Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Tahlequah, OK

Open April 1– Sep 30 Off season Oct 1– Mar 31 

Limit 14 days 

Fees $10.00-$50.00 

There are two sections to this campground section II is an older version.  Each side hs camping and a marina.

Boat Ramp Dump Station Flush Toilets Marina Picnic Area Playground Showers Swimming Sewer Hookup Accessibility Water Hookup Electricity Hookup Accessible

The campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake is an excellent location for visitors looking for a well-kept waterfront facility, which offers access for boating, swimming and wildlife viewing. It is located near the historic town of Tahlequah and attracts many campers who return year after year. The campground is well maintained and well shaded. There are many beautiful water sites but you will need to reserve those. The facilities were clean and also well maintained. 

The boat launch is a nice are with sufficient parking. Pettit Bay II seems to be older and the sites are not in as good a shape. The campground has sites with electric hookups, and some sites are non-electric. The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station, and boat ramps with courtesy docks. 

A marina with concessions is adjacent to the campground. Of the ten marinas with concessions located on the lake, most offer boat and jet-ski rentals, and several have floating restaurants. The lake offers so many areas of enjoying the lake and all that surrounds the lake. The water is clear and offers a very high visibility for fishing, scuba diving, swimming and boating. It is truly a beautiful lake.

From Tahlequah, OK, go 8.25 miles south on Highway 82, turn right on Indian Road and go two miles south. Then turn left and go one mile southeast on the paved access road. Check-out time: 3:00 pm. Check-in time: 6:00 pm. 

Quiet hours: 10:00 pm- 6:00 am. Entrance gates will be closed during this time. Grey water and sewage must be properly disposed of in the provided dump station receptacle.

We discovered this beautiful, peaceful site by accident on a hot summer day. Traveling north towards Tahlequah, Oklahoma I caught a glimpse of a brown sign, as we travel on I thought about that sign and made my decision and asked my husband to turn around. He knows me well enough to know if I want to turn around and since he is so nice he turned around. I couldn’t find any information regarding the campsite but needed to check it out. The sign on the road stated 5 miles and the road was paved. We did not encounter anymore signs along the way and the road was in decent shape, narrow and I at one point I was able to catch a glimpse of water way down below us. I realized then that we were going to have to head down the mountain at some point. It was rather steep going down, where we were going no large travel trailer should go. I suggest that only tent campers or very high clearance cars or trucks go. There was only the one hill that had to be traveled down but that means that you will need to climb the hill on your return trip. At the end of the 5 miles I could see the road turn to gravel and the only sign that you have arrived is a Pack It In Pack It Out sign. We still weren’t sure but there was a gentleman loading a kayak that we were able to ask if we had arrived at the Horseshoe Bend Primitive Campground. He was not sure about it being a campground but said that he would see people camped in tents every so often. The Illinois River, at this point, is a beautiful green and it is understandable why it is called Horseshoe Bend. There is a natural bend in the river that is in the shape of a horseshoe. GPS shows the nearest town is Park Hill Oklahoma . Directions:  North to Tahlequah, OK on Highway 82; turn right onto Horseshoe Bend Road. I do not have exact but GPS location is N 35.821081 

W 99.903752. Continue toward the Illinois River. The road is very steep down into the valley. It is a narrow country road and is pavement all the way. The river is narrow at this point, moving but not at a fast pace. Kayakers put in and paddle upstream and float back to boat landing. There is a small parking area for boats and trailers. Once you reach the river turn to the right or left to search for a campsite. The road to the right is the road most traveled but warning it is a dirt track and it is severely rutted and potholed. If it has rained prior or while you are camping the road will be a total mess and campers will have a difficult time getting in or out. I walked in and fell in love. What a perfect place to spend a couple of weeks. Walk it first and then drive in if you are able. There are several camping spots and I found one campfire. You will be right along side the river with the trees overhanging your site. Across the river will be rock cliffs that make you want to launch the kayak and explore. I had to pick up some trash so please PACK IT IN PACK IT OUT. The Horseshoe Bend Primitive Campsite is located a few miles from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Cherokee County in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. In the 19th century it was established as the capital of the Cherokee Nation. Tahlequah has been named one of the top 100 Best Small Towns in America. The Cherokee Heritage Center is located in the town of Tahlequah. You will find a recreated ancient Cherokee village of Diligwa. The Illinois River is considered one of Oklahoma’s best canoe waterways. There is the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah if you find a need for a bit of artificial excitement. There are several vendors that offer floats or you may visit a nature and wildlife preserve that is in the area. The best is the beautiful natural site on the Illinois River at the Horseshoe Bend Primitive Campground. 

LNT 

Better than when you found it 

Stay safe Happy Travels

Spent one night at this campground. Grounds were clean, restrooms and showers were also clean. The check in office was inviting and pleasing. We didn’t use the laundry facility while we were there, but they are available should the need arise. Bathrooms were locked and secure and passcode was required to enter. Passcode was provided upon check in. Our site was a pull through level gravel pad with full hookups. The off leash dog park was a small fenced in area with a couple of benches. Horse track and casino were well within walking distance from the camp sites. Quiet location, just off the highway. Highway could not be heard from inside our camper.

This is KOA, not my favorite place to stop, but they have good, basic facilities, sort of like Motel 6. They are just off I-40, so it was convenient for a one night stop. The sites were level, and were Pull-Thru so we didn’t even unhook. Full hookups, Some shade, a dump station. The shower/bathroom was clean. There is a small store. They also have cabins and tent sites; Free Wi-Fi, cable tv, a pool and playground, and a pond for fishing. There is a small Kamp K9 (dog park). When we were there everything was wet, and the smell of wet creosote from the log yard next door was terrible.

• Quiet time 10:00 pm to 6:00 am 
• No firearms Tobacco free Pets on leash 
• Fees and info call 918-464-2920 grills picnic tables Trash Picnic shelter Camphost Dump station New comfort station Electric Water Primitive sites are available Rates from$7.00 to$15.00

Webbers Falls is a very small community in Muskogee County Oklahoma with a population of just over 600 people. on the Arkansas River. The park is located right next to the river. Wonderful views of the river and the bridge spanning the Arkansas. The campground is dotted with large mature trees. The grass provides a soft carpet for parking any size rig. There is a circle drive and you will pull thru All sites are good sites with view of the river.

Hunting, fishing, and wild flowers and colors to keep you entertained. Directions off US 64 turn off at the Webber Falls exit; continue straight onto E1040(Weatherly Drive; keep left to continue on Commercial; turn right onto S. River Road; turn left onto Commercial Street

I go here with my friends every summer we hike almost all the trails , it’s gorgeous last time I went there (summer of 23) we saw a wild river otter swimming there is so much wildlife out there and it’s just gorgeous absolutely stunning and worth visiting, family friends and dog / pet friendly if you want to take your dogs on a hike this is the place , has stairs and is not very handicapped accessible if you want to go to the bottom of the falls but it is completely accessible for a wheelchair if you just want to view the falls from the top and there are multiple handicapped accessible paved paths !