South Abutment Campground

We enjoy Arkabutla South Abutment, it's close to our home in Memphis and it is always clean. The sites are fairly level and there are full hookups now.

THE LAKE IS PRACTICALLY DRAINED currently due to repairs being done to the dam and gates. The Recreation.gov website says that the lake level is at winter pool level but it is well below that. There is no water within 200 yards (or more) of the normal shoreline at the campground. Just be aware.

With the lake levels so low, you probably won't have any problem getting a camp site. So, if you don't plan on doing any boating or fishing, this might be a good time to go, but we prefer campgrounds that are a little more populated and having the scenic beauty of a lake.

We will not be back until they get the dam issues figured out.

2 bars 5G Verizon. Close to the restroom even though it was a full hookup site: water, electric 20/30/50, & sewer. Very well maintained park. This site would require leveling in the front for a larger rig (ours was 22’). Lake levels were a little low but campers were still able to pull boats up to their campsite shores. Shady with pines. Lots of birds and squirrels.

We stayed here over the 4th of July weekend since spots were very limited everywhere. It is very remote and little to no signal. It is very hilly and the spots are set up very weird. Our spot was uneven (not as much as others), the picnic table and grill were down the hill behind our site. The wood around the "patio" which was behind the trailer had broken down, rotted wood with nails exposed. The true patio side was only about a foot and then it dropped off the hillside. There was no sitting outside for sure. We experienced several power surges and only had one rain shower while we were there. The bath houses are completely run down. Rusted shower heads and not cleaned daily. There was a lot of activity of vehicles coming and going, almost like a "pit stop" for items to pick up. If you can get a spot in the large loop on the water, it seemed much better. There was no camp host present and it basically was a free for all. We did see the Park Ranger drive through once a day, but that was about it. There's even a really run down 5th wheel right inside the entrance with a Sheriff's car sitting next to it. Never saw any movement, but quite odd for sure. It's a shame that this ACE campground has basically been abandoned, because it could be a true gem! We will not be returning!

I needed a place to stay for two weeks and this was one of the only places available. I figured there must be something wrong with it available for two weeks straight in the summer of 2021. Clearly people just have not discovered it. It’s a true gem right on the lake. Very peaceful water and electricity hook ups. There is a dump station on site. On the there it seems like you’re not going to have any cell service, but I managed to have enough on Verizon to work for two weeks there. All in all I couldn’t recommend this place more.

Our big rig did not have a problem maneuvering this beautiful campsite. Big rig friendly with awesome lake views choose #74 or any site in the 20s loop.

We did have a slight problem with the electric going out for a few hours. Can you say generator? Or hop in the car for a little trip to the casinos less than 30 minutes away.

Try a burger at Frank’s bar & grill. Not much on looks, but the burgers were delish!!

Spent two nights here in mid-October, 2020. Rate reflects 50% Senior Pass discount. Nice concrete pads here which are fairly level. Site areas will vary widely depending upon which site you choose. We were in #19, which is out on a point where most of the sites are right on the lake. However, we had to traverse down an incline to get to our picnic table and fire pit and put out chairs. Not a big deal, especially considering the great setting we enjoyed. Roads through the campground can get a little tight and are very bumpy in spots, so caution is advised. Most spots are in heavily wooded areas. Bath houses are huge and clean. We didn't use the showers. Each site has 50 amp hookups and water, with a dump station near the entry house. The campground is fairly secluded, so it is a nice quiet place to relax.
Getting to the campground can be confusing. It is several miles from Interstate 69. My best advise would be that after you first enter the park, after about a mile or so, you will come to an unmarked fork. Go to the right there and follow the road and signage to the campground (probably about 2-3 miles from that fork). If you stay straight at that fork you will eventually come to the visitor's center where you can turn around.