Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
River Access
Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates39 total sites
Tent Sites
26 sites
About Steel Creek Campground
Number of accommodations: 39
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Year-round
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
River Access
Water Access
- River Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
39 Sites Available
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Site Details
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39 Sites Available
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Reviews (151)
What Guests Are Saying
Steel Creek Campground offers a beautiful and well-maintained location along the Buffalo River, known for its clean facilities and friendly camp hosts. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, scenic trails, and wildlife encounters, making it a popular spot for both families and individual campers. While some experience issues with nearby noise and wildlife disruptions, the overall camping experience is highly praised, emphasizing the campground's charm and natural beauty.
What Guests Are Saying
Steel Creek Campground offers a beautiful and well-maintained location along the Buffalo River, known for its clean facilities and friendly camp hosts. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, scenic trails, and wildlife encounters, making it a popular spot for both families and individual campers. While some experience issues with nearby noise and wildlife disruptions, the overall camping experience is highly praised, emphasizing the campground's charm and natural beauty.
Review Summary
brittany m
VerifiedAugust 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 10 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
The site itself was great. Near the tree line and close to the water. Not a lot of privacy but it was otherwise a nice stay.
Jessica N
VerifiedAugust 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 02 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Beautiful campground. Clean bathrooms. 10-15 minute drive to the Lost Valley and Centerpoint/ Goat trail hikes. About a 40 minute drive to the Whitaker Point trail. There is also a trailhead at the campground. The campground is on the Buffalo River, so you can use the campground as the input for a float if you come during float season (check river levels because by August, the river is too low to float on this part of the river). The town of Ponca is about 10 minutes up the road, and there are stores to rent canoes from or to buy items you forgot to pack, firewood, gas, food, or souvenirs. Lost Valley Canoe and Lodging in Ponca has WiFi you can access 24/7. They post the password in the window. The WiFi is useful because there is no cell service, and Google Maps/ Apple Maps both don’t work out here unless you get on WiFi to start the route/ have the map downloaded. At night, armadillos come out at the campground. It started raining heavily while we were here. The rain created a waterfall that was coming down off Roark Bluff behind our campsite. Sites 1-10 are reservable, and the rest of the sites are first come first serve.
John M
VerifiedSeptember 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 11 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Nice place.
Wesley W
VerifiedOctober 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 11 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Steele Creek is such a great campground. With such close access to the river and the BRT, coupled with a super clear sky at night, makes for an amazing getaway. Can't wait to come back... and no cell service helps out too!
Ebed V
VerifiedOctober 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 13 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Nice place,very clean peaceful
I will back camping again
Danielle E
VerifiedOctober 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 02 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Great campsite! Beautiful views of the Buffalo. Easy check-in. Quiet, well-maintained space. Bathrooms were clean. Had a cute armadillo hang out near our spot! Would stay again!
Rachael B
VerifiedOctober 9, 2021 • Stayed at: 32 - Horse Site, Loop: Horse Camp
This place is BEAUTIFUL! The park rangers were also very helpful and kind.
Jenni H
VerifiedOctober 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 12 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Steel Creek is such a beautiful place. The campgrounds are great, grounds are nice, the bathrooms flush. We spend a lot of time on the Buffalo, enjoying hiking, and visiting waterfalls in the spring. On our recent trip to Steel Creek, we just sat around, played in the river, and relaxed. It was perfect. Except for the bees. There were swarms of fairly determined bees, who really wanted to share our soda/yogurt/pancake syrup/banana. But, it’s fall, they’re getting desperate for food, we get it.
Nasreen J
VerifiedOctober 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 13 - Tent Site, Loop: Main Loop
Camping at Steele Creek was a great experience. The campground was clean and well maintained. Although the area was very open rather than secluded from others, the campers, kids and dogs were very considerate. I will definitely go back. The river and bluffs were beautiful!
Brenda B
VerifiedOctober 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 28 - Horse Site, Loop: Horse Camp
The conditions of the tie line area is horrible. We had to leave early because the pooling of water around that tie area. Our horses were miserable in the knee deep mud. That water could easily be diverted and fixed. We have been there before and it has never be dry for the horses!
Location Steel Creek Campground
Address:
386 Nc 2104
Jasper, AR, 72641
United States
From Fayetteville, Arkansas drive north and take US Highway 412 East for approximately 42 miles (67.5 km) to the intersection with State Highway 21. Take highway 21 South for approximately 17 miles (27 km) to the intersection of State Highway 43. Here, take highway 43 East for about 5 miles (8 km) to the intersection of State Highway 74. Here, turn right onto highway 74 and drive about 2 miles (3.2 km) to Steel Creek Road. Turn left and drive approximately .5 miles (.8 km) down into the campground. At the bottom of the hill the main campground will be to your left and the horse camp will be to your right.
From Little Rock, Arkansas take Interstate 40 West for approximately 93 miles (150 km) to Exit 64. At Exit 64 take Business Highway 64 west through the town of Lamar for about 4 miles (6.5 km) to the intersection of State Highway 21. Take Highway North for about 48 miles (77 km) to the intersection of State Highway 43. Here, take highway 43 East for about 5 miles (8 km) to the intersection of State Highway 74. Here, turn right onto highway 74 and drive about 2 miles (3.2 km) to Steel Creek Road. Turn left and drive approximately .5 miles (.8 km) down into the campground. At the bottom of the hill the main campground will be your left and the horse camp will be on your right.
From Springfield, Missouri take US Highway 65 South for approximately 70 miles (112.6 km) to the town of Harrison. In Harrison, take State Highway 7 South about 1 mile (1.6 km) through downtown Harrison until you come to the intersection of State Highway 43 on your right. Follow highway 43 for about 25 miles (40 km) until to get to the intersection of State Highway 74. Turn left onto highway 74 and drive about 2 miles (3.2 km) to Steel Creek Road. Turn left and drive approximately .5 miles (.8 km) down into the campground. At the bottom of the hill the main campground will be your left and the horse camp will be on your right.
Elevation: 476 feet
13 mi drive to downtown Jasper (about 20 min)
Policies & Rules
General
- Sites 27 - 39 are our Equestrian Camping Sites only for campers with horses.
- The facility is available for camping free of charge outside of the reservation season, generally November 15th to March 15th every year.
- Climbing and/or diving from the bluffs is dangerous and highly discouraged.
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states.
- All park trails are closed to pets with the exception of the Buffalo River Trail, only on the section of trail between Ponca and Steel Creek, the Villines Homestead Trail at Ponca, the Mill Creek Trail (trailhead is at the Pruitt river access area in the Upper District), the Tyler Bend Campground trails (Spring Hollow, Buck Ridge, and Rock Wall in the Middle District), and all three Buffalo Point Campground trails (Forest Trail, Overlook Trail, and Campground Trail in the Lower District). For more information visit the Pets page on the park website.
- Do not swim alone during high water.
- Please be aware that some special events held at the pavilions or anywhere in the park (such as weddings, press receptions, concerts, et al) require a Special Use Permit in addition to the pavilion reservation. To obtain a Special Use Permit or additional information, please contact the Commercial Services office at (870) 365-2724. For more information visit the Special Park Uses page on the park website.
- Please be advised that providing business services within an NPS unit is prohibited per CFR 5.3 without a written Authorization or Permit approved by the Superintendent. This includes services such as RV or tent delivery & set-up, firewood sales and delivery, shuttle (transportation) services, and guided hikes, floats, etc. For a list of approved visitor services and to learn more about working with Buffalo National River, please visit the Doing Business with the Park page on the park website.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: September 3, 2026
