The 5 Best Places to Camp in Oklahoma this Summer

The summers in Oklahoma get hot! But there are plenty of places to cool off and kick back for some summer camping. Whether you want to spend the day at the lake or hike in the mountains, Oklahoma has a little of everything to offer. Grab your backpack, load up the camper, here are the 5 best places to camp in Oklahoma this summer!

1. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Doris Campground

If you want to stop your car and pull over because there is a herd of bison crossing in front of you then Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the place to be. It is likely that you will also come across longhorn and Rocky Mountain elk. There are multiple hiking trails but the most well-known is the 3 mile Mount Scout drive which you take to the top of Mount Scott to get an amazing view of the Wichita Mountains. There are also a variety of lakes in the park including Quanah Parker Lake where the Doris Campground is located. Choose one of the lakeside sites or spread out in one of the RV sites w/electric. The campground offers restrooms, showers, and access to Quanah Parker Lake.

2. Oklahoma City East KOA

If you want a mix of both access to the city and a relaxing campground then the Oklahoma City East KOA is the place to stay. Spend the day visiting the sites in Oklahoma City, like the National Memorial & Museum or the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. You will probably see some wildlife at your campground, but if you want to see giraffes, lions and elephants you can check out the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden. Then head back to the campground for a swim in the pool before grilling up some burgers at your campsite. Sounds like one of the best places to camp in Oklahoma this summer!

3. Lake Eufaula State Park

If your idea of a relaxing camping trip involves kicking back on a lawn chair at the beach then visiting Lake Eufaula State Park is the spot for you. Lake Eufaula is the largest lake in Oklahoma with 102,000 acre of beautiful water for swimming, boating, paddling and fishing. Visit the Deep Forest Nature Center where you can learn more about the native birds in the park like the Bald eagle, brown pelican and Eastern Screech owl. Hopefully a screech owl won’t keep you up at night when you stay at one of the RV, Tent or Yurt sites at the campground. Choose from a full hookup RV site or reserve one of the three yurts for a unique camping experience. The campground has restrooms, showers, swimming beach, disc golf and mountain bike trails.

4. Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve

 Pack your backpack with a water bottle and energy bars so you can hike to the highest point in Oklahoma at Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve. At an elevation of 4,973 feet above sea level the plateau offers beautiful views and you might get to see one of the golden eagles, bighorn sheep or elk that make this park their home. The trek to the top takes about 4 hours round trip so plan ahead, but it is definitely worth it. After a long day of hiking head back to your campsite which is about 15 miles from the park, right on Lake Carl Etling. They have RV sites with water/electric as well as tent camping. The lake is stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, flathead catfish and walleye so there is a pretty good chance a fish fry is in the future for your camping trip.

5. Lake Texoma State Park

Lake Texoma is the second largest lake in Oklahoma and known for its amazing striped bass fishing. It is also where two state record breaking fish were caught, a 98-pound blue catfish and a 254-pound 12 oz Alligator Gar. Now those are some big fish! Lake Texoma is on the southern border of Oklahoma and is shared with Texas. Some of the biggest record breaking fish in Texas have also been caught on Lake Texoma. But there is more to do at Lake Texoma State Park than fishing.

The campground has full hookup RV sites as well as tent camping. Make use of the privately owned full marina to put your boat in or to rent a boat. Striped bass are the specialty of the area and you can hire a guide from the Texoma Striper Guide Association at Catfish Bay Marina. In case you want to know, the striped bass record to beat is a 47 lbs. 8 oz. striper caught by Louis Parker back in 1996 on the Lower Illinois River. Lake Texoma is definitely one of the best places to camp in Oklahoma this summer!

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