Stacie P.
Scout
ScoutLee Creek Public Use Area
A beautiful view
A beautiful place to relax, but very sketchy, wouldn't stay after dark. I've taken many pics down here, the scenery is beautiful.
Camping near Spiro, OK
156 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Spiro, Oklahoma include a mix of established sites and primitive areas along the Arkansas River and Robert S. Kerr Reservoir. Short Mountain Cove, located directly in Spiro, provides tent and RV camping with electric hookups and water access. Within a 20-mile radius, campers can find additional options like Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA offering cabin accommodations and glamping experiences, while Applegate Cove Campground provides boat-in access along with traditional camping areas. The region includes both Corps of Engineers managed properties and privately operated campgrounds with varying levels of amenities.
Camping in eastern Oklahoma follows seasonal patterns with most campgrounds operating from April through September. Short Mountain Cove specifically operates from April 26 to September 25, while nearby Cowlington Point maintains a May 1 to September 30 season. Many sites require reservations through recreation.gov or directly with campground offices, particularly during summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. The terrain around Spiro features a mix of forested areas and lakefront settings with moderate temperatures in spring and fall, though summer heat can be intense. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near larger towns like Sallisaw. A visitor noted, "The lake was not as clean as it was the last time I was there. They have a huge flock of geese that have made Lake Carlton their home this summer."
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the Spiro area, with several campgrounds offering direct access to fishing, boating, and swimming. Corps of Engineers sites like Applegate Cove and Short Mountain Cove provide boat ramps and swimming areas that receive consistent use during summer months. Campers report appreciating the shaded sites available at many campgrounds, which offer relief from Oklahoma's summer heat. According to one review, "The campground is heavily forested with pine trees and there are some sites right off the lake." Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between locations, with some offering modern amenities while others maintain more basic facilities. Visitors frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities, including deer, various bird species, and occasional bald eagle sightings around the waterways near Spiro.
Best Campgrounds near Spiro (156)
1. Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA
"They also have normal cabin rental and tiny home rentals that were perfectly positioned around campground and fishing pond. My only complaint would be that the sites are really compact."
"Also hiking trails. Also some tent sites. There is a whole new section for Class A and large 5th wheel campers now."
2. Springhill
"We camp here a lot because it's close to home. Very reasonable and easy access to bank fishing. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Offers shaded spots or some that are a little more open."
"Really nice campground you have two options in the A section you are right one a small river and one the B side it’s more of the wooded option but most sites have the Arkansas rive close by with mountain"
from $16 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. Applegate Cove Campground
"The ground was a bit hard to drive tent stakes into, but I'm attributing that to the weather and season until I visit again and disprove that."
"Right off the lake with awesome scenery. Couple who manages the place is really nice and helpful. Would stop here again."
4. Riverfront RV Resort
"It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office."
"It is located right along the river and is close to other attractions like Fort Smith and the US Marshall’s Museum (literally down the block)."
5. Short Mountain Cove
from $14 - $24 / night
Check Availability6. Cowlington Point
"Campground located on the Kerr Navigation Channel. Very clean and quiet campground!"
from $10 - $50 / night
Check Availability7. Lakeside RV Park
8. COE Robert S Kerr Applegate Cove
"Dump station is quarter of mile outside of campground. Main bathhouse is vented and clean. Lots of mature trees made for a great stay. Kerr lake was amazingly beautiful."
from $10 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Devil's Den State Park Campground
"The trails are great and our campsite had a path right down to the river. The water hookup was a bit tricky, it leaks all over the place until you turn it all the way."
"Devil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas. The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen. The facilities and amenities have been great. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. COE Robert S Kerr Short Mountain Cove
from $10 - $50 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 18 min from Fort Smith, AR
- 1 hr 5 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 33 min from Tulsa, OK
- 2 hrs 33 min from Hot Springs, AR
Recent Camping Photos near Spiro, OK
175 Photos of 156 Spiro Campgrounds
Kevin M.
Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA
Michelle W.
Springhill
Jennifer L.
COE John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake Springhill Campground
Leslie N.
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Heavener R.
Heavener Runestone Park
Kat M.
Clear Creek - Ozark Lake (AR)
Kerrie C.
Fort Smith-Alma RV Park
Missy G.
Cedar Lake Equestrian Campground
Cheryl T.
Flying Squirrel — Tenkiller State Park
Kelsey L.
Bluff View — Tenkiller State Park
Nate S.
Cedar Lake (Oklahoma)
Horizon M.
Marval Camping Resort
Recent Reviews near Spiro, OK
664 Reviews of 156 Spiro Campgrounds
Jenny
RangerSnake Creek
Decent place for lake stay
Quiet camping, restrooms are clean and have showers.
Site 10 was a nice site with 50 amp.
There was some sort of dumpster situation with new rollaways beside old dumpsters. Old dumpsters looked like were attempted to be taped up but they were used and overfilled with trash. So full that trash was flying around the park at times. Not sure what the situation was.
- JennyRanger
pathfinder rv resort
New, clean RV park
New park with young trees (so not much shade yet), pond for fishing and a walking trail around it. Large clubhouse is where the bathhouses are with four individual bathrooms with showers, laundry facility, propane for sale and a nice pool.
- JennyRanger
Lake Fort Smith State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Clean state park. We enjoyed the trails, kayak rental at the marina. Other amenities include nice bathhouses and a pool.
Headgear7
GuideCookson Bend
Pretty good park
The campground is quite nice overall, but the bathrooms and showers need to be updated, as they are somewhat outdated. The tent sites are close to the bathrooms, and the pads are flat and framed with either wood or steel rails. They offer electricity but no water at the pad, although water is available at a central location. The travel trailer sites offer water and electricity, and you can park your boat on the shoreline.
- JJon L.Guide
Riverfront RV Resort
A Hidden Gem
We needed an overnight spot on our way from Oklahoma to NW Arkansas, and I'm glad that we picked this park. It's located right next to the Arkansas River with a nice concrete walking trail along the river. Parking for registration is located right next to the office. All the park staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful.
The road from the highway to the park is fairly easy to navigate for any size rig. The same inside the park; it's well-marked and easy to navigate. Even though it's not too far from the main road, we didn't hear any traffic noise at all- very peaceful. However, you will hear occasional train horns from the crossing a few miles away. You'll only hear them when outside your RV, never inside.
We were assigned to pull-thru site number 44. All the sites are concrete and appear fairly level. Our site was level side to side, and 5 inches from front to rear. There are no shade trees for the majority of the park sites. Power, Water, and Sewer were all conveniently located, and the power supply had no issues at all. We use a power management system, and all electrical parameters were spot on during our stay. Water pressure was very good, and the in-ground sewer connection was conveniently located. There is also a picnic table located at each site.
Bathrooms, Showers, and the pool are all located near the registration office building and are in great shape. There are no trash cans by the sites- just a dumpster area near the dog park and playground. However, they do come by your site each morning to pick up any trash that you've set out.
Wi-Fi, Satellite, OTA: there is decent Wi-Fi in the park with repeater towers spaced approximately every four sites, so each site has a fairly strong signal- we achieved 9.52 Mbps down and 2.02 Mbps up. We got AT&T 5G with 4 bars and achieved 512 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. If you need clear access for satellite reception, trees will not be an issue. Also, you can pick up plenty of OTA stations with good HD quality reception.
Dog Park: They have a nice fenced-in park that is in great condition and is well lit at night. They provide doggie bags and a trash can, both in the dog park and along the walking paths.
Amenities: Lots of items are listed on their website.
Summary: A great place for an overnight or an extended stay. The park is only a couple of years old and is very well maintained. Only about 15-20 percent of the spaces were occupied. Note that sites 100- 115 are along the river. There is a concrete public walking path along the river, but those sites are elevated above the path, with a grass and tree buffer zone between them. There are a couple of covered pavilions in the park with built-in gas grills and comfortable seating areas. The park map provides a very accurate rendition of the park. See my attached photos for more details.
This park deserves its high rating, and I do not hesitate to recommend it - enjoy your stay!
- Headgear7Guide
Cookson Bend
Great lake to be on
I enjoyed my stay, although I wish the bathrooms and showers were more modern. There is a swimming area and plenty of space to bring your boat ashore close to your campsite. They offer a few tent sites, but mostly RV sites.
Lindsay T.GuideAux Arc
Good for an overnight
Pretty much your typical COE campground. Pretty area (right on the Arkansas River!) well maintained sites. All of them are paved which is great. Wouldn’t want to stay too long here if we didn’t have a working bathroom in our trailer because the ones here, while clean, are pretty old.
Tammy J.ScoutAffordable primitive camping, near Lake Ft. Smith, south of Devil's Den State Park
Peaceful, laid-back
Tent camping October 2024. It was a nice change from camping at busy state parks. Its private land and a relaxed judgement free experience.
Guide to Spiro
Campgrounds around Spiro, Oklahoma sit within the Arkansas River Valley, with most locations below 500 feet elevation in gently rolling terrain. Several campgrounds operate on a reservation system through recreation.gov, particularly Corps of Engineers (COE) sites that maintain strict 14-day maximum stays within any 30-day period. The area experiences significant temperature variations, with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F and winter overnight temperatures dropping below freezing.
What to do
Fishing from mini docks: Short Mountain Cove provides dedicated fishing platforms right at waterfront sites. According to one visitor, "Mini docks at sites make it nice for fishing. The sites are close to water," making it convenient for anglers to cast lines without leaving their campsite.
Explore Viking history: Heavener Runestone Park offers unique historical exploration alongside camping. A visitor explained, "The history around the Runestone is so interesting, the kids loved hearing about the Vikings. The hiking was beautiful and just challenging enough to be fun while accessible for little kids."
Water activities beyond boating: At Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA, kayaking options provide alternatives to motorized boats. As one camper noted, "Lots to do here at this conveniently located spot. Basketball hoop, pool and hot tub, pond with kayaks, and more."
What campers like
Multiple bathroom facilities: Applegate Cove Campground maintains separate bathroom buildings with different conditions. A recent visitor advised, "The main bathhouse is vented and clean," though they recommended checking which facilities are open during your stay.
Winter camping opportunities: While most Corps of Engineers campgrounds close seasonally, some private campgrounds remain open year-round. At Heavener Runestone Park, winter campers reported, "We stayed here for one night in late December. It was a Sunday and we had the whole campground to ourselves... It smelled amazing and the ground was covered in a thick bed of pine needles."
Cell service alternatives: When staying at campgrounds with limited connectivity, local shuttle services can be valuable. At Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA, one visitor highlighted, "A shuttle runs that is wheelchair accessible that will take you into town for Wal-Mart runs and more."
What you should know
Shared water hookups: At some Corps of Engineers sites, water connections aren't available at every site. A camper at Applegate Cove noted, "Water was to be shared with neighbor site, so why am I paying full price. Pretty stupid. Dump station is quarter of mile outside of campground."
Seasonal facility closures: Bathroom and shower facilities may close without notice during off-peak periods. One visitor at Springhill campground reported being "told showers and restrooms available then suddenly they closed the facilities without notice," affecting their camping experience significantly.
Accessibility challenges: Many campgrounds in the area have terrain limitations. At Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA, a visitor cautioned, "This campground is nice but not really wheelchair friendly. The road was really large rock that is very bumpy and uncomfortable to wheel over."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity considerations: When camping with children at Heavener Runestone Park, site selection matters for both convenience and quiet. One visitor suggested, "I suggest getting there then choosing your own spot since there is a kids playground right next to the camp ground."
Site safety for cliff areas: At elevated campgrounds, not all sites are suitable for families with young children. A parent advised about Heavener Runestone Park, "Out of the three cliff tent sites I would say only 1 was safe for kids, 2 and 3 were too close to the cliff (beautiful views though)."
Pavilion advantages during storms: Covered areas provide valuable protection during unpredictable weather. A family camping at Heavener noted their site "has a covered pavilion which helped us in the rain and a brief storm."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At Springhill campground, RVers should prepare for uneven pads. One camper reported, "Our concrete pad at site A5 had a bit of an incline, and it looked to be the case for some others as well, but I can't speak for all."
Big rig navigation: Several campgrounds have access limitations for larger vehicles. At Springhill, an RVer cautioned, "Some sites are a little uneven. And some sites are tough to get a 41ft 5th wheel into."
Full hookup availability: Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds near Spiro offer electric and water only. For full hookups including sewer, Riverfront RV Resort provides complete services along with additional amenities. A visitor noted, "Full Hookups, level sites (mostly gravel but level), shop with souvenirs and RV gadgets. The office also has a gameroom, pantry, and propane."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Spiro, OK?
What camping is available near Spiro, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, Spiro, OK offers a wide range of camping options, with 156 campgrounds and RV parks near Spiro, OK and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Spiro, OK?
Which is the most popular campground near Spiro, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Spiro, OK is Sallisaw-Fort Smith West KOA with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Spiro, OK?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Spiro, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Spiro, OK.
What parks are near Spiro, OK?
What parks are near Spiro, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 parks near Spiro, OK that allow camping, notably John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake and Pine Creek Lake.
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