Best Tent Camping near Keyes, OK

Stayed in September, lots of goat head stickers. So those with pets be aware. Great campsites, bathrooms really nice (we rooftop tent camp). We stayed in the no lights area. Such an amazing view of the stars! We were lucky with a clear night. It’s a don’t miss if you are passing through!

I would give it 5 stars but the bathrooms weren’t very clean and there was no soap. But it does have great tent sites and lots of RV sites. Has a small playground with swings and a merry go round. A few good trails. We saw turkey and deer at the campground. Close to a few nice sites to visit. Black Mesa trail to the highest point in Oklahoma, the tri state marker, and picture canyon about an hour away in Colorado. And maybe the best part, no mosquitos!

Petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, incredible wildlife, and of course the awe-inspiring night sky. Plan your trip during a new moon for best results.

Campground has showers, flush toilets, private tent sites, and a nice swimming spot.

A little hard to navigate but be sure to bring the high clearance vehicle and you’ll be fine.

For nostalgia, we decided to stay at Black Mesa…just as we did 30 years ago. We had such a delightful (tent) camping experience in 1991 that we wanted to take our family back in our RV. The ranger checked us in and narrowed down the list of RV sites to choose from. We ultimately chose #13, near the office/WiFi. Everyone enjoyed that! (No cell service though to let family know we arrived safely.) Water and electric was on the opposite side. Kind of weird; but we made it work as our power was long enough to reach. Bath house (womens) had 2 restroom stalls and 2 separate bath stalls with curtains, hook and a small metal table. (1 was handicap accessible with ramp and shower hose.) Water was warm. Tile was rust stained, from well water, I suppose. Needed to be cleaned a bit; but was not terrible. (Didn’t smell and had plenty of tp.) Cool tree growing inside a giant rock. Picnic bench placed in between where rock had split. (near bath house) Overall, nice stay even though we didn’t stay long enough for activities.

This is the best and just about the only camping area if you want to visit the Black Mesa Preserve, which somewhere around 15-30 minutes away by car. There are many tent and RV sites in the creek area, and there is a bathroom here, though it feels like a high school locker room, wasn't very clean, and didn't have soap (during the coronavirus pandemic, so this was a little upsetting). There are tent sites in the lake area, which is a short drive from the main camping area. 

There was a camp host there to guide us, and she was very friendly and helpful. 

Thankfully, this site now doesn't turn on its street lights, so you can see the stars in all their glory! This is the darkest skies in the continental US, so I was so happy to hear they've finally shut off their street lights. View of the Milky Way is stunning from here.

The creek was dried up when we were here. But we saw a fox, a couple deer, rabbits, and many bird species.

YOU MUST go visit the Preserve. The scenery is gorgeous, and you can find dinosaur track fossils, and ancient native peoples rock carvings, if you know where to look. Also check out the tri-state marker, and continue maybe 100 yards beyond it to see an older original marker. Bring loads of sunscreen and look out for snakes.

Black Mesa State Park in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Farthest point you can go in the panhandle and it borders Colorado and New Mexico. It’s the only part of Oklahoma that’s on Mountain Time.
The park was great. We stayed in a tent but also had a trailer that we carried everything in so we were able to stay in a RV spot. We went in the summer and it was not crowded at all. Most others stayed a night or two, but we stayed 4 or 5 days. By the weekend more people were coming in. There was electric and water at our site but I don’t remember if they had sewage hookups as we didn’t use that. There are restrooms on site. The showers could have used a real good scrubbing but were usable. The park ranger maintained the grounds well. The views are gorgeous and if you get up during the night to see them, the stars you can see out there are amazing!! There are some trails to hike around the camp and even some fossilized wood. There is a lake right there too and at least one lookout spot over it which was perfect at sunset. We hiked Black Mesa and took a trip into New Mexico to see Mount Capulin Volcano. The park was peaceful and beautiful. Not a lot of shade trees but there were some areas in the campground that had some. A great experience. We definitely want to go back.

Rolling hills and cliffs, mostly shrubs. Nice easy hiking trails and lots of wildlife, perfect place for all the dino-loving kiddos in your life. Was pretty empty when we were here in May, it’s isolated in a great way. Lovely sunsets. Pretty windy, make sure you have a decent tent (not a $30 dome tent). State park so the facilities were basic and pretty clean like I expected.

This is a small park but has some really nice views. This is a great place to stop for a day or two as you are traveling. There is a place to see dinosaur tracks and also 3 corners (Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma). Highest point in Oklahoma, but you wouldn’t know it. When you get on top of the flats you can see for a ways! Watch for snakes on the trails but worth the early morning or late evening hike.

Camped at the west canyon tent area and it was great. I was the only one there and the stars were beautiful

Quick, one-night stopover. Adequate for what I needed. Toilets, but no shower or water. One big rig was there when I arrived, and a cartop tent camper arrived after dark. Again, fine for me in my teardrop.

Nice, quiet campground with good facilities! Short drive to the actual trailhead of the highest point in Oklahoma. Also, dinosaur tracks! I had zero cell service in the area, which was fantastic, but be sure to plan for it! Plan for heat and take plenty of water if you go on the High Point hike.

As Oklahoma's highest point of elevation, Black Mesa is a bucket list destination for any Okie. Well maintained campgrounds, restrooms, and amenities. Very little light pollution, so the starscapes are always beautiful. Campsites are located outside of the actual 'Black Mesa', but a short drive will get you to the trailhead. Trail is simple and easy to follow. Near the trail head is also 3-corners, and fossilized dinosaur footprints. Definitely worth a visit.

Like some other reviews have said, the state park isn't at Black Mesa...just near it.

The area itself has plenty of cool things - Black Mesa, wonderful changing views, dinosaur tracks, petrified forest. Some of those things are at the state park, others are "nearish".

The campground itself - well, when I showed up I wasn't very impressed. Facilities are outdated and not well cared for. I don't blame the people working there. Probably just a funding thing, especially being so far from the population and capitol of Oklahoma. It's a shame because a lot of people pass through this corner and it might be their only impression of Oklahoma.

But friendly neighbors, great evening weather and some nice star watching despite thin clouds made me warm up to the place.

Some spots are have big nice shade trees, but with all the star watching you might actually want a spot without trees.

No Verizon service but AT&T was strong enough to FaceTime with.

Next time I come back to the area - and I hope to - I will check out camping options at some of the nearby bed and breakfasts. Would love to see the state invest a little in this camp. I don't think it would take much.

Was heading through Texas to Utah and stopped here for the night. It’s a small picnic area that has plenty of space for tents, but not suitable for large RV’s.

Drove there in a small Chevy Sonic so any car will make it.

Pros:

• Small and secluded so not many people will be there
• Has lots of picnic tables and grills
• Clean Vaulted Toilets
• Has trash cans

Cons:

• Lots of bugs and flies swarming you
• No water fill up
• Extremely dewy mornings

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!

Lovely camping in the National Cimarron Grasslands. Peaceful beauty all around. Only one other camper. Highly recommend if you are looking for off the beaten path. Vault toilets and water.