Camping near Bristow, Oklahoma centers around several lakes within a 15-mile radius, with elevations ranging between 700-850 feet. Keystone Lake, Heyburn Lake, and Lake Sahoma form the primary camping destinations, all created by Corps of Engineers projects in the mid-20th century. Weather patterns typically include hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September, making waterfront sites particularly desirable.
What to do
Kayaking on calm waters: Heyburn Lake offers excellent kayaking opportunities with minimal boat traffic. "The lake is small but great for hiking, nature watching, fishing, boating and swimming. Very peaceful and not crowded and has a lot of shaded campsites and group shelters," notes a visitor to Heyburn Park.
Swimming at dedicated beaches: Several campgrounds maintain swimming areas with sandy beaches. At Sheppard Point, "The lake has a great swimming beach area - this seems to be a fishing lake, only a few jet skis were out besides fishing boats. Sandy bottom lake near swim beach."
Hiking through woodlands: While not extensive, several trails exist near camping areas. Keystone State Park offers the Ranger trail, "a mostly gravel loop that goes through the trees and past the children's fishing pond." Trails at Sheppard Point receive positive mentions: "Really enjoyed this camp ground. It was very clean and well maintained. The beach was great and there are some Really nice trails for hiking or horseback riding."
What campers like
Uncrowded experience: Many campers appreciate the relative solitude at smaller lakes. One Heyburn Lake visitor shared, "The lake is small but great for hiking, nature watching, fishing, boating and swimming. Very peaceful and not crowded and has a lot of shaded campsites."
Fishing opportunities: Fishing remains popular throughout the region, with multiple dedicated areas. At Lake Sahoma, "If you love fishing, this is the lake for you. This lake is strictly for fishing...There a a few docks for fishing but you have to have a trout license."
Shower facilities: Despite primitive appearances, many campgrounds maintain functional shower houses. At Okemah Lake, "Bathrooms were a little beat up but shower was hot and with good water pressure."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require significant effort to level RVs or trailers. At Sheppard Point, one camper reported, "My RV spot is so unlevel it's almost unusable. Front to back there is 2 feet in elevation difference and a foot from side to side."
Electrical reliability varies: Power fluctuations can occur at some campgrounds. "The power pedestal, from the 120v 20amp receptacle, is putting out 134v. The neighboring spot's pedestal is putting out 103v," noted a visitor at Sheppard Point.
Wildlife and insects: Prepare for insect activity, particularly in warm months. One camper at Keystone State Park mentioned, "Though we didn't actually see much wildlife, we did have what we think was a sneaky raccoon steal our bread in the night, so lock that cooler up tight!"
Reservation systems differ: While some parks operate on reservation systems, others maintain first-come, first-served policies. At Okmulgee State Park, "It is a first come, first serve kinda place. If you call and there is a place, you have to put something on the pad or it is still up for rental."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. At Heyburn Park, one family mentioned, "I camped with a group of 17 Vintage campers around the pavilion. It was well kept. Bathrooms were clean. Playground was great for my 9-year-old nephew."
Swimming beaches for children: Dedicated swimming areas provide safer experiences for families. At Jellystone Park, "We spent four nights here in the heat of the summer. The lake has a great swimming beach area... Sandy bottom lake near swim beach."
Seasonal considerations for families: Summer heat can be challenging for younger campers. Heyburn Park campers note that late October camping offers different amenities: "Season ends 10/26-no water but still has electricity. Host was helpful. Plenty of large wooded spots."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Water and electric hookups are standard at most developed sites, but sewer connections are limited. At Oaklake Trails Naturist Park, visitors enjoy full amenities: "We've stayed here between May and August several times" with access to "two swimming pools, a very nice restaurant, tennis, pickleball, a wonderful office staff, recreation rooms a meeting hall."
Site selection for privacy: Many RV campgrounds offer varied site layouts affecting privacy. At Okemah Lake, "Most sites are well spaced and the different site areas are so well spaced out, it was easy to get some privacy. The grounds were pretty clean. RV sites have water and electric but did not see any sewer hookups."
Cell service considerations: Mobile coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. One Oaklake Trails visitor reported, "Our att and verizon service worked very well," while at Okmulgee State Park, a camper noted, "One very small bar on my Verizon iPhone 12 but I managed to Facetime when I wanted."
