Chickasaw National Recreation Area camping extends across the Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma, offering varied terrain between 940-1,050 feet elevation. The spring-fed waterways maintain consistent temperatures year-round, creating unique swimming opportunities even during hot Oklahoma summers. Campgrounds throughout the recreation area offer different experiences from primitive tent sites to developed RV areas with varied amenities and privacy levels.
What to do
Swimming in spring-fed waters: Little Niagara and Travertine Creek offer crystal-clear swimming spots. "This spot is a local favorite. Don't expect to be alone. However the natural spring water is crystal clear and ice cold. The sometimes fast flowing creek offers several beautiful waterfalls you can perch up on and forget about the summer sun," notes one visitor to Cold Springs Campground.
Explore historic structures: Visit the stone castle ruins near Turner Falls. "There are trails back there to that take you up the creek above the waterfall. It's a big area," explains a camper at Turner Falls Park. "Be sure to take the time to explore 'the castle' it is Huge and if you can make it to the top you'll be rewarded with a view."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lake access points provide fishing throughout the park. "We got a great spot right on the water for our weekend camping trip. Plenty of space at our camp site for two full size tents. Great fishing, we caught 3 catfish and and 2 crappie. Water was much clearer than other lakes I have been to in Oklahoma," reports one Buckhorn Campground visitor.
Wildlife observation: Early morning and evening offer prime wildlife viewing. "Seen some deer after we got rained out and spent a whole day in the tent with the family," mentions one camper, while another at The Point Campground notes, "When the sun starts setting the wildlife start to appear. 3 deer passed right by our campsite with no fear."
What campers like
Tent site privacy: Walk-in tent sites at several campgrounds offer more seclusion than RV areas. A visitor to The Point Campground shares: "The tent sites are walk-in, not too far from the parking spots. Each are pretty secluded and quiet until Saturday when one of the tent sites decided to play their music loud enough for half of the grounds to hear all day long."
Clean facilities: Restrooms and shower houses receive consistent positive feedback. "The bathrooms are large, clean, and very well maintained. They even have a nice shower. It's quiet, heavily wooded, private enough from other campsites, and felt very safe," writes one camper about The Point Campground.
Well-maintained campsites: Level sites with proper amenities make setup easier. "Nice sites. May need to level your rig a bit in some sites but the outdoor areas are all very nice and well maintained. Every site has a large flat area with picnic table, fire ring and lamp pole at each," reports a visitor to Buckhorn Campground Loop D.
Off-season solitude: Visiting during weekdays or shoulder seasons provides a quieter experience. "We've never been to Chickasaw National Recreation Area so I tried to reserve a site online but they were ALL booked (Memorial Day Weekend). We drove down Thursday night to try to snag a FCFS site... We found all of the tent sites at The Point were empty. I don't know why, the energy was much calmer and quieter."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the recreation area. One camper at The Point Campground notes: "There is NO cell or internet signal other than one sweet spot by the bathrooms, so you may get a surge of texts and missed call notifications while you're doing your business."
Seasonal crowds: Summer weekends draw large crowds, particularly at swimming areas. "As everyone else has said, crowds here are the worst. Not only does it just get busy: the crowds here are particular crude, litter, loud, and generally unpleasant. Don't go on weekends. It simply won't be worth it. Sneak a day off and go middle of the week," advises a visitor to Turner Falls Park.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for insects and animal visitors. At Cold Springs Campground, a camper warns: "We stayed at 62. Not far from most things. But our site was infested with ticks. We're leaving early because of this. (We brought the dog)." Another visitor mentions: "You need to bring your own soap. The campgrounds give a Great Lake view and if you are as 'lucky' as we were, you will have giant raccoons as a nightly visiter."
Reservation systems: Different campgrounds follow different booking procedures. "These sites are not reservable so it is first come first serve. Arrive early during busy times of year to ensure your space," explains a camper at Guy Sandy Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming safety: Bring water shoes for rocky creek beds. "Nearby swimming areas at Little Niagara and Travertine Creek were very packed during the day, so we only visited during the early morning when the water was very cold. Beautiful area, just be sure to bring water shoes!" recommends a Buckhorn Campground visitor.
Educational opportunities: Take advantage of ranger programs. "Don't forget: kids can take part in the FREE Junior Ranger program through the Travertine Center. Upon completion of a super easy and informative booklet, kiddos are sworn in as junior ranger and receive a patch and a badge," shares a visitor to Rock Creek Campground.
Family-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer additional recreation options. "We had a great time loved the camp ground. The showers were wonderful. We spend time exploring the country. Was honored to dance with the local Indians. Took a trip to Turner Falls and put our feet in the water. Climbed to the castle," writes one Buckhorn Campground visitor.
Camp location selection: Choose sites based on proximity to bathrooms and activities. "We stayed at site 71 and it was just an amazing site. It's got the benefit of being the last site on the walk up trail do you get a lot of space to play around! Bathrooms were very clean and the solar showers rocked!" notes another Buckhorn visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many sites require leveling equipment. "We stayed at Loop C site 56. Great view of the lake, clean restrooms and showers! Campground hosts were friendly and helpful! Just beware if you are camping in an RV, the site is VERY unlevel! We we're in a pop up camper and had one tire up off the ground at least 6 inches with our Baleveler," warns one Buckhorn Campground visitor.
Off-peak camping: RV sites are more available during weekdays. "This is a beautiful COE campground on the Lake of the Arbuckles near Sulphur, OK in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. There's a variety of tent and RV sites from lakeside to sites enclosed in trees. 50, 30, 20 amp service with water, mostly level and easy to back-in," notes a visitor at The Point Campground.
Generator restrictions: Be aware of specific generator hours at campgrounds with RV sites. "The generator hours are 7AM-9AM, 7PM-9PM. We didn't hear a single generator over our 4 days there," shares a camper at The Point Campground.
Road access considerations: Some campground roads present challenges for larger vehicles. "Easy access from highway, with paved roads to entry, all gravel interior roads and all gravel parking sites with lots of trees and fairly good grass. Parked at Site #37. Good 50 amp W-S-E hookups. All at back of site. Other sites had hookups in middle," explains a visitor to Arbuckle RV Resort.
