Army Corps of Engineers · Arkansas
Shoal Bay
Army Corps of Engineers · Arkansas, United States
- Sites
- 79
- Hookups
- 79 electric, 57 with water
- Season
- March 1 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 82 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 377 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Dardanelle Lake
- Nearest town
- NEW BLAINE
- Address
- SHOAL BAY ROAD BOX 499, NEW BLAINE, AR, 72859
- Phone
- 479-938-7335
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing
79 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 32° | 10° | 68° | 8 of 11 |
| February | 56° | 35° | -1° | 74° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 65° | 45° | 29° | 83° | 3 of 11 |
| April | 74° | 52° | 36° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 81° | 65° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 89° | 72° | 60° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 91° | 75° | 66° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 92° | 74° | 65° | 105° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 89° | 69° | 56° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 73° | 54° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 65° | 46° | 24° | 82° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 38° | 26° | 73° | 5 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Sorghum Hollow · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 4 sites
- Spadra · Army Corps of Engineers · 8 mi · 24 sites
- Piney Bay · Army Corps of Engineers · 9 mi · 92 sites
- Spring Lake Recreation Area · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 4 sites
- Mount Nebo State Park · Arkansas State Parks · 12 mi · 34 sites
All public campgrounds in Arkansas · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-21. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.