Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

two rv sites not in the park ...one in jasper, just past BOB'S market. and another one on hwy 7 is mill creek..just north of the pruit bridge. ..you could use the other campgrounds if you want to rip the AC uint off the roof as you drive in.??

Drove with my youngest son to the Buffalo today to enjoy the weather & check out some of the access points & campgrounds I haven't seen before. Thought you might find my notes from today helpful. I think it pretty much verifies what Richard & Jim said in this thread. Please feel free to clarify anything.

I checked out Ozark Campground today--it's fantastic. I talked with the park ranger at the Pruitt station who was very helpful. RVs are allowed at any of the campgrounds as long as it's associated with a picnic table to signify one is occupying that campsite. It's OK to [parallel] park next to the barriers that are in front of the campsites at Ozark, Steel Creek & other similar campgrounds (not sure if there are others). A couple of the sites at Ozark don't have the barriers & you can back into them. The reason Erbie has the "RV" designation is that there are campsites large enough to actually accommodate the RVs within the campsite. The turnoffs for Ozark & Erbie are very close to each other & the roads are "good" gravel roads. The Ozark road is about 1.5 miles to the campground, the Erbie road is about 5 1/2 miles to the campground & hence Erbie campground is the least likely to fill up on a spring weekend. I drove the Ozark road but did not drive the Erbie road but the ranger said it should not be a problem. She said it's nothing like Kyle's landing road.

Ranger said the drive from Pruitt to Hasty is about 20 min (one-way). Hasty has limited parking & some parking sites are "reserved" for the outfitters. There is no camping at all at Hasty. You can camp with an RV at Carver, but unlike Ozark or Steel Creek or Tyler Bend, you would have to park it in the "parking lot" which would be within site of, but not next to, the picnic table/campsite. At any of the campgrounds when camping with an RV you have to "put down some stuff" on the picnic table to mark that campsite as yours & register/pay at the box. All is first come first served. Once all the picnic tables at each campsite are "claimed" the campground is full.

Mike,

It sounds like you've done well with the field research, I'm pleased our previous experiences are still valid, and hope you all will have a smooth camping trip when you go. I am surprised the ranger indicated RVers should occupy the tables, etc. associated with what I had assumed were there for the benefit of the walk-in tent campers only. I know when I have gone to Ozark, I have only shared these amenities when I had a friend camping in a tent there so as not to be an imposition. Like many RVers camping minimally , I only need a place to stop, and nothing else... At any rate, I hope you have a most enjoyable trip. The only other suggestion I would offer would be to arrive in camp on a Thursday, or Friday morning at the latest to secure a spot prior to the weekend.


Best Regards
Jim

Went to Erbie yesterday, was impressed how smooth the road was. Last time i was there was just after a big rain which had rutted out the road so bad I almost couldnt drive my car down to Erbie, thats when the concrete slab was washed downstream at the creek crossing at the Parker-Hickman Homestead. Although the road is long (6miles) and bumpy, I dont see you having any trouble. The ford can be a little sticky at higher levels. I have been re-learning how to surf and paddle there, and my favorite level is around the 2.8 to 3.2 or so.at any of these levels you can run it straight and not get stuck in it, but hit it sideways and it will hold you there. but not a keeper. there are a couple small waves just above the access and a couple more just downstream from the access around the curve. Also if you have a set date and are coming no matter what the water level, you may want to look at some of the hiking trails, and caves in the area. I just started hiking the area this past year and there are some great scenic trails in the area, with many, many waterfalls. and I am not what you would call "in shape" the Hemmed in hollow hike was not as bad as I was expecting, but still much easier to hike up from the river than down from the parking lot.The people at Buffalo Outdoor Center are very helpful and might know more about rv places.

Thanks for the info!! I was certainly impressed with the road to the Ozark campground. Sounds like Erbie is fine too.