Buck Creek (Mo)

Bull Shoals Lake — lakeside

Location: Protem, AR, AR

Price: From $16 per night

Price range: $16–$50 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (92 reviews)

Season: May through October

Relax in the shaded campsites at Buck Creek, on the Arkansas side of the massive Bull Shoals Lake. Here, there’s plenty of opportunities for water sports, hiking and picnicking. The Peel Ferry, the last remaining state-operated ferry in Arkansas, leaves from Buck Creek.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/buck-creek-mo to be notified when sites open up.

Buck Creek offers shaded campsites on the Arkansas side of Bull Shoals Lake with opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and water sports. The historic Peel Ferry, Arkansas's last remaining state-operated ferry, departs from the campground providing convenient access to Highway 125.

Wildlife alert: Eastern Hognose Snake, Midland Watersnake, and Prairie Lizard present in area. Bird species include Purple Martin, American White Pelican, Downy Woodpecker, and Black Vulture.

Insider tips for Buck Creek (Mo): Book early - this is a federal campground with high demand Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly if full hookups needed Peel Ferry departure point provides unique access to lower lake stretches and Missouri side

Skip Buck Creek (Mo) if: Need water or sewer hookups - not available at this campground. Traveling outside May-October season - campground closes seasonally. Prefer first-come sites - early booking required due to federal campground popularity.

Best time to visit Buck Creek (Mo): May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Highway 125 Park Bull Shoals (Peel, AR), Lead Hill (Diamond City, AR), Theodosia Park (Theodosia, MO), Oakland Park (Oakland, AR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Buck Creek (Mo)

Cell signal at Buck Creek (Mo) (Protem, AR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Bull Shoals Lake — lakesideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Buck Creek (Mo)

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Protem, AR, AR★ 4.5 (92 reviews)From $16/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Relax in the shaded campsites at Buck Creek, on the Arkansas side of the massive Bull Shoals Lake. Here, there’s plenty of opportunities for water sports, hiking and picnicking. The Peel Ferry, the last remaining state-operated ferry in Arkansas, leaves from Buck Creek.

Best for:BoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV36 ft
Hookups38 electric sites
PetsAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsBoat Launch
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Electric Hookups

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ Need water or sewer hookups - not available at this campground✕ Traveling outside May-October season - campground closes seasonally✕ Prefer first-come sites - early booking required due to federal campground popularity

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early - this is a federal campground with high demand

Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly if full hookups needed

Peel Ferry departure point provides unique access to lower lake stretches and Missouri side

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Eastern Hognose Snake, Midland Watersnake, and Prairie Lizard present in area. Bird species include Purple Martin, American White Pelican, Downy Woodpecker, and Black Vulture.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
417-785-4313· Bull Shoals Lake
Getting there →

From Mountain Home, AR, take SR 5 N 24 mi. to US 160 JCT. Travel W on US 160 21 mi to Hwy U. Follow SR U 5 mi. S to US 125 for 5.7 mi. to Buck Creek Park Access Road. Follow signs into campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Bull Shoals Lake fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Bull Shoals Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Buck Creek (Mo) cost per night?+
Buck Creek (Mo) costs $16–$50 per night. Hookup options: Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
What season is Buck Creek (Mo) open?+
Buck Creek (Mo) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Buck Creek (Mo) have hookups?+
Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
What is the maximum RV length at Buck Creek (Mo)?+
Buck Creek (Mo) can accommodate RVs up to 36 feet.
How do I make reservations at Buck Creek (Mo)?+
Buck Creek (Mo) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Buck Creek (Mo)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Buck Creek (Mo) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Buck Creek (Mo) open, and what are check-in times?+
Buck Creek (Mo) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$16 /night★ 4.5 (92)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Buck Creek (Mo) cost per night?+
What season is Buck Creek (Mo) open?+
Does Buck Creek (Mo) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Highway 125 Park Bull Shoals

Peel, AR

From $24/night

Lead Hill

Diamond City, AR

From $24/night

Theodosia Park

Theodosia, MO

From $16/night

Oakland Park

Oakland, AR

From $24/night

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