Looking for the best options for camping with dogs near Cherokee? Find the best information on pet-friendly campsites and dispersed camping near Cherokee, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a place near local attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect spot for you and your pup.
Salt Plains State Park is one of Oklahoma's most unique state parks. The barren landscape of the nearby Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of salt leftover from an ocean that covered Oklahoma in prehistoric times, and the saltwater lake in the park, Great Salt Plains Lake, is about half as salty as the ocean.
Visitors can take their pick of activities in the park, such as swimming in Great Salt Plains Lake or trekking along bike trails. Equestrians can bring their horses to ride designated trails, and there are nature trails to enjoy while taking in the scenery. Fishing at the lake is fun for the entire family, whether in a boat or onshore. Varieties of fish such as catfish, saugeye, sand bass and hybrid striper can be found in these salty, shallow waters. You can also bring your canoe or kayak and enjoy a trip around the lake viewing the many migratory birds that pass through the area.
The selenite crystal dig area is located southwest of the lake in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, and access roads are available six miles west of Jet or three miles south of Cherokee. The crystal digging area is open from April 1 to October 15 from sunrise to sunset. Located just under the surface of the salt plains, these crystals usually form into an hourglass shape. Oklahoma is the only place in the world where the hourglass-shaped selenite crystal can be found. While searching for crystals, look for some of the over 300 species of protected birds that live in and can be seen in the refuge.
Enjoy a multi-day stay at Salt Plains State Park in one of the renovated, eco-friendly cabins. Each of the six cabins has its own bed, refrigerator and stove, among other amenities. Pets are allowed in select units for a small nightly fee. Also, overnight camping is available in an RV or tent site. One full hookup site is available. Online reservations must be made for all RV and tent campsites. Comfort stations with showers are located near the sites and throughout the park for the convenience of visitors. Great Salt Plains State Park also offers picnic pavilions and outdoor grills.
$25 / night
This recreation area is part of Great Salt Plains Lake
A prime example of Oklahoma's diverse terrain, Little Sahara State Park boasts over 1,600 acres of sand dunes, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet. The vast dunes have formed over time from terrace deposits, remnants of prehistoric times when the Cimarron River flowed over the entire area. Located south of Waynoka in northwest Oklahoma, the park offers RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups, tent sites, picnic areas and comfort stations. All campsites must be reserved online.
The main attraction at Little Sahara State Park is dune buggy and ATV riding across the sand dunes. Visitors can either bring their own ATV or rent one off-site by a private vendor. Either way, visitors will have a blast in this mini-desert atmosphere, known as one of the best riding spots for ATVs in the Midwest. The cost is $10 a day for all drivers and passengers to get on the sand. Passengers under 10 years old are free. The park also offers an annual family pass for frequent visitors. Cost for the pass is $200 for the first and $125 for each additional family member in the same household.
Please note: Pedestrian foot traffic is prohibited in the dune riding area. Please visit the observation deck located in the Buttercup Campground to view the dunes.
Groceries and fuel are available to purchase in nearby Waynoka. Concessions are not offered in the park.
A permit is required to take professional photos in the dune riding area. Please contact the park office for more information.
All vehicles at Little Sahara State Park are required to follow park rules and regulations.
PARK SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS:
All vehicles must have a whip attached to the ORV that extends 10 feet from the ground to the top of the whip.
All vehicles must have a 6" x 12" flag attached within 10" of the whip's tip. It must be bright solid orange in color.
All vehicles must have a bright white front and red rear lights powered by the vehicle for night use.
Dune buggies and 4x4 vehicles must have a roll bar sufficient to support the weight of the vehicle and must have a seat belt for each passenger.
Oklahoma law requires every child under 8 years of age to be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system.
Full coverage helmets are strongly suggested. Riding is at your own risk. Please stay within the posted park boundaries.
Any person under the age of 18 who is not in a vehicle with a structured roll cage is required to wear a helmet.
Double riding is not allowed on ATVs unless the vehicle is specifically manufactured for a passenger.
Dune riding area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If gate attendant is not on duty, it is your responsibility to go to the park office or kiosk to pay for your riding fees. Kiosks are located at Competition and Buttercup Campgrounds.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited in the dune riding area.
Big Bend Park is located on Canton Lake in northwest Oklahoma on the North Canadian River. The area hosts a large number of campers, picnickers, boaters, fishermen and hunters every year as one of the few places in western Oklahoma to offer so many activities.
Canton Lake is known for its fishing opportunities, especially walleye fishing. The Walleye Rodeo fishing derby is held annually in mid-May and draws thousands of visitors to the area for the 4 day event. Personal watercraft use, tubing and water skiing are popular on the broad expanse of water paralleling the dam where winds are subdued. Gently sloping beaches on the northern side of the lake are an inviation to swimmers and sunbathers. A Disc Golf Course is located in the Big Bend Day Use Area.
The shores of Canton Lake have several varieties of trees natural to the area which include eastern cottonwood, post and blackjack oak and black willow. Other trees planted in the campground to subliment the shade for campsites include american elm, sycamore, lacebark elm and silver maple.
A major attraction for hunters is the 14,862 acre Canton Wildlife Managent. This area, operated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is home to whitetail deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbits, dove and several varieties of waterfowl. There a several resturants located within 3 miles of the lake and also a casino and 9 hole golf course. Roman Nose State Park and Glass Mountains State Park are only about a 30 minute or so drive drive from the lake.
$40 / night
Longdale Campground is located on Canton Lake in northwest Oklahoma on the North Canadian River, about 6 miles from the town of Canton and 2.5 miles from the town of Longdale. Canton Lake hosts a large number of campers, picnickers, boaters, fishermen, and hunters every year, as one of the few places in western Oklahoma to offer such a huge variety of activities.
Canton Lake is known for its fishing opportunities, especially walleye fishing. The Walleye Rodeo fishing derby is held annually in mid-May and draws thousands of visitors to the area for the 4 day event. Personal watercraft use, tubing and water skiing are popular on the broad expanse of water parelling the dam where the winds are subdued and the lake's gently sloping sandy beaches are inviting for swimmers and sunbathers.
The shores of Canton Lake and the North Canadian River are covered with eastern cottonwood, post and blackjack oak, black willow, buttonbush and roughleaf dogwood. The campground offers some shade trees among its open grassy areas.
A major attraction for hunters is the 14,862-acre Canton Wildlife Management Area. This area, operated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is home to whitetail deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbits, dove and several varieties of waterfowl. There are several resturants located within 3 miles of the lake and also a casino and 9 hole golf course. There is a Disc Golf Course about 8 miles from the campground in the Big Bend Recreation Area. Roman Nose State Park and Glass Mountains State Park are only about a half hour or so drive from the lake.
$40 / night
Traveler
Very nice campground. Open views of the lake. Very laid back and relaxing. Roomy. Well up kept. Good showers and restrooms. Stayed in tent on site with water and electricity. Paid $25. Would stay again.
ScoutIt was a little tough getting into the park, road construction on US 160. Got here, the only RV here, Electric and water are BOTH available and there is a city maintained dump station in town! They ask for donations, which I will gladly give. Making a cross country trip home on smaller US highways. The drive here from the West is very pleasant. I look forward to exploring the area tomorrow.
ScoutNo cell service around the park at all. No over the air tv. Great place to bring your kids if you want them to put the phones down and spend quality time with you.
Guide
This was our first time staying in an Oklahoma State park. We had a great site (#1). Very level, near the bathhouse and cave entrance. I could only get cold water in the shower. That was invigorating! I asked at the ranger station and they told me how to work the shower handle. I went back the next day and same thing, no hot water! Other than that it’s a great campground.
Guide
We will stay here 5 nights. Shower/bathrooms are clean and near the RV spots.. The beach/access to the lake is very near the RV sites. Park very big and lots of different areas to explore. Out of the way but well worth the drive.
TravelerI love this campground because it’s close to home. The new bathrooms and showers are WONDERFUL, especially compared to what they were before. And the park itself is super clean and well kept. The tent sites have the most wonderful views and and right on the lakefront. If you need hookups though, your view - and possibly your cell signal - is completely lost. (I was using T-Mobile. It doesn’t work here hardly at all. Verizon and AT&T work best.)
Bathrooms nearby both tent and hookup sites.
My only complaint is that the stickers in the hookup sites were BAD - like full bottoms of my shoes bad and inside my campervan bad. #OUCH 😭😭😭
GuideThis park had the most amazing view, clean showers, great park, and not to far from the crystal digging. The dump station on the other hand... Just weird. The hole was huge and awkward. Thank goodness we only had to dump once. Other than that this was a perfect little spot.
GuideWe stayed at the Sand Beach Campground. It was hard to find since it's not past the main enternace it is further along 84 past the equestrian campsite and behind the rv park. But we were right on the water which was awesome. But then the winds increased from 16mph to 27 to 40 in a day and didn't die down the rest of our stay.
LegendBeautiful spot on lake. All spots look great. Easy in and out.Dump site on outside of facility.
GuideWe had a great time, and we’re super fortunate the park staff were all so friendly and helpful as we did need a little help finding our spot. The kids had a great time digging at the salt flats - don’t forget sunscreen!! Great temps all around. We flew kites, fished and relaxed.
TravelerVery friendly owner. Worked with us on our arrival. We fit in a super C (Semi truck) 41ft long x 13.6 height with flat tow. Verizon cell service excellent. Quiet. Trash available. No tables. Would stay here again.
GuideWe really enjoyed this campsite. Lots of trees and grass. Since sites are on different levels, most everyone has a good view of the lake. Sites are not too close and are at an angle, which makes it more private.
GuideBig Bend is a really nice campground with most sites on or overlooking the water. We were in site A10 which was a nice site overlooking the lake with shade in evening, but sunny most of the day. Most of the sites, except a few on the water, seemed to have shade during part of the day. The picnic tables were all covered. We didn't use the bathhouse because it was so far from our site. The large lake looks like a great place for boating activities. The park has a very nice, challenging disc golf course beside the campground. We were here on a Saturday night in mid- August and the campground was only partially full.
Traveler
Me and my family love staying here. Great place to fish and lots of wildlife to see. Even a swimming area on the lake
GuideNice park but awful showers some don’t spray at all and no hot water, park has lots to offer for entertainment!
ScoutI am so glad we found this spot on Dyrt. We stopped here on a loooong drive from Southern California to Missouri. Sadly we could only stay for about an hour but I would love to spend much more time here.
We were at the Sandy Beach campground. It was a Friday afternoon and there was barely anyone there. The dogs were able to play in the water and I had a nice lunch in the shade at a picnic table. It was warm but not terribly so, and it’s OK at the end of summer, so no complaints.
Definitely worth going a bit off the beaten path for.
GuideThe campsite was right on the lake,with a nice evening breeze and trees to shade from the sun. Camp host is helpful and the site clean.
ScoutWas a spacious, shady camp along the river, fished, some short hikes and visited the great salt plains state park and dug crystals that can only find there. Clean bathrooms, showers, and water and elec. Would stay there again..
ScoutTent site bath house out of commission. Wal-Mart is 40miles away, get what ever you need before you get there.
RangerStayed a night here. It was nice and quiet and lots of space in between the camp spots. Showers are a little rudimentary with no real privacy. Big stalls, but doors are only half size so anyone can look in.
GuideWe had a large area that was great for tents and hammocks. Fire pits had cooking services, more than one picnic table, good restrooms.
TravelerExceeded expectations! The park and camp grounds were clean and quiet. We will absolutely be back. The salt flats are incredible!
TravelerIt was awesome!! Beautiful!! Quit!! Refreshing!! Just what I needed. Clean, Staff was great.
Scout
We’ve stayed there twice. Clean and relatively quiet depending on amount of campsites filled. Nice pool.
RangerVery pretty park with lots of trees in the campground, birdwatching and fishing! Family and group friendly. Sweet little wildwood chapel and nice trails. It's a popular park, well kept and friendly. Paved RV sites with water and electric, some a little too close together. Reservations must be made through Reserve America. The only distraction was the morning we left, when several small planes made practice landings and takeoffs at the nearby Jet Airport. They were so noisy when they flew over the campground and river that you couldn't hear anything but the engine noise. Not sure how often this happens. It was a Monday morning that day.
GuideStayed here for a couple of days while traveling to Colorado with friends. The caverns where very interesting as well as the trails around the campground. You could see alabaster everywhere, beautifully exposed. The area appears to be a Dark Sky Area with little artificial light, so the night sky was brilliant!
The campground hosts were very friendly and informative. I would stop here again if my route takes me that way.
RangerYou can’t camp at the actual Salt Plains. We spent the day here and had such an awesome time. I took kids ages 3-12 and they all had a blast. Make sure to bring metal shovels and metal hand shovels bc the plastic ones will break, you will want sand buckets, egg cartons to put the crystals in bc when they come out they are still soft and brittle, sunscreen, lots of water, towels, baby wipes, a umbrella if you have one (we didn’t need it but a lot of people prefer them). I can’t stand sand/salt on me (think nails on a chalk board feeling) so I needed to shower pronto afterwards and couldn’t so lots of water to rinse off with is a good thing to have. You will have sand and salt all over your car inside and out FYI lol.
If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Cherokee, Oklahoma, there are several great spots that welcome your furry friends. These campgrounds offer a mix of amenities and activities that both you and your pets will enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cherokee, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cherokee, OK is Salt Plains State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cherokee, OK?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dog-friendly camping locations near Cherokee, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
