Family Vacation to Arkansas - Ozarks/Buffalo River National...

My husband and I are taking my oldest daughter (age 9) camping this summer in Arkansas. It is the only southern state I haven%26#39;t been to, and I can%26#39;t wait - it looks so beautiful. We have both heard that the Buffalo National River is THE place to camp. My concern is that all of the camping areas I have found don%26#39;t take reservations. What are we to do if we get up there and can%26#39;t find somewhere? We tent camp - electricity hookup isn%26#39;t necessary, but we do need water available (not necessarily at the site, but nearby). We%26#39;d also like to be on the river. Also, besides canoeing, what else is there to do? We are going to stop at other places on our way up there - the state park with the diamonds, etc... I was considering camping at Petit Jean SP, even though it%26#39;s not on the Buffalo River, it looks nice. I am looking for mountains, beautiful streams or rivers, and also family friendly things to do. Any advice would be very appreciated. We will be traveling in late July.

Thanks!

Erin

Family Vacation to Arkansas - Ozarks/Buffalo River National...

Also - what are the best areas of the Buffalo to canoe? Where is the best scenery? Are the caves accessable to people with no caving experience?

Family Vacation to Arkansas - Ozarks/Buffalo River National...

Gingerspice: I am not an expert on the Buffalo but have been on it many times. Arkansas rivers obviously vary significantly with weather conditions. The Buffalo, as most mountain streams, can rise dramatically and even dangerously. That said, by late July, the river normally...but not always...would be running somewhat low. Many of the famous bluffs on the river and the fun white water are upstream. Ponca to Pruitt is the legendary exciting stretch in the spring. But my favorite stretch in mid-late summer with my 10 year old is down river, from Buffalo Point (a good camping spot...the old State Park) to Rush (an old Zinc mining ghost town). It is just an afternoon trip with time for swimming and there are some gorgeous bluffs. I like it because it is such a safe journey with little chance of difficult river conditions and it has good camping at the beginning and a cool old ghost town at the end. I would begin planning with a call to the visitor center at 870-439-2502. They may have much better suggestions. As to other places in Arkansas, my daughter loved going to Blanchard Springs Caverns and camping at nearby Sylamore Creek. Petit Jean State Park is a big favorite of my daughter%26#39;s...on a mountain with some fun things to do. But it can be a crowded camping situation in the summer. Have a great time in Arkansas this summer.

Thank you so much! I have been doing ALOT of research, but it seems so overwhelming!

hello

while you are in this area you might choose to visit a wonderful little town named mountain view. there are lots of towns with mountain in the name so remember mountain view this town is near the ozark folk center which is near blanchard springs (nice camping) the town itself is a fairly unadulterated opportunity to hear and see real ozark musicains .

not in country music shows but on the town square for free. in warm weather there is informal dancing and groups of pickers sitting all around a real family experience.

there are bed and breakfast on the square and also inexpensive hotels

you can camp at blanchard springs and drive into this great little town

good luck