Army Corps of Engineers · Nimrod Lake · Plainview, AR

Carter Cove

Carter Cove Campground sits along the shores of Nimrod Lake and Dam, cradled between Arkansas' Ouachita and Ozark Mountains. Visitors are greeted with shaded campsites, beautiful scenery and many outdoor recreation opportunities. Nimrod Lake provides the ideal spot to get away from it all, relax and enjoy yourself.

More like this: electric hookups in Arkansas · reservable in Arkansas · big rigs in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · group sites in Arkansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
CARTER COVECARTER COVECarter Cove Site #6 View From RoadwayCarter Cove Site #27
Photos courtesy of Nimrod Lake · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric33
group shelter electric1
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 71 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

34 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01ElectricBack-in54PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes
02ElectricBack-in40PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
03ElectricBack-in42PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
04ElectricBack-in45PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
05ElectricBack-in48PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
06ElectricBack-in36PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
07ElectricBack-in58PavedNone50 ampYes / –8 / 3Yes
08ElectricPull-through71PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes
09ElectricPull-through26PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
10ElectricBack-in30PavedPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length75 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

With 34 spacious and modern campsites and one large day use group picnic shelter, Carter Cove Campground has plenty of room for the family. A swimming beach, boat ramp and playground are also provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Carter Cove40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 3.76 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowFebruary: 3.89 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowMarch: 4.87 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowApril: 5.43 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 6.19 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.04 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.50 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 5.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 4.99 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.5°F averageFebruary: 45.6°F averageMarch: 53.3°F averageApril: 62.2°F averageMay: 70.8°F averageJune: 79.0°F averageJuly: 83.0°F averageAugust: 82.1°F averageSeptember: 74.8°F averageOctober: 63.4°F averageNovember: 51.9°F averageDecember: 43.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Nimrod Dam, 5 miles from the campground at 480 feet, station USC00035200 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 54 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 3 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Plainview, Arkansas, take Route 60 for 3 miles east to the Access Road. Continue 1 mile south and follow signs into campground.

Nearest townPlainview, Arkansas
Coordinates34.9633° N, 93.2393° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗19.9 mi
Outdoor gearAmerican Outdoor Sports ↗22.5 mi
RV sales & serviceRazorback Camper Sales, Inc. ↗33.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Carter Cove Campground (Best Kept Secret)/Kayaking Nimrod Lake/Pettit Jean State Park

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Ouachita National Forest begins about 8.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Nimrod Dam was completed in 1942 as part of a comprehensive plan for flood control and development of water resources in the Fourche LaFave River. Although recreation was not part of the initial mission of the dam project, the lake and surrounding 21,000 acres of pristine land have now become a recreational oasis for outdoor enthusiasts.

Recreation

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake, with an abundance of catfish, bluegill, bass and crappie available. Boating, water skiing and tubing are also popular, with 11 boat ramps conveniently located around the lake, however, skiing and tubing are only allowed from the tip of Carden Point eastward toward the dam because areas west of there are too hazardous. Campers are likely to spot white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbit, fox, mink, black bear, dove and waterfowl in the area. Seasonal hunting is also permitted throughout the lake, except in or near recreation areas.

Nearby

Nimrod Lake is conveniently located adjacent to State Highway 7, a National Scenic Byway and other nearby points of interest like Petit Jean State Park, Mount Nebo State Park and Hot Springs National Park.

Guidebooks for Arkansas

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
    Jim Warnock, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Arkansas Nature Lover's Guidebook
    Tim Ernst and Pam Ernst, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Scenic Routes and Byways the Ozarks
    Don Kurz, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Carter Cove?

Sites at Carter Cove are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Carter Cove?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Carter Cove have?

35 sites, including 33 standard sites with power and 1 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Carter Cove?

The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Carter Cove have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Carter Cove?

Yes, pets are allowed at Carter Cove. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Carter Cove?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Carter Cove?

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake, with an abundance of catfish, bluegill, bass and crappie available. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Carter Cove?

Plainview, Arkansas. Nimrod Lake is conveniently located adjacent to State Highway 7, a National Scenic Byway and other nearby points of interest like Petit Jean State Park, Mount Nebo State Park and Hot Springs National Park.

Source: Getting there

What if Carter Cove is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sunlight Bay (3.7 mi), Quarry Cove (4.2 mi), and River Road (4.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby