Army Corps of Engineers · Nimrod Lake · Plainview, AR

Sunlight Bay

Sunlight Bay Campground sits along the shores of Nimrod Lake just off of the Fourche Lafave river on Wilson Slough. Nimrod Lake is cradled between Arkansas' Ouachita and Ozark Mountains.

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 ↗
SUNLIGHT BAY GATEHOUSESUNLIGHT BAY DUMP STATIONSUNLIGHT BAY SHOWERSSUNLIGHT BAY PLAYGROUND
Photos courtesy of Nimrod Lake · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric28
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 72 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01ElectricBack-in23PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
02ElectricBack-in40PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
03ElectricBack-in35PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
04ElectricBack-in40PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
05ElectricBack-in44PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
06ElectricBack-in28PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
07ElectricBack-in33PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
08ElectricBack-in32PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
09ElectricBack-in38PavedPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes
10ElectricBack-in46PavedNone50 ampYes / –8 / 1Yes

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 length72 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

With 29 spacious and modern campsites and one large day use group picnic shelter, Sunlight Bay Campground has plenty of room for the family. Two boat ramps 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 Sunlight Bay40°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, 8 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 Highway 28 west for a quarter mile, then follow signs to the campground.

Nearest townPlainview, Arkansas
Coordinates34.9547° N, 93.3039° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗21.6 mi
Outdoor gearAmerican Outdoor Sports ↗24.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRazorback Camper Sales, Inc. ↗33.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

Sunlight Bay Campground Overview at Lake Nimrod in Arkansas

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Ouachita National Forest begins about 4.7 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 Sunlight Bay?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sunlight Bay?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Sunlight Bay have?

30 sites, including 28 standard sites with power and 1 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sunlight Bay?

The longest site here provides 72 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 Sunlight Bay have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sunlight Bay?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sunlight Bay. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sunlight Bay?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Sunlight Bay?

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 Sunlight Bay?

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 Sunlight Bay is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Carter Cove (3.7 mi), Quarry Cove (7.9 mi), and River Road (8.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby