Branson · Table Rock Lake · Corps of Engineers swim beach
Moonshine Beach
Spend a summer day on the sandy swim beach at the north end of Table Rock Dam, with a boat ramp, picnic shelter and Table Rock Lake views, for $5 a vehicle.
Opens the Moonshine Beach page on recreation.gov. The $5 day-use fee is paid at a card-only machine at the gate.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Swim beach & boat ramp
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use area
Admission
$5 per vehicle
Card only; America the Beautiful pass accepted
Hours
9 am–8 pm in season
Swim beach closed for the season now
Time needed
2 to 3 hours
Tripadvisor estimate
Parking
Beach and ramp lots
No trailers in the beach lot; no pets
Table Rock Lake
745 mi
of shoreline on a 43,100-acre lake
What you’ll see
Sand, a boat ramp and the dam next door
Moonshine Beach is a Corps of Engineers day-use area on Highway 165 at the north end of Table Rock Dam, with a sandy swim beach, a boat ramp, picnic tables and a reservable group shelter.
Photo: Agricola44 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Start here
The swim beach
The sandy beach on Table Rock Lake is the main reason people come. It’s open 9 am to 8 pm during the summer season, with restrooms, showers and life jacket loaner stations. The swim beach is closed for the season now, so plan for next summer.
RV tip: the beach lot fills early on hot summer weekends, so arrive in the morning, and carry a card; the fee machines don’t take cash.
More to see
- Boat ramp and courtesy dockBoaters use a separate launch lane and lot with its own fee machine, so launch traffic stays apart from beach parking.
- Group pavilionAn electric group shelter with picnic tables can be reserved on recreation.gov for $100 plus the $5 vehicle fee.
- Dewey Short Visitor CenterThe Corps visitor center by the dam has exhibits and a film about building Table Rock Dam. Its 2026 season ends November 28.
- Table Rock Lakeshore TrailA paved, easy trail links the visitor center with Table Rock State Park along the lake.
Why go
A real sand beach, a few minutes from camp
Table Rock Lake was formed by Table Rock Dam on the White River, and the Corps of Engineers runs its public parks, ramps and beaches. Moonshine’s beach is much bigger than the small swimming areas at the lake’s campgrounds, which makes it the area’s go-to summer swim spot.
For RVers it’s a cheap summer afternoon. The fee is $5 per vehicle, and America the Beautiful, Senior and Access pass holders don’t pay the day-use fee; just display your pass. The Embers is about 5 minutes away, and Table Rock State Park is just across the dam.
High water closes the beach every few years. In 2025 it stayed closed for weeks and reopened on July 14, so check the Corps’ status page before you go.
Photo: Drew de F Fawkes on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Why it made our list
- A sandy swim beach on Table Rock Lake
- Only $5 per vehicle
- America the Beautiful passes honored
- Boat ramp, dock and group shelter
- Next to Table Rock Dam and the visitor center
For RVers
Taking the rig to Moonshine Beach
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Leave the trailer at camp
Trailers, UTVs and golf carts aren’t allowed in the beach area, and you can’t park in the boat-ramp lot to reach the beach. Come in the tow vehicle.
Bring a card or your pass
The $5 fee is paid at automated machines that take credit or debit cards only. America the Beautiful pass holders display the pass on the dashboard instead.
No pets at the beach
Pets aren’t allowed at Moonshine Beach. Leave dogs at your RV park; Table Rock State Park allows leashed pets on its trails.
Check lake levels first
High lake levels can flood the beach. The Corps posts open and closed areas on its Table Rock status page, and recreation.gov shows current alerts.
What visitors say about Moonshine Beach
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 28, 2026.
A very popular sandy swimming beach along the shores of Table Rock Lake.
Recreation.gov · recreation.gov
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
SwimmingThe lakePicnic tables
Google’s review topics point to swimming (161 reviews), the lake itself (104) and the picnic tables (42). Checked October 28, 2026.
Day-use fees
Fees from recreation.gov and the Corps’ Table Rock Lake FAQ, checked October 28, 2026. The shelter fee is per day, plus $5 for each vehicle.
Good to know
Per vehicle$5 card only
Corps annual pass$40 day use, all year
Group shelter$100 plus $5 a vehicle
Free withAmerica the BeautifulSeniorAccess
Fees from recreation.gov and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, checked October 28, 2026. Pass holders display the pass on the dashboard.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Moonshine Beach
- Address3778 Historic Hwy. 165, Branson, MO 65616
- Hours9 am–8 pm in season
Swim beach closed for the season now - Phone(417) 213-4810
- Fees$5 per vehicle at a card-only machine; America the Beautiful passes accepted. Recreation.gov
- Getting thereFrom Branson, take Highway 165 south toward Table Rock Dam. The entrance is on the north side of the dam.
- ParkingSeparate beach and boat-ramp lots. No trailers in the beach area, and no parking in the ramp lot for the beach.
The swim beach is closed for the season. Check the recreation.gov alerts and the Corps’ Table Rock status page for the current beach and ramp status before you go.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Moonshine Beach
The Embers is the closest park we’ve written up; Table Rock State Park’s campground is just across the dam.
The Embers Glamping & RV Resort
50 big full-hookup sites near Table Rock Dam, with pull-thrus to 90 ft and a heated pool.
Branson View RV Park
50 full-hookup sites with hilltop views on MO-265; fewer sites for rigs over about 35 ft.
Table Rock State Park Campground
Two lakeside state park campgrounds by the dam, with full hookups from $33 and a marina.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Swim beach in season: 9 am–8 pm
Ready for a beach day?
Bring a card or your America the Beautiful pass, come early on summer weekends, and leave the trailer and the dog at camp.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Agricola44 (Table Rock Dam; CC BY-SA 4.0) and Drew de F Fawkes (sunset on Table Rock Lake; CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: HaveFunLetsTravel on YouTube (Why Moonshine Beach is Perfect for Families). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Moonshine Beach unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the Corps and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Moonshine Beach at recreation.gov or (417) 213-4810. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.