Equestrian camping near Bethany, Oklahoma offers several riding trails across public lands with varying terrain and amenities. Most horse-friendly sites are located within an hour's drive of Bethany, with nearby water features creating scenic backdrops for trail riding. Sites like Bell Cow Lake and Lake Carl Blackwell maintain dedicated equestrian areas with proper facilities for both horses and their owners.
What to do
Trail riding at Arcadia Lake: Located 20 miles east of Bethany, Arcadia Lake offers multiple trails for horseback riding with lake views. "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," notes Angela H.
Wildlife watching at Rockwell RV Park: Despite its urban location, this park offers unique wildlife experiences. "They have a decent indoor pool, buffalo in an enclosure, and laundry facilities. They have a church service on Sundays, and they bake muffins each morning that are free for guests," reports Bret N.
Swimming at Bell Cow Lake: The lake features a designated swimming area with gradual entry points. "The lake is calm & shallow, so it is best for small boats and kayaks. There are bathrooms with showers, a swim beach, a volleyball court, pavilions, a boat ramp, and plenty of wildlife," says Leslie N.
Water recreation on Lake Thunderbird: The lake offers multiple access points for boats and fishing. "Quiet and flat camp spot. Watched the sun come up over the water," shares Jay F.
What campers like
Privacy at Little Axe Campground: This Lake Thunderbird area provides more secluded sites. "Thunderbird has a lot of camping. Our favorite is Little Axe. You can reserve spaces (which Is fabulous) and because you have to pay $5 just to get in (if you aren't camping), there is less traffic and it is quieter," explains a camper.
Buffalo viewing at Rockwell: The resident buffalo herd creates a unique camping experience. "Rockwell RV park was a nice, quiet, and clean stop for us along our route home. The kids loved the 7 baby Buffalo on the property," shares lauren W.
Quiet atmosphere at Liberty Lake: This smaller lake offers a more peaceful setting. "We just stayed for one night, it was super quiet and calm. The campsites were minimal but had lots of space and were right on the lake. We had a beautiful sunset too," mentions Hillary B.
Year-round facilities at Central State Park: The park maintains accessible amenities throughout seasons. "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," notes Nashoba_tohbi.
What you should know
Limited facilities at Liberty Lake: Despite beautiful views, amenities are basic. "Away from the hustle and bustle of town it's quiet and remote. That's about it though... there's a couple of sites for camping all entirely too close to each other. The parking lot is bigger than the grass areas you have to work with," warns Jessica W.
Varying bathroom quality: Many campgrounds have basic facilities that can be inconsistent. "Bathrooms weren't the cleanest but were what I would probably expect for a camp ground owned by a smaller city," notes Jon B. about Bell Cow Lake.
Highway noise at some sites: Bell Cow Lake campers note traffic sound. "One of the only things we did not like was with the campsite being 2 miles from I-44 you could hear the highway traffic all night," mentions a reviewer.
Reservation requirements: Many parks now require advance booking. "You must make your reservations in advance online. We highly recommend this park," advises Kelly B. regarding Lake Thunderbird State Park South.
Tips for camping with families
Choose shaded areas: Oklahoma heat requires good shade coverage. "We stayed in lot 31 and a few large elm trees gave our campsite evening shade," recommends Neil T. about Lake Carl Blackwell.
Pack slip-on shoes: Red clay soil creates muddy conditions. "For anyone planning to camp, make sure u bring slip on shoes. U can go barefoot, we did. But the sand which is great at first... left our feet raw," advises Danielle C.
Visit Little Axe for quieter family camping: This area of Lake Thunderbird is better suited for families. "Little Axe is nice for families and quieter groups. Also, it's a peninsula by the dam, there's a quiet cove for fishing, good beaches and lake access, a play gym for kiddos and clean bathrooms," notes a camper.
Consider time of year: Seasonal variations affect comfort. "Went from Thursday to Sunday! Thursday camp was very chilly rest of the time wasn't to bad, but kinda windy! Nice views of lake & dam. Sandy beach area, sandy & walkable around lakes edge," reports Christle C.
Tips from RVers
Look for full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete services. "This park has a handful of full hookup sites, a greater number of sites with electric only, and a large number of tent/rv sites with no hookups. There are water fill points conveniently located throughout the park," explains Dale Y. about Central State Park.
Check site spacing: Some parks offer more room between RVs. "Beaver Cove and found it to be clean, well-maintained, friendly and quiet. No real privacy buffer between sites, but the spacing was comfortable," notes a reviewer about Lake Carl Blackwell.
Consider weekday visits: Weekends get crowded at popular lakes. "The park was empty during the week, completely full on the weekend. It's conveniently located close to i35, shopping, dining, etc.," mentions Dale Y.
Verify dump station locations: Some parks have hidden facilities. "The dump location is near the restrooms by the boat dock. It's a little hidden," warns a camper about Bell Cow Lake.
