U.S. Forest Service · Ozark-St. Francis National Forests · Mountain View, AR

Blanchard Springs Recreation Area

Blanchard Springs Recreation Area is located in the scenic Ozark National Forest. The Ozark Mountains are known for beautiful "rolling" hills, hidden caverns, waterfalls and clear flowing streams. Examples of early Ozark culture and music can be found throughout the region. Blanchard recreation area is a great starting point for an Ozark adventure.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable24 sites25 ft maxElectric hookupsPets okFires ok

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · first-come in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · group sites in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
BLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREABLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREA 7BLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREA 5BLANCHARD SPRINGS RECREATION AREA 3
Photos courtesy of USDA FS, Dameon Hudson (CC BY 3.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups18
group shelter electric2
group standard area nonelectric2
group walk to1
Host/management1
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

23 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
AmphitheaterDay UseGroup Walk ToPavedPartial30 amp100 / 25YesPrime
Large PavillionDay UseGroup Shelter ElectricPavedFull30 amp125 / 25YesPrime
Small PavillionDay UseGroup Shelter ElectricPavedFull30 amp50 / 10YesPrime
GS 1Group CampGroupPull-through25GravelPartialNoRiverfront50 / 20YesPrime
GS 2Group CampGroupPull-through25GravelFullNoRiverfront30 / 12YesPrime
15Upper LoopStandardBack-in60PavedFullNoRiverfront8 / 2YesPrime
16Upper LoopStandardBack-in47PavedPartialNoRiverfront8 / 2YesPrime
17Upper LoopStandardBack-in64PavedFullNoRiverfront8 / 2YesPrime
18Upper LoopStandardBack-in66PavedFullNoRiverfront8 / 2YesPrime
19Upper LoopStandardBack-in52PavedFullNoRiverfront8 / 2YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length25 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
AccessibilitySites Amphitheater, Large Pavillion, Small Pavillion are listed accessible

The campgrounds offer a variety of campsites to accommodate all types of visitors, including group and single campsites. All sites are equipped with tables, grills and campfire rings. Individual sites are on a first come, first served basis. The individual sites are open except when there is high water. The picnic shelters have grills and ample picnic tables for groups. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestOzark-St. Francis National Forests
FeesIndividual campsites- $15/night. Large group site, GS1 - $60/night (8-50 people). Small group site, GS2 - $35/night (8-30 people). Day-use $3/vehicle/day

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Blanchard Springs Recreation Area30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.35 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowFebruary: 3.27 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowMarch: 4.75 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowApril: 5.47 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.61 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.82 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.63 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.34 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 3.93 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 35.4°F averageFebruary: 38.9°F averageMarch: 47.3°F averageApril: 56.4°F averageMay: 64.8°F averageJune: 72.7°F averageJuly: 76.5°F averageAugust: 75.8°F averageSeptember: 68.7°F averageOctober: 58.1°F averageNovember: 46.8°F averageDecember: 38.2°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Calico Rock 2 WSW, 9 miles from the campground at 350 feet, station USC00031132 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 49 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 7 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Mountain View, take Highway 5-9-14 north for 5 miles to Allison. At Allison, take Highway 14 west for 8 miles toward the town of Fifty Six. Turn right at the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area sign. Be sure to bring a map, GPS directions have led many visitors off-course.

Nearest townMountain View, Arkansas
Coordinates35.9744° N, 92.1772° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • To check campground status, call 870 757 2211.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.7 mi
Outdoor gearNorfork Adventure Supply ↗17.3 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Compass RV ↗27.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Blanchard Springs Campground - Full Arkansas Campground Review

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    North Sycamore Creek Spur
    0.2 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.3 mi
    Jacks Branch Connector
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Syllamo Bike Trail - Jacks Bra
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Oak-Pine Woodland ↗
    0.6 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.7 mi
    Blanchard Cav.-Dripstone Tour
    0.6 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.8 mi
    Mirror Lake Boardwalk ↗
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Leatherwood Wilderness begins about 11.3 miles 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 facilities are near picturesque rock bluffs and crystal clear streams. Sites are well shaded by stately yellow pine trees.

Recreation

Trout fishing is available on nearby Mirror Lake. Other popular activities in the Blanchard area include mountain biking, hiking and swimming.

Nearby

Blanchard Springs Caverns offers tours, exhibits and family activities. North Sylamore hiking trail follows the scenic Sylamore creek for 25 miles and connects to the Ozark Highland trail. Mountain biking is available on 50 miles of the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail.

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 Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Individual campsites- $15/night. Large group site, GS1 - $60/night (8-50 people). Small group site, GS2 - $35/night (8-30 people).

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Blanchard Springs Recreation Area open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Blanchard Springs Recreation Area have?

24 sites, including 18 standard sites without power, 2 group shelter electric, 2 group standard area nonelectric, and 1 group walk to.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

The longest site here provides 25 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 Blanchard Springs Recreation Area have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Sites Amphitheater, Large Pavillion, and Small Pavillion 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

What is there to do at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area?

Trout fishing is available on nearby Mirror Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation