McGee Creek State Park and surrounding areas offer rustic cabin camping options about 10 miles west of Lane, Oklahoma. The area sits at approximately 725 feet elevation in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, with a humid subtropical climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. Seasonal rainfall patterns impact water levels at Hugo Lake and McGee Creek Reservoir, affecting fishing conditions throughout the year.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: McGee Creek State Park features extensive fishing access along the shoreline. "McGee Creek is a great park if you enjoy camping and fishing with plenty of opportunity to do so both from the shore line and a boat," notes one visitor at McGee Creek State Park.
Hiking trails: Explore the natural areas through established trail systems. "There are a ton of hiking trails that lead to backpacking campsites, equestrian camps and there are boat in sites as well," explains a visitor to McGee Creek State Park. At Clayton Lake State Park, one camper mentioned, "We took a hike around part of the lake but the trail was pretty much unmarked."
Kayaking: Multiple locations offer water recreation opportunities. "I love swimming and kayaking in the cool water," shares a McGee Creek camper. At Eisenhower State Park, visitors appreciate "great hiking trails and the amazing beauty of the outdoors. The lake is pretty and probably fun to fish or boat on."
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Several parks offer more private options away from crowds. "We camped at tent hill #3. The thing we really liked about this particular site was that there are only 4 tent sites here, so it's secluded and nice and quiet," shares one McGee Creek camper. Another visitor to McGee Creek mentioned, "This is definitely my all time favorite. I stayed at 'tent t hill' primitive area. Spot number 3 and it was PERFECT! Wooded area, quiet, peaceful."
Stargazing opportunities: The minimal light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. A visitor to McGee Creek notes, "There is no lights around the lake except at the park. Star gazing is amazing." At Lake Bonham Recreation Area, a camper shared, "This place is really dark at night and some campsites are very private. You can see so many stars."
Swimming areas: Several parks maintain designated swimming beaches. "There is another area about 1.5 miles away called Buster Height campground. This is where the swim beach and another boat dock is," explains a McGee Creek visitor. At Lake Bonham, a camper mentioned, "There's a basketball court and kayak rentals. There's a fishing pier and lots of covered tables and grills and it's a nice Sandy Beach."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Availability and quality of restrooms varies significantly between parks and camping areas. At Hugo Lake Park, "the grounds were awesome and the full bathroom/showers were spotless," according to one visitor, though they noted issues with insects. At McGee Creek, primitive areas have limited facilities: "What we didn't like is that there is only a pit toilet and no water faucets. There is a real bathroom with a shower about a 10-15 minute walk away."
Reservation requirements: Most cabin accommodations require advance booking. "We rented a resort cabin for a night in May of 2020. We opted for one of their 16 'resort' cabins," explains a Hugo Lake visitor. These larger cabins differ significantly from the camping huts at other parks.
Weather considerations: Seasonal conditions impact the camping experience. A camper at Hugo Lake noted, "Water leaked in from the front door all over the living room floor. (However, it was raining super hard that day)." At Riverview RV and Recreational Park, visitors appreciate the "level pads, full hookups and a view of the river."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas for children. At Hugo Lake, visitors mention "a picnic pavilion near the swim beach. It had good quality tables and a nice grill and was next to a playground." At Lake Bonham, a camper shared, "There are plenty of things for a family to do while camping at Bonham State Park! Hiking, fishing, boat rental and best of all Smors cooked over a roaring camp fire!"
Beach activities: Designated swimming areas provide safe water recreation. A visitor to K River Campground noted, "The river was low but very enjoyable. The only annoyance were the multitude of ATVs using the campground roads and the river bed instead of sticking to the ATV trails."
Safety considerations: Parks maintain different security measures. "The park is monitored by state police throughout the day and night and that is good to keep the trouble away," explains an Eisenhower State Park visitor. McGee Creek has a sign-in system for hikers: "You have to sign in when you go hiking back country. I went hiking in the winter and because I took a trail that was new to me I was 5 minutes late getting back to the Ranger Station and when I came out of the Forest there was a search team assembling."
Tips from RVers
Site conditions: RV pads vary in quality and hookup options across parks. At K River Campground, "The rv spots are shaded. Electric and water but no sewer if you're close to the river which we were," notes one visitor. Another camper mentioned, "Lots of tall trees plus some open areas. Trees will not block canopies or pull outs!"
Connectivity options: Cell reception and Wi-Fi availability differs between locations. At Hidden Grove RV Resort, "WiFi still needs to be setup but cell coverage works." At Riverview RV, a visitor noted, "No WiFi or many local TV channels. I show 5G and 2 bars on Att phone."
Security features: Some RV parks offer additional security measures. Riverview RV has "gated security, general store, propane and shower houses." Another visitor confirmed this aspect, noting it provides a "quiet and secure" environment, making it "a great place for extended stay."
