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Beaver Lake - COE/Prairie Creek
Overview
Prairie Creek is a standout destination managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the shores of the massive 28,000-acre Beaver Lake. Tucked into the lush landscape of the Ozark Mountains, this park offers a balance of rugged natural beauty and convenient access to modern city services. It serves as a premier basecamp for exploring the limestone bluffs and crystal-clear waters that have made this region of Northwest Arkansas a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is well-known for its cleanliness and well-spaced sites that offer a sense of privacy amidst the forest.
Location & Surroundings
Located just five miles east of downtown Rogers, Arkansas, Prairie Creek provides a secluded lakeside feel without requiring a long trek into the wilderness. The park is characterized by its rolling terrain and dense tree cover, which provides ample shade during the warm summer months. Guests can enjoy sweeping views of the water from various vantage points, where the limestone bluffs rise dramatically from the lake's edge, creating a scenic backdrop for every sunset and an ideal environment for local wildlife.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground features over 100 campsites, many of which are equipped with electric hookups to accommodate modern RVs. While it maintains a natural atmosphere, the park provides essential comforts including hot showers, a dump station, and potable water. Recreational facilities are a major draw, featuring a multi-lane boat ramp, a dedicated swimming beach, and a children's playground. The on-site volleyball court and the Prairie Creek hiking trail ensure there is always an activity available right outside your camper door for those who prefer land-based recreation.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the park boundaries, visitors are minutes away from the vibrant culture of Northwest Arkansas. You can explore the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in nearby Bentonville or visit the historic War Eagle Mill. For those seeking more rugged adventures, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area offers extensive trail systems for hiking and mountain biking. Of course, the lake itself remains the primary attraction, providing world-class opportunities for bass fishing, paddleboarding, and recreational boating throughout the season.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is an ideal match for active families and boating enthusiasts who want to maximize their time on the water. Because it is a COE facility, it offers an affordable experience for budget-conscious travelers who prioritize natural surroundings over resort-style luxuries. It is also a perfect fit for nature photographers and birdwatchers looking to capture the diverse species that inhabit the Ozark forest and the serene, undeveloped shores of Beaver Lake.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Penny Watson
Nice park. Clean facilities. Quiet at night except for all the trucks with boats leaving the ramp area but that ends fairly earlier so not really an issue. Only complaint we had was the trash dumpster were overflowing when we arrived at the park and they were not emptied during the week were there. Always overflowing. Side note: fire department and police were called to one site 3x during the week but again no issues for us. We will visit again.
Michael Scott
This is the nicest COE campground I have visited in Arkansas! 👍🏻🥳 Wonderful beach area, picnic area, huge boat ramp, and the largest marina on Beaver lake! Over 900 covered floating boat slips 😱 However like all of the ones I have visited recently. I walk around with a bag and pick up trash every time! Cigarette butts, pop tops from cans🤷🏻♂️ drink box straw wrappers, water bottle caps, cable ties after they are cut loose from whatever they were holding. 🤔 In this particular location they were two campsites where people just left their garbage! 🤬 One had the bag ripped open by critters and the trash was just everywhere waiting to get run over by the lawn mower 🫣 Nobody goes around and cleans up the campsite anymore. Nobody cleans out the fire pits. You have to pass the dumpster to leave the park! Again you need to be a local or have visited the place beforehand so that you can wisely choose your choice site. 😳There are so many different sections. And so many sites that would be difficult to get larger units in, or to. Some very steep roads as well. It is an absolutely magnificent🤩 huge campground with wonderful shelters, nice bathrooms, there is a modern nice shower facility.🚿 One thing unique to this location is the park rangers from Hobbs State Park will come here and post their events at the guard gate window, 👍🏻
Rudegyal
I love this campground. It’s clean and the staffs very friendly. The swimming area has clean bathrooms and showers. We came back for a second time and so far it’s the best within distance from Joplin that’s reasonable travel wise. There’s firewood etc. We stayed Friday to Sunday and had no issues with anything. There’s recent flooding and storms for 3 weeks causing trees to be down which helped with firewood. They have people throughout the day that drive around maintaining the facilities.
K R
We camp a lot and this is the worst camping experience so far. We had site 50. It looks nothing like the picture on the website. The positive of this area is it appears to have a nice area for day use. Nice beach area, playgrounds for kids and boating facilities. It is close to lots of shopping and the. Lake is beautiful driving in. The cons out weigh the pros by far in regards to camping. It appears a tornado ripped through and uprooted a massive amount of trees a couple of years ago. They are still on the ground piled up in a ravine and the area is grown up with brush. It is just my guess but it looks like many of the hillside sites suffered runoff damage that has not been repaired. The pads are small and consist of mostly rocks, and unlevel walking area. Ticks were a big problem in our sites. The hillside made it difficult to walk around. Trash cans were quite a distance, uphill. We decided to shorten our stay and move on to our next destination. The last night here I was wakened at midnight by loud thumping music that was so loud it was vibrating the camper. Some guys in a car had pulled in to a campsite 3 sites away and decided to open up their doors and hatch back with music on full blast. So much for park closes at 10. They did leave when I made my presence known but were sketchy and left me unable to get sleep afterwards. Another con of camping close to big town. We won’t be back.
Ali Shalhoub
Prairie Creek Campground is a fantastic spot. It's well-maintained, offers beautiful views, and provides a peaceful escape. A great choice for camping in the area.