Shady Lake Campground

Ouachita National Forest

🏕️ CampgroundOuachita National ForestArkansas⭐ 4.5 (31)

🟢 35 open windows as of Sep 19 — soonest Sat Sep 19–Tue Sep 22

Availability checked 12h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive

🐕 Dogs allowed — all 54 sites here that publish a pet policy say yes.

Per-site pet policy from Recreation.gov site details (RIDB), checked 7h ago.

Book / check availability →🧭 Directions

💡 In short

Shady Lake Campground in Arkansas has 35 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Sat Sep 19–Tue Sep 22. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates

Sat Sep 19 – Tue Sep 223 nightsbook these dates →👥 5 in a row, A #02–A #06 next to each othersites A #02, #03, #04, #05, #06, #08, B #02, #03, #05, #24, #25, #27, #28

Sat Sep 19 – Mon Sep 212 nightsbook these dates →sites A #07

Sun Sep 20 – Wed Sep 233 nights👥 groupbook these dates →👥 D #13 & D #14 next to each othersites 👥 D #14, B #07, D #02, #05, #07, #11, #13

Fri Sep 25 – Mon Sep 283 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →👥 6 in a row, A #04–A #09 next to each othersites A #02, #04, #05, #06, #07, #08, #09, B #02, #03, #05, #06, #07, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, D #02, #05, #07, #11, #13

Mon Sep 21 – Thu Sep 243 nightsbook these dates →sites A #09, B #06, #26

Wed Sep 23 – Sat Sep 263 nightsbook these dates →sites A #07

Sun Sep 27 – Wed Sep 303 nights👥 groupbook these dates →sites 👥 D #14

Wed Sep 30 – Fri Oct 22 nightsbook these dates →sites D #01

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite A #02 — B2 — **Site A #02** · B2USDA Forest Service

Campsite A #03 — A3.7 — **Site A #03** · A3.7USDA Forest Service

Campsite A #03 — Loop A road Width — **Site A #03** · Loop A road WidthUSDA Forest Service

Campsite A #04 — B4 and proximity to bathhouse — **Site A #04** · B4 and proximity to bathhouseUSDA Forest Service

Campsite A #04 — B4 entrance — **Site A #04** · B4 entranceUSDA Forest Service

Campsite A #05 — D5, proximity to bathhouse & D7 — **Site A #05** · D5, proximity to bathhouse & D7USDA Forest Service

Campsite A #05 — D5, view from road — **Site A #05** · D5, view from roadUSDA Forest Service

Campsite A #06 — A6.1 — **Site A #06** · A6.1USDA Forest Service

Campsite A #06 — A6.5 — **Site A #06** · A6.5USDA Forest Service

Campsite A #08 — C8 — **Site A #08** · C8USDA Forest Service

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about March 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

🏕️ About this campground

💵 $15–$40/nightGroup Standard ElectricGroup Standard NonelectricRv Electric🎒 backcountry🎒 biking🎒 boating🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking

Ratings

4.5★★★★☆31 ratings

Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Shady Lake Campground FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Shady Lake Campground?

Shady Lake Campground in Arkansas takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How much does it cost to camp at Shady Lake Campground?

Campsite fees at Shady Lake Campground run about $15–$40/night, as listed by Recreation.gov. Exact rates vary by site type, number of campers, and season.

How can I get a spot at Shady Lake Campground when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Shady Lake Campground often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

Is Shady Lake Campground a good campground?

Shady Lake Campground holds an average rating of 4.5/5 from 31 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Where is Shady Lake Campground located?

Shady Lake Campground is located in Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

🔔 Get a free opening alert

We'll email you when a site opens at Shady Lake Campground.

🎯 Only these dates (optional): to

Only weekends (Fri/Sat nights)

🌙 Minimum stay (Pro):

Skip the 1-night midweek openings — only hear about stays worth the drive.

👥 Group size (Pro):

Camping with a group? Only hear about openings with that many sites NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the same dates — consecutive numbers in one loop, not just that many free somewhere in the park.

🚫 Skip site types (Pro):
No hookup/electric sites (tent or van camping)
No hike-in / walk-in / boat-in / backcountry sites
No group sites (solo/family camping)

Works where the booking system publishes per-site types (rec.gov campgrounds).

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A live cancellation widget for Shady Lake Campground that updates itself — free, no account, no API key. The snippet includes a one-line credit under the widget; leaving it in is what keeps this free for everyone, and it tells your readers what they are looking at. Preview it.

<iframe src="https://campsage.app/camp/embed/shady-lake-campground-10382332" width="340" height="280" loading="lazy" style="border:0;border-radius:14px" title="Shady Lake Campground cancellations"></iframe>
<p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;margin:6px 0 0">Live campsite availability for <a href="https://campsage.app/camp/site/shady-lake-campground-10382332">Shady Lake Campground</a> · powered by <a href="https://campsage.app">CampSage</a></p>