RV sites near Shirley, Arkansas offer campers access to the Ozark Mountains and Greers Ferry Lake at elevations between 500-1,500 feet. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while winter lows typically range from 25-35°F. Most campgrounds in this region don't provide mature shade trees, leaving RVs exposed to direct sunlight during summer months.
What to do
River activities: Gilbert RV Park sits just a short walk from the Buffalo River, making water recreation easily accessible. "When they advertise a stones throw from the Buffalo river, they mean it. The campground is small and a bit sparse, but the location to the river is unbeatable," notes camper Kala V. Another visitor mentions it's "probably just a little over a quarter mile walk to the river or drive down to gravel bed where you can park."
Local music: Mountain View offers authentic Ozark folk music performances throughout the summer months. When staying at Whitewater RV Park, visitors can easily walk to performances. "The town square is only 1/4 mile away," explains Wolfgang M. Another camper adds, "Mountain View is a great small town in the Arkansas Ozarks. This is not the place to come if you have to be entertained but can make your own fun."
Drive-in movies: The Mountain View Drive-In Theater operates from April through October showing first-run films. As N I. notes, "Mountain View has a movie theater and one of the few remaining Drive In theaters left in th USA. Both offer first run movies."
What campers like
Lake access: Fairfield Bay RV Campground & Marina provides direct water access. "The marina has a very nice, well stocked shop with a little cafe around the corner," says Charly S. "If you enjoy anything nature related this is the place to be! The lake is amazing and a wonderful place to fish or just boat around on."
Hiking trails: The Fairfield Bay area offers numerous hiking paths within short distances. One camper explains, "There are hiking trails literally everywhere, of all kinds of difficulty levels. If you like hiking, you can go less than a quarter mile off almost any main road and see abundant wildlife, a meandering creek, sometimes even a waterfall!"
Concrete pads: Mountain View RV Park and Guest Motel offers level concrete sites that RVers appreciate. "We had a back in spot along the ridge with a pretty field behind us and an amazing view," reports Bonita C. The park also provides "concrete pads or gravel, 30 and 50 amp service, full hook ups, cable tv, wi-fi."
What you should know
Limited cell service: T-Mobile coverage is particularly weak throughout the Mountain View area. AT&T users report minimal coverage at some campgrounds. Melissa H. noted at Golden Pond RV Park, "Not much for cell service - at best 1 bar with AT&T."
Bathroom cleanliness varies: Some campgrounds maintain their facilities better than others. One camper at Fairfield Bay reported, "only one bath house and it was atrocious dirty. The simple restroom near our site was filthy also." Always check recent reviews for current conditions.
Winter closures: Several campgrounds in the area shut down seasonally. Mountain View RV Park operates from "March 1 to December 1," while Whitewater RV Park runs from "March 15 to 1st week November." Plan accordingly if visiting during winter months.
Tips for camping with families
Pond activities: Blue Sky RV Park provides family-friendly outdoor spaces. One visitor mentioned, "This place is so much bigger than it looks. Great pull through sites. Great sites for family camping." Another added, "There is 1.5 acres of green space that is also available for all guest."
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds feature small farm animals that children enjoy visiting. At Golden Pond RV Park, "The owners were very kind and helpful. They have some animals on the property (goats, chickens, dog) penned up. The kids enjoyed visiting there everyday."
Playground access: Several RV parks in the region maintain playground equipment for younger visitors. "There's also a little koi pond, an above-ground swimming pool, as well as a playground and laundry," notes a camper at Golden Pond RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many RV sites in this region require additional leveling equipment due to terrain. At Fairfield Bay, sites are "level but on a steep slope," requiring careful parking. "You better have extra chuck blocks, because your tow vehicle sits on a heck of an angle," advises one RVer.
Utilities information: Ozark RV Park and Cabins and most Mountain View area campgrounds provide full hookups including water, electric and sewer. At Fairfield Bay, note that the dump station is located approximately half a mile from the camping area.
Site selection strategy: Request specific sites based on your rig size and needs. Caroline S. at Blue Sky RV Park appreciated that "their website was great as it shows pictures of each site. Not just a few of the sites." However, she noted difficulty with leveling: "We were unable to use auto level and had to manually level. The front jacks were hardly down at all and the back jacks will all the way down."
