Tent camping in Oklahoma, is the best way to get back to nature as the Campgrounds in Oklahoma’s parks have stunning scenery, and trails suitable for campers of all skill levels. Camping in Oklahoma is usual and the costs to visit them, accessing modern comforts like cabins, lodges, and yurts, and recreational activities like fishing, horse riding, biking, hiking, etc are much lower than expected. So, without making any delay, pack your tent, grab a compass., find your way to a unique Oklahoma camping experience, and enjoy private cabins or open fields beneath the stars!
What is the most popular campground in Oklahoma?
Chickasaw National Recreation area is the most famous and finest camping spot in Oklahoma. It is situated in the lower central region of sulfur, Oklahoma. The large Arbuckle’s lake, Veterans Lake, and Rock Creek Lake are the best spots in the area that offers the best bass fishing, camping, and swimming experience in the state.
Where can you camp for free in Oklahoma?
If you are moving to Oklahoma City or have newly shifted to the state and craving to explore outdoor adventures, you must try camping in Oklahoma. While some camping spots, charges a price per person, there are still some beautiful camping spots that offer free spot camping experience in the Oklahoma, which are:
- Black Kettle Campground
- Felt Picnic Area
- Lake Carl Blackwell
- American Horse Lake
- Blue River Campground
- Fred’s Fish Camp
- Verdigris River
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10 Great Places to Camp in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has many public and private places for camping for beginners as well as accomplished campers. Most of them provide playgrounds, picnic spots, showers, riverside views, grill boxes, and more. So, If you are planning to have a camping experience in Oklahoma City, read our top 10 best camping places in Oklahoma below.
1. Robbers Cave State Park – Best for Camping and Picnicking
Camping in Oklahoma State Parks, especially Robbers Cave State Park, can be a thrilling experience. It is near the Sans Bois Mountains and is popular among history buffs, rappellers, and equestrians. This sandstone cave was a refuge for robbers Jesse James and Belle Starr. Robbers Cave has hiking and horseback-riding trails and climbing cliffs. Lake Carlton and Lake Wayne Wallace offer fishing and swimming, and the park has 250 acres of ATV tracks. It also has an amphitheater, group picnic shelters, and two indoor community rooms.
Location: 4628 NW 1027th Ave, Wilburton, OK 74578, United States
Phone: +1 918-465-2562
How much does it cost to get into Robbers Cave?
The ticket cost to Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma are as follows:
- Tent sites: $14 per tent
- Pool entry: $5 per individual
- Belle Starr express train: $4 per person; Children below age 3 are free
- ATV riding area entrance charges: $20 per ATV per day
Do you have to pay to get into Robbers Cave?
To get into Robbers Cave State Park you have to pay:
- Adults: $16
- Children aged 6-12: $8
- Children aged 1-5: $4
2. Beavers Bend State Park – Best for Hiking
Beavers Bend State Park is close to Broken Bow Lake and the meandering Lower Mountain Fork River and has some of the best camping in Oklahoma to offer. This state park is a treasure for nature enthusiasts, with its towering trees, pristine rivers, and rocky terrain. Activities in Beavers Bend State Park include walking trails, biking trails, boating, fishing, water skiing, nature center programs, river float tours, canoeing, and horseback riding, to name just a few.
Location: 4350 S, OK-259A, Broken Bow, OK 74728, United States
Phone: +1 580-494-6300
How much does it cost to rent a cabin at Beavers Bend?
The cost of renting a cabin at Beavers Bend State Park is:
- Number of rental cabins available: 1235
- Lowest cost: $121
- Highest cost: $128
Can you drive through Beavers Bend State Park?
You can drive through Beavers Bend State Park and see the stunning pine trees, its foliage sounds, and see-through water.
3. Greenleaf State Park – Best for Camping and Family Recreations
Greenleaf State Park is a beautiful destination for the whole family. It is hidden in the rolling hills of eastern Oklahoma. You may find two multi-use centers, a playground, a picnic area, a nature hut, a boat ramp, and a comfort station with hot showers in Greenleaf State Park. A miniature golf course, lake bathing beach, playground, and children’s programs will engage the kids, while parents may enjoy hiking trails and free pontoon boat trips. Afterward, you can gather the family around a bonfire after a day of exploring. Eagle’s Nest, Lakeview, Trailhead Point, and Gobbler Ridge are great campsites present in Greenleaf State Park.
Location: 12022 Greenleaf Rd, Braggs, OK 74423, United States
Phone: +1 918-487-5196
Can you swim in Greenleaf Lake?
Greenleaf State Park has Greenleaf Lake within it, which is a recreational spot in the park. It is one of the best lakes in Oklahoma that offers visitors a suitable chance for swimming, fishing, and boating.
What is the closest town to Greenleaf State Park?
Greenleaf state park is located in Muskogee county, which is closest to Braggs, Oklahoma, United States.
Are dogs allowed at Greenleaf State Park?
Dogs or any pets are allowed at Greenleaf State Park with a slight nightly deposit per cabin. But they should be tied up when released outside.
4. Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve – Best for Wildlife Watching
Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve has the darkest midnight skies on publicly accessible territory in the US. Black Mesa State Park is perfect for adventurous campers. Those who want to view Oklahoma’s most stunning scenery should visit Black Mesa State Park. There are 25 tent sites, 29 RV sites with water and electric hookups, picnic areas, boat ramps, trout fishing in season, a playground, restrooms with showers, and a group camp with 12 bunkhouses. All of these activities will provide a unique Oklahoma camping experience!
Location: OK-325, Kenton, OK 73946, United States
Phone: +1 580-665-8396
Are there bears at Black Mesa?
The Black Mesa State Park is home to some mammals from which Black Bear is one of them. They are at times spotted while hiking around the park.
Are dogs allowed at Black Mesa State Park?
Dogs are allowed in the Black Mesa State Park but they must be tied up so that they won’t disturb other visitors in the park.
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5. Chickasaw National Recreation Area – Best for Swimming
Chickasaw National Recreation Area is a camping paradise with hiking, swimming, bicycling, and more. Creeks pour over travertine terraces to create spring-fed swimming holes and Black Mesa State Parkwaterfalls throughout the park. Three campgrounds, The Point, Guy Sandy, and Buckhorn, offer electric and water connections and primitive tent sites in the park. To visit Chickasaw National Recreation Area, you need not pay any money. It is a great place for you if you are searching for free camping in Oklahoma. Water-based activities like boating, canoeing, and fishing can be enjoyed year-round, although are especially frequent in the summer months.
Location: 901 W 1st St, Sulphur, OK 73086, United States
Phone: +1 580-622-7234
Is Chickasaw National Recreation Area free?
Entry to Chickasaw National Recreation Area is absolutely free of cost. Entry passes are not needed to enter the area.
How large is the Chickasaw National Recreation Area?
The Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma is spread over an area of 9899 acres in the Arbuckle foothills near Sulfur, Murray county of the south-central Oklahoma region.
6. Boiling Springs State Park – Best for Camping and Hiking
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the Boiling Springs park from the natural environment. Its sandy-bottom springs appear to boil due to subsurface water inrush that isn’t boiling. This grassland sanctuary near Woodward offers camping, trekking, and wildlife-watching. The park’s forests, lakes, and streams stand out in semi-arid northwestern Oklahoma. The springs give hiking and birdwatching chances in a dry area. Boiling Springs offers fishing and swimming.
Location: 207745 Boiling, The Springs Rd, Woodward, OK 73801, United States
Phone: +1 580-256-7664
How much does it cost to get into Boiling Springs State Park?
The entry costs to get into Boiling Springs National Park are:
- Swimmer: $4
- Non-swimmer: $1
- Children of age 2 and below: Free
What restaurants are near Boiling Springs State Park?
Restaurants present near Boiling Springs State Park are:
- Diarti
- Polly Anna Cafe
- Ramiro’s Mexican Restaurant
- AI’s Steakhouse
- Hector Y Amigo’s
- Wagg’s Bar-B-Q
- Chase’s BBQ
- Longshots Bar and Grill
- Cafe Eden
7. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – Best for Camping and Hiking
Time and nature have taken their toll on the Wichita Mountains. About 60,000 acres of mixed grass prairie, old granite mountains, and freshwater lakes and streams are protected in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for the benefit of wildlife and the American people. Fishing, bird watching, wildlife photography, hiking, camping, and kayaking are just some of the wildlife-dependent activities that may be enjoyed in the Wichita Mountains, which are perhaps best known for its free-roaming herds of bison, longhorn, and Rocky Mountain elk.
Location: 32 Refuge Headquarters Road, Indiahoma, OK 73552, United States
Phone: +1 580-429-3222
How many bison are in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge?
Currently, there are approximately 650 bison present in Wichita Mountains along with longhorn cattle, bird species, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.
Are the Wichita Mountains closed?
Wichita Mountains are open daily from Mon- Fri, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. It’s also open during weekends in the summer, spring, and autumn.
8. Illinois River – Best for Family Swimming
The Illinois River is a 273-mile-long Mississippi tributary. Native Americans and early French traders used the river to connect the Great Lakes and Mississippi. Illinois river is great for beginners and specialists since it offers a choice of distances and watercraft. Rent a canoe, raft, or kayak and enjoy the river’s scenery, banks, and fishing. After a day of river exploration, relax on a hammock at your campsite. Float trip outfitters offer tent and RV camping along the picturesque river.
Location: Southwest Oregon
Phone: +1 (309) 647-7030
How much does it cost to float down the Illinois River?
The cost to float down the Illinois river, whether it’s just tubing, a late-night river trip, or a shorter trip, is only $22 per individual.
Is alcohol allowed on the Illinois River in Oklahoma?
Alcohol has been banned in the public places of the Illinois river, however, it is partially allowed in some areas of the Illinois river.
Can you float the Illinois River in Oklahoma?
The Illinois river, Tahlequah is a beautiful destination for float tripping and camping. A float trip is the only way to experience the serene and soothing view of the riverside.
9. Sequoyah State Park & Fort Gibson Lake – Best for Fishing and Camping
To those who enjoy being near water and in the great outdoors, Sequoyah State Park is paradise. Fort Gibson Lake has almost 19,000 acres of water and 225 miles of shoreline, making it a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts and sunbathers. Sequoyah State Park and Fort Gibson lake have black bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and panfish. Recreational opportunities for guests include walking trails, picnic areas, guided horseback rides, nature center programs, wildlife viewing, golf, fishing, and camping.
Location: 17131 Park 10, Hulbert, OK 74441, United States
Phone: +1 918-772-2046
Is there a bar at Sequoyah State Park?
The Lodge is the lakeside bar situated at the shoreline of Fort Gibson Lake at Sequoyah State park.
Does Sequoyah State Park have showers?
Sequoyah State park has a hot shower facility along with restrooms with 24-hour running water, and an RV dump station at the campgrounds.
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10. Ouachita National Forest – Best for Fishing
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail spans 223 miles between Oklahoma and Arkansas along the Ouachita Mountains. The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail winds its way up, down, and along the slopes of a mountain through a forest of hardwoods and pines, emerging at various points to reveal breathtaking panoramas of the lake below. There’s a wide variety of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the Ouachita National Forest, including camping, nature photography, riding off-road vehicles, hiking, and hunting.
Location: Hot Springs, AR 71902, United States
Phone: +1 501-321-5202
Are there bears in Ouachita National Forest?
There are bears in the Ouachita National Forest, therefore, the forest authorities request visitors to keep food and garbage inside their vehicles and out of sight from skunks and bears, as it attracts them.
Can you camp in Ouachita National Forest?
Campings and cabins are allowed anywhere at Ouachita national forest site.
Best camping in Oklahoma FAQ’s
What is the nicest campground in the United States?
Hidden Valley Campground located at Joshua tree National park, California is the nicest campground in the United States. It places campers in the middle of the park so that they can enjoy the mesmerizing desert landscape, along with climbing cliffs and hiking.
Can you camp on public land in Oklahoma?
You can camp on those public lands that are handled by the Oklahoma department of wildlife conservation. Although there are very few land areas that allow dispersed camping, most areas that allow fishing also allow camping near rivers and lakesides.
Conclusion
When it comes to camping in the United States, few places can compare to those in Oklahoma. There is a wide variety of outdoor pursuits available in the state’s parks, from fishing and horseback riding to mountain biking and hiking, and the campgrounds in the parks boast breathtaking scenery, pathways for campers of varying skill levels, and modern comforts like cabins, lodges, and yurts.
Many people ask, does it snow in Oklahoma? Well, the winters are cold and snowy, lasting from around the middle of October to around the middle of April. Are you up for a completely out-of-the-ordinary experience? Start your trip today by renting an RV from Cruise America in Oklahoma.
Want to learn more about the highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma? Click on the link and read on!
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