Camping fees are poised to go up at Buffalo National River/NPS

Buffalo National River in Arkansas is proposing a number of price increases for camping in the park.

The National Park Service maintains numerous campgrounds throughout the national river. They range from primitive sites with just vault toilets, no water, and no designated sites to developed areas with electric and water hookups for RV camping.

The park last raised camping fees in 2013 and will hold a public comment period about possible camping fee increases in 2019.  The park conducted a campground comparability study in the local area, and based upon the study proposes to increase camping fees at the following locations:

● Sites with water and electric at Buffalo Point Campground, from $22 to $30 a night for up to six people.

● All sites at Tyler Bend Campground and walk-in tent sites at Buffalo Point Campground, from $16 to $20 a night for up to six people.

● Primitive sites (without electricity or showers) at Steel Creek, Kyle’s Landing, Ozark, Carver, and Rush campgrounds, from $12 to $20 a night for up to six people (up to four stock animals at Steel Creek Horse Camp).

● No changes are proposed for reserving pavilions; those fees would remain $25 at Ozark and $50 at Tyler Bend and Buffalo Point.

● The fee structure would be revised for group campsites at Buffalo Point and Tyler Bend, from $3 per person, per night to a flat rate of $50 per group per night (up to 25 people per site). This would represent an increase for some groups and a decrease for others, based on past use.

● Other campgrounds would continue to allow free camping where no amenities are provided: Erbie, Woolum, South Maumee and Spring Creek.

The park also proposes to allow some tent and horse campsites at Steel Creek Campground and walk-in tent and drive-in sites at Tyler Bend Campground to be reserved in advance on the recreation.gov website. Reserving sites through the website allows visitors to pay by debit or credit card; those without reservations must pay by cash or check.

Buffalo National River provides a 50 percent discount on campsite fees for Interagency Senior and Access pass cardholders. To find out more about who qualifies for these cards, and how they may be obtained online visit store.usgs.gov or in person at park headquarters in Harrison, Steel Creek Ranger Station, Tyler Bend Visitor Center, or Buffalo Point Ranger Station.

There are multiple ways to comment on the proposed fee increase. The park is taking comments electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/buff2019fees (though it was not posted on Thursday). You can also pick up a paper comment form from park headquarters in Harrison, Steel Creek Ranger Station, Tyler Bend Visitor Center, or Buffalo Point Ranger Station. Following the public review period, which lasts until September 5, the park will review all feedback, finalize the proposal, and determine how, or if, to implement the proposed changes.