Camping

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15 Best Camping Spots in Oklahoma (With Fun Outdoor Activities)

Explore the top 15 camping spots in Oklahoma for a mix of fun outdoor activities. Perfect guide for travelers seeking tent or RV camping with family-friendly options.

Tobi Miles
July 11, 2022
15 Best Camping Spots in Oklahoma (With Fun Outdoor Activities)

Camping is a beautiful opportunity to spend time with loved ones and friends while enjoying nature's stunning splendor. It's a great way to unwind and focus. Enjoying time in nature brings with it a distinct sense of peace.

Whether you want large swarms of people with ample amenities or a more secluded rustic type camping experience, Oklahoma is a great place to go. There are parks for tent only, as well as ones with full RV hookups. Also, some of the parks have kid-oriented campgrounds so the whole family can enjoy the experience.

There are many options available when looking for a good camping location in Oklahoma.

1. Mingo RV Park

Credit: Mingo RV Park

Just outside of bustling Tulsa, Mingo RV Park is a fantastic option for people who wish to enjoy RV camping while remaining close to the city.

Visit Cain's Ballroom, the Tulsa Zoo, the Oklahoma Aquarium, and the Philbrook Museum with the kids. Although there is a ton to see nearby Mingo RV Park, the campground also has some excellent amenities.

There are roomy full hookup sites with cable TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, vending machines, and a recreation area featuring a pool table.

A dog park for your four-legged family members, a basketball court, a playground, and horseshoe pits are also available at the campground.

2. Acorn Campground

Credit: Brad Prudhon / Flickr

Acorn Campground at Beaver's Bend State Park is ideal for tent and RV camping and offers rental cabins as well. This campground is a true outdoor enthusiast's dream and is situated in the hilly area of southeast Oklahoma.

It's near the beaches of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River. Visitors can engage in a variety of group activities, including water sports like canoeing, water skiing, fishing, and boating. Additionally, Broken Bow Lake offers a number of excellent scuba diving caves.

For some breathtaking panoramas, wander alongside the Mountain Fork River. Trails surround the park that is perfect for hiking and biking. For the more laid-back days, play a round of golf at the nearby Cedar Creek Golf Course.

3. Hawthorn Bluff Campground

Credit: Granger Meador / Flickr

Located on Oologah Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, Hawthorn Bluff Campground includes an amphitheater and a gazebo. The amphitheater will accommodate up to 100 guests if you'd like to have a unique outdoor event.

The options for sailing, fishing, and hunting will appeal to sportsmen. Deer, turkey, ducks, and other species can all find habitat in the old growth trees that line the banks of the Verdigris River.

The strong winds on the lake and large fishing grounds will be appreciated by sailors. Black bass, crappie, and walleye are just a few of the many species found in the lake.

Many of the campsites provide electric hookups as well as functional restrooms and public showers. The playground and the informative nature trail are both enjoyable activities for adolescents.

Related Read: 16 Best Hiking Trails in Oklahoma

4. Sequoyah State Park

Credit: SwellMap / Flickr

Along the banks of Fort Gibson Lake in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, is where you'll find this breathtaking natural splendor.

Due to the park's proximity to acres of water bodies, it is a refuge for those who enjoy the water activities. Both traditional camping and RV camping are permitted in these recreational areas.

In the park, there are multiple public hiking paths that extend for miles. Various species of birds and animals are kept at the Three Forks Nature Center. This is where a feeding program is conducted every day.

The Sequoyah Resort, the largest lodge in the park, has more than 100 rooms. The amenities include a volleyball court, bunkhouse, cottages, tennis courts, swimming pool, and restaurant.

There are many other recreational activities available, such as hiking, golfing, horseback riding, and fishing.

5. Turner Falls Park

Credit: Alex Diaz / Flickr

A vacation destination that's suitable for families is found in Davis, Oklahoma. The tallest waterfalls in Oklahoma are found in Turner Falls Park on Honey Creek in the Arbuckle Mountains.

Collings Castle is conveniently situated inside the park and is open for tours for visitors as well. For those looking for outdoor pursuits, the park offers both primitive camping and RV hookups.

Trout fishing, swimming in the park's natural pools, spelunking, and hiking along the nature paths are all activities that people can enjoy. The falls, which flow into two open swimming areas, is the park's principal feature.

A walk-in castle and wondrous caves are two characteristics of Turner Falls Park's geology. The park offers its tourists screened shelters and exclusive executive cabins.

6. Black Mesa State Park

Credit: Andrew Fryhover / Flickr

Black Mesa State Park is the ideal location to see stunning views of the stars because it is among the darkest nighttime skies.

If you want to see more than one state while camping, here is the spot to do it. This is because the park is directly along the tri-state boundary of New Mexico, Colorado, and Oklahoma.

Black Mesa State Park is an excellent choice if you want to camp in a peaceful and beautiful setting.

The famous Black Black Mesa plateau, which was coated in layers of black lava rock following a volcanic eruption, is located in the Black Mesa Nature Preserve. The location is only 15 miles from the park.

Although it is not permitted to camp inside the nature reserve, RV spaces are available for reservation at the campground close to Lake Carl Etling.

A dump station, pull-through sites, picnic spaces, boat ramps, toilets with showers, and water and electricity hookups are all available here. Furthermore, Wi-Fi is provided.

Related Read: 40 BEST Things To Do in Tulsa, OK

7. Twin Fountains RV Park

Credit: Wally Hurst / Flickr

This Oklahoma City Park offers a variety of attractions for a fun time with the family. Twins Fountains RV Park is a great location, particularly for families seeking the pinnacle of RV travel.

The park also offers comfortably paved roadways for family nature hikes and outdoor pathways. Families may swim in the pool or enjoy the Oklahoma sun at Twin Fountains RV Park, which also has a splash pad.

The park offers a miniature golf course for a reasonable price. The park is equipped with a clubhouse that includes a gift shop and a convenience store.

Swimming, fishing in the ponds, and traditional camping are all enjoyable things to do at Twin Fountains RV Park. There is a bar and grill-style restaurant at the Twin Fountains RV Park where visitors can eat and drink whatever they choose.

Consider taking advantage of the nightlife and clubs throughout the park. You may also explore nearby sites, including The Science Museum and the Oklahoma City Zoo, using the free limo rides offered.

8. Beavers Bend State Park

Credit: Michael Lanphier / Flickr

Beavers Bend State Park is a fantastic location for RV camping since it is situated on the banks of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River. This park's beautiful beauty can be seen in the rugged southeast region of Oklahoma.

At Beavers Bend, there are several activities available, including hiking, golfing, scuba diving, fishing, and swimming. On-site amenities include a grocery store, café, amphitheater, gift shop, and the Forest Heritage Center.

They provide RV sites, tent camping, and cabins. RV hookups with electricity and water are available in the Cypress and Fern campgrounds. Both of them provide 30 and 50-amp electrical connectors.

RV campers can also use the available dump station. The Beavers Bend Depot, where visitors can take guided equestrian tours or ride the train along the Riverbend.

9. Boiling Springs State Park

Credit: sf-dvs / Flickr

Boiling Springs State Park, which spans acres of land and includes a small lake, is situated in Woodward, Oklahoma. It features a forest with a variety of plants and trees.

This park, one of the first state parks created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is named after a naturally boiling spring.

The state park has roomy cottages next to the lake that is equipped with kitchenettes, sleeping lounges, air conditioners, and twin-sized beds. Pets are welcome in the park's cabins for a modest fee.

An observation deck also offers a great view of the hot springs. RV and tent campers can stay in campgrounds at Boiling Springs State Park. The park also provides excellent locations for group picnics, camping, and team-building activities.

In the park, there are hiking routes that travelers may use to take nature hikes and enjoy the views of the lake. Fun activities available at Boiling Springs State Park include golfing, fishing and wildlife observation.

10. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

Credit: AustinMini 1275 / Flickr

This Yogi Bear-themed lodge and campground located on Lake Eufaula is ideal for families with children. Rental options include cottages and RV sites. Flat-screen TVs and kitchens are standard in the cabins. Many cabins also feature some lovely lake views.

Mealtime is convenient thanks to an on-site restaurant and snack bar. Additionally, there are charcoal grills, fire pits, and picnic tables. Ice and firewood are sold in the park, and Wi-Fi is provided for free.

The outdoor theater, volleyball, shuffleboard, and mini-golf courses are perfect for families. The fishing pier, beaches, and rental paddleboards, pontoon boats, and canoes round out the enjoyment.

The playground, pool, and water park will be a hit with kids. They can ride a firetruck, enjoy the waterslides, or have their photo taken with "Yogi & Boo Boo" at the lodge.

11. Lake Murray State Park

Credit: Paul Roberts / Flickr

The biggest state park in Oklahoma, Lake Murray State Park, offers both a tranquil weekend and an action-packed escape. Ardmore is home to one of the most well-liked RV camping areas in the state.

There are nine RV-friendly campgrounds available in Lake Murray, each with their own benefits. The majority of them provide conventional hookups, toilets, RV dump stations, and stunning lake views.

Access to trails, beaches, playgrounds, and numerous fishing piers is made simple at for most of the campgrounds. More than 12,000 acres of land make up the state park, with Lake Murray waters covering nearly half of it.

Three distinct campgrounds each have cottages and a golf course. Tennis, golf, horseback riding, sailing at Lake Murray, and ATV riding are some of the park's additional outdoor recreation activities.

The Lake Murray Lodge has 32 roomy accommodations as well as a restaurant close to the water. Rental options include conventional cabins, floating cabins, ballrooms, and conference spaces. An airstrip and a field for Radio Controlled aircrafts are also located in Lake Murray State Park.

Related Read: 30 BEST Restaurants in Tulsa, Oklahoma

12. Robbers Cave State Park

Credit: Guy g. Rubsamen / Flickr

Robbers Cave State Park, located in Southeast Oklahoma's San Bois Mountains, served as the James-Young Gang's base of operations.

There are 40 modernized and semi-modern sites with restrooms and dump stations spread among the park's two campgrounds.

The park's more than 8,000 acres of forested land and three lakes provide a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities. Don't overlook exploring the cave where outlaws once hid.

There are seventeen campsites at Whispering Pines Campground. Twelve sites offer complete hookups with water, sewage, and electricity, while the remaining five just have water and electricity.

The Coon Ridge Trail is conveniently accessible for hiking from this campground, which is next to a picnic pavilion.

There are 23 camping spots available at Old Circle Campground, which is located immediately past Whispering Pines. Eight of these have modern hookups, and the others have semi-modern hookups.

Electricity will be either 30 or 50 amps, depending on the location. The Lake Carlton Nature Center, as well as the Gift Shop, are nearby Old Circle.

While you're staying at Robbers Cave, there are plenty of enjoyable activities to try. A public beach, indoor community spaces, a nature center, and a seasonal pool with a bathhouse are all located within.

There is even a mini-golf course onsite. In addition to learning how to rappel down the rocky cliffs, visitors can hire paddleboats. For basic needs, there is a food store inside the park.

13. Greenleaf State Park

Credit: David Jennings / Flickr

One of Oklahoma's state parks that is most welcoming to families is Greenleaf State Park, which is tucked away in the green hills of Eastern Oklahoma.

Visitors can engage in various activities there, including swimming, biking, fishing, and hiking. Additionally, there are numerous accommodation choices, including cabin rentals, tent camping, and spacious RV parking spaces.

The Deer Run Campground offers full hook-ups, and some of the RV spaces have 50-amp electricity. Every location must be booked online.

There is big rig access as well as a dump station, but no pull-through campsites. Additionally, there are toilets, showers, and an onsite store. An 18-mile hiking trail, a heated fisherman dock, and even a marina with boat rentals is available.

A special children's fishing pond, a splash pad, a discovery center, and a mini golf course are also included in the park. This makes it the perfect destination for families with young children.

14. Nature Falls State Park

Credit: Stephanie Bishop / Flickr

Delaware County, Oklahoma, is home to this undiscovered gem, which is close to the Oklahoma-Arkansas boundary.

The park is well-known for its majestic 77-foot waterfall, which has a viewing platform at its base. The waterfall fosters a tranquil setting for taking in the picturesque vista and is important for the park's thriving flora and fauna.

The park offers activities including fishing, hiking, biking, and nature paths; however, swimming is not permitted there in order to protect the area's varied plant life.

The RV and tent camping areas in Nature Falls State Park are provided with restrooms. Picnic areas and barbecues are available.

The park provides overnight excursions in yurts or traditional round tents. The spacious yurts, which varies in size between two to eight people, are well-equipped.

15. Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Credit: Victor Hamberlin / Flickr

This was formerly two separate parks, the Lake of the Arbuckles and the Platt National Park Historic District. However, they were combined to become the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Chickasaw has more than 400 campsites, making it the ideal location to take in Oklahoma's natural beauty. It offers a variety of activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing and is one of just three parks connected to the National Park Service.

Be sure to explore various interactive and educational displays at the Travertine Nature Center. Additionally, it offers ranger-led educational excursions and guided walks.

There are 99 campsites at Rock Point Campground, some of which can accept RVs up to 25 feet, and it is available all year. The 40 campsites of Guy Sandy Campground, which takes only cash, are ideally suited for tent camping. It is able to fit smaller trailers and RVs.

With no electricity, Cold Springs Campground is open during certain times of the year. Although it may accommodate compact RVs and pop-up trailers, it is best for tent camping. In a similar vein, there are no RV sites at Central Park, which is also a seasonal campground.

At Arbuckle Lake, the year-round Buckhorn Campground offers more than 40 RV sites with electric and water hookups.

In comparison to other campgrounds, this one is more serene and less crowded. The Point Campground features 17 sites with power and water hookups and is accessible all year.

Tobi Miles
Article updated:
March 28, 2024
A nomadic wordsmith savoring the world's flavors and penning stories that turn every journey into an epic.
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