The Happiness Function

Calling all road trippers! Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year and camping in the Ozarks is one of the best trips you can take.

This article provides an itinerary for visiting Natural Falls State Park, hiking to Dripping Springs, camping at Beaver Lake, and exploring the quaint mountain town of Eureka Springs.

If you are coming from Tulsa or the surrounding area, this is the perfect weekend getaway for you.

Fall Camping in the Ozarks

Fall is the best time of year to explore the Ozarks because there are little to no bugs, no ticks, no chiggers, and it is not humid. The trees are spectacular to see with their fall foliage.

Not to make summer sound doom and gloom, but the fall is the best time of year to explore this part of the country.

2-Day Guide: Tulsa to Northwest Arkansas

This article is structured as a 2-day guide to help you plan a weekend exploring the Ozarks in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

There are 4 stops to make:

• Natural Falls State Park – Oklahoma
• Dam Site Lake Campground – Arkansas
• Beaver Lake Dam – Arkansas
• Eureka Springs – Arkansas

Day 1 Overview:

• Drive to Natural Falls State Park in Oklahoma and hike to the Dripping Springs Falls.
• Drive to the Beaver Lake Dam Site Lake Campground in Arkansas and set up camp.

Day 2 Overview:

• Enjoy Beaver Lake and the campground.
• Check out the hydro Beaver Dam.
• Explore Eureka Springs and then head home.

Day 1 Details:

Explore Natural Falls State Park

Many of you have probably heard of the Ozarks, even if you didn’t grow up in Oklahoma. This is most likely because you read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls in middle or high school.

This autobiographical fiction was one of my favorite books. The cherished novel was turned into a movie. Dripping Springs Falls in Natural Falls State Park is where parts of Where the Red Fern Grows was filmed.

It is a short hike to the falls from the parking lot which makes it an easy pit stop on your way to Arkansas.

The park is located near Siloam Springs which is on the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

After the short hike, continue your road trip and head to Beaver Lake.

Camp at Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake’s reputation for being a crystal-clear mountain lake holds true. The lake is surrounded by rolling hills, dense brush, and hardwoods.

One of our favorite campgrounds to stay at is called Dam Site Lake Campground (link to book on Recreation.gov). The campground is located on a peninsula. Almost all of the campsites are waterfront spots — we absolutely love camping here.

The campground has hot water showers, running water, flushing toilets, and electric hook up for RVs.

It costs about $20/night to camp.

The campsites are well maintained and all have fire pits. Some sites even have little shelters over the picnic table.

Day 2 Details:

Spend time enjoying the water at Beaver Lake. Bring your stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and fishing equipment. You can launch your gear right from most of the campsites — there is also a boat launch.

Visit the Dam

Beaver Lake is a reservoir managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Arkansas generates power from Beaver Dam located near Rogers, Arkansas, on an as-needed basis supplying local power to the surrounding area.

You can visit the dam lookout near the Dam Site Lake Campground if you are interested.

Explore Eureka Springs

Carve out some time to visit Eureka Springs. This town is the gateway to outdoor recreation in the Ozarks since it is close to Beaver Lake, Buffalo National River, the White River, and Table Rock Lake.

If you don’t have a lot of time to spend here, stop by to grab a coffee at a local cafe or walk the main strip to see art and boutique shops. We love how all the houses are painted bright colors on the main strip.

There are a few little hikes through the oaks in town you can do as well. When we visited, we parked at the famous Crescent Hotel and Spa. From there, we walked the Harmon Park Loop Trail.

Eureka Springs is such a neat town. Visit their website for more things to do.

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