Details
n/a, Ponca, AR, 72742
Lat:36.04002229553652
Lng:-93.3463120996123
Content provided by
National Park ServiceLast Updated: September 5, 2026
Campground
Steel Creek Campground
National Park ServiceCampground
n/a, Ponca, AR, 72742
National Park ServiceLast Updated: September 5, 2026
Steel Creek Campground has 26 tent-only sites and 13 sites for campers with horses/stock animals (six people and six stock animals allowed per site). There are no electrical amenities, but flush restrooms and water are available from approximately March 15 through November 14. All sites are available for reservation at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations can be made same day and up to 6 months in advance.
Steel Creek Campground is about 3 miles east of Ponca, Arkansas off of Highway 74 and 13 miles west of Jasper, Arkansas. The tent campground has 26 campsites and the horse campground has 14 sites. It is open year round, restroom and water system in the tent campground are closed in the winter (November 15 - March 15).The vault toilet in the tent campground will be open in the winter, but with very limited servicing. RVs are not allowed.
Summer in the Ozarks can be very hot and humid. Please check the weather forecast prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. The weather the rest of the year has the potential to be wet and cool or dry and warm. Please pay special attention to river levels and the rain forecast when planning a trip on the river. River levels can rise dramatically in a short period of time so please be aware of conditions.
Trash & Recycling Collection
Toilets
Staff or Host On-Site
Potable Water
Steel Creek Campground is located off of Highway 74 in the western end of the park. The campground is approximately 2 miles east of Ponca, Arkansas and 13 miles west of Jasper, Arkansas. The access road to Steel Creek is paved about 2 miles to the bottom. On the valley floor the road becomes gravel. The horse campground is to the right and the tent campground is to the left.
Steel Creek Camping Fee
Sites at Steel Creek are $20.00 per site, per night with a total of 6 people permitted on each site. Reservations are required through recreation. Fees are charged when water is available and flush restrooms are open (approximately March 15 - November 14). No fees are charged during the winter when water systems are shut down and only the vault restrooms are open (approximately November 15 - March 14).
Wheelchair Access
The terrain is grassy and uneven.
Cell Phone Information
Cell phone service is not reliable unless you drive several miles towards Jasper on Highway 74 or north of Ponca on Highway 43.
RV Allowed
No
RV Information
Trailers are only allowed in the horse camp.
RV Maximum Length
0
Trailer Maximum Length
0
ADA Information
Steel Creek Campground does not have any ADA compliant campsites. The restroom facilities are ADA compliant.
Trailer Allowed
Yes
Access Roads
Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Classifications
Developed Campground
An emergency phone is available at the visitor contact station, near the old barns and horse stables. This phone can also be used to call recreation.gov to make camping reservations and the local canoe concessionaires.
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