Take a Trip to the Lake Before Summer Ends

Go for a Day

Pack beach chairs, a picnic lunch, floaties and water toys for a warm September break from work or school. The drive from Springfield to Baxter takes about an hour and 20 minutes, so leave early.

If your day is focused around beach play, plan your outing for the first half of September before the campground and day use areas close to cars September 15. (Day use costs $5 per vehicle.) Tip: After September 15, you can park near the boat ramp and walk over to the beach.

For swimming and relaxing, hang out at the gravel beach, which includes a roped-off section of the lake to keep floaters and swimmers from venturing too far. Covered picnic tables line the edge of the beach for snacks or lunch.

If you have kayaks, bring them too! We’ve launched from the beach to paddle the shoreline, which revealed interesting chunky bluffs and rock formations along the water’s edge. Anglers might enjoy casting for crappie, catfish, bluegill or bass.

Or rent two- to three-person kayaks for $65 per day from the full-service Baxter Marina, operating through mid-October.

For a more adventurous daytime lake outing, the marina also rents motorized vessels, ranging $545 to $745 for a full day with a pontoon or fishing barge.

Need supplies? The marina store sells ice, snacks, soft drinks, beer, apparel and tackle.

Go for a Weekend 

In addition to playing at the beach or renting a boat, Baxter makes a nice overnight basecamp for outings, too.

Reserve a Baxter campsite for tents or RVs at recreation.gov through September 14. Or for a group, book a nearby luxury rental including Tomahawk, Antelope and Deer Ridge lodges. Indian Creek Inn, a simple but well-located lakefront resort with a pool and onsite boat dock, offers a more budget option nearby.

No matter where you stay, Baxter is well-located to plan one lake day and one day outing. A few entertaining locations to reach in less than an hour include:

• Roaring River State Park for hiking or fishing (50 minutes)
• Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for dining, shopping and exploring (50 minutes)
• Branson Landing for dining and shopping (45 minutes)
• Silver Dollar City for rides and entertainment (35 minutes)
• Table Rock State Park, White River Valley Trails and Dewey Short Visitor Center for walking, hikes, biking and education (45 minutes)

No matter what you plan for September’s last lake hurrah, it will help usher in the crisp fall weather coming in October.