For those who want to get away from civilization for a weekend, but still want the comforts of home, consider renting a cabin for your Lawton camping trip. Cabin camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. You're sure to find the perfect cabin for your Oklahoma cabin camping excursion.
Located just 25 miles northeast of Lawton, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was established in 1901 to help preserve and provide habitat for native bison, Rocky Mountain elk, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys. It is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the United States, and consists of nearly 60,000 acres of natural grasslands, small lakes and river bottoms. Today, it is home to more than 50 species of mammals, 240 varieties of birds, 100 reptiles, amphibians and fish, and more than 800 types of plants. Visitors are invited to discover and observe many of these unique species by exploring the refuge’s Visitor Center and 15 miles of nature walks and hiking trails. There are also interpretive programs and guided tours available for learning about everything from the refuge’s wildflowers to its seasonal eagle population.
Visitors to the refuge are invited to stay in the Doris Campground, located near Quanah Parker Lake. This year-round campground offers a total of 90 campsites, ranging from drive-in tent and RV sites with electrical hookups, to more primitive, walk-in tent sites. There are also two group campsites, and a few ADA accessible sites. Sites are mostly wooded, and equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and cooking grills. Amenities include both flush and vault toilets, a shower building, water faucets, and waste receptacles; a dump station is available near the campground entrance. Backcountry camping is available in the Charons Garden Wilderness Area. Dogs are welcome on the refuge, but must remain leashed. Campsites are available first-come, first-serve only; rates are $8–$20/night.
Ten campgrounds with RV and tent sites are spread out over a large area of Fort Cobb Lake. There are 34 full-hookup sites with water, sewer and electric (modern), 245 sites with water and electric (semi-modern) and 99 tent (primitive) sites. Comfort stations with toilet facilities and showers are nearby.
Sunset Bay Marina on the East side of the lake features a gas dock, a small convenience store with drinks and snacks, boat slips and watercraft rentals. Fort Cobb Lake Store on the West side offers RV storage and a convenience store with groceries, snow cones, and a wide selection of bait.
Three group picnic pavilions with grills, water and electricity as well as a community building for groups, family gatherings, or intimate weddings. The air-conditioned and heated community building is equipped with a full service kitchen, inside bathroom and seating for up to 150 guests. An enclosed shelter with a screened porch great for small groups or family gatherings with seating for up to 50 guests is located on the West side in Eagle’s Nest campground. A stove, sink, and refrigerator are provided.
The 18-hole Fort Cobb Golf Course at the park has a diverse play area and is perfect for both the beginner and the avid golfer.
$16 - $38 / night
Fort Cobb State Park has 34 full-hookup RV sites and five cabins available for online reservations. Three of the cabins can sleep up to 6 people, while the two smaller cabins can sleep 4. Pets are allowed in select units for a small nightly fee. Primitive tent campsites are also available and must be reserved online. In addition to picnic pavilions, playgrounds and comfort stations, the park also features an enclosed shelter and community building, perfect for get-togethers, family reunions and intimate weddings.
Legend
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, Fort Sill, OK
Cabin 3 (both late June and mid-October)
Lake Elmer Thomas(LETRA) is a 334 acre lake located on Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma. LETRA offers a pretty nice location for recreating. Offering quite a bit for families in a limited space. •A nice beach and cordoned swim area, complete with restrooms and shower house(11a-7p)…lifeguards •Sand volleyball court •Watersport rentals: paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, pontoon boat •Mini golf course •Disc golf course •RV/Camper area •Rustic rental cabins •Random primitive tent camping •Fishing •Nearby off-base hiking(Mount Scott and the Medicine Park Wildlife Refuge) •Bicycling-ample quiet, paved road opportunities but surprisingly limited off road options
Tent Camping: there are no specifically designated loop or numbered site tent areas. Tenters are permitted to camp all along the lake’s edge in the grassy area. There are a few picnic tables and elevated charcoal grills(no ground fires permitted), so you may have to do without. There are also a few picnic tables under shelters, but half are in a state of disrepair and caution-taped off. Tenters cannot set up tents within the cabin rental inner circle.
The modern facility restrooms are across from the playground as you enter the cabin rental peninsula. Tent campers are able to utilize the shower house/restrooms in the RV/Camper section, as well as the beach areas during open hours. There is no ground cover to separate one tent from the next…all can be seen and heard.
RV/Camper Sites: big rigs are lined up side by side in a separate gravel loop immediately to the left of the entrance. Sites have water and electric hookups. The nicest shower house/restroom is located there. There is a small patch of grass between sites, picnic table and elevated charcoal grill. These sites are closest to the entrance, beach area, watersport rental and campground activities.
Cabin Rentals: log home rentals are on a small peninsula with great views of Mount Scott and Lake Elmer Thomas. At the time of this review, you must bring your own bedding linens/blankets, towels, etc. I would also recommend packing extra eating utensils, condiments and any other items that you would take camping. We rented Cabin 3, which the website says will sleep 4…inaccurate. One full size bed and a small futon will sleep two average-sized adults and one small child in marginal comfort. The table only provides two chairs, not four for two not four. I would subtract 1-2 persons on the cabins unless you count floor space. Cabin 3 was$80 nightly.
Painted turtles are in abundance around the lake, as are smallish ‘fist-sized’ tarantulas. Bicycling the Artillary Range perimeter roadways on base, coyote dash across in early morning hours. Note: you are on a military base, so there are a number of restrictions that you need to be aware of and abide by.
Additionally, the campground is positioned along the northern side of the Artillery range. Yes, you will see and hear C-Ram’s lighting up the sky randomly during the day and night hours, as well as other ordinance. I enjoyed the display and out-of-the-ordinary disruption. Think unanticipated fireworks.
Legend
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area(LERTA), Fort Sill, OK
Tent Site:$10 (both in June and October)
Spending a week in Lawton, OK there are only “so many” places you can camp…so we jumped around every night to try as many as we could. The weather was blistering hot and cloudless during the day with a constant strong breeze in June...(and unseasonably windy and bitter cold in mid-October). So both Lake Elmer Thomas and Lake Lawtonka were a welcomed respite. Technically, the only swimming permitted on Lake Elmer Thomas is 11:00a-7:00p with a daily pass of $8. However, they offer packages for military families and civilians should someone desire to take advantage of the season savings. For campers it’s all included in the site or cabin costs.
There is a separate RV/Camper Loop near the entrance and is a little lower so does not have Lake views. All cabins have lake views to some degree.
Tent sites are grassy areas along the campground roadway on either side, but are not numbered and cost$10 a night. All are first-come, first-served. Most will snatch up the sheltered picnic table areas with an elevated charcoal grill. Almost all are along the lake bank. There is no understory or shrubbery to provide privacy, so you can see and hear your neighbors.
During our stay, they were all young families and very respectful of others. Tent campers can utilize any of the restrooms as well as the showerhouse in the RV area.
There is enough to stay busy right here at LERTA. Canoe, kayak, paddle board and pontoon boat rentals to enjoy the lake. Fishing is permitted and schools of bluegill are seen along the shoreline. The water is incredibly clear. A very nice mini-golf course is located across from the offices. Sand volleyball is next to the beach area. The beach and swimming area is manned by lifeguards from 11:00a-7:00p and offers a huge restroom/showers/changing rooms building. Playgrounds are located in the RV/Camper loop, outside the beach area and along the tenting area before you reach the cabin rentals. An archery range is located across the roadway from the tenting/picnic areas.
The staff are very courteous and helpful. The entrance gate attendant will direct you (Entrance was manned in June but not in October). A bicycle event was taking place and LERTA was the halfway mark and turnaround point. So bicycling these sparsely traveled undulating roads was enjoyable. There are some two track worth exploring to the north of the roadway as well as a few other sizable lakes to fish in the area.
DO NOT venture south off the roadway. It is a clearly marked and active artillery range. Also of note, artillery range practice, though sporadic, takes place at any hour of any day. If you treat it like an unexpected fireworks display you’ll actually look forward to it.
I find the large resident flock of geese more annoying that the artillery….though the half minute displays were at 2359, 0245 and 0349…blasting you out of any REM cycle.
I was advised the tent spots rarely fill up, but RV/Camper and cabin rentals(adventure travel letra)fill up quickly so reservations are a must.
Things to do nearby: Definitely spend time in the Medicine Park Wildlife Refuge Area. Drive, bicycle, run or walk up Mount Scott(rock climbing is permitted on Mount Scott). Check out the hundreds of free roaming LongHorn’s, Bison and prairie dog towns. Coyotes, various snakes and tarantulas can be seen through these hills. Scores of fishable lakes dot the landscape. The Ferguson homestead still exists with its “cannonball” architecture. Chad's El Sabores Mexican Restaurant in Medicine Park is a fantastic little eatery on your way in or out of the Recreation Area. Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center is worth a visit and reasonably priced. Clarification: while this may or may not be true for every military base campground,
LERTA is open to civilians. However, there is a process. Passes must be acquired at the Visitor’s Center at the Sheridan Entrance (plan for an hour) for each adult over 16. You must have a valid/current Drivers License, Passport or other recognized government ID. They do a background check before you qualify for a pass. Also know, certain gates close at 7:00p…so keep track of your time of off-base.
The camp host rolled through during the evening before sunset to make sure all was well…and the military police made their rounds a few times during each day. Both of which I appreciate.
Would I return? Yes, if I’m traveling through these parts again, I wouldn’t hesitate to camp here again (and I did in mid-October, same year for military graduations)
Legend
A nice KOA right off I-44. Its far enough from the highway to not be bothered by the noise. Nice and grassy and large trees around the campground just not near the RV spots. Nice salt water pool and a little store with sundries. The cabins look very nice as well. It appears they are expanding and adding new sites and renovating as well. Playground for the kids and dog park for your pup. Expect to pay about $45 a night for an RV site. You can save 10% with your KOA membership.
Guide
A private company owns (I think) and operates the campground. It’s nice and clean with good amenities. It does fill up on weekends quickly. The campground itself isn’t what I go to WMWR for but I’m not at all disappointed by the campground. Lots of trees and wildlife. Bison can and do walk through the campground which unique and pretty amazing.
There’s lots to do in the Refuge like shorter and somewhat long hikes as well as fishing and non-motorized boating. Watching wildlife like the bison and prairie dogs are very entertaining and remarkable. The towns of Meers and Medicine Park have their unique offerings as well. WMWR is a fabulous place to get away for flatlanders....or anyone really.
Guide
In our opinion after coming from a really great campground with everything you need, this park didnt really rate too high on our scale. However, others might think differently. It was a great.campground for fishing (we dont fish). There is a store near where we were staying that catered to those fisherman. Also had a kitchen with several items on their menu. Boat rental is available. The pull through site we reserved was not paved. There was a kiddie park right across from our site that had spider webs all over it. A downer for those in tents, you have to pay for showers. There were handicap rv site near restrooms. Some wildlife, bugs (something Ive never seen before flew on me and gave me a nasty bite) the sites are really close together and traffic is heavy. Roads are thin. Picnic tables and fire ring was available at our site. The pier was pretty nice and we enjoyed watching the geese. There is a dump station just outside the exit across the street from park office. No full hook ups on our site. There looked to be some really nice sites right off the water, overlooking the lake. Not much shade where we were at even though I reserved a spot with shade, it only covered about half of our rig.
GuideMilitary CG on Fort Sill's base. Spent 5 weeks here. Scenery and base is beautiful. It's in the Wichita Mountains near Mt Scott and Medicine Park. Clean lake with paddle boat and kayak rentals. Mini golf, beach and water slides. Nice museum and Indian Cemetaries on base. Saw geese, fox, Coyotes, Buffalo, prairie dogs and rattle snakes.
All sites are pull through and fairly level. Full hookups with 30 & 50 amp service. Laundry room with 4 washers & dryers, $1 (when working). There is also a laundrette by the Commissary. Didn't use showers or restroom but checked them out. Ladies room was very dated and needs a really good cleaning.
There are a lot of long term rvs. Some not stayed in by the owners the entire time we were there. We didn't have any issue getting the site we reserved as someone mentioned in a previous review. The staff was nice when we asked to change our site to one with a better view.
Biggest con was absolutely no warning on their site that there is training going on all around the CG. If you have a Veteran with PTSD like I do prepare him/her that they shoot howitzer rounds at any given time. We had no clue and the 1st week there was a rough one for my DAV.
Do not use Letra Gate. It's closed. Ignore GPS and go to Apache Gate. Better yet set GPS for Apache Gate. It's the quickest route and you won't have to drive through the busy base and narrow roads.
LegendFor improved campground I have always found KOA to maintain a certain level of consistency so when I went on a fun trip with some friends to check out the “rumored Texas Chainsaw Massacre” community just north of Wichita Falls we wanted to check out the KOA there. Now while you are reading this and probably thinking, “WHY WOULD YOU GO THERE??” Keep in mind it is the rumored house and there is no factual proof that it actually is there, instead we found some really interesting other creepy things to go check out, because why not.
Anyway, back to the campground itself.
I was very impressed with the green space, a lot of this area was already starting to brown because of the heat, but they were still looking fresh and soft and that would make for a much better location for our tent. The site itself was just under $30, one of three options they offer which are all only about $4 in difference in pricing. We sprung for the middle option with electrical hook ups, not because we needed them but because after driving around we liked the look of that site a bit more. The deluxe sites they offered were taken but they had bbq grills and a more private tent area, this has been my favorite at several other KOA locations because of the amenities however this again was taken so that wasn’t an option.
We settled in and noticed that there were very nice amenities, the pool was amazing and perfect for a cool down on the warm day. KOA usually has this kind of amenity available as well as some outdoor activities you can enjoy like playground or sports courts. We were told they do observe quiet hours however if we wanted to swim a bit later as long as we were not loud we could do so. I would ask if this is ok before just getting out there and doing it however!!
The shower area was very close to the tent space we had selected and as often is at a KOA, one of my favorite features because they are more home like than a typical National or State Park campground. The water was warm and the pressure was very good!!
I noticed there were several what looked to be long term campers there in RVs. While I personally am not effected by this, it did make the area they were staying in a little less kept looking. They were not over by the cabins and tents however so it wasn’t that off-putting to me, but I could see how if that is an RV stayers view it could be kind of annoying.
I used the WIFI here and it worked great, sometimes the campsites are a bit to far away and thus don’t get good connection, however I was able to use wifi for typical functions, although I did not fully test it with uploading anything major.
TIPS
If you are interested in a Deluxe site book in advance there are very few and they go fast during heavy traffic seasons. Usually at this campsite there are tent sites which are walk in ready however.
Explore around the campground because they have some very interesting items if you are willing to just walk around and see them which are unique to this campground.
ScoutI love this area, my favorite part of Oklahoma. Doris Campground is nice. It has all the amenities you could ask for with the bonus of being next to some great hiking, fishing, wildlife and more.
Bathrooms are clean and the spots are well maintained.
TravelerThis so far is my absolute favorite place to camp in the northwest region of Oklahoma. At night you can hear elk. There is a variety of sites from RV, tents, and hike in sites. The park has free range elk, buffalo, and longhorn. Absolutely beautiful and has lots of sites but does fill up fast! Even in March and sometimes February!
RangerThe Wichitas are (in my humble opinion), by far the best place to be in Oklahoma. When my boyfriend took me camping there (he's an OK native), I was pressed to the glass looking at the buffalo. AMAZING. So much wildlife (make sure you stop to see the prairie dogs), and the mountains are amazing. There is no bad place to camp here, just make sure you go for a hike!
RangerThe Wichita Mountains is the park we frequent the most. It's only about an hour and a half from Oklahoma City and has really wonderful tourist center, trails, and campgrounds. The scenery of The Narrows, Charon's Garden, Elk Mountain, and the Holy City are wonderful. Doris Campground will fill up quickly on weekends, so reservations are suggested. Join 'Friends of the Wichitas' for exclusive tours of the private areas of the park and access to stargazing and wildlife events. Drive up Mount Scott for beautiful views of neighboring Lake Lawtonka, and wonderful sunsets.
GuideThe Wichita Mountains are absolutely one of my favorite places to explore in Oklahoma, but I would only take day trips out there without camping. It wasn't until I camped at the Doris Campground for the first time that I realized how lovely their campsites are. Clean, spacious, and beautiful, with ample parking, tent pads, and grills. The nearby facilities (including showers) were clean and well-stocked, and the hot water in the showers lasted for a long time. Payment was through the honor system. I drove past a non-staffed station where I put my money and my campsite info in an envelope and slipped it through a slot in the door.
Many thanks to the staff for providing a lovely campground for both new and returning visitors alike!
ScoutIt's a good little spot on the edge of town to go eat lunch, do some thinking, or fish for fun. Around the holidays it lights up and is just an all around good place to go for free
ScoutFort Sill has a lot of history to view. Great museums. Full hookups. Close to MT Scott and wildlife park. You can reserve a spot online but they will not save your spot for you. I visit yearly and have never gotten the spot I reserved.
GuideWell, the sites are very basic and there is a lack of trees. But there is a nice sandy beach area, waterslides, paddle boats and kayaks for rent, a restaurant and a playground in the camping area.
TravelerBeach is closed on Monday and Tuesday
TravelerDoris Campground is a cool little campground nestled in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. There are multiple areas to camp at Doris. The easiest way to reserve a site is to goto Recreation.gov and book online (This may be the only way, a lot about the booking process has changed in the last few years) There are two main campground areas with decently spaced but also high site density just past the information hut / entrance to the campground. A is immediately on the right after the entrance, it's a non electric loop and I believe (C?) is on the left just after the A loop with a loop of electric sites. There are also primitive campsites for tents further down the road and lake sites, as well as some more isolated sites spread throughout the campground and group camping areas. There are quite a few trees in the campground, but you can also see the sky fairly well. There are restroom buildings scattered throughout the campground and several shower areas. The campsites are almost all back in if you have a rig. There is zero cell phone reception, even with a booster. Many of the rig campsites have some sort of bench / picnic table and fire rings. There is a ton of wildlife in the area, and it is very peaceful.
RangerDoris campgrounds are only open for RV campers due to covid so I couldn’t stay. Mount Scott had some pretty awesome views and I hiked the trail across the road from it by the bathrooms. There is a gate and a path beside it made from vehicle wheels. You can hike pretty far. There are several spots where you cross a creek which was good for my dogs or I think they would have died by the way they were panting lol. It was 91 degrees when I hiked it. Take 2 water bottles for yourself if it’s hot out! The trail ends at a beautiful lake with the mountain in the distance. I walked down to the lake so the dogs could cool off and drink for a while. Def loved taking it all in. There’s cattle but they didn’t mind us one bit.
I did see camping in town right before the blue water towers, along the river/creek there are tent camping spots and a lot of people were fishing. It’s just over the bridge and you can miss it. It’s not on the app so thought I would mention it in my review and added some pics of that area!
TravelerOf course, Covid 19 has forced many places to make adjustments, and this is a trying time for all. That being said, this camp is inconsistent with its information online, on this app, and in person. Many amenities and even basic entry had conflicting information, and we were turned away after driving so far to get there. The maps they gave us were also unclear and poorly labeled. The park is beautiful and a must-see, but I’d feel better avoiding this site entirely.
GuideCamp Doris was as good as ever! Came for a short three day stay and had a wonderful time!
GuideThis is my go-to primitive campground when camping at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. It's always very clean, quiet, and well-maintained. Wild deer and turkey frequently cross through the nearby campsites and if you wake up early enough, you can listen to the sounds of bugling elk. The refuge often has a water boil advisory in effect, so be sure to bring plenty of potable water or boil thoroughly if you get it from the site. Beautiful refuge, and very peaceful and clean campsite. Highly recommended.
GuideCamped here in October 2017. It was very cold. We brought our dog. While setting up camp, a flock of turkeys came right up to us - about 12! The camp was easy to get to. The camp also had firewood and Ice available for self purchase. When you arrive, there is a visitors center we stopped at but not much to see there. We headed to the campground and there was a woman in a booth who you pay admission to and determine which campsites are open. The campsites themselves are large and give you lots of room to roam around to find twigs to use in your fire. Our site had a trail linked to it down to the lake. There's a picnic table at the site and fire ring. There's also a grill. The bathrooms are a short walk as well as a composting toilet. The campground was relatively calm and quiet. The hikes in the park were pretty decent and we saw buffalo roaming in the roads!
TravelerMay always be full but if you get there early enough the spots are so great. Can really say have never had a bad spot. The staff is great and helpful.
ScoutThe campgrounds were very well maintained, maps were very easy to navigate! I felt safe setting up my tent and leaving it for the day while our group went out to hike.
ScoutThis place is very well maintained and so close to all the trails in Wichita Mountains. Just started doing more outdoor activities and this was the first campground in the area I went to. Highly recommend visiting this place and checking out the Bison Trail
TravelerThe area is beautifully scenic and you will very likely see plenty of wildlife. We saw bison, elk and coyotes. We also enjoyed visiting the nearby town of Medicine Park.
TravelerBuffalo, deer, turkey, and more can be glimpsed here. Nearly Primitive camping in a gorgeous natural setting.
Experience the charm of cabin camping near Lawton, Oklahoma, where nature meets comfort in beautiful settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lawton, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lawton, OK is Camp Doris with a 4.5-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lawton, OK?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 cabin camping locations near Lawton, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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