Hot Springs has a full-hookup national park campground. The Buffalo National River is remote, with one electric campground and steep Ozark roads that suit smaller rigs.
Arkansas offers two very different RV trips. Hot Springs National Park is a small city with historic bathhouses and a national park campground a couple of miles from downtown. The Buffalo National River, in the Ozarks, is a free-flowing river with remote campgrounds and gravel access roads.
Gulpha Gorge Campground has 40 sites with full hookups (30 and 50 amp, water and sewer) at $34 per night. Sites are not pull-through and the park does not publish length limits. Reservations are required through Recreation.gov. Lake Ouachita State Park, nearby, has 58 Class AAA sites with 50-amp electric, water and sewer.
On the Buffalo, Buffalo Point has 80 drive-in sites with 30/50-amp electric and water but no sewer, at $30 per night. Tyler Bend, Erbie and Ozark are drive-in but have no hookups. Some routes involve steep grades and tight turns, and cell service in valleys is unreliable.
| Gulpha Gorge | 40 sites, full hookups, $34 per night; reservations required |
|---|---|
| Gulpha Gorge stay limit | 14 consecutive days, 30 total per year, then a 7-day break |
| Buffalo Point | 80 sites, 30/50 amp electric and water, $30 per night; dump station mid-March to mid-November |
| Tyler Bend | 27 drive-in sites, no hookups, $20 per night |
| Reservations | Recreation.gov or 877-444-6777; most Buffalo campgrounds reserved mid-March to mid-November |
| Buffalo winter camping | Generally first come, first served with no fee |
Hot Springs is easy. The Buffalo requires reading each campground’s access carefully.
Spring and fall are the favorites, with the Buffalo’s reservation season running mid-March through mid-November.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April–May) | Waterfalls and high river flows. Book early for weekends. |
| Summer | Hot and humid. Lake and river swimming are popular. |
| Fall | Color in the Ozarks and cooler days. Book ahead for October weekends. |
| Winter | Quiet. Buffalo developed campgrounds are generally first come, first served with no fee. |
Rates and counts come from the National Park Service and Arkansas State Parks. Private park details come from RV listing sites.
Best for: Full hookups two miles from Bathhouse Row on a creek.
Watch out: Reservations required. Sites mostly back-in with no listed length limits.
Best for: Lake setting near Hot Springs with water, electric and sewer.
Watch out: Rates and lengths not listed on the page we read.
Best for: The Buffalo’s best-equipped campground.
Watch out: Reservations required for all sites starting March 15, 2027.
Best for: Easy access off US 65 with a visitor center nearby.
Watch out: No hookups. Dump station is seasonal.
Best for: Pull-through concrete pads on Lake Hamilton.
Watch out: Boat noise in summer.
Best for: Pull-through sites, a good base on the north side of the Buffalo.
Watch out: Road noise; ask for a site away from the highway.
Other Hot Springs options include J and J RV Park, Catherine’s Landing and Leisure Landing RV Park. Check each park’s own site for current rates and site sizes.
Plans keep the big rig in Hot Springs and use the tow vehicle for the Ozark loop.
First visit.
Travelers with a tow vehicle or smaller rig.
Travelers who want time on the water.
The historic bathhouses of Hot Springs National Park. Some are open for soaking and some are museums or visitor centers.
A tower with views over the Ouachita Mountains and the city. A scenic drive leads up the mountain.
A clear lake with a state park campground, boating and swimming a short drive from Hot Springs.
America’s first national river, with bluffs, swimming holes and canoe floats.
Short Ozark hikes to caves and waterfalls. Check the park for current trail conditions.
Elk graze in the valley near Ponca. Fall is the most active season. Keep your distance and stay in your vehicle.
Plan for slow roads. Some Ozark routes have steep grades and tight turns. Add time and use a low gear on descents.
Check the gravel before you commit. Erbie and Ozark use gravel access roads, and Kyles Landing is not suited to large RVs.
Leave the motorhome at camp. Use the tow vehicle for scenic drives and trailheads.
Hot Springs has full services. Propane fill is limited near the Buffalo, so top off before you go north. Fuel up in Harrison, Jasper or Marshall.
Cell service is unreliable in valleys. Download maps and confirm reservations before you leave town. Many gravel pads need leveling, especially after heavy rain.
Fees from the National Park Service and RV park listings. Confirm current amounts before booking.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gulpha Gorge | $34 per night | Full hookups; reservations required. |
| Buffalo Point | $30 per night | 30/50 amp electric and water; no sewer. |
| Tyler Bend | $20 per night | No hookups. |
| Erbie / Ozark | $20 per night | No hookups; gravel access. |
| Private RV park | $41–$95 | Hot Springs and Jasper area listings. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
Not outdoors. NPS says the park has no outdoor soaking, so thermal baths are taken in the bathhouses. Steel Creek on the Buffalo is mainly tent camping with no RV hookups.
Yes. Gulpha Gorge has 40 sites with full hookups at 30 and 50 amp, at $34 per night. Reservations are required.
The park does not give a maximum length. It says sites vary in size. Call the Fordyce Visitor Center at 501-620-6715 before booking a long rig.
Buffalo Point has electric and water sites and is the best option. Kyles Landing and Steel Creek are not suitable for large RVs, and Erbie and Ozark use gravel roads.
Most developed campgrounds require reservations from mid-March through mid-November. Winter camping is generally first come, first served.
Spring and fall. Summer is hot and humid but good for water.
Three days covers Hot Springs. Add two or more to see the Buffalo.
Rules were checked October 21, 2026. Neither National Park Service page lists maximum RV lengths, so confirm them with the parks.