NPS · Buffalo National River · Yelville, AR

Buffalo Point

Buffalo Point is a convenient, fun-filled destination for families and adventurists of all types. It's perched along the Buffalo National River, providing exciting river sports and hiking opportunities. In peak season, a restaurant is open at the facility, serving up meals for those who want a break from preparing them.

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · big rigs in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · group sites in Arkansas · dark sky in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Painted Bluff at Buffalo Point CampgroundView from Buffalo Point RestaurantThe view from Skull Rock at Buffalo PointBuffalo Point Campground Trails
Photos courtesy of NPS/T. Fondriest · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric82
Walk-in21
Group tent areas5
group shelter electric3
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 65 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

111 sites in 8 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
G1Group SitesGroup tentPartialNo25 / –Yes
G2Group SitesGroup tentPartialNo25 / –Yes
G3Group SitesGroup tentPartialNo25 / –Yes
G4Group SitesGroup tentPartialNo25 / –Yes
G5Group SitesGroup tentPartialNo25 / –Yes
A01Loop AElectricBack-in32PavedPartialNoYes / –6 / 2Yes
A02Loop AElectricBack-in27PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A03Loop AElectricBack-in24PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A04Loop AElectricBack-in27PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
A05Loop AElectricBack-in24PavedPartial50 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length65 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark skyInside Buffalo National River, a certified International Dark Sky Park
AccessibilitySites A06, D55 are listed accessible

Buffalo Point offers campsites with water, electricity and even a classic pay telephone. It's the only area in the park with a restaurant, open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends only from mid-April to Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend to mid-October.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Buffalo Point30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.19 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowFebruary: 3.32 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowMarch: 4.70 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowApril: 5.10 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.04 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.53 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 3.63 inches of precipitation, 0.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.3°F averageFebruary: 40.2°F averageMarch: 48.6°F averageApril: 57.7°F averageMay: 66.1°F averageJune: 74.3°F averageJuly: 78.3°F averageAugust: 77.5°F averageSeptember: 70.0°F averageOctober: 58.9°F averageNovember: 47.3°F averageDecember: 39.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Gilbert, 11 miles from the campground at 606 feet, station USC00032794 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 48 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Springfield, MO: Take Highway 65 South through Branson to Harrison. Stay on Highway 65 through Harrison, turn left on Highway 62 and travel to Yellville. At Yellville turn right on Highway 14 East. Travel 17 miles (27 km) to Highway 268 East. Turn left on 268 to Buffalo Point.

Nearest townYelville, Arkansas
Coordinates36.0854° N, 92.5657° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearOzark Mountain Trading Company ↗12.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗12.9 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Compass RV ↗15.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Buffalo Point Campground, Floating the Buffalo National River, & Hiking the Indian Roc

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Buffalo National River Wilderness begins about 1 mile away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is set along Buffalo National River, one of the few free-flowing rivers remaining in the contiguous United States. The river runs 135 miles without dams and cuts through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River. The region is surrounded by droves of lush hardwood trees and grassy open meadows.

Recreation

The wild river is a gathering place for water activities. Many campers spend their days fishing, hiking, canoeing or kayaking. Evenings are ideal for gathering next to the fire to revamp for another great day out on the river.

Nearby

Two popular attractions within the Buffalo Point Area are the Indian Rockhouse Trail and the Rush Historic District. Rush was a zinc mining community until the zinc market collapsed and the settlement was deserted. Tours about the town's history are available. Buffalo Point is the former Buffalo River State Park developed in the 1930's as project of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Blanchard Springs Caverns, an extraordinary living cave, is a one-hour drive from Buffalo Point.

Guidebooks for Arkansas

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
    Jim Warnock, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook
    Tim Ernst and Pam Ernst, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Scenic Routes and Byways the Ozarks
    Don Kurz, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Buffalo Point?

Sites at Buffalo Point are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Buffalo Point?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Buffalo Point have?

112 sites, including 82 standard sites with power, 21 walk-in sites, 5 group tent areas, and 3 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Buffalo Point?

The longest site here provides 65 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Buffalo Point have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Buffalo Point?

Yes, pets are allowed at Buffalo Point. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Buffalo Point?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Buffalo Point?

Sites A06 and D55 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Buffalo Point good for stargazing?

Yes. Buffalo Point sits inside Buffalo National River, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

What is there to do at Buffalo Point?

The wild river is a gathering place for water activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Buffalo Point?

Yelville, Arkansas. Two popular attractions within the Buffalo Point Area are the Indian Rockhouse Trail and the Rush Historic District.

Source: Getting there

What if Buffalo Point is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Rush Campground (2.7 mi), Spring Creek Campground (4 mi, first-come), and Tyler Bend Campground (13 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby