05/15/2026
Have you been thinking about doing an overnight trip on the Buffalo National River but aren’t quite sure where to start?
We always recommend starting with a simple 2 day / 1 night trip. Depending on river conditions and the section floated, most 2-day trips on the Buffalo are usually around 18–25 miles total.
Truthfully… your first overnight adventure will probably involve overthinking it and overpacking it — and that’s okay. Almost everyone does it their first time on the river.
So, here’s a helpful little tid-bit to help you start packing.
After packing your gear, a typical overnight canoe for 2 people usually contains:
• Cooler
• A few dry bags
• Possibly 2 camp chairs
• Life jackets for each person
• Mesh litter bag
• Campfire grate
• Paddles
• Possibly a camping barrel
Camping Gear:
Some people prefer traditional tent camping, while others love hammock camping along the river.
We recommend:
• Tent or hammock setup
• Sleeping bags or lightweight blankets
• Small pillow
• Headlamps or lanterns
• Camp chairs (optional)
Clothing:
• River clothes for Day 1
• Dry camp clothes
• Clothes for Day 2
Personal Items:
• Towel
• Daily medications/vitamins
• Contacts/glasses supplies
• Toothbrush & basic toiletries
• Deodorant
Food & Drinks/Simple is best:
Pre-make meals at home, put them in containers that easily pack into your cooler, and heat them over the campfire.
Easy lunch/snack favorites:
• Sandwiches
• Hot dogs
• Breakfast bars
• Trail mix
• Chips & snacks
Breakfast on the river can be as simple or as fancy as you want. Pancakes or breakfast burritos are always a favorite around our campfire — especially with our kids.
Dinner is just as easy:
Steaks on the grate, freshly cooked fish, fajitas, or a simple hot dog over the fire always seem to hit different after a full day on the river.
Instead of buying bags of ice, freeze a couple gallon jugs of water before your trip. This will keep things cold in the cooler AND gives you cold drinking water as they melt.
One big thing to remember:
Glass is NOT allowed on overnight trips on the Buffalo — not even a pickle jar. If you bring condiments or food items normally packaged in glass, transfer them into plastic or reusable containers before your trip.
Campfire Tips:
Campfire wood can typically be found around the area you’re camping, in the form of dead and down wood.
Please do not cut down live trees or limbs along the river. There’s no need to pile firewood into your canoe all day long.
Cooking Supplies:
You do NOT need a full camp kitchen.
We recommend:
• Small fire grate
• Frying pan
• Aluminum foil
• Cooking utensils
• Lighter/waterproof matches
Many overnight floaters simply cook directly over the campfire.
Human Waste:
Let’s not forget about human waste.
Restrooms may be found at most access points, but sometimes… when you gotta go, you gotta go.
We highly recommend wag bags or portable waste bags because let’s be honest — nobody wants to step in a pile of human “waste” at 2 AM while camping remotely.
And that waste eventually washes into the river.
Pack it in. Pack it out. Help keep the Buffalo clean for the next group coming downstream.
A Few Extra Tips:
• Secure everything inside the canoe — one flipped boat can send gear floating downstream fast.
• Keep heavier items low and centered in the canoe to help with stability.
• Check weather and water levels before your trip.
• Cell service can be limited depending on where you float.
• Drybags are lifesavers for keeping phones, keys, and clothes dry.
• If bringing fishing gear, make sure you have a valid Arkansas fishing license.
• Start looking for camp before dark. Campsites become much harder to spot once daylight fades.
• The Buffalo is not a race. Plan plenty of time for swimming, gravel bar stops and setting camp before dark.
• Remember to always camp at least a half mile from a designated access. If camping within a half mile of an access, please use a designated camping area.
• Keep campfires small, use existing rock rings when possible, and always fully extinguish and clean up your fire before heading downstream.
• If it absolutely cannot get wet… it probably shouldn’t come on the river.
River Essentials:
• Life jackets
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Trash bags
• Waterproof phone case
• Toilet paper/baby wipes
• First aid kit
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Map
• Duct tape — because it’ll fix everything from a hole in your boat to splinting a broken limb
And remember…
Anything you take on the river has a chance of getting wet, lost, or becoming part of the Buffalo forever.
Pack smart. Pack light. Secure everything.
Once the day float traffic clears out in the evening, the Buffalo becomes a completely different place.
That quiet is what keeps people coming back.
Happy Adventures....
