Best Tent Camping near Millwood Lake

The area we camped in (tent sites only) was very nice. We enjoyed fishing from the bank, a short walk from our campsite.

The sites were nice and spacious but it lacked a dedicated tent site that we could find. We used a site with water and electric hookups and the sites came with a table and fire ring. You are close to the diamond hunting area but other than that it lacked on hiking options. It was worth a weekend to check out but I doubt we would stay here again.

We live approximately an hour and forty-five minutes from beavers Bend and have been going off and on since 2010. We have tent camped, stayed in cabins in the park and outside the park. It's always a nice place to get away too and most of the time there are a pleathera of deer! The swimming area is river water so it's great in the hottest part of summer because it's nice and cool. We even rented a boat one year and it wasn't even super expensive. We've always enjoyed our time, whether it's just a day trip or a few days.

White Oak Lake is packed with well-maintained sites to camp at various levels of comfort. Tent sites provide opportunities to “rough it” while RV sites allow comfort at the edge of a great “deep-wood” experience. The lake has many activities for swimming, paddle boating, and fishing. The shallow lake allows long-dead trees’ trunks to stick out of the water, creating a unique environment. Another formation known as “The Little Grand Canyon” is quite the sight to behold as well.

I thought it was okay. The campground is in a pretty location and most sites have a nice lake view but sites are close together and extremely hard if not nearly impossible to level IF you don’t have self levelers which I don’t. The sites are narrow and on a slope so your picnic table is down a steep rocky slope. What does make me think this is a nice family campground is all the multigenerational families camping here making memories. I however as a solo camper am reviewing the campground itself. There are some tent sites down at the very end of the loop closest to the lake. Campground is a one way loop.

This is one of the most popular Oklahoma state parks we have been to. It has opportunity to hike, fish, canoe, golf, camp, and just relax. The sites all come with a fire ring and table but the tent site we were at was ungraded and not very level. The bathrooms were some of the worst that we have seen as well, so depending on the loop you are in be prepared. We had a pit toilet closest to our site and couldn't go near it. We did rent a canoe here instead of hiking some of the trail and found the river to be relaxing and fun, if not a little short. We were able to see otters here in the wild for the first time!

We camped in Fern which we really enjoyed. Ample space at campsites. River view is beautiful. Fern is in front of the horse depot and train. In the summer I would imagine this is a high traffic area so Acorn and Cypress may be more desirable. The whole area is beautiful and relaxing or has plenty of activities if you choose. No Wifi but cell signal was good. Tent campgrounds were nice also. Lake pretty but we liked river views better. Staff very friendly but make sure and register all vehicles or get a ticket. Use the AllTrails app. Fantastic handicap sites!

We typically don’t camp in regular campgrounds, we prefer more separation. We also have a large 20’ tent that makes it difficult to fit into regular square pad tent sites. These pads were huge and fit our tent, which was super nice because our original plans fell through. The sites had decent separation but the middle row of the Sandbar campground would be tight if there had been a lot of people. They did allow generators which is unfortunate because the river is so close. Part of what we love about camping is being in nature and hearing the sounds around us but one person’s generator use ruined the quiet..all day every day (they have quiet hours from 10pm to sunrise...but that was the only quiet we got). So that was the only bummer for us. The Rangers are incredibly nice and hospitable. Also super helpful. Overall a beautiful campground with large spaces.

I checked this site out after finding some of the awesome lake activities offered at Lake Greeson. As a Army Corp of Engineers site it is very well put together (as are many of the sites in this area). This is one of the more improved sites however and as you enter that is apparent from the moment you pass the camp host and entry station.

Many Corp sites I have found, while nice have not had the level of professionalism as you enter and it made me instantly feel like I would be safe at the location.

Views from the campground are awesome and vast! Sites have camp rings, lantern holders and picnic tables. There is a mixture of RV and tent sites with primitive and electrical hook ups available which is a really great option.

On the week day I visited there were lots of spaces available so during the non-peak season I would say you wouldn’t need to call in advance during the week.

Great overall experience here!!

Tips:

• Check our the marina just 1/2 mike away!!

Crater of Diamonds State Park is a place where you literally play the fun and exciting game of“finders, keepers.” The prize here being diamonds! In the middle of nowhere Arkansas(a.k.a. the town of Murfreesboro) is a field of 37 acres where for $10/day you can dig to your hearts’ content looking for diamonds making this the only diamond mine in the world open to the public. And don’t think this is a gimmick. Over 75,000 diamonds have been found in the“Crater” with an average of 600/year. The largest diamond found in North America was found at Crater of Diamonds topping out at 40.23 carats. In 1998, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond weighing 1.09 carats was graded by the American Gem Society as a 0/0/0“D” Flawless perfect diamond– a“one in a billion diamond”– and found right here in Arkansas. 

The park was established in 1972 “to responsibly manage and interpret this unique site and to provide a meaningful diamond mining experience for all guests and future generations.” We find that pretty funny because we have never come across a state park whose intent is to provide a meaningful diamond mining experience mission. All the more reason we wanted to go! The parks campground is set among beautiful pine trees and offers full hook-up sites large enough to fit our 45’ RV without a problem. The campground has 47 nicely shaded RV sites with water/electric/sewer hookup(many of which have tent pads and five walk-in tent sites. The campground has two modern bathhouse with hot showers; one bathhouse includes a laundry and both were very clean and cared for all day long. If you need a dump station one is conveniently located as you leave the campground. There is also free Wi-Fi in the campground. There is a nice hiking trail that leaves from the campground and loops back around after venturing through the forest and along a river. It is not a long trail but a nice walk and we never saw anybody on it while we were there. Now back to diamond hunting. The“crater” is essentially a plowed field that is the eroded surface of a volcanic crater containing a variety of rocks, crystals, and gemstones. The field is plowed periodically to expose underlying layers of dirt and gems. The visitor center has interactive exhibits highlighting the unique history of the park and geology of Arkansas diamonds. They also tempt you with pictures of diamonds that have been found in the park. At the Diamond Discovery Center visitors learn about diamonds, but more importantly, techniques on how to find them. 

Once you have rented (or brought your own) diamond digging equipment like trowels, shovels, buckets, sifting screens, etc. then it is time to head out into the crater. The techniques vary widely from walking along looking for smooth shiny diamonds (because dirt and mud don’t stick to the smooth surface of diamonds) to digging up a bucket full of dirt and sifting through water like gold mining. We talked to one man who uses a paint brush to lightly brush away loose dirt to reveal the diamonds. Diamonds come in a rainbow of colors but the predominant colors found here are white, brown, and yellow. If you think you found a precious stone, staff is on hand to positively identify it for you. And if you want it, you keep it! No matter what it is.

This place would have gotten a full 5 stars, but there is a very unpredictable side to this campground. What is that you ask? Well, it isn’t large and that makes for some difficult reservations a times.

I had come through this area during a weekend and checked into a site well in advance only to discover that it was booked already. I had let a friend know about the site when they were traveling through and also the same results when looking almost a month in advance. But on a third attempt to book on a weekend it was as though all sites were nearly empty only a week out for the weekend ahead. So this site isn’t really consistent on being able to book in advance.

So what is the allure of this site in particular? THE DIAMOND MINE!! Yep, I said it, DIAMONDS!

For only a small fee you can go inside and hunt for your next big come up and even name your find, should you uncover one. And don’t think this is just some random tourist trap, because several diamonds are in fact found regularly there (most are not large). It is something the entire family can do together or you can do on your own.

But the mine, while the biggest attraction, is not alone. There is also a children’s waterpark area, hiking trails and many other fun things within a short drive back into town.

There are only about 5 primitive tent sites and around 40 RV or improved sites. So there it is the big kicker!

Now with that said, what does this campground look like that it would rate 5 stars if it wasn’t so stinking challenging to get into?

It is nice, the facilities are well maintained, the roads are smooth, the trees are abundant and it is a quiet despite the traffic that flows in daily for the mine. Each campsite is large enough to not feel piled on top of your neighbor and has the typical amenities of a picnic table and fire ring.

It seemed when I was there it had been updated fairly recently in several aspects and perhaps it was because it was busy season but it was very well maintained in the restroom facilities.

I have stayed at a number of state parks in Arkansas and I am overall very pleased on how they are spending that little extra tax dollar to allow everyone to truly enjoy “The Natural State.”

TIPS:

• Bring old clothes for digging. You will best enjoy the mining experience if you aren’t worried about what you are wearing so you can really get in there and get dirty.
• Try wet sifting instead of just dry sifting it will bring the experience at the mine to life.
• Check out the things to do in town as well. This campsite is close to the town of Murfreesboro which has so many strange little interesting things. While there you can check out all there is to offer just off the beaten path.

Great place to camp. Lots of trees. Great scenery on the drive in. Tons of hiking trails. Also a good pizza restaurant nearby. Tons of cabins to rent nearby if you want. The river has great trout fishing too. There is a playground, horseback riding, swimming and a little museum. Lots of stuff to do. You could easily spend a week here.

Amended review for May 2020

This was our 2nd trip to Beavers Bend. We stayed in a tent at the dogwood campground. So, here are my thoughts from this particular trip.

We arrived a few days after Memorial Day, which might explain some of our experience but I have a feeling our time was pretty typical. We reserved a tent site at the Grapevine site and when we arrived the grill was broken and there was trash everywhere. Maybe this was because of the holiday but it was 2 days after Memorial Day. I’ve never seen so much trash on any of our camping trips and this was our 18th OK State Park to visit. We ended up switching to the Dogwood campground which was a huge pain because you normally have to pay online but our Verizon phones had no service so we had to drive back to the office a couple times to sort everything thing out. Our campsite was nice and quiet and secluded but they only had a pit toilet. I find that pretty disappointing considering this is probably Oklahoma’s most visited park but I’m sure there’s no money to make much needed improvements. A few times we would drive to the Fern RV campground bathroom to use the flush toilets but those were pretty bad as well. There was a pile of fast food trash in the men’s room for the entire 3 days that we were there. So, obviously the camp host/rangers don’t even bother with trying to clean up. Also, no soap in the bathroom. Of all times, with Covid-19 going on, you’d think they would have soap. On our last day, we walked through the Acorn and Cypress RV sites and these seemed pretty nice and newer than the others.

Now, on to the things we liked. There is so much to do here. Tons of hiking trails. You should definitely do the Cedar Ridge trail which leads up to the cliffs above the river and has one of the best views in the entire state. We also did a canoe float trip. They take you up the river in a bus and put you in the water and you float back at your leisure. Super cheap by the way. I think it only cost $23 for the 4 of us in a canoe. We also did horseback riding, a little train ride and rented kayaks. There is a museum at the park office that is focused on the lumber industry if you’re into that type of thing.

In conclusion, this is a great park aside from the bathroom situation. Plan to spend a few days here. Verizon gets no service in the park (other than at the top of the cliffs on the hiking trail) but you can drive 3-4 miles to the highway and get service. The office has WiFi as well.

I recently spent 4 days at Beavers Bend State Park ("BBSP") on a camping trip with my brother. We had initially planned to go camping at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas; however, unfortunately we were unable to go due to the COVID crisis and Arkansas only allowing in-state residents to begin camping again on May 1st. As a result, we had to make a fall back plan so we landed on BBSP. Since we didn't make a reservation until the last minute, the only camping area with sites available for the full length of our trip was in the "Hochatown Area."

Per a sign I noticed on the side of a local business during our trip, "Hochatown" is pronounced as follows: (1) "HO" - like Santa Claus, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" (2) "CH" - like CHicken, not a "K" (3) "A" - like "UH" (4) "TOWN" - Well, you know, like "TOWN"

First of all, BBSP is HUGE and very spread out. If you're looking for a park where you can pretty much walk or ride a bike everywhere during your trip, this is probably not your place. It's possible, but it wouldn't be enjoyable in my opinion. Broadly, the park is generally located on the western side of the Broken Bow Reservoir and runs south to north across approximately 12-15 miles. The hub of activity containing the typical state park-esque things is in the southern section of the park.

There are basically two general sections of the park, both of which have several camping areas within them. One is on the north side of the park and the other on the south. The northern half is the Hochatown area (or “Lake Area”), while the southern half is the Beavers Bend area (or “River Area”). Where you camp will largely depend on what you plan to do.

As indicated above, the Hochatown area is close to the Lake. There are several different campgrounds in this area and it’s all very spread out. Basically, if you have a camper/rv, your options are Armadillo, Quail or Turkey. We stayed in Armadillo because that was the only area available. Of the three, I think Quail is probably the best area, but at the end of the day, I think they are probably all comparable. The sites in Armadillo were well shaded with level/paved pads. Picnic table, lantern hook, and fire pit. There was also a big pavilion right behind our site. If our kids were with us, it would’ve been nice in the event of rain. Some sites in Armadillo have sewer and others don’t. We were in site #4, no sewer. I was skeptical at first, but I really liked it. The bathhouse wasn’t open but it looked ok. Armadillo is about 300 yards away from the Lakeview Lodge. Leave Armadillo area, cross the street and make your way to the Lodge. There is a boat ramp and lots of area to enjoy the lake shore. The Lodge looked a little sketchy but generally probably decent. As for the other, non rv areas, those include: Blue Jay, Eagle, Coyote, Deer Drive, Turkey, Grasshopper, Firefly and Hawk. These are walk-in tent sites really close to the water. If you’re a tent person, these are very cool sites. All areas have bathhouses. In addition to water activities, there is a nice golf course a few miles north that runs along the lake (Cedar Creek Golf Course). We played a round during our trip and really enjoyed it. Reasonably priced ($40 for 18 with cart; $27 or so for 18 with cart at twilight, or after 4pm during daylight savings).  It was a solid little course with some great views along the back 9.  In addition to those things, there are several moderate hikes that are all around 3 miles in the Hochatown area. You can also combine them all and go on a mega 16 miler that takes you up and along the crest of the mountain overlooking the lake. Views are fantastic but would caution anyone who is not in shape or not accustomed to hiking. In short, if you’re planning to do a lot of boating and fishing, the Hochatown area will be your jam as there are multiple boat ramps and the marina is generally about the same distance from all the camping areas in the northern section of the park.

The southern area of the park is the Beavers Bend or River Area. From the outset, without question, this is preferable to Hochatown area in my view. This area of the park looks like something from a movie and there are several camping areas, including (from north to south): Hickory, Grapevine, Elm, Fern, Dogwood, Acorn and Cypress. Again, if you’re taking a camper/rv, you’ll be limited to Dogwood, Fern, Acorn or Cypress. Without a doubt, you will want to try for a spot in Acorn or Dogwood (in that order) first. Next is Fern, though it is right next to horse stables so unless you like the smell of horse poop, probably want to look at Cypress. Acorn and Dogwood areas have sites along the river that are amazing. The pads are great, and there is sewer. Specifically as to Fern, it is a small area that offers bigger sites and some seclusion while being on the river, but it’s generally people with trailers for horse related things due to proximity to stables.

Cypress is probably last or 3rd of these 4 areas for a few reasons. First, it sits across the road from Acorn and not on the water, but it is at least in close proximity to the river. Second, the pads are gravel/dirt and short. If you’ve got a rig that's anything longer than 17 ft, it could get tight in a hurry. Third, the trees make these sites really tight in addition to the length of each pad. Fourth, the sites are stacked on top of each other leaving hardly any room between sites.  If you were taking kids, I could see that being a source of stress trying to keep your kids from encroaching on your neighbors 24/7.  Basically, it’s just much less appealing overall than Acorn or Dogwood, but it is still probably better than the Hochatown area if you've got a smaller camper or a PUP like me. 

The “main” park area is by far the southern half of the park, or River Area. This is where the visitor center and heritage center are located, both of which are fantastic. There is also a park general store and other concessionaires on site. Obviously that's are big plus to have access to those things, even if you aren't planning on using them. There are several different swimming areas along the river with sandy beaches that are clearly marked, as well as hiking trails and flat, paved trails for leisurely bike riding or, in my case, a path for my boys to use their little scooters. Dispersed among the camping areas are many, many cabins that can be rented.  Some are nestled into the side of the hillside, while others look right out over the river.  I have not stayed in a cabin but they appear to be quite nice. I also have a friend who stayed in a cabin at the park with his family for a week every summer and he raves about his experiences.  In addition to trout fishing in the river, there are also numerous float trips you can take in this area of the park, most of which follow along the Mountain Fork River. In fact, there are even portions of the river south of the park (Lower Mountain Fork River) with Class III rapids for rafting.  In the same area, there is the Lower Mountain Fork River Trout Fishery, which is a phenomenal flyfishing location.  Overall, this area of the park looks like a movie.  There is so much to do you can’t hit it all in a single trip.

Lastly, a few comments about the area surrounding BBSP. Being from Oklahoma, I will say that in my humble opinion, much of the state is not pretty at all. However, this area of the state is absolutely stunning and doesn’t look like Oklahoma; rather, it looks like Arkansas. With that said, the towns of Hochatown and Broken Bow are pretty rough and frankly sort of sketchy in all respects. Closer to the park (along 259), it is very “touristy” on both sides of the road.  There are several restaurants, bars, gift shops, and activities like miniature golf and a go cart track. For my family, it’s a perfect spot for us, as my wife loves the tourist-type gift shops and my boys would love the mini-golf and go-carts.  To that end, if you’re looking for something all natural, I would say you should either stay in the park, or just don’t go to Beavers Bend.  Due to the geographical location of this park, it is situated in a spot that's nearly equidistant in all directions to Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.  As a result, this is one of the most visited areas in Oklahoma.  During our trip, it seemed like there were more Texas and Arkansas plates than Oklahoma.  It's clearly a tourist-esque location, that's particularly true during the late spring and summer months.

Overall, even though I have visited several parks in Oklahoma, I haven't seen them all. Despite that, I feel confident in saying that Beavers Bend is probably the best the state has to offer in terms of state parks and camping. There is so many different things to do that it could appeal to anyone and the scenery is stunning.  Plainly, you just can’t go wrong here, even if you end up in a less preferable camping area. If you live within a reasonable distance from this park, it’s definitely somewhere you should visit.