Saved Account Join
A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Piney Bay

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Dardanelle Lake, Johnson County, Arkansas. 354 feet. 3.1 miles from Knoxville.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Dardanelle Lake
Elevation
354 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
91 86 standard electric, 5 standard non-electric
Longest rig
80 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Johnson County

Overview

Download a Piney Bay park map HERE

Piney Bay Campground sits along Dardanelle Lake in western Arkansas. Campers come here to get a break from the city and take advantage of the ample swimming, boating and fishing opportunities.

Recreation

Picnicking, boating and fishing are favorite pastimes. The lake is brimming with white bass, largemouth bass, bream, crappie and large catfish.

Facilities

Piney Bay offers 68 reservable campsites, all equipped with electric hookups, along with a large group picnic shelter. Campers enjoy hot showers, two boat ramps, a playground and a swim beach.

Natural Features

Situated between the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, Dardanelle Lake creates an excellent setting for nature lovers. The lake stems from the Arkansas River and spans 40,000 acres. Wooded area and hills surround the lake.

The region is a favorite destination for bald eagles in wintertime.

Nearby Attractions

Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary, with nearly 86 acres of wetlands and low woods, provide an ideal habitat for native wildlife. Visitors can explore the area on the six-mile trail system.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • swimming site

The land around Piney Bay

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated June 21, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory