No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Spillway Recreation Area continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 366 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 352 open for online reservation · 7 reserved · 6 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative) · 1 closed.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 205 fall on weekdays and 147 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027December holds the most room. 62 of 62 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 day-use units| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 2 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 2 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 2 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 2 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: 2 day-use units are available for all three dates. Christmas: 2 day-use units are available for both dates. New Year: 2 day-use units are available for both dates.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| S04 | 177 |
| S06 | 175 |
The 2 day-use units with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable date is Sep 22; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
All 2 day-use units with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| S04 | 177 | 160 dates | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4 +165 more |
| S06 | 175 | 159 dates | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +163 more |
About Spillway Recreation Area
Overview
The Spillway Recreation Area's iconic outllet structure has delighted visitors to Wappapello Lake since 1937. Feeding the St. Francis River, the spillway banks are a favorite location for fisherman. A one lane boat ramp provides river access, the lower boat ramp area is also an ideal location for kayakers with easy bank access for launching. 11 picnic areas and 2 accessible picnic shelters are available for use year round. Each shelter has a large capacity grill, electricity, water fountains and water hydrants available, Shelter 4 has a large wood burning fireplace in the covered area. A 6 stall, accessible restroom is centrally located within the recreation area.
A sand volleyball court, large playground, horseshoe pits, cornhole boards and a Lake View Trailhead offer recreational opportunities for all ages and interests.
Click here to take a virtual tour of the facilities at Wappapello Lake!
Recreation
Boating and fishing are the most popular activities with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass and channel catfish, among other species.
Pine Ridge Natural Trail, a 3/4-mile double loop, starts at the Spillway Recreation Area and provides an excellent way to explore the beautiful woodlands.
Facilities
This day use area includes two large picnic shelters, 8 picnic sites, a volleyball court, playground, horseshoe pits and bank fishing.
Natural Features
Wappapello Lake has a seemingly endless string of secluded coves hugged by a winding, wooded shoreline. The public recreation area spans 45,000 acres in the southeastern Ozark foothills.
Nearby Attractions
The extensive 33-mile Ozark Trail, starts just south of Sam A. Baker State Park and winds along the west side of the St. Francis River and Wappapello Lake.
Getting there
From St. Louis, Missouri: Take I-55 South to US Highway 67 South to State Highway D (located just South of Greenville, Missouri). Take State Highway D south for 20 miles to State Highway T. Cross Wappapello Dam and take the first left onto a paved road and watch for signs. From Poplar Bluff, Missouri: Take US Highway 60 East to State Highway T North. Go North on State Highway T for 22 miles and watch for signs.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Spillway Recreation Area?
Reservations for Spillway Recreation Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 352 of 366 tracked reservation dates are open (96.2%), though availability can change. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Which month has the most availability at Spillway Recreation Area?
December 2026, with 62 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 62.
When is the next open date at Spillway Recreation Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at Spillway Recreation Area.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.