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Best Tent Camping near Pawhuska, OK

231 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities near Pawhuska, Oklahoma include several established campgrounds with varying amenities and settings. Caney Bend campground offers primitive tent camping with access to Copan Lake via a boat ramp, while Huge Great Bus Camping provides a more remote experience with swimming holes and wooded surroundings approximately 6 miles west of Ramona. Verdigris River also maintains tent camping sites, though these are primarily used by anglers accessing the dam and fishing areas.

Most tent sites around Pawhuska feature basic amenities with variable facilities depending on location. Huge Great Bus Camping provides primitive sites but allows fires and features picnic tables. Verdigris River campsites include trash collection, fire rings, and picnic tables but lack drinking water and restroom facilities. Campers should prepare for self-sufficient camping at most locations, bringing adequate water supplies and waste disposal options. The camping areas generally remain open year-round, though seasonal considerations like summer heat and spring storms may affect comfort levels.

Tent campers seeking privacy should consider which sites best match their needs, as some locations offer more seclusion than others. At Verdigris River, the camping spaces near the entrance are closely situated, while those farther back provide more separation and wooded surroundings. For those seeking water recreation, both Caney Bend and Verdigris River offer boat access and fishing opportunities. The backcountry tent sites at these locations attract wildlife viewers and stargazers. A visitor noted, "Beautiful night sky. I gave this site four stars because even though it was a nice experience it wasn't anything special, in my opinion." Most walk-in tent sites remain lightly used even on weekends, allowing for quieter camping experiences away from developed areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Pawhuska, Oklahoma (12)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pawhuska, OK

2 Photos of 12 Pawhuska Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Pawhuska, OK

231 Reviews of 12 Pawhuska Campgrounds

  • J
    Aug. 28, 2023

    Lake Ponca Campgrounds

    Beautiful little campsite overlooking the water

    New restrooms/showers and electric RV sites with shared water for $25. Park RV on asphalt facing campsite. Tent camping area is $15 has picnic tables but no electricity or water and restrooms/showers are on other side of campground. Signs everywhere saying “No tent camping in this area.” But if you pay online for RV site, you can use tent or RV but not both (per Ranger Joe).

  • Analia F.
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Bluestem Lake

    Blast!

    This campground was super cool because it was a little "out dated" but it made it cozy! So many beautiful trees and walking paths that it made the stay great. We would get up in the morning and do a short hike that was nearby, and then finish it off with one of the walking paths around the campground, then had breakfast. It was a great way to start the day. They offer RV sites as well as small cabins you can rent. My family and I took our RV, and had a blast. The sites were big enough for the RV and had a picnic table and fire ring within the site. We didn't feel like we were right on top of our neighbors either which was nice. There is a lake within walking distance, so we would head down there during the day. Dogs are allowed, but need to be on leashes. We brought our dog and he had a blast in the lake. They have a volleyball court set up as well as horse shoes which was fun! You can also rent stand up paddle boards from the front desk to take down to the lake. They also have a club house that has a pool table, although we didn't partake in this. There is an area where you can do laundry too, which we thought was pretty cool. This is definitely considered "glamping" to us :) There is also a boat launch if you need that too. We caught some really awesome weather while we stayed here which made the trip amazing! We will definitely be back.

  • Karen T.
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Bull Creek Peninsula

    Quiet, lots of shade, easy to get to, great roads

    First time here, absolutely love it! The roads look like they've recently been blacktopped. Very easy to get to. Lots of shade, but there's sun if you want it. Beautiful lake view from my site. Clean vault toilet. No water available anywhere tho, which lowered my review to 4. No electric or dump station, so come prepared.

  • Richard
    May. 1, 2021

    Osage Hills State Park Campground

    Osage Hill

    We tent camped here at Tent Hill site C. Had a grassy site which was nice. It was kind of close to D but we had good neighbors. Also, one of the benches at the picnic table was gone. Maybe it was an ADA site. Had a fire ring and lantern pole. Just across the road from the bathroom.

    There are some good trails here. But they are in the process of making some changes and the maps are only partially accurate for the time being. We hiked to the old CCC camp and saw some old buildings and stuff.

    There is a playground at the bottom of the hill. It’s a bit of a trek back up.

    I suggest hiking down to the “waterfalls” on the river and spending some time.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2017

    Birch Cove

    Birch Cove Recreation Area

    This is a nice, newer feeling recreation area with a large lake for boating, fishing and water sports. The campground is large with several loops and sites on and off the lake. Most of the sites on the lake were taken by RV'ers, with most tent campers choosing sites up the hill away from the lake (and lake noise). I was in site 44 which backs up to the woods (making it easier to gather downed wood for my fire and cooking). I thought I was going to have the back end of the loop all to myself, but lucky me, someone with a camper decided to be my next-door neighbor. Sigh. It was a fairly nice site with a paved parking pad, picnic table, grill, and fire ring, with plenty of level space for my tent and trees for my hammock. The trees provided a nice wind break from the relentless Oklahoma winds. The shower house on my loop (there was one on each loop and it seemed like a few spare mixed in) was clean and maintained daily. The actual shower portion had two stalls, one handicap accessible, and both with a few resident spiders. Speaking of wildlife, there were plenty of deer in the field in the evening and several turtles and snakes hanging out in the late afternoon. All sites had electric and there was a shared water pump for every two sites. The Recreation Area had a manned gate house and the campground host manning it was very nice and helpful. There weren't any hiking trails in the campground, but then again, its main claim to fame is the lake. If you are looking for things to do in the area, Pawhuska is home to Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman from the cooking channel. Her store and restaurant are in Pawhuska and its a pretty good place to get breakfast or lunch.

  • Charley M.
    Sep. 4, 2019

    Cowely county fishing lake

    Leave no trace

    Let’s keep this lake and all other lakes and parks clean. Pick up after yourselves. Practice “leave no trace” leave the area Better than you found it, for the next person can enjoy.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 24, 2018

    Keystone State Park Campground

    Close to town; main spot for boaters

    As a typical Oklahoma State Park, this campground is what you would expect. Built in the 50's and very few upgrades, it remains as a mostly RV/ Boaters park. Many family's go here for the shore line swimming and boating opportunities. The bathrooms are okay but haven't been updated but you don't have to worry about vault toilets. I would suggest bringing soap. Since we tent, it is fairly easy finding a level spot but they do not have platforms or any premade sites to set up. Some sites do have fire rings but most do not but they do have tables. This has always been a good spot for bringing our beginning camping friends to get them introduced to camping before any longer camping trips.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2022

    Blue Creek

    Enjoy many activities!

    General: Blue Creek is one of four campgrounds operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Oologah Lake (the others are Spencer Creek, Red Bud, and Hawthorn Bluff). It is divided into three sections: one with electric hookups (Sites 14-35) and two without (Sites 1-11 and 36-61, with Sites 54-61 that can be used as a group area). On a weekday in early May, the section with electric was full but we had the section with sites 36-61 entirely to ourselves. Sites 1-11 are good for boaters as they are near the boat ramp, however, the sites are not as well delineated (the picnic tables have the site numbers on them and cars park wherever). Since COVID, reservations are required but as with all other CoE campgrounds, the fees are extremely reasonable ($20 for electric,$16 for non-electric and half-price for seniors). 

    Site Quality/Facilities: It is often impossible to determine the best site when reserving but after arriving, we discovered that Site 55 was not going to work for us. It had a very short sloping half-circle drive and after 10 minutes of maneuvering, it was obvious there was no way we were going to be level. It was also rocky so it would be challenging for tents. This site is the furthest away but near the spot where many fish so it will not be as quiet as you might expect. Fortunately, we were able to switch sites (no one else was there!) and Site 42 was much better and like many others, had a large semi-circular drive. Many sites had a covered concrete pad with a large concrete picnic table, utility table, and lantern hook. There was a dump station, but it was coned off when we were there; we did not need it so I did not ask when/if it would be available. 

    Bathhouse: The sections without electricity have vault toilets, which were clean, but the flush toilets/showers are within a reasonable walking distance. These were very clean. Soap but bring your towel. 

    Activities/Amenities: Aside from fishing and boating, there are many activities you can enjoy here including volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and basketball. When the gate attendant is there, you can check out supplies for these activities. There is also a hiking trail. We saw a few people kayaking. Horses are allowed in the group camping section (Sites 54-61). 

    Perhaps it is because we had an entire section to ourselves, but we had a relaxing and peaceful stay here and would definitely return.

  • B
    Mar. 17, 2025

    Hawthorn Bluff

    Had to adapt

    Once arriving at the camp site, I discovered that the sites near the lake were very sloped making it a little difficult to find a flat spot to set up a tent. I talking to one passer-by, who was unfortunately house-less at the time, who explained that Hawthorn Bluff does not charge for camping until April 1st. I paid for my campsite as the website did not state this. I'm not upset by this because I know the fees will help maintain the park. However, this makes for some very interesting campers. The couple next to our site were having a domestic dispute where the lady sped off in her car after cussing her partner out for some time. She returned later with an 18 pack, one in her hand, and thankfully they seemed to have made up. This was hard to explain to my young kids who witnessed the whole exchange. Since they were not charging for campsites during my stay, the showers were locked and not opened as well as another restroom. There was only one opened restroom on the opposite side of the park and it had beer cans and other trash in it. 

    Nice views of the lake, but I think I'll cross this one off my list for next time.

Guide to Pawhuska

Tent campsites near Pawhuska, Oklahoma offer diverse options beyond developed state parks. The area sits within the Cross Timbers ecoregion where eastern woodlands transition to western prairies, creating varied camping environments. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing, while summer brings highs above 90°F with significant humidity, requiring seasonal preparation for primitive camping.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Verdigris River campground, anglers can access prime spots directly from their sites. "This side of the dam is for fishing. Spent many many MANY nights going night fishing with my family growing up and it was always so much fun!" notes Jennifer D. about Verdigris River.

Swimming in natural settings: The swimming hole at Huge Great Bus Camping provides a refreshing option during hot Oklahoma summers. Ken R. describes it as "Primitive but upgrades coming. Tents, campers, cars, and RVs allowed."

Boating access: Several campgrounds provide direct water access for various watercraft. "This small campground is perfect if you are tent camping and need a quick place to stop and rest for a day or two. Oologah Lake is beautiful and the hiking trails are beautiful!" shares Lisa H. about her experience at Verdigris River.

What campers like

Secluded camping options: At Three Ponds Community, campers appreciate the privacy. "This has been a great experience. Especially for a solo trip. Offer A frame structure... The land is beautiful and firewood is provided for a small fee," reports Jaleesia C.

Quiet weekday camping: Several camping areas near Pawhuska remain relatively empty during weekdays. "Very nice and clean campgrounds. It was empty and quiet during our stay," mentions Jacinda V. about her experience at Sunset Bay.

Nostalgia factor: Longtime visitors cherish their memories at these camping areas. Ella K. recounts her experience at Verdigris River: "Threw a line in and I caught a 12 pound Drum! I was 22 and so proud of that fish!! Built a fire and cleaned him. Wrapped in foil and cooked with fried potatoes and corn on the cob!! Best dinner ever and then slept out on the ground under the stars!!"

What you should know

Security considerations: Some camping locations may have varying levels of security. Sandy O. notes about Sunset Bay: "The park is gated (un-maned) and access is not restricted... They have made some improvements in the last few years but this area used to gather a lot of riff-raff."

Primitive facilities: Many tent sites in the Pawhuska region require self-sufficiency. Three Ponds Community has seasonal challenges as noted by Jaleesia: "There is currently no running water due to colder temperatures. But once it warms water is on site."

Cabin alternatives: For those seeking more shelter, Redbud Bay offers cabin accommodations. Ellen P. shares: "We have camped at Red Bud Bay marina a few times. Love their cabins. We camped once there when it was extremely cold and the water lines froze. But they were right on top of it getting it fixed."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection matters: When camping with children at primitive sites near Pawhuska, choose wisely. "The camping sites...... they are very close together unless you get the very last one. It's near a wooded area. The first 2 are out in the open, by the roads," advises Jennifer D. about camping at Verdigris River.

Consider weather preparedness: Oklahoma weather fluctuates dramatically by season, requiring appropriate gear. Sandy O. cautions about camping at Sunset Bay: "I would not recommend this as a family vacation site," suggesting families may prefer campgrounds with more amenities.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Camping areas around Pawhuska offer wildlife encounters for educational experiences. "Saw a great amount of wildlife such as birds, woodland critters and even a lizard," notes Ashley F. about her stay at Caney Bend.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most primitive tent camping areas near Pawhuska lack full RV hookups, requiring self-contained camping. At Huge Great Bus Camping, Ken notes RVs are allowed but features are limited.

Seasonal access considerations: Weather affects road conditions at several campgrounds near Pawhuska. During wet periods, access roads may become challenging for larger vehicles, particularly at primitive sites.

Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal as many sites lack this facility. New Mannford Ramp provides sanitary dump access, though tent camping in the Pawhuska region typically requires packing out all waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pawhuska, OK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pawhuska, OK is Huge Great Bus Camping with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Pawhuska, OK?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Pawhuska, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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