Best Tent Camping near Bixby, OK

Tent camping opportunities near Bixby, Oklahoma include several established campgrounds along the nearby waterways and recreational areas. Jackson Bay Recreation Area on Oologah Lake offers free primitive tent sites with fire pits and picnic tables but limited amenities. Sequoyah Bay State Park provides more developed tent camping with water and electric hookups for those seeking additional conveniences while tent camping.

Most tent campgrounds in the Bixby area have basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Jackson Bay Recreation Area lacks trash receptacles, requiring campers to pack out all waste. According to one visitor, "The lake was very calm, but difficult to access right in front of camp." Sunset Bay offers tent camping with access to drinking water, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. Campers should note that access roads to some sites may be unpaved, with Jackson Bay featuring gravel roads that remain passable for standard vehicles in dry conditions.

Tent sites typically offer varying levels of privacy and natural settings. Three Ponds Community provides secluded tent camping with hiking access and has received excellent reviews for its peaceful environment. One camper noted that "the land is beautiful and firewood is provided for a small fee." Verdigris River Park offers small tent-only camping areas that serve as excellent bases for fishing and water activities. These tent sites are relatively close together except for the last site near a wooded area, providing more seclusion. Many tent campsites around Bixby feature proximity to water, making them popular for fishing and paddling activities. Several areas provide shade trees that benefit tent campers during Oklahoma's warmer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Bixby, Oklahoma (18)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bixby, OK

3 Photos of 18 Bixby Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Bixby, OK

398 Reviews of 18 Bixby Campgrounds


  • Karen T.
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Bull Creek Peninsula

    Quiet, lots of shade, easy to get to, great roads

    First time here, absolutely love it! The roads look like they've recently been blacktopped. Very easy to get to. Lots of shade, but there's sun if you want it. Beautiful lake view from my site. Clean vault toilet. No water available anywhere tho, which lowered my review to 4. No electric or dump station, so come prepared.

  • Craig E.
    Aug. 24, 2023

    Bluff Landing

    Quiet, fishable, secluded

    Peaceful area outside of Tulsa metro on the outskirts of Broken Arrow near Coweta. 25min drive into Tulsa. 10min drive to Walmart and fast food. Checkout Smokies BBQ nearby for great food. Sites were pretty level using gravel. A few were completely shaded but most were barely shaded. Shoreline really close to campsites with boatdock and fishable shoreline. Restrooms were clean but very hot. Showers available but did not use. Fire ring, picnic tables and lantern hooks available. Dump station is clean and easily manageable. Grass needed to mowed especially since several snakes were seen. Whole area was pretty clean and peaceful.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Keystone State Park Campground

    Close to town; main spot for boaters

    As a typical Oklahoma State Park, this campground is what you would expect. Built in the 50's and very few upgrades, it remains as a mostly RV/ Boaters park. Many family's go here for the shore line swimming and boating opportunities. The bathrooms are okay but haven't been updated but you don't have to worry about vault toilets. I would suggest bringing soap. Since we tent, it is fairly easy finding a level spot but they do not have platforms or any premade sites to set up. Some sites do have fire rings but most do not but they do have tables. This has always been a good spot for bringing our beginning camping friends to get them introduced to camping before any longer camping trips.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2022

    Blue Creek

    Enjoy many activities!

    General: Blue Creek is one of four campgrounds operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Oologah Lake (the others are Spencer Creek, Red Bud, and Hawthorn Bluff). It is divided into three sections: one with electric hookups (Sites 14-35) and two without (Sites 1-11 and 36-61, with Sites 54-61 that can be used as a group area). On a weekday in early May, the section with electric was full but we had the section with sites 36-61 entirely to ourselves. Sites 1-11 are good for boaters as they are near the boat ramp, however, the sites are not as well delineated (the picnic tables have the site numbers on them and cars park wherever). Since COVID, reservations are required but as with all other CoE campgrounds, the fees are extremely reasonable ($20 for electric,$16 for non-electric and half-price for seniors). 

    Site Quality/Facilities: It is often impossible to determine the best site when reserving but after arriving, we discovered that Site 55 was not going to work for us. It had a very short sloping half-circle drive and after 10 minutes of maneuvering, it was obvious there was no way we were going to be level. It was also rocky so it would be challenging for tents. This site is the furthest away but near the spot where many fish so it will not be as quiet as you might expect. Fortunately, we were able to switch sites (no one else was there!) and Site 42 was much better and like many others, had a large semi-circular drive. Many sites had a covered concrete pad with a large concrete picnic table, utility table, and lantern hook. There was a dump station, but it was coned off when we were there; we did not need it so I did not ask when/if it would be available. 

    Bathhouse: The sections without electricity have vault toilets, which were clean, but the flush toilets/showers are within a reasonable walking distance. These were very clean. Soap but bring your towel. 

    Activities/Amenities: Aside from fishing and boating, there are many activities you can enjoy here including volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and basketball. When the gate attendant is there, you can check out supplies for these activities. There is also a hiking trail. We saw a few people kayaking. Horses are allowed in the group camping section (Sites 54-61). 

    Perhaps it is because we had an entire section to ourselves, but we had a relaxing and peaceful stay here and would definitely return.

  • B
    Mar. 17, 2025

    Hawthorn Bluff

    Had to adapt

    Once arriving at the camp site, I discovered that the sites near the lake were very sloped making it a little difficult to find a flat spot to set up a tent. I talking to one passer-by, who was unfortunately house-less at the time, who explained that Hawthorn Bluff does not charge for camping until April 1st. I paid for my campsite as the website did not state this. I'm not upset by this because I know the fees will help maintain the park. However, this makes for some very interesting campers. The couple next to our site were having a domestic dispute where the lady sped off in her car after cussing her partner out for some time. She returned later with an 18 pack, one in her hand, and thankfully they seemed to have made up. This was hard to explain to my young kids who witnessed the whole exchange. Since they were not charging for campsites during my stay, the showers were locked and not opened as well as another restroom. There was only one opened restroom on the opposite side of the park and it had beer cans and other trash in it. 

    Nice views of the lake, but I think I'll cross this one off my list for next time.

  • Amy & Stu B.
    Jun. 16, 2022

    Dogwood Campground — Lake Eufula State Park

    Excellent stop over

    Gorgeous sites with so many trees! Full hookup, enough space from neighbors while not being too spread out. Picnic tables, fire rings, shade, and easy walk to the restroom and lovely paths to the lake.

    Literally best bathrooms I’ve ever encountered in a park. Very ADA accessible, AIR CONDITIONED TOILETS?!, showers and toilets were single stalls, clean, roomy and had everything you need. Showers had warm water. 10/10

    Nice lake views, but not directly from site—have to walk to get there.

    ATT & Verizon had decent service at both sites.

  • Melanie W.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Stroud Municipal Lake

    Small and quite

    It is a nice little campground that has R.V. camping and tent camping. We like camping here because the campsite is next to the shore. There are some nice camping spots under shade trees. When you want to cool off you can just walk from your campsite to the water and get in and cool off. However don't wear white when you go swimming because after you go swimming white cloths turn orange. It does have a swim beach but we like to swim privately at camp. The fishing is pretty good. There is a playground and restrooms with showers. They only have about 25 campsites that are 1st come 1st serve. Getting a campsite near holidays like the 4th of July is almost impossible unless you go days early to get a spot. The campsites have picnic tables, grills and a fire ring. They also have trails for riding horses. Camping with electric is $18.00 Senior citizens (55 and up) and disabled citizens is $15.00 Primitive camping is$8.00

  • Stephen & Theresa B.
    Jun. 18, 2021

    Rocky Point (ft Gibson)

    Beautiful Lake Shore Campground

    Ft Gibson Lake near Wagoner Oklahoma offers six class A campgrounds for RV and tent camping, six marinas, multiple boat ramps on 19,990 surface acres of lake with 225 miles of shoreline. Our visit was to Rocky Point COE with a gated/staffed entry station, multiple camp hosts, day use areas, boat ramps, interior paved roads, RV concrete pads, large table, fire ring, grill, lantern holder, 50/30/15 amp electric and water on class A sites plus tent camping sites complete with shelters, tables, fire rings, grills, dispersed water spigots. The campground had a dump station, bath house and several trash receptacles. Most sites were on the water or had a water view and adequately spaced to enjoy the amazing sunrises and sunsets. We enjoyed site 2A which was a level pull through and big rig friendly. The rocky shoreline is a birders paradise...we had an eagle, three Great Blue Herons and plentiful hawks to name a few. The town of Wagoner has all the essentials to include grocery, fuel, dining and yes, Walmart. Verizon cell coverage was 1- 2 bars. The America The Beautiful Senior Pass is good for 50% camping discount. Recommend a look at Google Maps to plan your route into the campground from Oklahoma Hwy 69 as Garmin and Google are a little wacky. Just follow the signs!! 8568 STATE HWY. 251A, Wagoner, OK 74434 GPS- 36.027978,-95.314844

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2017

    Birch Cove

    Birch Cove Recreation Area

    This is a nice, newer feeling recreation area with a large lake for boating, fishing and water sports. The campground is large with several loops and sites on and off the lake. Most of the sites on the lake were taken by RV'ers, with most tent campers choosing sites up the hill away from the lake (and lake noise). I was in site 44 which backs up to the woods (making it easier to gather downed wood for my fire and cooking). I thought I was going to have the back end of the loop all to myself, but lucky me, someone with a camper decided to be my next-door neighbor. Sigh. It was a fairly nice site with a paved parking pad, picnic table, grill, and fire ring, with plenty of level space for my tent and trees for my hammock. The trees provided a nice wind break from the relentless Oklahoma winds. The shower house on my loop (there was one on each loop and it seemed like a few spare mixed in) was clean and maintained daily. The actual shower portion had two stalls, one handicap accessible, and both with a few resident spiders. Speaking of wildlife, there were plenty of deer in the field in the evening and several turtles and snakes hanging out in the late afternoon. All sites had electric and there was a shared water pump for every two sites. The Recreation Area had a manned gate house and the campground host manning it was very nice and helpful. There weren't any hiking trails in the campground, but then again, its main claim to fame is the lake. If you are looking for things to do in the area, Pawhuska is home to Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman from the cooking channel. Her store and restaurant are in Pawhuska and its a pretty good place to get breakfast or lunch.


Guide to Bixby

Tent camping near Bixby, Oklahoma, offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Tips for Tent Camping Near Bixby

  • For a peaceful experience, consider staying at Three Ponds Community, where you can enjoy serene surroundings and the beauty of stocked ponds.
  • If you're on a budget, Sunset Bay provides a simple camping experience with essential amenities like drinking water and picnic tables.
  • Be prepared for limited facilities at Newt Graham Lock and Dam, which is more suited for adventurous campers who enjoy hiking and exploring.

Local Attractions for Tent Campers

  • Enjoy fishing and hiking at Verdigris River, a great spot for those looking to cast a line or explore the shoreline.
  • Visit Jackson Bay Recreation Area for stunning lake views and a chance to camp for free while enjoying the tranquility of nature.
  • Experience the charm of Sequoyah Bay State Park, where you can engage in various activities like horseback riding and tennis.

Features to Enhance Your Camping Experience

  • At Okmulgee & Dripping State Park Campground, you can find ample shade trees and a peaceful atmosphere ideal for relaxation.
  • Redbud Bay offers a unique experience with cabins available for those who prefer a bit more comfort while still enjoying the outdoors.
  • For a secluded getaway, Jackson Bay Marina provides a quiet environment, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bixby, OK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bixby, OK is Newt Graham Lock and Dam with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bixby, OK?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Bixby, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.