Best Tent Camping near Cleveland, OK

Lakes and reservoirs surrounding Cleveland, Oklahoma provide several tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Whitetail Trail - North Fork offers walk-in tent sites with lakeside access and good forest cover. Three Ponds Community, located near Cleveland, features primitive tent camping with hike-in access and basic amenities. Verdigris River Park near Oologah Lake provides tent-only camping opportunities approximately 30 miles northeast of Cleveland. These established campgrounds cater specifically to tent campers seeking natural settings away from developed areas.

Most tent campgrounds in the Cleveland area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Three Ponds Community provides drinking water (seasonally), toilets, showers, and trash disposal for tent campers. Firewood is available for purchase at select locations. Sunset Bay offers walk-in tent sites with drinking water, toilets, and picnic tables. Primitive tent camping areas typically include fire rings where fires are permitted, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Campers should verify current conditions before arrival, as amenities at backcountry tent sites can be limited or unavailable during certain seasons.

Tent-only camping experiences near Cleveland offer unique advantages for outdoor enthusiasts. According to reviews, Whitetail Trail - North Fork provides "lakeside access, fire pit, clothes hangar, no other campsites nearby, good forest cover" making it ideal for tent campers seeking seclusion. The camping area accommodates multiple tents with adequate parking nearby. At Verdigris River Park, one camper noted the campground is "perfect if you are tent camping and need a quick place to stop and rest for a day or two," with beautiful lake views and hiking trails accessible from the sites. The first few sites are more exposed, while those near wooded areas offer better privacy. Fishing opportunities abound at several locations, with Oologah Lake and Verdigris River providing productive waters directly accessible from tent campsites.

Best Tent Sites Near Cleveland, Oklahoma (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Cleveland, OK

2 Photos of 12 Cleveland Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Cleveland, OK

275 Reviews of 12 Cleveland Campgrounds


  • J
    Aug. 28, 2023

    Lake Ponca Campgrounds

    Beautiful little campsite overlooking the water

    New restrooms/showers and electric RV sites with shared water for $25. Park RV on asphalt facing campsite. Tent camping area is $15 has picnic tables but no electricity or water and restrooms/showers are on other side of campground. Signs everywhere saying “No tent camping in this area.” But if you pay online for RV site, you can use tent or RV but not both (per Ranger Joe).

  • Analia F.
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Bluestem Lake

    Blast!

    This campground was super cool because it was a little "out dated" but it made it cozy! So many beautiful trees and walking paths that it made the stay great. We would get up in the morning and do a short hike that was nearby, and then finish it off with one of the walking paths around the campground, then had breakfast. It was a great way to start the day. They offer RV sites as well as small cabins you can rent. My family and I took our RV, and had a blast. The sites were big enough for the RV and had a picnic table and fire ring within the site. We didn't feel like we were right on top of our neighbors either which was nice. There is a lake within walking distance, so we would head down there during the day. Dogs are allowed, but need to be on leashes. We brought our dog and he had a blast in the lake. They have a volleyball court set up as well as horse shoes which was fun! You can also rent stand up paddle boards from the front desk to take down to the lake. They also have a club house that has a pool table, although we didn't partake in this. There is an area where you can do laundry too, which we thought was pretty cool. This is definitely considered "glamping" to us :) There is also a boat launch if you need that too. We caught some really awesome weather while we stayed here which made the trip amazing! We will definitely be back.

  • Karen T.
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Bull Creek Peninsula

    Quiet, lots of shade, easy to get to, great roads

    First time here, absolutely love it! The roads look like they've recently been blacktopped. Very easy to get to. Lots of shade, but there's sun if you want it. Beautiful lake view from my site. Clean vault toilet. No water available anywhere tho, which lowered my review to 4. No electric or dump station, so come prepared.

  • Richard
    May. 1, 2021

    Osage Hills State Park Campground

    Osage Hill

    We tent camped here at Tent Hill site C. Had a grassy site which was nice. It was kind of close to D but we had good neighbors. Also, one of the benches at the picnic table was gone. Maybe it was an ADA site. Had a fire ring and lantern pole. Just across the road from the bathroom.

    There are some good trails here. But they are in the process of making some changes and the maps are only partially accurate for the time being. We hiked to the old CCC camp and saw some old buildings and stuff.

    There is a playground at the bottom of the hill. It’s a bit of a trek back up.

    I suggest hiking down to the “waterfalls” on the river and spending some time.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Keystone State Park Campground

    Close to town; main spot for boaters

    As a typical Oklahoma State Park, this campground is what you would expect. Built in the 50's and very few upgrades, it remains as a mostly RV/ Boaters park. Many family's go here for the shore line swimming and boating opportunities. The bathrooms are okay but haven't been updated but you don't have to worry about vault toilets. I would suggest bringing soap. Since we tent, it is fairly easy finding a level spot but they do not have platforms or any premade sites to set up. Some sites do have fire rings but most do not but they do have tables. This has always been a good spot for bringing our beginning camping friends to get them introduced to camping before any longer camping trips.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2022

    Blue Creek

    Enjoy many activities!

    General: Blue Creek is one of four campgrounds operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Oologah Lake (the others are Spencer Creek, Red Bud, and Hawthorn Bluff). It is divided into three sections: one with electric hookups (Sites 14-35) and two without (Sites 1-11 and 36-61, with Sites 54-61 that can be used as a group area). On a weekday in early May, the section with electric was full but we had the section with sites 36-61 entirely to ourselves. Sites 1-11 are good for boaters as they are near the boat ramp, however, the sites are not as well delineated (the picnic tables have the site numbers on them and cars park wherever). Since COVID, reservations are required but as with all other CoE campgrounds, the fees are extremely reasonable ($20 for electric,$16 for non-electric and half-price for seniors). 

    Site Quality/Facilities: It is often impossible to determine the best site when reserving but after arriving, we discovered that Site 55 was not going to work for us. It had a very short sloping half-circle drive and after 10 minutes of maneuvering, it was obvious there was no way we were going to be level. It was also rocky so it would be challenging for tents. This site is the furthest away but near the spot where many fish so it will not be as quiet as you might expect. Fortunately, we were able to switch sites (no one else was there!) and Site 42 was much better and like many others, had a large semi-circular drive. Many sites had a covered concrete pad with a large concrete picnic table, utility table, and lantern hook. There was a dump station, but it was coned off when we were there; we did not need it so I did not ask when/if it would be available. 

    Bathhouse: The sections without electricity have vault toilets, which were clean, but the flush toilets/showers are within a reasonable walking distance. These were very clean. Soap but bring your towel. 

    Activities/Amenities: Aside from fishing and boating, there are many activities you can enjoy here including volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and basketball. When the gate attendant is there, you can check out supplies for these activities. There is also a hiking trail. We saw a few people kayaking. Horses are allowed in the group camping section (Sites 54-61). 

    Perhaps it is because we had an entire section to ourselves, but we had a relaxing and peaceful stay here and would definitely return.

  • B
    Mar. 17, 2025

    Hawthorn Bluff

    Had to adapt

    Once arriving at the camp site, I discovered that the sites near the lake were very sloped making it a little difficult to find a flat spot to set up a tent. I talking to one passer-by, who was unfortunately house-less at the time, who explained that Hawthorn Bluff does not charge for camping until April 1st. I paid for my campsite as the website did not state this. I'm not upset by this because I know the fees will help maintain the park. However, this makes for some very interesting campers. The couple next to our site were having a domestic dispute where the lady sped off in her car after cussing her partner out for some time. She returned later with an 18 pack, one in her hand, and thankfully they seemed to have made up. This was hard to explain to my young kids who witnessed the whole exchange. Since they were not charging for campsites during my stay, the showers were locked and not opened as well as another restroom. There was only one opened restroom on the opposite side of the park and it had beer cans and other trash in it. 

    Nice views of the lake, but I think I'll cross this one off my list for next time.

  • Melanie W.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Stroud Municipal Lake

    Small and quite

    It is a nice little campground that has R.V. camping and tent camping. We like camping here because the campsite is next to the shore. There are some nice camping spots under shade trees. When you want to cool off you can just walk from your campsite to the water and get in and cool off. However don't wear white when you go swimming because after you go swimming white cloths turn orange. It does have a swim beach but we like to swim privately at camp. The fishing is pretty good. There is a playground and restrooms with showers. They only have about 25 campsites that are 1st come 1st serve. Getting a campsite near holidays like the 4th of July is almost impossible unless you go days early to get a spot. The campsites have picnic tables, grills and a fire ring. They also have trails for riding horses. Camping with electric is $18.00 Senior citizens (55 and up) and disabled citizens is $15.00 Primitive camping is$8.00

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2017

    Birch Cove

    Birch Cove Recreation Area

    This is a nice, newer feeling recreation area with a large lake for boating, fishing and water sports. The campground is large with several loops and sites on and off the lake. Most of the sites on the lake were taken by RV'ers, with most tent campers choosing sites up the hill away from the lake (and lake noise). I was in site 44 which backs up to the woods (making it easier to gather downed wood for my fire and cooking). I thought I was going to have the back end of the loop all to myself, but lucky me, someone with a camper decided to be my next-door neighbor. Sigh. It was a fairly nice site with a paved parking pad, picnic table, grill, and fire ring, with plenty of level space for my tent and trees for my hammock. The trees provided a nice wind break from the relentless Oklahoma winds. The shower house on my loop (there was one on each loop and it seemed like a few spare mixed in) was clean and maintained daily. The actual shower portion had two stalls, one handicap accessible, and both with a few resident spiders. Speaking of wildlife, there were plenty of deer in the field in the evening and several turtles and snakes hanging out in the late afternoon. All sites had electric and there was a shared water pump for every two sites. The Recreation Area had a manned gate house and the campground host manning it was very nice and helpful. There weren't any hiking trails in the campground, but then again, its main claim to fame is the lake. If you are looking for things to do in the area, Pawhuska is home to Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman from the cooking channel. Her store and restaurant are in Pawhuska and its a pretty good place to get breakfast or lunch.


Guide to Cleveland

Tent camping near Cleveland, Oklahoma offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Tips for tent camping near Cleveland

  • For a peaceful retreat, consider staying at Three Ponds Community, where you can enjoy serene surroundings and access to drinking water and showers.
  • If you're looking for a more primitive experience, Caney Bend provides a great spot for tent camping with wildlife viewing opportunities and a boat ramp nearby.
  • Be prepared for a rustic stay at New Mannford Ramp, which offers basic amenities and is ideal for those who want to fish or kayak.

Tent campers should check out Whitetail Trail - North Fork

  • Enjoy lakeside access and a fire pit at Whitetail Trail - North Fork, where you can set up your tent in a secluded area surrounded by forest cover.
  • This campground is perfect for larger groups, as it can accommodate multiple tents if you park strategically.
  • With no other campsites nearby, you can relish the tranquility and privacy that Whitetail Trail - North Fork offers.

Explore local attractions while camping

  • While camping at Verdigris River, take advantage of the fishing opportunities and enjoy the beautiful wooded areas nearby.
  • If you're up for a bit of adventure, Sunset Bay allows for boat-in access, making it a great spot for those who enjoy water activities.
  • For a unique experience, check out Huge Great Bus Camping, where you can enjoy a swimming hole and the surrounding woods, perfect for a day of exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cleveland, OK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cleveland, OK is Three Ponds Community with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cleveland, OK?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Cleveland, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.