RV camping near Clayton, Oklahoma offers visitors access to a mix of lakeside, forest, and mountain environments. The region sits within the San Bois Mountains with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,800 feet, creating varied camping terrain across Pushmataha and Latimer counties. Cellular coverage varies significantly near Clayton Lake State Park, with Verizon providing the most consistent service in this remote area.
What to do
Trout fishing access: At Clayton Lake State Park Campground, visitors can fish just steps from their campsites. "We couldn't be more pleased with a place to camp and kayak," notes Sam L., who regularly visits the park.
Horseback riding: Equestrian campers appreciate the dedicated facilities at Robbers Cave State Park. Kent B. shares, "This is such a great park, one of the best I have ever been to for equine camping. Horses are very happy here, just remember to bring your coggins paperwork."
Stargazing opportunities: Clayton's location provides exceptional dark sky viewing with minimal light pollution. Ava G. explains, "If you love getting the full effect of beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and stars - this may be the perfect spot for you to watch the skies! If you check dark-skies maps, you'll see that Clayton Lake is right on the edge of the section of SE Oklahoma with the least light-pollution."
Historical exploration: The region's outlaw history makes for interesting exploration. Eddie J. mentions, "Lots of history at Robbers Cave State Park! Belle Starr famous Lady Outlaw! Jesse James Gang! Beautiful lakes and numerous hiking trails!"
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Many sites offer privacy away from main roads. Richard at Clayton Lake State Park notes, "We tent camped here in April. We got here in the dark and it was hard to find a spot but when we woke up the next morning we had a great view of the lake."
Family-friendly amenities: Shady Oaks RV Resort caters to families with various activities. Rodney T. notes, "Enjoyed our stay at Shady Oaks! Friendly staff, a playground for the kids, right across the highway from the lake, and a family friendly bar and grill located right at the campground."
Proximity to local attractions: Lane RV Park offers convenient access to nearby points of interest. Jimmy K. shares, "Lane RV is a very clean and quiet RV and Tiny Home Park. Conveniently located between McGee Creek State Park and Reba's in Downtown Atoka! McGee Creek is a beautiful state park with boating, fishing, hiking, etc."
Cleanliness of facilities: Several parks maintain high cleanliness standards. Jimmy K. describes Lane RV Park as "very clean and maintained," a sentiment echoed by many visitors to the area's better campgrounds.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Fall brings increased visitor traffic due to foliage viewing, while summer offers full water recreation options. Many campgrounds remain open year-round despite seasonal changes.
Trail conditions: Hiking paths often lack clear markings and may be more difficult than indicated. Vanessa M. at Robbers Cave State Park cautions, "This state park offered what I would consider typical of Oklahoma state park trails. They are poorly marked, more challenging than advertised, and not appropriate for certain types of activities."
Shower facilities: Antlers RV Park and other locations offer varying levels of shower access. Gari-Ann L. notes about Antlers, "There is laundry facilities on site, though we didn't utilize them. Full hook-ups. It's located in town, so there is quick and easy access to provisions if you need anything."
Reservation requirements: Some parks require advance booking while others accept walk-ins. This varies by season with higher demand during spring and fall weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Check playground conditions: Some recreation areas need maintenance but still provide entertainment value. At Robbers Cave State Park, Matt B. advises, "We tried a few trails but were too hard for us. We have a daughter with cerebral palsy that we pull in a wagon and the trails were too rough for the wagon."
Consider accessibility needs: Not all trails accommodate strollers or wagons. Evaluate terrain difficulty before planning hikes with young children or those with mobility limitations.
Look for multi-activity options: Parks offering diverse activities work best for varied family interests. Kyle H. shares about his family's experience at Robbers Cave: "My son also got to play miniature for the first time at the course located next to the pool. One word of warning the golf course is very dated with carpet ripped or completely missing in spots."
Pack quarters for showers: Some park shower facilities require coins. Kyle H. notes, "If you go to the newer one to take a shower make sure you have some quarters, or some dollar bills, because the showers cost money. Four quarters will get you 6 minutes worth of shower time."
Tips from RVers
Choose location based on privacy needs: Honobia Creek RV Park and other facilities vary in site spacing and natural screening. Wayne T. appreciates that at some parks "there were not alot of flying insects, the girls rode bikes, swam at the pool and in the lake."
Check site position relative to roads: Some pull-through sites position RVs close to main campground roads. Kyle H. warns, "Site 23 was a pull through site with full hookups located only about 5 feet off the main campground road. This could be a problem if the park was busy and there is a lot of traffic."
Verify turning radius for larger rigs: Some dump stations have limited maneuvering space. Not all parks accommodate big rigs despite advertising as such.
Look for level sites: Many RV parks in the Clayton area offer sites that require minimal leveling, particularly important for larger motorhomes and fifth wheels.
