Arcadia Lake in central Oklahoma provides a range of camping experiences across multiple developed campgrounds within a short drive of Oklahoma City. The lake features several distinct camping areas including Central State Park, Spring Creek, Scissortail, and Edmond Park, each offering different amenities and settings. Tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations are available throughout the area, with most campgrounds situated along the shoreline of the 6,000-acre reservoir. Primitive tent sites can be found at Bobcat and King Snake campgrounds, while Cottonwood Campground offers full and partial hookup sites for RVs.
Camping at Arcadia Lake operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations available. Payment is made by dropping an envelope in a box at the entrance station. Water access varies between sites, with some requiring multiple hoses to reach community spigots. The campgrounds are typically busiest during summer weekends when the lake becomes popular for boating, fishing, and swimming. Facilities include restrooms and showers, though cleanliness can be inconsistent. According to one visitor, "King Snake on Arcadia Lake is my go-to site for a quick getaway. The park is large and spread out. A LOT of RVs and boats in the main parts of the park but I prefer King Snake for the tent camping. No RVs, limited traffic, and a short walk to a lightly-used bathroom."
The proximity to Oklahoma City makes Arcadia Lake a convenient option for weekend trips, with the city of Edmond just a few miles away providing access to stores and restaurants. Campers report seeing abundant wildlife, particularly deer, throughout the camping areas. Sites vary in size and privacy, with many offering shade from trees. Several visitors mentioned the lake activities as key highlights, including disc golf courses, hiking trails, beaches, boating, fishing, and swimming. The campgrounds feature standard amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and grills at most sites. A review noted that "the spaces were ample sized and most all of them had enough trees surrounding them to offer decent privacy," though some mentioned issues with overflowing trash cans during busy periods.
"Arcadia Lake is a great little lake north of Oklahoma City about 30 minutes. It is definitely a weekender party lake, but the campgrounds are well maintained and facilities are kept up well."
"We really enjoyed lake Arcadia as our last camping spot of the year. We loved being close to the lake and the people were very helpful."
"Nice location just outside the city of Oklahoma City. Pretty peaceful by the Arcadia Lake."
"Stay with some friends here for a festival in Oklahoma City."
$59 - $65 / night
"Twin Fountains is right off where I-35 and I-44 meet in Oklahoma City so it's fairly easy to get to this campground (CG)."
"Easy access to this family oriented campgrounds. The hosts were very accommodating and catered to all our needs. "
"This KOA is an excellent choice for visiting Oklahoma City. Check in was quick and friendly. It was easy to get to downtown, yet the traffic noise was never an issue. Anything you need is nearby."
"The site is bordered by a moderately busy 4 lane road which is why I gave it 4 vs 5 stars. I was in a tent site but had easy access to electric and water. "
$32 - $37 / night
"Great place to stay full hookups right by lake dogs loved it!"
"Easy access off the highway and a very convenient Walmart close by. We ended up having to stay in the overflow parking lot and didn’t regret it! There’s a great beach and it was waterfront."
"The city of Edmond operates several campgrounds/loops on the lake and this is my favorite. Sites are level and clean. They are also well treed and spaced - some with excellent shade."
"It is very easy to get to the campground and easy to access Oklahoma City. There were no picnic tables or fire rings available. There was no shade and the park roads are in poor shape."
"Very nice close to Oklahoma City. Reasonable rate."
"Need an easy on/off overnight spot in central Oklahoma? This could work for that, too. Not scenic, but clean, level spots. On-site store and propane are handy."
$52 - $60 / night
"Close to the highway and downtown OKC. Highway noise is buffered by hotels so its not really that bad. Full hookups, free wifi and codes to bathrooms for more security."
"If traveling North get off one exit early."
GuideGood campground that had everything we needed. Easy access to the lake and lots of squirrels! The lake is kinda dirty tho lots of trash/glass and so are the bathrooms. Awesome sunsets!
TravelerIt was cold when we visited so we had the entire tent campground to ourselves, which was good because of the bathroom situation. The toilets and shower are in individual alcoves, but much like prison there are no stall doors or curtains. I stood outside the ladies room to make sure my companion had privacy while she showered.
There's access to the reservoir for swimming and 15/night for tent campsites. I had no trouble scanning the QR code at the gate to pay for entry, but the payment page can be confusing because it's also used for sewer tax, traffic violations, and other local things.
GuideGreat campground especially for only $38 a night. Our site was a pull through with water and electric. Nice view of the lake. Staff was very nice. Only negative is don’t follow GPS for directions. It tries to take you down a dead end private road. Stay on Hwy 51 till you see prominent sign for the campground. It’s about 7-8 miles off I35 so very convenient.
TravelerReally nice place with tent and RV sites close to the lake. All RV sites have shade, power and water. Unfortunately, there is no waste water dump. Very attractive price.
GuideThe restrooms with shower were nice. Private stall with keypad entry. Noisy as I heard a lot of motorcycles up and down the highway next to the campground
TravelerThe only management on property is a gruff vet that just looks for things to target people staying here if he doesnt like you. Numerous unauthorized charges( never told us they where happening and just would randomly come out of our account). When I asked about the random$30 charge for an extra person(Just me and my other half the entire stay). New owner is out of state in MI(Conor McInerney) as of Jan 1st and apparently they are not fans of general customer service or communication. Metered connections on tip of~$750 monthly expenses. Check out another place or face retaliatory behavior from the current management if you make him mad(thought I deleted my previous 5 star review but set it to 1 star and because of that we were kick out). So since I need to leave a completed review, here it is. No pool, no playground for kids. Lots of homeless at the street corner daily when you leave.
TravelerRolling Stones stables & RV Park is tucked away in the woods, off the beaten path. Staff is friendly and helpful. Has a large dog park area, with trails and a small lake to explore. Lots of wildlife.
LegendGreat stop if visiting OSU, Flat sites, super clean, easy navigation, clean clubhouse, and bathrooms
TravelerI made this reservation with Travis over the phone and he was there to check us in at the entrance office when we arrived. So the park offers great service. It is easy to find with easy access of of I35. GPS navigation is accurate, but at the time of this review google provides only satellite and street images of an empty field. They did offer military discount on their rates. The pull through concrete pads are level and offer full utilities at all sites, which are new and well located. The roads are gravel, but are being maintained. There are several extended/long term RVs, but everyone appears to be keeping things well maintained and the park is very quiet. If you are outside, there is a bit of road noise, but it is minimal. The laundry room is very nice and prices are good. The club house is very nice and there is a TV, pool table and shuffleboard. The bathroom/shower areas are new and nicely kept. Verizon signal bounced from good LTE to 5G with consistent signal and we just used the hotspot, so I have no comment on park wifi. We were here for only one night and did not unhook, but we will definitely stop here again when it fits into our travels.
Arcadia Lake in central Oklahoma spans 6,000 acres with shoreline camping opportunities just 15 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The lake elevation sits at approximately 1,006 feet above sea level with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F. Camping near Arcadia, Oklahoma offers both primitive tent sites and developed campgrounds with hookups, though availability can be limited during peak summer weekends.
Disc golf courses: Two disc golf courses start across from Spring Creek Park's overflow parking area. According to a camper at Spring Creek, "We ended up having to stay in the overflow parking lot and didn't regret it! There's a great beach and it was waterfront. Also adjacent to the fishing pier. Two disc golf courses started across the from our site #615."
Wildlife viewing: Many deer frequent the camping areas, particularly in Scissortail Campground. A visitor noted, "The kids loved feeding all the deer. Great clean park!" The natural surroundings provide ample opportunities to observe local wildlife in their habitat.
Mini golf and pool activities: Twin Fountains RV Park offers additional recreation beyond the lake. A reviewer mentioned, "This park has a little bit of everything. Nice sights roads and RV site are paved. Nice pool, mini golf course, store, laundry, bar and grill, and close to a lot of entertainment."
Close proximity to Oklahoma City: The convenience of camping near urban amenities while still enjoying outdoor recreation is frequently mentioned. As one Central State Park Campground visitor explained, "The lake is nice and has a swimming area (no dogs allowed at the swimming beach). The campsites are in a different portion of the park than the day use areas, which helps minimize traffic driving by your site."
Level campsites with amenities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained sites. A reviewer at Central State Park noted, "The site had a spacious gravel pad, a sturdy picnic table on a concrete pad, a fire pit, a grill, and even a standing-height area that was perfect for setting up our camp kitchen—super convenient for outdoor cooking."
Peaceful atmosphere: Despite proximity to urban areas, campers enjoy the tranquil setting. A visitor to Arcadia Lake commented, "Great campsite! Picnic tables and fire pits. Walking distance to the beautiful lake. Fairly private site lots of trees between each. Plenty of sites to choose from water front or in the woods."
Payment system challenges: No advance reservations are available at some campgrounds, requiring on-site payment. One camper mentioned, "Arcadia lake is an absolutely beautiful area but central state park is overpriced for what it offers and trying to find whether a site was already rented is almost impossible."
Variable bathroom conditions: Facility maintenance can be inconsistent. A visitor to Scissortail Campground reported, "The site itself is private and could be a nice place. There was trash all over the site and the showers and bathrooms were disgusting. There are limited spots with water and with nasty bathrooms if you rely on having water you should avoid this place."
Water hookup logistics: Water access requires planning at some sites. According to a Spring Creek Park reviewer, "Only giving 4 stars because of the shared water and electric hookups. I needed more than 50ft of hose."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. A visitor to Oklahoma City East KOA shared, "Beautiful campground with plenty of amenities at a great price... Nice playground for the kids, pool was closed (opens Memorial Day to Labor Day), dog park is large and very well shaded."
Wildlife encounters: Children often enjoy the animal sightings. A Scissortail camper noted, "The kids loved feeding all the deer. Great clean park!"
City proximity for rainy day options: Having nearby urban activities provides backup plans. One camper mentioned, "We have taken our family to Arcadia many times to camp. While it's close to the city, it feels far away. Lake activities and hiking are available."
Site utilities and accessibility: RV campers should check hookup placements before setting up. A visitor to Roadrunner RV Park noted, "Some sites have sewer hookups toward the far rear with a slight incline, so it may take an extension or 2 pending your rig and some imagination."
Space considerations: Site sizes vary between campgrounds. A Roadrunner RV Park camper shared, "We can usually fit our 38' camper plus our tow with no issues. No camp fires or tables, so prepare accordingly if that's on your wishlist."
Storm shelter availability: Oklahoma's weather can be unpredictable. One reviewer mentioned, "This is a beautifully kept up RV park. Lots of grass, concrete pads, and storm shelters. Easy in and out, except getting into park from Interstate."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Arcadia, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Arcadia, OK is Arcadia Lake with a 4.4-star rating from 60 reviews.
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