Shoal Bay

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Shoal Bay

About this campsite

Overview

Download a Shoal Bay park map HERE

This shady campground sits on the scenic Shoal Bay arm of Lake Dardanelle, offering an excellent setting for boating, swimming and wildlife viewing.

Recreation

The lake, a popular spot for anglers, is brimming with white bass, largemouth bass, bream, crappie and large catfish.

The Bridge Rock Trail winds along a rugged slope overlooking the narrows of Shoal Creek, offering excellent hiking opportunities.

Dardanelle's Visitor Center is noteworthy for its "Renaissance of a River" theme. Interpretive exhibits express the progression of river valley from the time of early Native Americans to its present day.

Facilities

Shoal Bay offers 45 reservable campsites, most of which have electric hookups. Two large picnic shelters are also available. Amenities include a boat ramp, playground and hot showers.

Natural Features

Dardanelle Lake, sourced by the Arkansas River, spans 40,000 acres and boasts 315 miles of shoreline. The lake sits in the river valley between the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests.

Nearby Attractions

Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary, with nearly 86 acres of wetlands and low woods, provide an ideal habitat for native wildlife. Visitors can explore the area on the 6 mile trail system.

Location

SHOAL BAY•AR

Explore on our map Get Directions Open in Maps

Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TODAY☁️

33° / 17°

💧 1%

WED☁️

35° / 23°

💧 2%

THU⛈️

31° / 22°

💧 50%

FRI🌦️

27° / 21°

💧 64%

SAT🌦️

21° / 18°

💧 52%

Common questions about SHOAL BAY

Is SHOAL BAY free to camp at?

Yes. SHOAL BAY in AR is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book SHOAL BAY online?

We hold no online booking link for SHOAL BAY, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is SHOAL BAY?

SHOAL BAY sits in AR. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

6.7 km away

Sorghum Hollow

Overview This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.

13.5 km away

Spadra

Overview Download a Spadra park map HERE Beautiful campground on the Arkansas river providing excellent opportunities for recreation, boating, fishing, and watefowl viewing. Recreation This quaint park offers great opportunities for fishing and has an excellent day use area with multiple picnic areas. Campsites with available electric and water, boat launching ramps, and an adjacent marina make recreating easy. Facilities Spadra park includes 24 campsites many with electric and water, 2 picnic shelters, showers facilities, 2 restrooms, and 2 boat ramps. Natural Features Sitting next to the Arkansas River, a major interstate waterway, this park is an excellent entry to Little Spadra Creek and Higskin Creek. Nearby Attractions A short drive into the nearby city of Clarksville, Arkansas provides ample shopping opportunities. A marina is also close by for the last minute boating and fishing needs.

14.5 km away

PINEY BAY

Overview Download a Piney Bay park map HERE Piney Bay Campground sits along Dardanelle Lake in western Arkansas. Campers come here to get a break from the city and take advantage of the ample swimming, boating and fishing opportunities. Recreation Picnicking, boating and fishing are favorite pastimes. The lake is brimming with white bass, largemouth bass, bream, crappie and large catfish. Facilities Piney Bay offers 68 reservable campsites, all equipped with electric hookups, along with a large group picnic shelter. Campers enjoy hot showers, two boat ramps, a playground and a swim beach. Natural Features Situated between the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, Dardanelle Lake creates an excellent setting for nature lovers. The lake stems from the Arkansas River and spans 40,000 acres. Wooded area and hills surround the lake. The region is a favorite destination for bald eagles in wintertime. Nearby Attractions Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary, with nearly 86 acres of wetlands and low woods, provide an ideal habitat for native wildlife. Visitors can explore the area on the six-mile trail system.