top of page
Writer's pictureThe Arkies

STATE PARKS: Lake Dardanelle State Park

Welcome to Lake Dardanelle State Park!



Lake Dardanelle State Park is located in Pope county with one side of the park in Russellville and the other side across the lake in Dardanelle. Construction was completed on the Dardanelle Dam in 1964, forming a 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. The dam was part of the McClellan-Kerr navigation project that made the Arkansas River navigable to commercial vessels. It’s also a National Park Service-certified site on the Trail of Tears water route.


The state park was commissioned in 1966 and has received national attention as a major bass fishing tournament site. One of the unique features of the park is the 1,861-square-foot, sport fishing weigh-in pavilion, a world class facility and the first of its kind in the state that serves as a staging area for tournaments in which thousands of anglers participate annually.

The park offers 57 campsites on the Russellville side and 18 sites on the Dardanelle side with modern bathhouses. There are boat ramps and picnic areas with playgrounds on both sides, as well as pavilions available for groups to rent. The Russellville side offers a large swim beach, perfect for cooling off on those hot Arkansas summer days! There's a paved rock breakwater that you can walk out on for fishing or watching wildlife and the park also offers a boardwalk and a covered, barrier-free fishing pier that is popular for bank fishing and sunset photography. Privately-owned marinas and boat docks are located in both the Russellville and Dardanelle areas.


The Visitor's Center is also located on the Russellville side and offers over 10,000 square feet of beautiful aquariums, interpretive exhibits, meeting space and an expansive lakeshore view. While you're there check out the turtle touch table and the living honeybee hive exhibit. There's also a gift shop for snacks and Arkansas made products, as well as a large back patio with a fireplace overlooking Lake Dardanelle...the perfect place to hangout and watch the water.


Now, let's talk about trails...On the Russellville side, you'll find the ¾ mile Meadowbrook Self-Guided Trail located next to the amphitheater. Take your binoculars and be on the lookout for watchable wildlife! There's also a nativeplant area and butterfly garden located near the visitor's center. If you're feeling adventurous, head over to Mount Nebo State Park for a day of hiking or mountain biking....it's only 30 minutes away! And if you're looking for good eats, stop by some of our favorite places...Stoby's, Old South Restaurant and Feltner's Whatta-burger!


We hope you’ve enjoyed this look into Lake Dardanelle State Park and we encourage you to get out and experience The Natural State! For more information on the park, visit ArkansasStateParks.com and make sure you follow Arkie Travels on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more Arkansas adventures!

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page
google.com, pub-2074584458638460, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0