower building clean and sufficiently stocked. Heated but not air conditioned.
Site 14 more than long enough for trailer and tow vehicle
Dark sky friendly as there are no street lights in Campground A
Very nice 6ft wide asphalt bike trail from Campground B to Mather Lodge
(approximately 1.75 miles) CCC Hike and Bike Trail
New Visitor Center built 2021
Beautiful CCC built Mather Lodge
(restaurant added in 2012)
Grass throughout campground mowed
Firewood sold in the yards of residences along State Road 154
CONS
Site 14 extremely unlevel side to side
No privacy from other campsites
No entrance security gate to the park or any campgrounds as State Road 154 cuts thru the park
No park ranger drive thrus
Mather Lodge Restaurant OK. Don't expect much from the menu or service but it has a full bar
3 of our 4 day stay there was a religious group prophetlytizing at the Park Visitor Center WIFI only at Lodge and Visitors Center
NO TMOBILE service
TravelerIt's such a beautiful place, right on the White River and the Buffalo River, just yards away. The best of both rivers. The resort is well maintained and the staff is friendly. There's a pool in the summer and a ping pong table. The bathrooms do not have air conditioning, but are clean.
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.
TravelerWe stayed a week at Petit Jean in one of their gorgeous cabins. It was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend. The check-in and check-out was easy. Finding the cabin was easy with the directions and map we were given. They were clearly marked, with parking for two vehicles, as they were setup like a duplex. The cabin was beautiful and clean, inside and out. There was a large, heavy, all wood porch swing on each side. Relaxing in it was a peaceful experience, listening to the sounds of birds and the breeze through the tall pines. Inside it was all beautifully stained wood and roomy enough for two people, much like a hotel room, except for the cathedral ceiling. In fact, the setup was better than most hotel rooms we have stayed in. There was a mini-fridge with a small freezer, microwave, coffee pot(with coffee, cups, creamer, sugar, etc,) a Keurig, blow-dryer, iron, ironing board, and broom. It had all the toiletries: soap, shampoo, conditioner, tissue, cups. The open closet had plenty of shelving and hangers for clothing and bags. The bathroom was standard with water that quickly got hot for your bath or shower. There were two full size beds with comfortable mattresses, plenty of pillows and warm bedding, with a nightstand between. There were plugs to charge your phone and a landline. There was also a fireplace, however it was locked closed. The air unit in the room had cooling/heating that was easy to operate and sufficiently cool. We were near the highway, close to the lodge, but did not hear traffic while in the cabin. Parking at Mather Lodge is just like any other, with a short, easy walk to the entrance. Once inside, you pass the check-in desk, a small, well-stocked gift shop,(with something for every age,) an open meeting area and bar before reaching the restaurant. It is beautifully constructed from large logs stained and polished to a gleaming shine. From floor to ceiling, it is the epitome of rugged elegance. We ate breakfast and dinner exclusively at the lodge. The food was exemplary, every meal, cooked to perfection and delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing and we were never rushed or made to feel as if we overstayed our welcome. The service was fast, even when every table was occupied. The servers were friendly and attentive. We had only one server, one time that was"less than," maybe she was new, not sure, but we did not see her again. Tommy, Thomas, Jessie, Brad, Rebekah, and Lindsay were all so pleasant, always greeting us, even when they weren't our servers, remembering us and making us feel like family. The view of the gorge with it's tall trees and towering rock formations was incredible! There was a common area behind the lodge, just outside the restaurant with tables, chairs and benches for observing the gorge, taking photos, relaxing and socializing. You could walk right down to the edge of the huge flat rocks for photos with a stunning background. We spent every evening there, watching the exquisite sunsets. This place is a nature lovers paradise. There is a pool surrounded by loungers behind and to the side of the lodge. It was clean and well-kept with a small waterfall at one end. Thick thirsty towels are provided for your convenience. The grounds are beautifully maintained. We never saw or heard a mower but the grass was cut to perfection and there wasn't a single piece of litter in the entire park. At check-in we were given a map, brochure and weekly schedule of events/tours at the park. The map was very necessary for navigating around this extensive park of which the lodge area was only a small part. The brochure described the hikes and other available activities(such as climbing and repelling) with descriptions of what could be observed, length and difficulty levels. Trust the brochure! If it says strenuous, it is. Plan accordingly. There were four ranger guided tours the week we were there. We took two of them. They were genuinely interesting and pleasurable. Baron, our ranger, was exceedingly knowledgeable about the geology, animal and plant life and history of the area. Exceptionally so, for someone who was seemingly so young. He was attentive to the needs of those attending the tours, stopping to rest if necessary and moving a bit slower for us older folks. He was so affable and easy to talk with, it seemed as if we were old friends. Willing to spend extra time after the tours, talking with us, was an indication of how much he enjoyed his job. We were very appreciative of someone of his character and enjoyed spending time with him. He is the perfect model of what one would think a park ranger is and should be! Any hike can be taken unguided and there are plenty of them. In fact, we had plans to go outside the park on other hikes, but never made it off the property for those. We actually did not have enough time to do all we wanted to do within the park. If you are looking for a phenomenal vacation, this is the trip you should take!
LegendThis was our first time at Petit Jean and definitely won’t be the last! My 1st suggestion: RESERVE EARLY to get a spot in Loop A or Loop B. We stayed in Loop C and I felt a little too secluded. The sites in C & D appeared to be a little smaller. I noticed several sites in B & C were uneven from roots pushing the asphalt up. Beware! Loop A is full hookup while B-D have electricity & water only. We stayed on Site 64 in a pop up style camper. It was fairly level and there were a couple good places for tents. Everyone around us was tent camping. My main complaint was the bathroom. The showers are not very private other than a nasty mildewed shower curtain, but there is no where to dry off or dress that is private. The showers were nasty on the weekend that we went, but it was also a revolving door of a massive group of 30+ tent campers that was using the showers. They were a lot cleaner on Sunday thankfully. The park itself is absolutely breathtaking! We went to the Cedar Falls Overlook, Palisades Overlook and Stout Point Overlook. We also made the hike down to Cedar Falls. It was absolutely incredible, but you should be somewhat in decent shape for this hike as it was not easy! We also hiked Bear Cave. It was nice with lots of exploring around the cave. We ate dinner at Mather Lodge one night. I had the Catfish Platter and it was excellent. I’m already ready to plan another trip here during the summer so we can utilize the boat house and a few other amenities that are closed during the off season. Well worth a fall visit though!
TravelerWe stayed at Petit Jean State Park during the week of Thanksgiving. It’s a popular place, so very busy, but all the campers around us were very courteous, friendly, and obeyed quiet time rules. The sites (we were in a tent in Loop C) were spacious and clean, as were the bathhouses. The Visitor’s Center/Registration was well-stocked and staff was efficient and welcoming. We ate dinner at Mather’s Lodge-the food was mediocre but service was great.
GuideFor 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.
ScoutWe took our little camper out to Petit Jean for the first time and it was a blast. We were a little unprepared, so we stayed in the overflow area. This part is not paved and has no fire pit, so we couldn't have a fire. If you have a portable fire pit you can have a fire there. Also those spots do not have a grill, but we have a small one that we were able to use. The driveways to get to the overflow area are a bit rough (roots sticking up through the dirt) and it takes a bit to get level (sloped toward the lake). However, the dump station is very clean and convenient. We will definitely come back to Petit Jean in the future.
Primitive camping opportunities abound near Shirley, Arkansas, where the Ozark foothills create natural camping terrain at 500-800 feet elevation. The area receives approximately 50 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest landscapes and clear waterways that attract campers seeking less developed sites with direct water access. Most primitive camping spots remain open year-round with seasonal temperature fluctuations from 30°F winter nights to 90°F summer days.
Fishing access points: The waters near Clinton provide excellent fishing opportunities. At Choctaw, campers can fish along the 550 miles of shoreline. According to one visitor, "Fishing is a way of life for most lovers of the lake but you also have boating of all types."
Mountain biking trails: Several trails run near the camping areas around Mountain View. Sylamore Creek Camp offers "Quick access to the Syllamore Trail, the creek, and nearby mountain biking trails."
Smallmouth bass fishing: Creek fishing for smallmouth bass is popular in the summer months. At Holiday Mountain Resort, one visitor noted, "Creek is full of smallmouth bass, great swimming holes for the kids, and some shallow wading areas to lounge in chairs or find crawfish."
Creek-front accessibility: Sites positioned directly alongside waterways allow for immediate water recreation. According to one camper at Robinson Point, "We stayed for 3 nights on sites 64 and 65. Absolutely beautiful views. Some damage from flooding but didn't really notice."
Private bathrooms: Some sites offer individual bathroom facilities rather than shared bathhouses. A visitor at Dam - Quarry commented, "Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower."
Spacing between sites: Many campers appreciate campgrounds with adequate site separation. At Choctaw, a visitor observed, "Every campsite is shaded. Perfectly spaced trees for the hammock lovers."
Weather considerations: Spring rains can cause flooding in low-lying campsites. One camper at Robinson Point noted, "In the spring of 2020 many sites were under water from the spring rain."
Varied site leveling: Campsites throughout the region have varying degrees of levelness. At Greers Ferry Lake - COE/Cherokee Rec Area, a visitor observed, "The sites are small but well shaded which is a bonus."
Limited cell reception: Mobile connectivity varies significantly across the region. Some visitors report "Limited AT&T service" at Dam - Quarry, while others found "Good cell reception both ATT & Verizon" at Robinson Point.
Swimming holes: Look for designated swimming areas in creeks and lakes. A visitor at Holiday Mountain Resort mentioned, "Great swimming holes for the kids, and some shallow wading areas to lounge in chairs or find crawfish."
Playgrounds and recreation: Some campgrounds offer additional family amenities. Dam - Quarry features "Playgrounds, a boat ramp, dump station," according to one review.
Kid-friendly biking paths: Several campgrounds have safe areas for children to ride bikes. One camper at Holiday Mountain Resort noted it was "Very kid friendly for swimming or walking or biking around in the campground."
Site selection for large rigs: Check site details carefully when making reservations. At Gilbert RV Park, a visitor advised, "The campground is small and a bit sparse, but the location to the river is unbeatable."
Electric and water hookups: Most sites offer basic amenities without sewer connections. A Robinson Point visitor explained, "Most sites are level with electric and water hookup however no sewer only a dump station."
Pad conditions: RV pads vary in quality and material throughout the region. At Dam - Quarry, campers find "Level paved sites with gravel picnic area including picnic table, fire ring, lantern hanger."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Shirley, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Shirley, AR is Choctaw with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Shirley, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 glamping camping locations near Shirley, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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