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Best Tent Camping near Stillwater, OK

257 Reviews

Tent campers near Stillwater, Oklahoma have several options within a short drive, including Whitetail Trail - North Fork and Liberty Lake. These areas provide lakeside camping with varying levels of amenities for those seeking a traditional tent camping experience. Three Ponds Community, located approximately 30 miles west, offers a more secluded experience but requires a reservation.

Most tent campgrounds in the Stillwater region have basic amenities but require campers to be self-sufficient. Whitetail Trail features open areas suitable for multiple tents with good forest cover, while Liberty Lake provides picnic tables, trash service, and vault toilets. Sites are primarily set on dirt or grass surfaces with minimal grading. Fire rings are available at most locations when seasonal fire restrictions are not in place. Drinking water is limited, with Three Ponds Community and Sunset Bay being among the few sites offering potable water. Campers should prepare accordingly with adequate water supplies.

The lake access at many sites creates opportunities for fishing and water activities as part of the tent camping experience. Whitetail Trail offers more seclusion compared to other options, with one camper noting it has "nice open area for cars & tents" and "no other campsites nearby." Liberty Lake provides quieter tent sites with lake views, though some campers mention sites are positioned close together. At Three Ponds Community, tent campers enjoy more privacy and natural surroundings. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, the land is "beautiful" and the overall experience is "peaceful, serene, and secluded." Most tent campgrounds in the area are relatively undeveloped, allowing for a more authentic outdoor experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Stillwater, Oklahoma (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Stillwater, OK

1 Photos of 6 Stillwater Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Stillwater, OK

257 Reviews of 6 Stillwater 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).

  • 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.

  • Melanie W.
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Stroud Municipal Lake

    Small and quite

    It is a nice little campground that has R.V. camping and tent camping. We like camping here because the campsite is next to the shore. There are some nice camping spots under shade trees. When you want to cool off you can just walk from your campsite to the water and get in and cool off. However don't wear white when you go swimming because after you go swimming white cloths turn orange. It does have a swim beach but we like to swim privately at camp. The fishing is pretty good. There is a playground and restrooms with showers. They only have about 25 campsites that are 1st come 1st serve. Getting a campsite near holidays like the 4th of July is almost impossible unless you go days early to get a spot. The campsites have picnic tables, grills and a fire ring. They also have trails for riding horses. Camping with electric is $18.00 Senior citizens (55 and up) and disabled citizens is $15.00 Primitive camping is$8.00

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Guthrie Lake

    Tents Only

    In a pleasant change of pace for camping I pulled into this location to check out the options which exist in this region for camping in a tent. Wow was a pleased when I discovered that this location was designed for tents only!!

    The pros were great water access, flush toilets, great parking and access to a self pay station. The cons, completely primitive and the roadway is pretty close to the camping area.

    This location is maintained by the City of Guthrie. They have nice parking lot and boat ramp at this location in addition to a fishing pier. A lot of people choose to pull off into the zone deemed camping however for a more shaded coverage when fishing. With that being said there is still plenty of room to have you own little piece of comfort.

    You are supposed to park and walk in the 100 yards to the campsites however I did notice that locals drive into this area. It is pretty open and the main concern is that you pay for day use or overnight uses.

    There are some scattered picnic tables and trash cans however only one are which has bbq grills and this are is pretty removed from the designated camping zone.

    I noticed when I was visiting a lot of traffic down the access road which wasn’t loud really but could be distracting if trying to relax. The traffic was mainly from the residential area which also surrounds the lake.

    Overall I really liked this area for day use but am not completely sold on it as a camping area.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Liberty Lake

    Small campground with secluded sites

    Visiting this campground so was expecting similarities between it and the Guthrie Lake campground as they are both maintained by the City of Guthrie. But I was pleasantly surprised as the road turned to packed rock and dirt and started to get more and more remote in appearance. I noticed equestrian crossings and trails and also signs marking arc access points before entering.

    When arriving to the lake itself traffic splits off into one way lanes. You pass a house like structure which serves as a paystation for entry, though when I visited no one was there to accept my money and I didn’t see a self pay area.

    The boat ramp and fishing pier is the first thing you see when entering the park with large parking and easy water access. There are a few picnic tables at this point to enjoy the day use space. Just beyond that a swimming “beach”. This was a little perplexing to me because there was less than a foot of red dirt sand then water which was marked as appropriate. The beach itself was tiny but it was nice to see they had created a space unique to swimming in the area for safety. No also noticed an abundance of naked signs about life jacket safety which I thought was great!

    As you continue to drive away the more commercial day use area there are 7 campsites each with large parking areas, grills, fire rings, picnic tables and plenty of room to spread out in a tent or RV. These sites do not have hook ups but what they lack there they make up for in lake views. Each site had a clear view of he lake and water access only a short distance from your parking area.

    Restrooms are only port a potty units and with recent winds some of these had been knocked over or damaged by tree limbs, so that is something to consider.

    I really liked that this location by far seemed more established than the other city maintained option and also had more privacy overall.

    Tips:

    • Call ahead if you want to stay here on a weekend since there are limited sites and reserve in advance

    • Check weather before traveling, it is very common for bad weather to roll through this area and with all of the trees you want to make sure you are safe.

  • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2020

    Lake Carl Blackwell

    Well kept, quirky, prairie lake

    The lake is owned and operated by Oklahoma State University. The grounds were well mowed, some of the structures are dated but well cared for. Super-friendly and helpful people at the permit office. The store was closed when we arrived.

    The quirky bit is the number of camping spaces that are by annual permit. That means a lot of of the shore line is taken up by permanent campers, weekend campers that leave their rigs, student living and even residents (in campers). The lake being close to Stillwater, it looks like a number of students and such commute from the lake.

    None of this was problematic for us, but the level of care each annual permit holder takes on their lot range from pristine to near dilapidated.

    We stayed in Beaver Cove and found it to be clean, well-maintained, friendly and quiet. No real privacy buffer between sites, but the spacing was comfortable. 

    The park ranger made several passes through, even though the campground was only about 1/4 occupied. 

    Lots of birds, including a resident blue heron the locals named Charlie. Wonderful views of the cove. We stayed in lot 31 and a few large elm trees gave our campsite evening shade.

    Nice fire rings and sturdy picnic tables.

    All in all, a good stay.

  • i
    Jun. 9, 2022

    Sheppard Point

    Uncomfortable

    My RV spot is so unlevel it's almost unusable. Front to back there is 2 feet in elevation difference and a foot from side to side.

    The power pedestal, from the 120v 20amp receptacle, is putting out 134v. The neighboring spot's pedestal is putting out 103v.

    The bathroom near the campground was closed due to a water leak and a sign on the door said to use the restrooms near the beach. They were reasonably clean but not too private. There was nowhere to change except in the shower with its cheap curtain.

    Grass is very long in some areas, needs to be mowed to help with the amount of bugs.

    Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and charcoal grill which is nice.

  • J
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Bell Cow Lake Campground C

    Nice hidden gem

    Had friends come to town with an RV and we decided to do a last minute camp out.

    After finding out all of the RV and tent camping areas around OKC were at capacity we gave Bell Cow Lake a shot and we were not disappointed. We stayed in Camp Area B, Friday night there were a handful of RV spots still available and we were the only tent campers. Saturday a few more tent campers arrived but there was still open sites between us. 

    Our friends in the RV stayed in RV site 1 and we stayed directly across from them in tent site 3. There was some small trash, cigarette butts and such around the site, cans in the fire ring adjacent to us (site 2) but over all it was a nice spot with ample room to put tents. 

    The tent area is on the water with water access through the grass along the shoreline. Swimming was great with a sand bottom once you got past the grass along the shoreline. There were tons of fish hitting the surface in the evening but I was unable to catch any. Each tent site had a table but it either had a fire ring or a grille (alternating) it would have been preferable if each site had both. 

    The bathrooms weren't the cleanest but were what I would probably expect for a camp ground owned by a smaller city. 

    Bell Cow lake may become one of our go to places as it is still within an easy drive from OKC and half the price of the next closest lake to camp at (Lake Arcadia).

    Tent camping is $10 a night, RV is $20. 

    One of the only things we did not like was with the campsite being 2 miles from I-44 you could hear the highway traffic all night and there was not fire wood available to gather or purchase (perhaps in town) so though it is generally frowned upon to bring your own you won't have a fire otherwise.

  • Christine N.
    Jun. 6, 2018

    Lake McMurtry West Campground

    Private RV Sites with easy lake access

    We really love the long, relatively private sites on the west side. Each campsite is somewhat screened from the neighbor by brush.

    Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring, water and electrical hookups.

    There is a dumpster on the circle. There is a shower and a toilet at the bait shop. Each (west side) campsite has access to the lake.

    Our favorite campsites are #11 and #12, which are a little more private, and because we can easily launch our kayaks from both spots and they have nice areas to fish.

    There are many nice hiking trails.

    The west side is our favorite place to camp within 60 miles of Stillwater.

    The cons - ticks are very plentiful, and we have heard that copperheads are plentiful in the camping area. I personally haven't seen one, but camping neighbors are always happy to let us know when they have! Might take a weed eater and clear the brush on your path to the water!

    The road to the campground is fairly long and winding, but easy to make with the trailer as long as you obey the speed limit.

    The only other con is it is hard to get reservation. They have a very nice online reservation system, but the campsites fill up quickly and pretty far out date wise. I wish they had twice as many campsites!

    Here is the main website: https://www.lakemcmurtry.com/

    Here is their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lakemcmurtry I highly recommend their facebook page and their youtube videos. They are really funny.

    Regarding boating (Taken from the website):

    • The following are prohibited: activities that involve towing a person behind a boat, sea-doos, jet skis, or any similar personal motorized watercraft. 
    • Boats of any kind are not allowed in the swim area. 
    • Watercraft must be properly registered by the state of Oklahoma before entering the lake.
    • Designated boat ramps are for “launching” only.
    • Maximum speed is 25 mph. No wake at boat docks and ramps.
    • Water skiing, jet skis, sea doo’s, water bikes, and any other related water sports are prohibited.

Guide to Stillwater

Tent camping options near Stillwater, Oklahoma range from primitive lakeside sites to more developed campgrounds within a 30-45 minute drive. The region features rolling plains with elevations between 850-950 feet, creating varied shorelines around the numerous reservoirs. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly during spring and fall, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F between June and September.

What to do

Fishing from shore: At Liberty Lake, campers can fish for catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie directly from their campsites. "Great place to take the kids, grandkids to Fish and have fun behind the boat on toys," notes James S.

Boating access: Liberty Lake's boat ramp provides direct lake access for water activities. As Jessica W. explains, "It's a great spot to fish though catfish largemouth and crappie being the usuals. Great place to bring a boat you'll need it to see most of the lake."

Sunset viewing: Several campgrounds offer excellent sunset views over the water. At Liberty Lake, one camper reported, "We just stayed for one night, it was super quiet and calm. The campsites were minimal but had lots of space and were right on the lake. We had a beautiful sunset too."

What campers like

Secluded camping spots: Whitetail Trail - North Fork offers tent sites with significant privacy. One reviewer notes the site has a "nice open area for cars & tents" and mentions there are "no other campsites nearby, good forest cover, it's great."

Lakefront access: Many sites offer direct water access without crowds. At Liberty Lake, Hillary B. mentions: "We just stayed for one night, it was super quiet and calm. The campsites were minimal but had lots of space and were right on the lake."

Natural setting: Three Ponds Community provides a more natural camping experience. One camper describes it as "Peaceful. Serene. Secluded," adding "the land is beautiful and firewood is provided for a small fee."

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most sites have minimal amenities. At Sunset Bay, Sandy O. observes "There is an outhouse with water. They have made some improvements in the last few years but this area used to gather a lot of riff-raff."

Seasonal water availability: Water access varies by season and location. At Three Ponds Community, one camper notes "There is currently no running water due to colder temperatures. But once it warms water is on site."

Site spacing concerns: Some campgrounds place sites close together. Jessica W. comments on Liberty Lake: "There's a couple of sites for camping all entirely too close to each other. The parking lot is bigger than the grass areas you have to work with."

Weather preparation: Oklahoma weather can change quickly. Crystal C. advises Liberty Lake visitors to "Check weather before traveling, it is very common for bad weather to roll through this area and with all of the trees you want to make sure you are safe."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming areas: Liberty Lake includes a designated swimming area, though it's modest in size. Crystal C. describes it: "Just beyond that a swimming 'beach'. This was a little perplexing to me because there was less than a foot of red dirt sand then water which was marked as appropriate. The beach itself was tiny."

Safety considerations: Life jacket information is prominently posted at water access points. Crystal C. notes at Liberty Lake, "I noticed an abundance of naked signs about life jacket safety which I thought was great!"

Advance planning: Limited sites mean weekend camping requires preparation. Crystal C. recommends: "Call ahead if you want to stay here on a weekend since there are limited sites and reserve in advance."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookups: Meeker Lake and other sites near Stillwater generally lack RV hookups, requiring self-contained camping. Matt N. cautions the lake itself is "Choppy and dirty," suggesting RVers might focus on the camping rather than water activities.

Parking space: While many tent sites can accommodate RVs, designated parking areas vary in size. At Liberty Lake, Crystal C. notes each site has "large parking areas" that can fit RVs, though hookups are not available.

Security considerations: Some campgrounds offer more security than others. Sandy O. mentions regarding Sunset Bay: "If you want to feel a bit more secure, I recommend the other camp! I would not recommend this as a family vacation site."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Stillwater, OK is Whitetail Trail - North Fork with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Stillwater, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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