Salt Plains State Park Campground offers cabin accommodations approximately 40 miles from Amorita, Oklahoma. Cabins rent for $99 per night and provide a comfortable alternative to tent or RV camping. The cabins are situated near waterways rather than directly on the salt plains, offering cooler, more shaded locations. According to one visitor, "The cabins at a reasonable $99 a night" provide good value compared to other accommodation options in the park. Bathroom facilities vary by location, with the most improved restrooms featuring running water, flush toilets, and showers located along the river camping area.
Reservations must be made in advance for cabins due to limited availability. The park office closes at 4 p.m., so early arrival is recommended for those needing assistance with check-in. While the park operates year-round, the popular salt crystal digging area is only open from April 1 to October 15 due to bird migration patterns. One camper noted, "Cabin rentals must be booked in advance as there are limited numbers available."
Visitors staying in cabins should check what amenities are provided before arrival. Cell service varies throughout the park, with Verizon and AT&T offering the best coverage, while T-Mobile service is limited. The park features multiple camping areas with different levels of amenities. The River Road Campground area offers the most improved facilities, including showers, flush toilets, and a playground for children. Sandy Beach Campground provides picnic tables and trash service but fewer amenities than other areas of the park.
"Living next to Oklahoma and exploring it most of my life, I always thought that Oklahoma’s camping was just an extension of Texas, very similar in nature, climate and vegetation."
"We stopped here on a loooong drive from Southern California to Missouri. Sadly we could only stay for about an hour but I would love to spend much more time here."
from $15 - $25 / night
"I think next time I’ll drive home bc I can’t stand salt on my body. The feeling is awful to me lol."
ScoutNot a bad park, the drought really took a toll on the river. It’s clean and has really good hiking trails. But, be careful with pets due to the sand burrs, they will do a number on their paws. Plus, a lot of black and red ants and biting flies. Maybe the best time is late fall or even winter. We stayed in the River Road area. Restroom and showers were clean.
LegendThis is our second time staying here and it’s always so peaceful and quiet. Several spots are butted up right against the river with lots of shade trees. There are 30 and 50 amp spots and all the spots have water. There are plenty of tent camping spots as well. Showers and flushing toilets and a playground are nearby. Great hiking and great birdwatching. You do have to make reservations online or go to the Ranger station to pay.
GuideBeautiful campsites. I stayed at tent sites on South Spillway and North Spillway. Hiking was awesome. Views from top of the spillway are unbelievable. Lots of fishing going on. Restrooms near campsites are very clean. Showers are new and nice.
WiFi is available at office.
Verizon service works good throughout the park.
Two years ago when I visited I was using T-Mobile, and it hardly work at all. Very bad signal.
I know many locals use AT&T and seem to have a good signal.
RangerI've been many times. Each time, even during the summer season, I have to say this is the quietest lake I've ever been to. Now, I can't say it's always that way, but it was when I was there. I've been in June, August, and November, and the beautiful, natural setting is so refreshing. If you're looking for a lazy, laid-back time, this is your place. If you're looking for a lot of amenities, not so much. Might also be the only lake in Oklahoma that has salty water (not like ocean, though). Catfish are abundant and LARGE. Lake is fairly shallow. Wonderful hiking.
GuideWe will stay here 5 nights. Shower/bathrooms are clean and near the RV spots.. The beach/access to the lake is very near the RV sites. Park very big and lots of different areas to explore. Out of the way but well worth the drive.
GuideI love this campground because it’s close to home. The new bathrooms and showers are WONDERFUL, especially compared to what they were before. And the park itself is super clean and well kept. The tent sites have the most wonderful views and and right on the lakefront. If you need hookups though, your view - and possibly your cell signal - is completely lost. (I was using T-Mobile. It doesn’t work here hardly at all. Verizon and AT&T work best.)
Bathrooms nearby both tent and hookup sites.
My only complaint is that the stickers in the hookup sites were BAD - like full bottoms of my shoes bad and inside my campervan bad. #OUCH 😭😭😭
GuideThis park had the most amazing view, clean showers, great park, and not to far from the crystal digging. The dump station on the other hand... Just weird. The hole was huge and awkward. Thank goodness we only had to dump once. Other than that this was a perfect little spot.
GuideWe stayed at the Sand Beach Campground. It was hard to find since it's not past the main enternace it is further along 84 past the equestrian campsite and behind the rv park. But we were right on the water which was awesome. But then the winds increased from 16mph to 27 to 40 in a day and didn't die down the rest of our stay.
GuideWe had a great time, and we’re super fortunate the park staff were all so friendly and helpful as we did need a little help finding our spot. The kids had a great time digging at the salt flats - don’t forget sunscreen!! Great temps all around. We flew kites, fished and relaxed.
Salt Plains State Park offers cabin accommodations about 40 miles from Amorita, Oklahoma. The park encompasses 41,000 acres, including 8,690 acres of salt flats that form a unique landscape in northern Oklahoma. The cabins provide waterfront views along the Arkansas River with shaded sites that stay cooler than the exposed salt plains area during summer months when temperatures frequently exceed 90°F.
Crystal digging: Available at Salt Plains State Park from April 1 to October 15. Bring shovels, water jugs, and sifters to collect selenite crystals that form in the salt flats. "The Great Salt Plains is great place to go for an adventure. You could spend hours just digging up the crystals on the salt plains," notes Alyn M. about Salt Plains State Park Campground.
Fishing: Anglers report catching large catfish in the shallow lake. "Catfish are abundant and LARGE. Lake is fairly shallow," according to Dana H., who also mentions the peaceful atmosphere that persists even during summer months.
Hiking: Trails around the lake and dam provide views of the salt plains and waterways. "Hiking was awesome. Views from top of the spillway are unbelievable," reports Korina D. from her experience at Salt Plains. The trails feature a variety of terrain and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Peaceful setting: The quiet atmosphere distinguishes Salt Plains from other Oklahoma lakes. "Each time, even during the summer season, I have to say this is the quietest lake I've ever been to," writes Dana H. about Great Salt Plains State Park.
River camping: Sites along the Arkansas River provide water access and shade. "Several spots are butted up right against the river with lots of shade trees," according to Lisa M., who appreciated the peaceful riverside setting at Salt Plains.
Clean facilities: The River Road Campground features well-maintained restrooms and showers. "Restrooms near campsites are very clean. Showers are new and nice," notes Korina D. about her stay at the park.
Cell service: Coverage varies by carrier throughout the park. "Verizon service works good throughout the park... Two years ago when I visited I was using T-Mobile, and it hardly work at all. Very bad signal," reports Korina D. from Sandy Beach.
Park office hours: The office closes at 4 p.m. daily, so arrive early if you need assistance with check-in or information. After hours, self-registration is available through an honor box system for campsites.
Campground differences: The park contains several distinct camping areas with varying amenities. River Road Campground offers the most facilities including running water and flush toilets, while Sandy Beach provides picnic tables and trash service but fewer amenities.
Swimming options: Sandy Beach offers child-friendly water access. "The water is shallow forever so you don't have to worry much about little ones playing," writes Jennifer D. about her experience at Sandy Beach.
Crystal digging gear: Pack appropriate tools for children to enjoy crystal hunting. "Def take some metal shovels and metal hand shovels (the little plastic ones break) take lots of water, baby wipes and towels," recommends Jennifer D., who suggests bringing egg cartons to safely store soft crystals until they harden.
Playground access: River Road Campground includes playground equipment near the camping area. "Showers and flushing toilets and a playground are nearby," mentions Lisa M., making this area particularly suitable for families with children.
Site selection: The area near the campground office has sites better suited to RVs than tents. "There was limited tree coverage, spaces were closely packed together," notes Crystal C. from Salt Plains State Park Campground.
Hookup options: River Road Campground provides the best services for RVs. "Sites in this area are the highest of the park ranging between $22 and $25 but they are equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, grills, lantern hooks and easy to pull in and out areas," explains Crystal C.
Airport noise: Be aware of occasional aircraft noise from the nearby airport. "The only distraction was the morning we left, when several small planes made practice landings and takeoffs at the nearby Jet Airport. They were so noisy when they flew over the campground and river that you couldn't hear anything but the engine noise," reports Donna H.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Amorita, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Amorita, OK is Salt Plains State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.
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