Table Rock Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the White River in the Ozarks, mostly in southwestern Missouri and reaching into northwestern Arkansas. Its dam stands about eight miles southwest of Branson, Missouri, and finished in 1958. The lake is known for bass and paddlefish fishing, clear water, a ring of Corps parks and marinas, the cold trout water of Lake Taneycomo just below the dam, and the Branson area's shows and theme parks.
In this guide
- Where Is Table Rock Lake?
- What Is Table Rock Lake Known For?
- Table Rock Lake at a Glance
- History of Table Rock Lake
- Table Rock Lake Boating Guide
- Table Rock Lake Fishing Guide
- Best Things to Do at Table Rock Lake
- Best Places to Visit Around Table Rock Lake
- Table Rock Lake Towns and Communities
- Table Rock Lake Vacation Guide
- Table Rock Lake Family Activities
- What Should You Bring to Table Rock Lake?
- Local Knowledge: The Rock, the Bridge and the Cold Water Below
- Questions People Ask About Table Rock Lake
- Table Rock Lake Gifts & Apparel
Where Is Table Rock Lake?
Table Rock Lake is in the Ozarks, spanning southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas, according to Wikipedia. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas places the dam on the White River about eight miles southwest of Branson and says the lake covers parts of Taney, Stone and Barry counties in Missouri. The lake runs west and then south to Beaver Dam in Arkansas, and the Arkansas shoreline includes the White River from Beaver Dam to the Missouri line plus the Kings River and Long Creek arms in Carroll and Boone counties.
The main inflows are the White River, the James River and the Kings River, and the White River leaves the dam as Lake Taneycomo, according to Wikipedia. Towns around the shore include Branson, Kimberling City, Shell Knob, Branson West and Cape Fair in Missouri, and Beaver and Holiday Island in Arkansas. Holiday Island sits at the edge of the lake near Eureka Springs, according to Arkansas.com.
Distances help with planning. Wikipedia puts Springfield-Branson National Airport about 50 miles from Branson and Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville about 100 miles away. The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce says Kings River Marina is about 40 minutes from Branson, and Recreation.gov puts the Campbell Point campground at Shell Knob about 40 miles from Branson.
What Is Table Rock Lake Known For?
- Bass fishing. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) rates black bass fishing at Table Rock as excellent for 2026, with largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass all in the lake.
- Paddlefish. MDC calls the paddlefish fishery excellent, with a short spring snagging season and some fish over 100 pounds.
- A Corps lake with many parks. The Corps lists more than a dozen Corps parks around the lake, and Recreation.gov handles campground reservations.
- A cold-water neighbor. Table Rock Dam feeds Lake Taneycomo, where cold releases support a trout fishery and MDC runs the Shepherd of the Hills hatchery.
- Branson. The Branson area, with its theaters, Silver Dollar City and the Showboat, is a short drive from the east end of the lake.
- Two states on one lake. Missouri and Arkansas each set their own boating and fishing rules, and a border lakes license links the two.
- Scuba diving. The Corps' project page lists scuba diving among the lake's recreation.
Table Rock Lake at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Corps of Engineers flood control and hydroelectric reservoir on the White River |
| Location | Missouri (Taney, Stone and Barry counties) and Arkansas (Carroll and Boone counties), per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas |
| Surface area | 43,100 acres at normal pool per the Corps; 42,400 acres at 915 feet in a 2020 USGS survey |
| Shoreline | 745 miles at normal pool per the Corps; about 715 miles in the 2020 USGS survey |
| Flood pool | About 52,300 acres and 850 miles of shoreline at the top of the flood pool, per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas |
| Depth | Up to about 220 feet, per Wikipedia |
| Normal pool | 915 feet above sea level; top of the flood pool at 931 feet, per Wikipedia |
| Dam | About 6,400 feet long (6,423 feet per Wikipedia) and 252 feet above the riverbed, built from 1954 to 1958 |
| Power | Four generating units of 50 megawatts each (200 megawatts), per the Corps and Wikipedia |
| Managing agency | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District |
| Main activities | Fishing, boating, camping, scuba diving, hiking and the Branson-area attractions |
Figures are as published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USGS 2020 bathymetric survey, the Encyclopedia of Arkansas and Wikipedia, and checked October 2026. The Corps and the USGS differ on area and shoreline because they measure at different times, and the USGS figures come from a newer survey. Wikipedia reports 3.46 million acre-feet of storage where the USGS reports about 2.64 million.
History of Table Rock Lake
A flood control dam on the White River
Congress authorized Table Rock Dam in the Flood Control Act of 1941, and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas says World War II, the Korean War and the building of Bull Shoals Dam delayed construction. The Corps' Little Rock District began work in October 1954, and the dam was completed in August 1958. Table Rock was the third Corps high dam on the White River, after Norfork and Bull Shoals, and it was built to reduce flooding in the Arkansas Delta and the Mississippi drainage.
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas describes a concrete gravity dam with an earthen embankment and gives the overall cost as about 65.4 million dollars. Power came online in May 1959 with two generating units, and two more followed in 1961. The Corps lists the powerhouse as four units of 50,000 kilowatts, and Wikipedia gives the dam's length as 6,423 feet.
A name from a rock
Wikipedia says the lake is named for a table-like rock formation at the community of Table Rock, Missouri, about 1.5 miles downstream from the dam site. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas describes the rock as a well-known tourist landmark in the early 1900s and places it about three miles east of the dam, so the two sources differ on the exact spot.
The spillway and the floods
The Corps found that the dam's spillway capacity was not enough for a worst-case flood, and Congress approved an auxiliary spillway with eight more crest gates at about 65 million dollars. It was built in 2005. Wikipedia says the lake reached a record crest of 935.47 feet on April 27, 2011, and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas says floods in 2008 and 2011 set a record lake level and record spillway releases. Part of the earthen embankment's skin gave way after the 2011 flood and was repaired for about 250 thousand dollars.
A new visitor center
The Dewey Short Visitor Center, which cost 10.8 million dollars, opened on April 27, 2012, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. The Corps' center sits at the south end of the dam off Missouri Route 165 and has exhibits on the White River watershed and dam operations.
Table Rock Lake Boating Guide
Table Rock is a big, deep, two-state lake with Corps parks, commercial marinas and a state park around its shoreline. Boaters need to know where to launch, how Missouri and Arkansas rules differ, how the water level changes in a flood control lake, and what the Missouri boater card law requires. This section covers each one.
Boat launches and public access
The Corps' project page lists recreation areas including Aunts Creek, Baxter, Beaver Park, Big Bay, Big Indian, Big M, Campbell Point, Cape Fair, Coombs Ferry, Cow Creek, Cricket Creek, Eagle Rock, Indian Point, Joe Bald, Kimberling Park, Kings River, Long Creek, Mill Creek, Moonshine Beach, Old Highway 86 and Viola. It lists boat docks and marinas at Baxter, Big M, Campbell Point, Cape Fair, Cricket Creek, Eagle Rock, Hideaway, Indian Point, Kings River and Port of Kimberling. Port of Kimberling Marina, the Shepherd of the Hills fish hatchery and Table Rock State Park are listed as managed by others. Ramp details are hard to read on the Corps' page, so confirm that a park has a ramp before you tow there.
| Launch or access point | Side | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Table Rock State Park | Missouri | Boat ramp near the picnic shelter and park office; the state parks page says there are no fees and the surfaces are concrete or asphalt. Marina on site |
| Campbell Point | Missouri | White River Arm at 792 Campbell Pt. Rd, Shell Knob; boat ramp, full-service marina and a sandy beach on site |
| Indian Point | Missouri | White River Arm at 3125 Indian Point Road, Branson; Corps campground |
| Aunts Creek | Missouri | 2837 State Hwy 00, Reeds Spring; Corps campground |
| Kings River Marina | Missouri | 27504 Big Rock Road, Shell Knob; marina, rentals and fuel |
| Long Creek Marina | Missouri | 1368 Long Creek Rd, Ridgedale; open to the public, operated by Big Cedar Lodge |
| Cricket Creek | Arkansas | Long Creek Arm at 20110 Boat Dock Rd, Omaha; Corps campground with a marina |
The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce says many Corps and private campgrounds have day-use areas with boat launches, swim beaches and pavilions, usually for a small day-use fee. We found no published ramp fee schedule, so check the signs or call the Corps office at (417) 213-4810. Port of Kimberling Marina's website would not load for us, so we could not confirm its details.
Marinas and rentals
State Park Marina, inside Table Rock State Park near the dam, rents pontoons, WaveRunners, paddle boats and kayaks and offers catamaran excursions, according to Missouri State Parks. Kings River Marina in Shell Knob rents tritoons and a fishing boat. Long Creek Marina at Big Cedar Lodge rents boats and WaveRunners and is open to the public, while Bent Hook Marina serves overnight guests only. Rates show up in each marina's booking system, so ask for a current quote.
As of October 2026, State Park Marina and Kings River Marina both say renters or drivers must be 21 or older, and each asks renters born after January 1, 1984 to show a boater safety card. Missouri's card law changes on January 1, 2027, so ask the marina what it will accept. A visitor can get a one-time temporary card for a rental, as described in the rules below.
Popular areas and navigation
The lake has several long arms. The White River Arm runs through the Campbell Point and Indian Point areas, and MDC's fishing report says smallmouth bass hold in the main lake from the Highway 86 bridge to Campbell Point. The James River Arm and Kings River Arm feed the lake from the north and west, and Long Creek is the arm that runs from the Ridgedale, Missouri area into Arkansas near Cricket Creek. MDC's report ties the best crappie and walleye fishing to the James, Kings and Long Creek arms and the upper White River.
We did not find a published hazard list, so use a current chart or navigation app. The lake rises and falls with floods, so docks, brush piles and shoreline features change with the level.
Water level and how to check it
Table Rock is a flood control reservoir. USGS lists the conservation pool at 915 feet above sea level, and Wikipedia puts the top of the flood control pool at 931 feet, so the Corps can hold floodwater above normal pool and release it afterward. The box below shows the reading from the Corps' water management system when it loads.
Lake level today: Check today's level on the Corps White River basin conditions.
The Corps publishes lake and river conditions for the White River basin, and the box links to that page. Check it before a trip after heavy rain, because high water changes which ramps and docks are usable and how fast the current runs below the dam.
Swimming areas and no-wake zones
Swimming at the Corps' day-use beaches follows each park's posted rules. Recreation.gov lists a large sandy beach and a swim area at Campbell Point. We found no lakewide list of swim beaches or no-wake zones, so read the buoys at each launch.
Missouri's boating course says not to run a motorboat or personal watercraft faster than idle or slow, no wake speed within 100 feet of a dock or pier, an occupied anchored vessel, a buoyed restricted area, or any place where your wake may cause damage. Arkansas also uses a 100 foot distance, as the Arkansas rules below explain.
Boating rules
Table Rock Lake crosses the state line, so Missouri rules apply on the Missouri part of the lake and Arkansas rules on the Arkansas part. The agencies we read do not publish a line that tells a boater where one state ends and the other begins, so follow the stricter rule when you are not sure. The Missouri rules come first because most of the lake and most of the ramps are in Missouri.
These are the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Water Patrol Division rules most visitors need, as published on the Water Patrol's boating pages and read in October 2026:
- Boater education (Water Patrol FAQ): Operators of a motorized boat or a sailboat over 12 feet (and any personal watercraft) must carry a boater safety card from an approved course (NASBLA approved), or have the boater safety endorsement on a Missouri driver's license with the license aboard. Anyone born after January 1, 1984 and before January 1, 2006 is covered on Missouri lakes under RSMo 306.127 as amended August 28, 2026. Anyone born on or after January 1, 2006 is covered on all waters of the state starting January 1, 2027. Missouri accepts NASBLA approved cards from other states. The Missouri card costs $15, and a one-time seven day temporary card is sold for renters.
- Age to operate (Water Patrol FAQ): The operator of a boat must be 14 unless accompanied by an adult aboard. A child under 14 who operates a motorized boat with an adult still needs a boater safety card. For a personal watercraft, the U.S. Coast Guard's state law summary lists the same age of 14 unless under the direct onboard supervision of a parent, guardian or other person 16 or older.
- Life jackets (Water Patrol life jacket page): Missouri law requires a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket on board and accessible for each occupant. Children under 7 must wear a life jacket whenever they are on a boat, except in the cabin area of a houseboat or cruiser. Everyone on a personal watercraft must wear one any time the craft is underway.
- Boating under the influence (Boat-Ed Missouri course): The course says it is evidence of intoxication if a person has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more, and that a breath, blood or saliva sample can show it. We did not read the statute's penalties.
- Speed and distance (Boat-Ed Missouri course): Stay at idle or slow, no wake speed within 100 feet of a dock or pier, an occupied anchored vessel, a buoyed restricted area, or an emergency vessel showing red or blue lights. From one-half hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise, the maximum speed is 30 miles per hour.
- Towing and skiing (Boat-Ed Missouri course): A skier needs an observer in the boat, or the boat needs a certified convex ski mirror at least 3 inches high and 8 inches wide. Skiing is allowed from sunrise until sunset. Between 11:00 a.m. and sunset on Missouri lakes, a motorboat operator must show a red or orange flag at least 12 by 12 inches when a skier is down in the water, and should not show it while towing.
- Renting: A renter needs the same boater safety card as any other operator, and a visitor can buy a one-time temporary card. Each rental business sets its own age, deposit and card rules, so ask before you book.
These are the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and state law rules most visitors need, as published on the AGFC's boating pages and read in October 2026:
- Boater education (AGFC boater education): Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986 must complete an approved boating education course before operating any motorboat, including a personal watercraft (PWC) and a boat with only a trolling motor. AGFC accepts its own approved courses and NASBLA approved certificates from other states, and the AGFC handbook says to carry the certificate on board. Age rules for the operator are in the PWC line below; for a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more, a child under 12 must be under direct supervision of a parent, guardian or other person at least 18.
- Personal watercraft (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): To run a PWC alone, an operator must be 16 or older. A 12 to 15 year old needs an adult at least 18 aboard, and a child under 12 needs an adult at least 21 aboard. A PWC may be run only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Everyone aboard must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket that is not inflatable, and the operator must attach the engine cut-off lanyard to his or her person, clothing or life jacket (unless going under 5 mph). Liability insurance is required on every PWC.
- Life jackets (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): Every boat must carry one wearable Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard, and a boat 16 feet or longer must also carry one Coast Guard approved throwable device. Children 12 and younger must wear an approved life jacket at all times, except inside the enclosed area of a houseboat or cruiser, or inside the railings of a party barge, cruiser or houseboat that is not under way. Most inflatable life jackets count only when worn, and a person being towed must wear an approved life jacket.
- Boating under the influence (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): No one may operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An operator is boating while intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more, or 0.02 percent or more if under 21. For a first conviction the handbook lists loss of driver's license for six months, a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, and an alcohol education or treatment program. Refusing a test can mean loss of operating and driving privileges for up to six months.
- Slow, no wake speed (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): "Slow, no wake" means no wake and no more than 5 miles per hour. Going faster than that is illegal within 100 feet of a designated recreation area, dock, pier, raft, float, anchored vessel, dam, intake structure or other obstruction, unless a different limit is posted. A PWC may not go faster than slow, no wake within 100 feet of an anchored or moored vessel, the shoreline, a dock or a swimmer.
- Towing skiers and tubes (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): A boat towing a skier, tuber or other person needs an observer at least 12 years old in addition to the operator. On a motorboat, a wide-angle convex rear view mirror can replace the observer, but not on a PWC. Towing is illegal from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, except in designated, adequately lit night skiing areas. A PWC used for towing must be rated for at least three people.
- Registration (AGFC boating pages): Every vessel powered by machinery, whatever its size, must be registered in Arkansas, including a boat with only a trolling motor. The Certificate of Number must be aboard, and a boat registered in another state may be used in Arkansas for up to 90 consecutive days. Liability insurance of at least $50,000 per occurrence is required on every PWC and on every motorboat over 50 horsepower.
- Renting (Arkansas Boating Laws handbook): A business that rents out personal watercraft may not rent one to anyone under 18. The boating education rule applies to renters born on or after January 1, 1986, and each rental business sets its own age, deposit and license rules, so ask when you reserve.
More on Table Rock Lake
- Clean, drain, dry. An AGFC article from June 2022 said there was no official documentation of zebra mussels in Table Rock Lake, and that a houseboat carrying zebra mussels was stopped at Cricket Creek Marina before it could launch. Arkansas law requires boaters to pull the drain plugs at the ramp and let all water drain, and the article says that has been law since 2020. A 2025 news report on Missouri's zebra mussel spread named Bull Shoals and Lake Taneycomo among the infested lakes, so clean, drain and dry before and after you launch, and check MDC for Table Rock's current status.
- Corps contact. The Table Rock Project Office is at 4600 State Highway 165, Branson, Missouri 65616, phone (417) 213-4810, according to the Corps.
- Registration. KOAM, citing a Water Patrol brochure, says the Missouri Department of Revenue issues Missouri watercraft registrations. Register your boat in your home state.
Seasons and kinds of boating
The Corps' project page lists boating, scuba diving and five seasonal commercial boat cruises. Cruises we found include Silver Dollar City's Showboat dinner cruise, a Spirit of America catamaran sail from State Park Marina and Big Cedar Lodge's Lady Liberty cruises. Many marinas, campgrounds and cruises run on seasonal schedules, so check each owner's page for dates. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards launch from the public ramps and park beaches.
Table Rock Lake Fishing Guide
Table Rock is a bass lake with a spring paddlefish season, strong walleye and crappie fisheries and cold trout water just below the dam. This section covers what lives in the lake, where and how people fish, the Missouri and Arkansas rules, the license that covers both, and where to find guides.
Fish species and seasons
These notes come from MDC's Table Rock Lake fishing prospects and prospect report. They are general guidance and not guarantees:
- Largemouth bass. MDC says fall 2025 surveys found good numbers in the 15 to 18 inch range, and the lake's largemouth are plentiful because of high lake levels in past years.
- Spotted bass. Abundant but slow-growing, mostly 11 to 14 inches, with only 3% over 15 inches in fall 2025. MDC encourages anglers to keep them.
- Smallmouth bass. MDC rates the fishery good, with smallmouth common in the main lake between the Highway 86 bridge and Campbell Point.
- Crappie. Rated fair. About 40% of black crappie and 36% of white crappie sampled in fall 2025 were over 10 inches, and densities are higher in the James, Kings and Long Creek arms.
- Walleye. Rated good. MDC found all walleye sampled in the James River in March 2025 over 15 inches and 56% over 20 inches, and it stocked surplus walleye there in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2025.
- White bass. Rated fair, with quality fish over 15 inches common.
- Bluegill, redear and goggle-eye. Bluegill run 7 to 9 inches in good numbers, and goggle-eye can top 10 inches.
- Catfish. Channel catfish are more common in the river arms and flatheads in the clearer main lake.
- Paddlefish. Rated excellent, with fish of 40 to 60 pounds common and a few over 100 pounds.
Where and how people fish
MDC suggests fishing bass at a range of depths, since fish often sit offshore outside the spring spawn and in fall. Productive areas include extended main-lake points, humps and bluffs. In summer it recommends jigs, spoons and drop-shot rigs at 10 to 25 feet or deeper, and says spotted bass often suspend over deep water near baitfish, so electronics help. Crappie bite best in spring and fall around brush piles and woody cover, and white bass run far up the tributaries in March.
MDC says anglers can find habitat on its Where to Fish page and in the free MO Fishing App. The report counts more than 1,400 fish habitat structures placed from 2007 to 2013 and a Bass Pro Shops funded project that built or rebuilt 751 brush piles between November 2022 and March 2024.
Regulations and licenses
Table Rock sits on the state line, so check each state's rules for the water you are fishing, starting with Missouri.
Check the current Missouri Fishing Summary from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) before you fish, because limits differ by species and water. As of MDC's 2026 fishing seasons page, its permit page and its Table Rock Lake regulations page:
- License: Most anglers need a Missouri fishing permit, and Missouri residents 65 and older are exempt. As of October 2026, MDC lists a resident annual fishing permit at $14, a nonresident annual fishing permit at $57, and a daily fishing permit at $9 for residents and nonresidents. A trout permit is needed to possess trout. A $10 White River Border Lakes permit lets a Missouri or Arkansas resident fish the other state's part of Table Rock without a nonresident license.
- Black bass (MDC announcement): At Table Rock Lake the daily limit is 6 black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted combined), with 12 in possession. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be at least 15 inches, and spotted (Kentucky) bass must be at least 12 inches since April 30, 2026.
- White, yellow and striped bass and hybrids: 15 per day in combination (30 in possession), with up to four fish over 18 inches per day.
- Crappie: 15 per day at Table Rock Lake, with a 10 inch minimum length.
- Catfish: 10 per day in any combination of channel, blue and flathead catfish.
- Walleye and sauger: The minimum length at Table Rock Lake is 18 inches.
- Paddlefish (MDC prospect report): Harvest is allowed March 15 through April 30, with a limit of 2 per day and a 34 inch minimum body length measured from the eye to the fork of the tail. Do not keep snagging after taking your daily limit.
MDC's own Table Rock special regulations page still showed a 15 inch minimum for black bass when we read it, so it may not yet reflect the spotted bass change that MDC announced in February 2026.
Check the current Arkansas Fishing Guidebook from AGFC before you fish, because limits differ by species and water. As of AGFC's license page (modified September 28, 2026), its statewide limits page (modified April 28, 2026) and the 2026-27 changes that took effect July 1, 2026:
- License (AGFC fishing licenses): Anglers 16 and older need a valid Arkansas fishing license. As of October 2026, AGFC lists a resident annual fishing license at $10.50, a resident 65-plus annual fishing license at $3.50, and a nonresident annual fishing license at $60, with nonresident one-day and three-day licenses at $15 and $30. A separate trout permit ($10 resident, $20 nonresident) is needed to keep trout or fish certain waters.
- Black bass (AGFC statewide limits): Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass: 10 per day combined, with no more than 4 smallmouth, and length limits that vary by water.
- Striped bass and hybrid striped bass (AGFC statewide limits): Striped bass and hybrid striped bass: 6 per day combined, with no statewide length limit, unless the water has its own rule.
- Crappie (AGFC statewide limits): Black and white crappie: 30 per day combined, with no statewide length limit, unless the water has its own rule.
- Catfish (AGFC statewide limits): Channel, blue and flathead catfish: 10 per day combined, with no statewide length limit. There is no daily limit on bullheads.
- Bream (sunfish) (AGFC statewide limits): Bluegill, redear, longear, warmouth and other sunfish: 50 per day combined, with no daily limit on fish under 4 inches.
- Walleye (AGFC statewide limits): Walleye: 6 per day statewide, unless the water has its own rule.
- White bass (AGFC statewide limits): White bass: 25 per day statewide, unless the water has its own rule.
We did not read Arkansas's rules for the Arkansas part of Table Rock in the AGFC guidebook, so look up the lake's entry before you fish that side. MDC's February 2026 announcement says the Arkansas part of Table Rock already used a 12 inch minimum for spotted bass.
The White River border lakes license
Under an agreement between the two wildlife agencies, a White River Border Lakes license or permit (listed at $10 a year in AGFC's agreement text, as of October 2026) lets an angler who holds a home-state fishing license fish the impounded waters of Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock lakes in both states, according to AGFC's text of the agreement. It is for anglers 16 and older who hold a Missouri resident fishing permit or an Arkansas resident fishing license, or who are exempt from those, and it does not allow possession of trout. It is not valid on the designated trout waters on Table Rock Lake upstream from the Highway 62 Bridge in Arkansas, and anglers must follow the laws of the state where they are fishing. MDC's description limits the permit to Missouri and Arkansas residents, so a nonresident of both states needs the license for whichever side they fish.
Trout below the dam
Table Rock Dam releases cold water into Lake Taneycomo, which Wikipedia says was a warm water lake from 1913 to 1958 and became a leading trout fishery after the dam. MDC's Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center and fish hatchery sits at 483 Hatchery Road, Branson, below the dam, and it offers hatchery tours and a large aquarium. A Missouri trout permit is needed to possess trout.
Guides, tournaments and fishing culture
Guided trips on Table Rock include Capt. Rick's Guide Service, which offers bass and paddlefish trips, Breaking Bass Guide Service and Big Cedar Lodge's fishing guides. Capt. Rick's lists a Missouri fishing permit requirement for anglers 16 and older. Rates change, so see each guide's page. Tournament dates change by year, so check organizers directly.
Best Things to Do at Table Rock Lake
- Fish for bass or paddlefish. See the fishing guide above.
- Take a lake cruise. Silver Dollar City's Showboat runs dinner and show cruises, State Park Marina runs the Spirit of America catamaran, and Big Cedar Lodge runs Lady Liberty cruises and the Goin' Jessi classic boat tour.
- Rent a boat. State Park Marina, Kings River Marina and Long Creek Marina all rent boats.
- Visit the dam. The Corps' Dewey Short Visitor Center has exhibits, a dam film and lake overlooks at the south end of the dam.
- Walk the lakeshore. The paved Table Rock Lakeshore Trail passes the Showboat property, Corps land and the visitor center.
- Ride the mountain bike trails. Table Rock State Park has the White River Valley Trail System, which a 2017 interview called the first mountain bike trail developed in the area.
- Camp. The Corps campgrounds take reservations on Recreation.gov, and Table Rock State Park has campsites and yurts.
- Go scuba diving. The Corps lists scuba diving among the lake's activities.
- Visit nearby attractions. Silver Dollar City, Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Big Cedar Lodge's Top of the Rock are near the lake.
Best Places to Visit Around Table Rock Lake
| Place | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Table Rock State Park | Branson, Missouri | Boat ramp, marina, campground, yurts and trails near the dam |
| Dewey Short Visitor Center | South end of the dam, Branson | Corps exhibits, a dam film and overlooks. Phone (417) 213-4812 |
| Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery | Below the dam, Branson | MDC trout hatchery with an aquarium and trails |
| Silver Dollar City's Showboat | White River Landing, Branson | Dinner and show cruise on the lake |
| Campbell Point | Shell Knob, Missouri | Corps campground with a ramp, marina and sandy beach |
| Kings River Marina | Shell Knob, Missouri | Quiet western side of the lake with rentals |
| Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock | Ridgedale, Missouri | Lakeside resort, marina and a cave and nature trail with lake views |
| Dogwood Canyon Nature Park | Lampe, Missouri | Wildlife tram tour and trails, near the lake but not on the shore |
| Cricket Creek | Omaha, Arkansas | Corps campground on the Long Creek Arm |
Hours, seasons and status change, so check each owner's page.
Table Rock Lake Towns and Communities
| Place | Part of the lake | Known for | Relationship to the lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branson, Missouri | East end, near the dam | The "Live Entertainment Capital of the World," per Wikipedia; 12,638 residents in 2020 | The dam, State Park, the Showboat and Lake Taneycomo are here |
| Kimberling City, Missouri | Central lake, Stone County | 2,344 residents in 2020 and incorporated in 1973, per Wikipedia | Sits on the shore and is named for the family that ran a nearby ferry |
| Shell Knob, Missouri | Western end | Kings River Marina and Campbell Point | The quiet west end of the lake |
| Branson West, Missouri | Branson area | Lakeside Resort and restaurant | Lakeside dining reached by land or water |
| Cape Fair, Missouri | James River Arm | Corps park and marina | MDC says paddlefish gather in the James River Arm above Cape Fair |
| Ridgedale, Missouri | South of Branson | Big Cedar Lodge | Long Creek Marina and Top of the Rock |
| Beaver, Arkansas | Arkansas end | The lake's Arkansas endpoint | Table Rock runs to Beaver Dam, per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas |
| Holiday Island, Arkansas | Arkansas shore | A planned community near Eureka Springs | At the edge of the lake, per Arkansas.com |
Table Rock Lake Vacation Guide
When to visit
Boating, swimming and cruises suit late spring through early fall, and many marinas and Corps campgrounds run on seasonal schedules. MDC says paddlefish season runs March 15 through April 30 and white bass run up the tributaries in March, so spring suits those anglers. MDC suggests fishing bass at different depths through the seasons. Silver Dollar City's Showboat runs a Christmas show, and Silver Dollar City has an Old Time Christmas festival, so check their pages for dates.
Where to stay
- Table Rock State Park. Missouri State Parks lists campsites and six premium yurts. As of October 2026 a yurt night was $159 plus tax, so check the park's lodging page.
- Corps campgrounds. Campbell Point, Indian Point, Aunts Creek and others take reservations on Recreation.gov, and Cricket Creek is the Arkansas campground.
- Big Cedar Lodge and Camp Long Creek. A wilderness resort in Ridgedale, with lodge rooms, cabins and glamping above the lake.
- Private lake houses. Many homes around the shore rent through booking sites. We do not list individual rentals.
Where to eat
Several lakeside restaurants can be reached by boat. The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce keeps a boat-to restaurants list, and it includes Big Buoy's in Kimberling City and the Lakeside Restaurant at Lakeside Resort in Branson West. Big Buoy's says its courtesy dock is just below the restaurant, and Lakeside Resort says guests can come by land or by water. Hours change, so check each restaurant's own page.
What first-timers should know
- It is a two-state lake. Know which state you are in for boating rules and your fishing license.
- Get your boater card first. Missouri's card law widens on January 1, 2027, and renters can buy a temporary card.
- The level moves. Table Rock is a flood control lake, so check the Corps for the level after heavy rain.
- Book ahead. The chamber recommends booking early for holidays and busy seasons.
Table Rock Lake Family Activities
- Beaches and camping. Campbell Point has a large sandy beach and a playground, and the Corps parks have day-use areas.
- The visitor center. The Dewey Short Visitor Center has a Junior Ranger booklet and interactive exhibits, according to the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce and Recreation.gov.
- The hatchery. The Shepherd of the Hills hatchery has an aquarium and trails.
- A cruise. The Showboat and the catamaran take families on the water.
- Trails. The Lakeshore Trail is paved and passes the dam area.
- Life jackets. Missouri requires children under 7 to wear one on a boat, and Arkansas requires children 12 and younger to wear one.
What Should You Bring to Table Rock Lake?
- Life jackets for everyone. Missouri requires one for each person aboard, and children under 7 must wear one whenever they are on a boat.
- Life jackets in Arkansas waters. Arkansas requires a wearable Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard, and children 12 and younger must wear one at all times except in the enclosed cabin areas the handbook lists.
- Your boater safety card if you will run a motorized boat or sailboat over 12 feet or a personal watercraft and were born after January 1, 1984. Born on or after January 1, 2006, you need it on all Missouri waters starting January 1, 2027.
- Proof of your boating education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1986 and will run any motorboat or PWC.
- A Missouri fishing permit if you plan to fish the Missouri part of the lake and are not exempt. Residents 65 and older are exempt.
- An Arkansas fishing license if you are 16 or older and plan to fish.
- The border lakes license if you are a resident of one state and want to fish the other state's part of the lake.
- Registration and safety gear for your own boat. KOAM's summary of the Water Patrol brochure lists a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person, a throwable device on boats 16 feet or longer, a fire extinguisher, navigation lights from sunset to sunrise and a sound device on boats 16 to 40 feet. Arkansas also asks for the Certificate of Number aboard.
- Clean, drain and dry your boat. Pull the drain plugs at the ramp and let the water drain before you move between lakes.
- A way to check the lake level. The box in the boating guide links to the Corps.
- A chart or navigation app. We found no published hazard list.
- Sun protection and water. Services are limited in some coves, so bring what you need.
Local Knowledge: The Rock, the Bridge and the Cold Water Below
The rock the lake is named for
Wikipedia says the lake takes its name from a table-like rock formation at the community of Table Rock, Missouri, about 1.5 miles downstream from the dam site. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas calls it a well-known tourist landmark in the early 1900s.
The old bridge under the lake
A local history page about Kimberling City says a bridge was built over the White River there in 1927, replacing earlier ferry service, and that Table Rock Dam's lake later covered it, so the old bridge lies underwater while a newer, higher bridge carries traffic. Wikipedia says Kimberling City is named for the Kimberling family, who operated a nearby ferry.
Lake Taneycomo and the trout
The Powersite Dam formed Lake Taneycomo in 1913, according to Wikipedia, and the lake was warm water until Table Rock Dam began releasing cold water in the late 1950s. Wikipedia says the shallow water near Table Rock Dam averages about 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the current strengthens when the dam generates power. The cold water shifted tourism toward Branson and made the lake a trout fishery.
Spoonbill season
MDC's paddlefish season runs March 15 through April 30, with a limit of two a day. MDC says the fish gather in the upper James River Arm above Cape Fair, and early in the season most are caught between Virgin Bluff and Point 15. Anglers who catch a paddlefish with a metal jaw band are asked to report it to MDC.
A lake with a flood pool
The lake can rise well above its normal level when the Corps stores floodwater. Wikipedia lists the top of the flood pool at 931 feet and the top of the dam at 947 feet, and the record crest was 935.47 feet in April 2011.
Questions People Ask About Table Rock Lake
Is Table Rock Lake in Missouri or Arkansas?
Both, but most of it is in Missouri. The dam is in Missouri about eight miles southwest of Branson, and the lake reaches south into Arkansas to Beaver Dam. Missouri rules apply on the Missouri part and Arkansas rules on the Arkansas part.
How big and how deep is Table Rock Lake?
The Corps gives 43,100 acres and 745 miles of shoreline at normal pool, and a 2020 USGS survey gives about 42,400 acres and 715 miles of shoreline at 915 feet. Wikipedia gives a maximum depth of 220 feet. At the top of the flood pool the lake covers about 52,300 acres.
Why is it called Table Rock Lake?
It is named for a table-like rock formation at the community of Table Rock, Missouri, about 1.5 miles downstream from the dam site, according to Wikipedia. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas calls it a well-known tourist landmark in the early 1900s.
Do I need a boater safety card to run or rent a boat on Table Rock Lake?
In Missouri, operators born after January 1, 1984 must carry an approved boater safety card on Missouri lakes, and anyone born on or after January 1, 2006 will need one on all Missouri waters starting January 1, 2027, according to the Water Patrol. Missouri accepts cards from other states, and renters can buy a one-time temporary card. Arkansas requires a course for anyone born on or after January 1, 1986.
Which fishing license do I need on Table Rock Lake?
Use a Missouri permit on the Missouri part and an Arkansas license on the Arkansas part. A Missouri or Arkansas resident can buy a White River Border Lakes license (listed at $10 a year, as of October 2026) to fish both states' waters of Table Rock, with an exception for the trout waters upstream of the Highway 62 bridge in Arkansas. Nonresidents of both states need the license for the side they fish.
What is the spotted bass limit on Table Rock Lake?
Spotted bass must be at least 12 inches on the Missouri part of the lake since April 30, 2026, while largemouth and smallmouth bass must still be at least 15 inches. The daily limit is 6 black bass in combination, with 12 in possession, according to MDC.
When is paddlefish season on Table Rock Lake?
MDC allows paddlefish harvest from March 15 through April 30, with a limit of two per day and a 34 inch minimum length measured from the eye to the fork of the tail.
Where can I launch a boat on Table Rock Lake?
Table Rock State Park has a ramp near its picnic shelter, and Corps parks such as Campbell Point and Cricket Creek have ramps and marinas. The Corps' project page lists many more, so confirm a park's ramp before you tow there.
What is the difference between Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo?
Table Rock is the large reservoir above the dam, and Lake Taneycomo is the long, narrow lake below it. Taneycomo was formed by Powersite Dam in 1913 and became a cold trout fishery after Table Rock Dam began releasing cold water, according to Wikipedia.
What is the normal water level of Table Rock Lake?
Normal pool is 915 feet above sea level, and the top of the flood control pool is 931 feet, per Wikipedia. The Corps can hold the lake above normal pool in a flood and release the water afterward, so check the Corps' reading before you go.
Table Rock Lake Gifts & Apparel
Lake Life Designs makes lake-specific products for people who love this lake. Our Table Rock Lake collection has hoodies, tees, long sleeve tees, a performance long sleeve shirt, a racerback tank, a trucker hat, a canvas print and a ceramic ornament. Looking for a gift for someone who loves the lake? See our guide to Table Rock Lake gifts.
Details last verified October 2026. Parks, ramps, rules and the lake itself change with the season, so check the linked official pages before you go.
Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Table Rock Lake, USGS, Table Rock Lake bathymetric survey, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Table Rock Dam and Lake, Wikipedia, Table Rock Lake, Wikipedia, Lake Taneycomo, Wikipedia, Branson, Wikipedia, Kimberling City, MSHP Water Patrol, boater education FAQ, MSHP Water Patrol, life jackets, Boat-Ed, Missouri course, KOAM, Missouri paperwork and equipment, MDC, Table Rock fishing prospects, MDC, Table Rock prospect report, MDC, Table Rock special regulations, MDC, new spotted bass regulation, MDC, fishing permits, MDC, fishing seasons by species, AGFC, White River Border Lakes agreement, AGFC, zebra mussel scare at Table Rock, Missouri State Parks, Table Rock State Park boating, Recreation.gov, Campbell Point, Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas.com, Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City bridges history page, KAIT, zebra mussel warning 2025, Corps Lakes, Table Rock project page, Table Rock Lake Chamber, Dewey Short Visitor Center