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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Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for South Abutment Campground.
Rates, Sites & Availability
71 Sites Available
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No available sites
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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 However, some concerns were noted regarding outdated bathrooms, lack of water activities due to low lake levels, and occasional maintenance issues, including power outages and service challenges.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
Carol Wolf A
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 60, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
A site that left garbage behind was opened by an animal. it was right across from us and wasn't picked up for a couple of days. We personally always leave our site better than we found it. People need to understand cigarettes butts is still considered trash. Bath house was very clean but needs paper or blower to dry hands.
Tim J
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Nice spot as it backs to the lake. No shade as stated on the reservation site. Sneaky site thieves moving around from site to site to avoid fees. Full hookups were nice.
Ashley P
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Had a great time. Full hookup was awesome. The kids had fun swimming.
Ashley P
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Had a great time. Full hookup was awesome. The kids had fun swimming.
Carol Wolf A
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 60, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
A site that left garbage behind was opened by an animal. it was right across from us and wasn't picked up for a couple of days. We personally always leave our site better than we found it. People need to understand cigarettes butts is still considered trash. Bath house was very clean but needs paper or blower to dry hands.
Tim J
VerifiedAugust 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Nice spot as it backs to the lake. No shade as stated on the reservation site. Sneaky site thieves moving around from site to site to avoid fees. Full hookups were nice.
Casey R
VerifiedAugust 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 49, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Nice
Casey R
VerifiedAugust 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 49, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Nice
Amanda L
VerifiedJuly 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Site 25. Camp was awesome. I love, love, love how much space you have. So many campsites where you're packed in and it's like never getting to leave a city but not here. Plenty of breathing room. Pretty views, bathroom and shower houses were decent; lots of bugs in the light fixtures and spider webs in corners and rafters - nothing unexpected for the outdoors but what it has that others do not is air conditioning. Been to many sites where their facility houses are not air conditioned and, it's the outdoors in the summer so of course it's hot and sweaty - you wash off a bit and start sweating again. It was so nice to actually be able to shower in cool air and feel clean for a while after a long, hot day of hiking, swimming, or whatever you're doing. The South Public Beach area however is a completely different story. Maybe because you pay for campsite and don't for the free public use area they don't clean as much but beach was FULL of trash; broken glass, dirty diapers, bottles, cans, shoes, food bags, on and on. And the bathrooms; nope. Not just disgusting but downright unusable! Women's bathroom, ever single stall was full to brim with feces and overflowing. Literally blood splattered on light fixtures (ranger might want to seriously check in on that!), urine on floors where people just decided it was too gross to sit on an overflowing toilet so they just pee in corner of stall floor is what it looked like. I've never seen anything so nasty and unsanitary in my life. For real; that HAS to get cleaned up. My husband and brother both said the men's was just as bad. So definitely stick to swimming in the lake around the camp sites and using the facilities there because God only knows what you'll contract using the others.
Amanda L
VerifiedJuly 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: SOUTH ABUTMENT
Site 25. Camp was awesome. I love, love, love how much space you have. So many campsites where you're packed in and it's like never getting to leave a city but not here. Plenty of breathing room. Pretty views, bathroom and shower houses were decent; lots of bugs in the light fixtures and spider webs in corners and rafters - nothing unexpected for the outdoors but what it has that others do not is air conditioning. Been to many sites where their facility houses are not air conditioned and, it's the outdoors in the summer so of course it's hot and sweaty - you wash off a bit and start sweating again. It was so nice to actually be able to shower in cool air and feel clean for a while after a long, hot day of hiking, swimming, or whatever you're doing. The South Public Beach area however is a completely different story. Maybe because you pay for campsite and don't for the free public use area they don't clean as much but beach was FULL of trash; broken glass, dirty diapers, bottles, cans, shoes, food bags, on and on. And the bathrooms; nope. Not just disgusting but downright unusable! Women's bathroom, ever single stall was full to brim with feces and overflowing. Literally blood splattered on light fixtures (ranger might want to seriously check in on that!), urine on floors where people just decided it was too gross to sit on an overflowing toilet so they just pee in corner of stall floor is what it looked like. I've never seen anything so nasty and unsanitary in my life. For real; that HAS to get cleaned up. My husband and brother both said the men's was just as bad. So definitely stick to swimming in the lake around the camp sites and using the facilities there because God only knows what you'll contract using the others.
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
