Dispersed camping near Lawton, Oklahoma provides access to the rugged terrain of the Wichita Mountains, where elevations range from 1,150 to 2,464 feet. The area experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F from June through August, while spring and fall offer milder weather with periodic strong winds. Camping options include both military-managed areas requiring visitor passes and public recreation sites with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Doris Campground in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge serves as an ideal base for animal spotting throughout the 59,000-acre refuge. Visitor Rebecca N. shares, "Hands down one of my top favorite areas to be in. Loads of wildlife and loads of great trails to hike! Doris is the only campground to stay at if you want to be within the refuge."
Hiking on varied terrain: Multiple trails ranging from easy to difficult can be accessed directly from Doris Campground. A long-time visitor reports, "The 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."
Water recreation options: Rent watercraft at Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) on Fort Sill. The lake offers paddleboard, canoe, kayak and pontoon boat rentals, plus a swimming beach with lifeguards. One visitor noted, "A nice beach and cordoned swim area, complete with restrooms and shower house(11a-7p)…lifeguards. Watersport rentals: paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, pontoon boat."
What campers like
Mount Scott views: Sites at Lake Lawtonka East Campground provide direct views of this prominent 2,464-foot mountain. A camper shared, "Wonderful spot. We stayed for 3 nights, view of Mount Scott was amazing. Had our 2 golden retrievers with us and they loved the lake. Lots of fun! Be sure to take a drive out mount scott and check out the parallel forest!"
Lakefront camping: Many campsites near Lawton, Oklahoma offer direct water access, particularly at Lake Lawtonka East Campground. According to visitor Jenna L., "Plentiful campsites with several spots right on the lake! Fairly close rather and no way to book ahead but we definitely enjoyed the location!!"
Semi-primitive options: For those wanting a more rustic experience, Doris Campground provides tent sites with minimal amenities. A camper explains, "Doris has semi-primitive sites for tents with picnic tables and fire rings as well as electric sites with hookups. Some sites offer a view of Quanah Parker Lake. All sites at Doris are walk in."
What you should know
Military installation restrictions: When camping at Military Park Fort Sill Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, civilian visitors need to obtain passes. A camper advises, "LETRA 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."
Artillery training impacts: Military installations near Lawton conduct artillery training exercises that can create significant noise at any hour. One visitor at LETRA warns, "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... blasting you out of any REM cycle."
Water availability concerns: Some campsites near Lawton have ongoing water quality issues. At Doris Campground, a camper cautioned, "Please note that at the time of this review (3/2020) there is NO potable water anywhere in the WMWR. An e.coli contamination in 2017 is still not resolved and any an all water is considered unsafe, including all streams and lakes. Bring in your own water, the closest store is at least 30 mins away."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Triple Ace Campsites offers dedicated play spaces for children. A parent shares, "Easy to book, camp host messaged us when the site was ready and gave us directions on how to get hooked up. The host also sent us photos and info on things to do close by. very quiet campground, kid's play area (our boys played at it as much as they could)."
Weekend planning: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months and on weekends. A frequent visitor to Doris Campground observes, "Weekends at WMWR are very popular beginning early in the camping season making it difficult to find open spots by Friday evening. But that doesn't keep people from trying late into the night."
Security considerations: Some campsites provide better security oversight than others. At Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, a camper noted, "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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup details: Buffalo Bob's RV Park provides concrete pads and full hookups for RVs. A visitor explains, "It's a nice clean Park, easy in and out. It's on the plain side, but all the sites have concrete pads and a little bit of space between rigs. The bathrooms and laundry rooms are all clean and functional."
Leveling requirements: RV sites throughout the Lawton area vary in terms of leveling needs. One camper at Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area noted, "All sites are pull through and fairly level. Full hookups with 30 & 50 amp service."
Gate access information: When staying at military facilities, plan your arrivals carefully. A visitor to LETRA advises, "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."
