Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Guymon, OK

The Cimarron Grassland is an amazing part of the Great Plains ecosystem and definitely worth a look when driving through the southwest corner of Kansas. It will not be what you’re expecting! The sunrises alone are worth the price of admission, which was just $7 per night.

Just off the park driving tour road, this little campground sits between small ponds in a larger wetland area within the Cimarron River. Each site is spacious with the usual picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Vault toilets and potable drinking water are available all year round, we just had to wait for the faucet to thaw after freezing up overnight.

The area is fantastic for bird lovers, and we watched flocks of Starlings tuck themselves into the marsh grasses for the night. Raptors, warblers, and many other bird species use the area as a fly-over stop during migration. Hiking is close by on the Sante Fe Trail which follows the original path of the old wagon trail through the plains, biking and other motorized recreational vehicles are allowed in certain areas. While the terrain might not be challenging, the sandy soil makes any long walk or ride just a little bit more difficult.

The nearby town of Elkhart affords the usual amenities for groceries, gas, and a few restaurants. The National Grassland office is also in town if you want more information about the area. Check out our blog about our time traveling through southern Kansas...and unexpected treat!

They have a great nature walking trail that is well mowed. Good for young kids. Go here to get away. There is no cell service unless. You drive up to the top of the dam. We camp behind the dam. It is quiet and has good patches of grass on most sites for tents. The showers and bathrooms are well maintained and always clean. I wanted to deduct a star for lack of swimming area at the lake but this isn’t really their fault; the drought has been rough. Bring baseball equip if you are staying a while, or frisbees. They have a frisbee golf course and lots of room for baseball or other sports.

You wouldn’t believe it when you’re approaching it, since it seems near a road and behind the train tracks, and it seems to be near a refinery. But this 16-site, city-run park and campground is the kind of place I had been hoping to run across on my long drive. It has shady spots in an area where shade is a rarity. It’s a little protected by its location near the river, which is great.

It has hot showers and flush toilets, and did I mention hot water? There are park facilities like a play structure and lots of green grass. And it’s clean! At this writing, the fee ranges from $5 to $15 per night.

The site manager was extremely helpful and pleasant. It was worth calling ahead to let him know I was coming. (620) 626-0531