Lodging FAQs

Learn how to get to Ponca and Buffalo Outdoor Center. Please be aware that current vehicle-equipped GPS systems may not contain databases adequate for helping you reach Ponca. MapQuest is also insufficient in helping you reach Ponca.

Check-in for a cabin or lodge is 4:00 PM and check-out is 10:00 AM.  This permits our housekeeping staff to properly prepare for arrivals in accordance with cleaning practices based on the Center for Disease Control’s COVID-19 recommended sanitation practices. Thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation.

For guests arriving after our store has closed for the evening, we place your cabin key and a cabin map inside an envelope, write your last name on it and then attach the envelope to a bulletin board outside the front of our office.

Your cabin is fully furnished with all linens, as well as a microwave, full-size refrigerator, standard kitchen utensils, drinking glasses, coffee cups, wine glasses, pots and pans, dinnerware, bakeware and coffee pot.  Cabins also feature a smart TV (some with DVD player) and all cabins have Dish Network Service.  Most of our cabins have a beautiful woodburning fireplace and free firewood to enjoy.  Other cabins feature a gas fireplace; please see your cabin’s specific information to learn which type of fireplace it offers or call us at 870-861-5514 to confirm.  RiverWind Lodge has a covered outdoor firepit with free firewood.

Thank you for reviewing important know-before-you-come lodging policies and guidelines prior to arrival.

Many cabins have smart TVs with DVD players; we offer a nice selection of complimentary DVDs for you to check out during your stay.

On your cabin’s coffeetable is a guidebook full of useful information about enjoying your cabin stay, as well as finding adventure in Buffalo River country. Please be sure to look for it immediately upon arrival!

All BOC cabins and lodges feature free WiFi.  Please note that WiFi calling may be available at your cabin depending upon internet service signal strength, bandwith demand and your device.

Cabins & Lodges With Free Dish Network Service

Cabins without Dish Network service include: Cabin 1 | Cabin 2 | Cabin 4 | Songbird Cabin | Mills Cabin | Crossbow Cabin | Valley Mist | Valley Dream

The BOC store carries a nice selection of pantry staples, including butter, milk, soda, popular canned good items, ice and ice cream. However, Ponca does not have a full-scale grocery store, so you will want to bring fresh meat like steaks and hamburger, as well as fresh produce with you.  Groceries can also be found in nearby Jasper (14 miles) or Harrison (25 miles). If you are floating, be sure to purchase items like mustard and mayonnaise in plastic containers as glass is prohibited on the Buffalo National River. For your convenience, we carry a nice selection of river-friendly condiments in our store, as well as hearty fresh-made deli sandwiches and salads.

Call us at least 24 hours before you arrive and we’ll take an order for available grocery items from our store and have them waiting for you at the cabin! Please note there is a $25 charge for this service in addition to the grocery items purchased, which will be charged to the credit card holding your reservation.

Most cabins are equipped with a charcoal grill.  We offer charcoal and lighter fluid for sale in our store or you may bring it with you.  These specific cabins or lodges offer gas grills:  Cabin X / Compton Mountain Cabin / The Creekside Cabin / RiverWind Lodge /  Ponca Creek Lodge.

The BOC store features a deli crafting hearty, wholesome sandwiches, salads and breakfast burritos.  We also offer ice-cold drinks, coffee, soft-serve ice cream, great snack items, bags of ice and more!  Nearby Jasper (14 miles) has several hometown restaurants that serve up a good, square meal.  In Harrison (25 miles), you’ll find steakhouses, several Mexican restaurants, and a selection of fast-food offerings. For a special meal, we highly recommend DeVito’s (just a little north of Harrison on Hwy 65) for authentic Italian food, as well as rainbow trout served a number of delicious ways.  Both Branson, MO and Eureka Springs, AR are just an hour from Ponca, where you’ll find a huge variety of restaurants to enjoy.

Newton County is dry with the nearest beer and wine available in Harrison, about 25 minutes from Ponca. Shaker Beverage Shoppe in Harrison has a nice variety of beverages, including an extensive wine collection.  Park regulation reminder: glass containers are prohibited on the Buffalo National River, so be sure to purchase cans or boxed beverages for river floating and camping.

If you are staying with us during the weekend, be sure you have made advance reservations for canoes / kayaks / rafts, as well as the zip line canopy tour. These are not automatically added to your reservation, so please give us a call at 1-870-861-5514 if you don’t recall discussing this or want to book your reservations now. Please note that float trips on our section of Buffalo National River typically occurs March – June, although we offer kayak, canoe and raft rental any time of year the water level permits.

Ponca is home to Arkansas’ most beautiful hiking trails and our staff is ready to help you discover where to find every one of them. Late spring through early fall, you’ll find the swimming holes at Ponca and nearby Steel Creek to be among the prettiest in the state or just a great place to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch.  For cave lovers, we recommend a visit to Mystic Caverns, where you can tour two different beautiful caverns that also have a Prohibition story. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (50 minutes form Ponca) is also a worthwhile visit, as it is a rescue sanctuary for lions, tigers, and, yes, even bears!  Love to mountain bike?  Some of the USA’s best MTB trail shredding is here, including the Upper Buffalo River MTB Trail System and our very own Ponca Downhill!  Looking for Ponca’s majestic elk herd?  Fall and winter are the prime elk-watching seasons here in Buffalo National River country!

The National Park Service does not permit pets on most trails within the national park.  To our knowledge, there is one pet-friendly NPS trail in our section of park and that is the Steel Creek-to-Ponca Trail.  This trailhead is located at the Ponca Access on the Buffalo National River.  A pet may, however, be in a national park campground on a leash.  You may also float the national river with your pet.  You may hike with your pet in National Forest lands adjacent to the national river boundary, including the popular Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag) trail and the Glory Hole off Hwy 21 South.  Click here for  more pet-friendly hiking trails in the Ponca area.

You’ll enjoy your time in Buffalo River country to the fullest if you are armed with some bug repellent and sunscreen, especially springtime through early fall. Applying some of both before a hike or float trip will help guard against the discomfort that comes from chigger bites or sunburn. We carry these items in our store should you have left yours at home.

Our fuel station is open 24 hours a day and offers both regular gasoline and diesel. Please use your credit or debit card at the pump, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Fleet.

Ponca itself does not receive cell service, due to the steep terrain surrounding it. However, cell service tends to be available at our mountain-top cabins located on Firetower Road about 3 miles above Ponca, especially if you subscribe to a major service provider such as AT&T or Verizon.

If you have someone at home who needs to contact you, please give them our 1-870-861-5514 number for use during business hours:

8 AM – 6 PM, Mar – Oct
8 AM – 5 PM, Nov – Feb

Please note that it is a guest’s responsibility to check for messages.

Because Ponca is located in a wilderness area, emergency responders and facilities are not readily available. However, by having the right phone numbers at hand, emergency help can arrive much sooner than later. Visit Upper Buffalo National River Emergency Numbers for more info. We recommend printing this page off and carrying a copy with you in your vehicle while visiting the area. Plus, you should also leave a copy for a sitter or caregiver to reference back at home. After-hours emergencies should be reported to 911 or to the Newton County Sheriff’s office at 870-446-5124.

Make sure whoever is at home knows the name of the cabin you are in and its approximate location (Ponca / Firetower Road / Compton Mtn Cabin on Hwy 43). Printing off our cabin map and circling your cabin with a pen will enable a loved one, sitter or caregiver to help authorities find you more quickly. If our store is open, please have them call us at 1-870-861-5514 and we will try to post a message at your cabin. If an after-hours emergency, they should call the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at 870-446-5124 for assistance.

For BOC Cabins & Lodges

Spring Break Season

March 1 – May 23: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation that includes any of these dates.

 Great North American Eclipse

April 5 – 9: a 4-night minimum is required for a reservation that includes any of these dates.

Summer Holidays & Peak Season

• Memorial Day Weekend / May 24-27: a 3-night minimum stay is required for a reservation that includes any of these dates.
• Summer Peak Season / May 28 -Aug 31: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.
• Labor Day / Aug 30 – Sep 2 : a 3-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.
• Fall Peak Season / Sept 18 – Nov 20: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.

Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Years

• Nov 27 – Dec 1: a 3-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.
• Dec 20 – Jan 2, 2025: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.

For the RV Campground

• Memorial Day Weekend / May 24-27: a 3-night minimum stay is required for a reservation that includes any of these dates.
• Summer Peak Season / May 28 -Aug 31: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.
• Labor Day / Aug 30 – Sep 2: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.

Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Years

• Nov 27 – Dec 1: a 3-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.
• Dec 20 – Jan 2, 2025: a 2-night minimum stay is required for a reservation including any of these dates.