Army Corps of Engineers · Arkabutla Lake · Coldwater, MS

South Abutment Campground

South Abutment Recreation Area sits along Arkabutla Lake and Dam in the hills of northwest Mississippi. The dam project is on the Coldwater River and offers some of the best sailing east of the Mississippi River.

More like this: electric hookups in Mississippi · reservable in Mississippi · big rigs in Mississippi · pets allowed in Mississippi

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
South Abutment CampgroundSouth Abutment CampgroundSouth Abutment CampgroundSouth Abutment Campground
Photos courtesy of KB · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric75
Host/management3
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 85 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
01Back-in59PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
02Back-in37PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
03Back-in60PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
04Back-in65PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2YesYes
05Back-in29PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
06Back-in36PavedFull50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
07Back-in52PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
08Back-in53PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
09Back-in55PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 2Yes
10Back-in58PavedPartial50 ampYes / YesLakefront14 / 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 04:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length85 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$20.00
AccessibilitySites 04, 33, 34, 39 and 11 more are listed accessible

This year-round campground offers 81 family sites and one group day-use shelter, all with electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, showers and drinking water, creating a comfortable camping experience for guests.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near South Abutment Campground40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 4.22 inches of precipitation, 0.9 inches of snowFebruary: 5.04 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowMarch: 5.52 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 6.25 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.49 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.80 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.48 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.11 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.25 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 5.83 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 40.0°F averageFebruary: 43.7°F averageMarch: 52.0°F averageApril: 61.2°F averageMay: 69.9°F averageJune: 77.4°F averageJuly: 80.4°F averageAugust: 79.8°F averageSeptember: 73.7°F averageOctober: 62.2°F averageNovember: 50.7°F averageDecember: 42.9°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Hernando, 8 miles from the campground at 380 feet, station USC00223975 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 57 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 2 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

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.

Nearest townColdwater, Mississippi
Coordinates34.7467° N, 90.1325° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Once your reservation has been created, there will be a $10.00 fee to cancel and a $10.00 fee to change your site or dates. Cancellations made the day before, or up to the day after your arrival will also be charged the first nights use fee. No-shows are charged a $20.00 fee plus the first nights use fee. If your reservation is for 1 night, and you ahve been charged the first nights use fee, there is no $10.00 service fee.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗2.2 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗16.6 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗22.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Campground Review | South Abutment | Coldwater, MS

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated on the waterfront, among rolling hills forested with a shady mixture of oak, hickory, beech, sweet gum and birch trees.

Recreation

Families come to Arkabutla Lake to enjoy the great outdoors by fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and biking. Wildlife management areas around Arkabutla Lake boast a combined 30,000 acres of public hunting lands where whitetail deer, wild turkeys, quail and waterfowl roam. Several trails wind around the lake and throughout the nearby landscape. The Coldwater River Nature Trail System encompasses two hiking trails as well as an interpretive trail that helps educate hikers on the wildlife and ecosystem. The Swinging Bridge Nature Trail is also nearby, and includes a section of land that was part of the river prior to the dam being built. This trail is also an interpretive educational trail. Thousands of people each year visit Arkabutla Lake to go fishing. The lake is home to several species of native fish to Mississippi waters, such as largemouth bass, bream, catfish and crappie.

Nearby

The Lost Indian Spring Disc Golf Course is just below the Arkabutla Dam near Pratt Road. The course has 18 holes and is free to the public. The Senatobia Wetlands project is just a 30-minute drive from the park. It provides visitors with educational displays and an area to observe wildlife and waterfowl.

Guidebooks for Mississippi

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

  • Guide to the Natchez Trace Parkway
    F. Lynne Bachleda, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Exploring coastal Mississippi
    Scott B. Williams, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Civil War Mississippi
    Michael Ballard, 2012
    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 South Abutment Campground?

Sites at South Abutment Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at South Abutment Campground?

$20.00

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at South Abutment Campground?

Check-in 04:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at South Abutment Campground?

Once your reservation has been created, there will be a $10.00 fee to cancel and a $10.00 fee to change your site or dates.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does South Abutment Campground have?

78 sites, including 75 standard sites with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at South Abutment Campground?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does South Abutment Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at South Abutment Campground?

Amenities include flush toilets, showers and drinking water, creating a comfortable camping experience for guests.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at South Abutment Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at South Abutment Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at South Abutment Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at South Abutment Campground?

Sites 04, 33, 34, and 39 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 15 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at South Abutment Campground?

Families come to Arkabutla Lake to enjoy the great outdoors by fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and biking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation