Warning
GeneralArkabutla Lake will be experiencing substantially lower water levels for an extended period of time. Long-term repairs to Arkbabutla Dam must be completed before water levels can return to normal. This affects boating access and water-based activities on the lake. Many boat ramps are currently closed with Hwy. 51 Landing being the only open ramp. Most day use and campground facilities remain open for public use. For more information, please contact the Arkabutla Lake Field Office at 662-562-6261 or 662-292-1992. For a full list of all affected areas and facilities as well as to get information on what's going on at Arkabutla Lake, please visit our project page at https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Projects/Arkabutla-Project-Page/
Featured amenities
Showers
About South Abutment Campground
Number of accommodations: 71
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Boating
Kayaking
Swimming
Water Skiing
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Showers
Water and Hygiene
- Showers
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Rates, Sites & Availability
71 Sites Available
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Site Details
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71 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (692)
What Guests Are Saying
South Abutment Campground offers a peaceful and well-kept environment, ideal for relaxation and enjoying nature. Many reviewers appreciated the cleanliness of the sites and facilities, spacious camping areas, and the quiet atmosphere, making it a great escape from daily life. However, some concerns were noted regarding outdated bathrooms, lack of water activities due to low lake levels, and occasional maintenance issues, including power outages and service challenges. Overall, it is viewed as a lovely campground with potential for improvement.
What Guests Are Saying
South Abutment Campground offers a peaceful and well-kept environment, ideal for relaxation and enjoying nature. Many reviewers appreciated the cleanliness of the sites and facilities, spacious camping areas, and the quiet atmosphere, making it a great escape from daily life. However, some concerns were noted regarding outdated bathrooms, lack of water activities due to low lake levels, and occasional maintenance issues, including power outages and service challenges. Overall, it is viewed as a lovely campground with potential for improvement.
Review Summary
WL H
October 19, 2022
Thing was clean the 🐜 ants could be clean up
David S
VerifiedOctober 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 78, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
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Ronald S
VerifiedOctober 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
An amazing gem. An hour from downtown Memphis. Well spaced and level sites. We were in South Abutment which had what appeared to be brand new power pedestals. If you have the senior pass rates are half. If I had one complaint it would be the signage needs to be upgraded.
Ronald S
VerifiedOctober 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
An amazing gem. An hour from downtown Memphis. Well spaced and level sites. We were in South Abutment which had what appeared to be brand new power pedestals. If you have the senior pass rates are half. If I had one complaint it would be the signage needs to be upgraded.
Jeffrey S
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 31, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Beautiful views from most sites. Our site (31) was not waterfront but had sweeping water views and was spacious.
This campground could be a really good one, but unfortunately, sites were not well maintained. Alot of trash and debris around. There are NO camp hosts here so no one is really keeping an eye on things and keeping things in order, and people either don't clean up after themselves or the wind blows trash around. In any case, no one cleans up the sites. There was also alot of trash strewn about the dumpster area which no one has bothered to clean up for quite some time. Once a day or so you see a "Park Ranger" drive through but clearly they don't have any responsibility for cleanliness.
Our site (31) had a broken discharge pipe from the sewer sump which we discovered when we discharged gray water into the sump; the sump pump simply pumped it back onto the ground [good thing we discharged gray water and not black otherwise would have been a mess]. It looks like the discharge pipe was actually missing and has been this way a while and had not been repaired. We tried notifying the campground manager via the local Army Corps office at the lake, but had to leave a message and of course no one returned the call. This was disappointing.
It's too bad they can't take care of this campground better, otherwise it would be a nice campground at nice lake.
Jeffrey S
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 31, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Beautiful views from most sites. Our site (31) was not waterfront but had sweeping water views and was spacious.
This campground could be a really good one, but unfortunately, sites were not well maintained. Alot of trash and debris around. There are NO camp hosts here so no one is really keeping an eye on things and keeping things in order, and people either don't clean up after themselves or the wind blows trash around. In any case, no one cleans up the sites. There was also alot of trash strewn about the dumpster area which no one has bothered to clean up for quite some time. Once a day or so you see a "Park Ranger" drive through but clearly they don't have any responsibility for cleanliness.
Our site (31) had a broken discharge pipe from the sewer sump which we discovered when we discharged gray water into the sump; the sump pump simply pumped it back onto the ground [good thing we discharged gray water and not black otherwise would have been a mess]. It looks like the discharge pipe was actually missing and has been this way a while and had not been repaired. We tried notifying the campground manager via the local Army Corps office at the lake, but had to leave a message and of course no one returned the call. This was disappointing.
It's too bad they can't take care of this campground better, otherwise it would be a nice campground at nice lake.
Matthew T
VerifiedOctober 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 45, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Be careful what loop you go down, especially if you have a long RV. We had to back out to the main road when we left the campground. There was no way we were going to make the button hook loop back with our 38' 5th wheel...in fact if you are over 30' I don't believe you can make it. Our neighbor barely made it with his 24' bumper pull. Caution, if you are looking for a quiet get away to camp, you're taking your chances. We had a very large group in tent campers on the next loop and they were so loud and obnoxious it wasn't funny (late into the night). We didn't go and complain to the camp hosts, because their camper was just across the road from them and they did nothing. Trash everywhere and no presence of hosts or rangers at all...do what and when you want here I guess. In my opinion, the hosts should be kicked out or made to pay...freeloading and doing nothing a host should be doing.
Matthew T
VerifiedOctober 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 45, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Be careful what loop you go down, especially if you have a long RV. We had to back out to the main road when we left the campground. There was no way we were going to make the button hook loop back with our 38' 5th wheel...in fact if you are over 30' I don't believe you can make it. Our neighbor barely made it with his 24' bumper pull. Caution, if you are looking for a quiet get away to camp, you're taking your chances. We had a very large group in tent campers on the next loop and they were so loud and obnoxious it wasn't funny (late into the night). We didn't go and complain to the camp hosts, because their camper was just across the road from them and they did nothing. Trash everywhere and no presence of hosts or rangers at all...do what and when you want here I guess. In my opinion, the hosts should be kicked out or made to pay...freeloading and doing nothing a host should be doing.
Sidney G
October 3, 2022
We only stayed here one night in a tent, but it was beautiful!! Our site was clean and it had a wonderful view of the lake!
Sidney G
October 3, 2022
We only stayed here one night in a tent, but it was beautiful!! Our site was clean and it had a wonderful view of the lake!
Location South Abutment Campground
Address:
3905 Arkabutla Dam Road
Coldwater, MS, 38618-6548
United States
From I-55, take the Hernando, Mississippi exit and follow Scenic Route 304 to the main dam. Follow signs into the recreation area; the campground is just south of the dam.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.7467 / -90.1325
Elevation: 81 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Safety & rules
- Visitors should familiarize themselves with the park's general rules.
- A Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) is required on Arkabutla Lake for certain activities, with specific rules based on vessel length.
Fires & fuel
- Buy firewood locally and burn it on-site to protect forests.
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralArkabutla Lake will be experiencing substantially lower water levels for an extended period of time. Long-term repairs to Arkbabutla Dam must be completed before water levels can return to normal. This affects boating access and water-based activities on the lake. Many boat ramps are currently closed with Hwy. 51 Landing being the only open ramp. Most day use and campground facilities remain open for public use. For more information, please contact the Arkabutla Lake Field Office at 662-562-6261 or 662-292-1992. For a full list of all affected areas and facilities as well as to get information on what's going on at Arkabutla Lake, please visit our project page at https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Projects/Arkabutla-Project-Page/
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
