Best Tent Camping near St. Joe, AR

Recent Tent Reviews near St. Joe, AR

599 Reviews of 29 St. Joe Campgrounds

• 

  Inez W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 15, 2020

  Branson KOA

  Great location but not for tents

  This is one of the largest KOAs I've stayed at and the kampground itself is very nice. The staff were great ands check in was super quick. Also, there's a rugged little trail that goes behind the kampground. It was a great little walk for the dog and I to stretch our legs after our long drive. 

  The tent sites are all located at the back of the kampground around a circular pavillion. Each tent site has its own water facet, electricity, and fair internet which are somewhat redeeming for the negatives below. It's nice to have a covered picnic table and the lattice provides some privacy from the picnic tables of the other campers. Other than the traffic is very quiet in by 7:30 or so. Everyone seems respectful of each other. 

  The tent sites are disappointing to me. They're small, close together, and nearer to the highway than makes for a good night's sleep in a tent. That makes them kind of pricey for what you get.

  I'm tent camping because I want to be distanced from other people. I put mine up as far to the side as I can go, but I'm  still literally only 10 feet from the next tent. Other users mentioned grass on the sites. I haven't seen any grass around and site 5 has only stones on the tent pad. This site also has probably the worst view. It faces out toward one of the kampground roads and is in full view of the street light. The back sites seem darker.

  I'd highly recommend this KOA if you're visiting Branson in a trailer or RV. The kabins also look really cute (and there are lots of them!). If I visited here again in a tent, I'd pick one of the two sites that face the woods.

• 

  Crystal C.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 1, 2020

  KOA Campground Branson

  Smaller camping area

  After reading from some this was not equipped for tent campers I would have to beg to differ. The campground is great for those camping in a tent!!

  I spoke to someone before checking it out and they were more than welcoming but did mention that the grassy spaces were a bit limited. They did however openly welcome tents!!

  The ground without grass does pose a bit more of a challenge should you get one of those spaces but with proper padding it is a great location to visit. The water front is great and they do have a dock to access the water for fishing and an area for launching kayaks which is very nice.

• 

  JonMark

  Scout

  

  May. 30, 2024

  White River Campgrounds

  Wors Campgrounds.. the camp manager is the worst I have ever seen

  Even though their website says they have tent camping they DO NOT

• 

  Julia B.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 6, 2021

  Bull Shoals-White River State Park

  Angler’s Paradise

  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.

• 

  Arkansas F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2020

  Buffalo Point C Loop

  Great for canoeing and hiking

  This 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.

• 

  Jewlia T.

  Traveler

  

  May. 8, 2020

  KOA Campground Branson

  Very cute campsite!

  I went with my family to go tent camping here. Nice tent spots that are flat. Ground is somewhat hard to get spikes into and depending on the season, expect rain! The woods behind are non threatening, you don’t really have to worry about animals. Fire pits are great too.

• 

  Leah H.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 12, 2016

  Tyler Bend Walk-in Tent Sites

  Tyler Bend Camp Ground

  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.

• 

  Travis G.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 13, 2020

  Cedar Ridge RV Park - Temporarily Closed

  Great campsite

  Have 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.

• 

  Arkansas F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2020

  Sylamore Creek Camp

  Quiet little campground

  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.

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 23, 2021

  Bull Shoals-White River State Park

  Great view of the White River

  Mainly 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.

• 

  Arkansas F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2020

  Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

  Great canoeing and hiking

  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.

• 

  Drea R.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 6, 2021

  Horseshoe Canyon Ranch

  Magical lil’ Campground

  This place is not your run of the mill rest stop. Car camp, hammock, tent camp, or rent one the cabins to enjoy the roaming goats and horses around the property. Infamously known in AR as one of the best climbing spots. It does get quite busy, so it’s best to arrive earlier in the day to claim a good spot.

• K

  Kim B.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 31, 2016

  Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

  Buffalo River national Park

  Beautiful 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.

• P

  Paul P.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 31, 2019

  Rush Campground — Buffalo National River

  Hidden treasure beautiful place

  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.

• 

  Shannon M.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 10, 2019

  Bull Shoals-White River State Park

  My favorite place to camp!

  We 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.

• 

  Arkansas F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2020

  South Maumee Camping Area — Buffalo National River

  Good canoeing spot

  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.

• 

  Dave R.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 3, 2021

  Bull Shoals-White River State Park

  One of the Best Campgrounds

  We 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

• 

  Natalie M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2018

  Kyles Landing Campground — Buffalo National River

  would definitely stay there again!

  the drive in is something you have to be thoughtful about. I went with a group from my school and we had vans and it was a very rough gravel road. so this is definitely more of a tent camping spot. It is in a valley and is quite beautiful. we stopped there on our way from backpacking the buffalo river trail and it was a great stopping point. There are bathrooms but no showers. there is a fee to stay in the camp but is not ridiculous.

• A

  Ashlee B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2020

  White Buffalo Resort

  Awesome Location & Friendly Staff

  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.

• B

  Bill M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 3, 2019

  White Buffalo Resort

  This is one incredible camping experience

  This 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,

• 

  Robin A.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 29, 2019

  Dogwood Springs Campground

  Love this place!

  The owner was extremely nice. He went over the trails in the area & marked the ones I wanted to go to on a map - which was extremely helpful since I kept losing cell service/gps while driving. The tent site where I stayed had a picnic table with a lean-to over it & electric. They provided some firewood as well. There are bathrooms & showers. Nothing fancy, but after a long day hiking the shower was a godsend. I'll definitely stay there again!

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 6, 2024

  Group Dispersed, Charleston Road, Ozark NF, AR

  Large Group Dispersed Camping

  Coordinates: 35.50873, -92.81549. Group dispersed site located less than a 1/4-mile south of the Zing Trailhead on Charleston Road. Charleston Road is a wide, well maintained gravel road located in a popular national forest OHV area. This dispersed site is a level with a dirt and grass surface. The site can accomodate multiple vehicles; tent camping is possible. There is a large rock fire ring at the rear of the site. The site is open with little shade, making recharging with solar panels possible. Other than accommodating a group of OHV and offroad enthusiasts, and stargazing at night, there is nothing remarkable about this campsite.

• 

  Sharon N.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 5, 2017

  Blue Heron Campground

  Right on the river bank!

  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.

• C

  Carlene N.

  Guide

  

  May. 3, 2019

  Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River

  Beautiful views, easy access

  Steel Creek is home to the most iconiv and photographer bluff of the Buffalo National River, Roark Bluff. It is an absolutely gorgeous area and features a short trail to a vantage point for taking pictures of Roarok Bluff as well as access to other Buffalo River hiking trails.

  Campground has tent sites, self-pay, and bathrooms with running water. Not as many sites have the trees for hammocking as some of the other campgrounds. Sites have picnic tables and firepits.

  Easy access with paved roads up to the campground.G

  It does get fairly crowded in the summer, so the best time to visit is a warmer spell during off-season.

• 

  Lori .

  Traveler

  

  May. 31, 2019

  Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

  Buffalo Point Loop B Site 25

  We 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.

• W

  Wes P.

  Scout

  

  Mar. 14, 2017

  Steel Creek Campground — Buffalo National River

  Buffalo Base Camp

  Steel Creek campground is a beautiful grass savanna orbited by 500 foot bluffs. From the campsites is a short hike through large beautiful hardwood trees. A glorious river of milky blue green waters flows at the base of the bluff around the camp's peninsula. East of Ponca this is the closest area to car/RV camp. This camp is also horse camp friendly. Many trails come through Steel Creek for backpackers, horse trails, and of course canoe/kayakers dock and launch from here. I call this base camp because there are so many trails and historic options in this upper area of the Buffalo. My one and only con is the tent camp area is open to all the other tent campers. In other words your camping side by side. Aside from that its definitely worth it!

• 

  Lacee G.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 16, 2019

  Buffalo Point — Buffalo National River

  Camp and Float on Lower Buffalo

  We 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!