Best Tent Camping near Tenkiller Ferry Lake

Amazing State Park with something for everyone

I have been to Devil's Den State Park twice now and this is my favorite state park in Arkansas. Devil's Den State park has something for every camper, no matter how you prefer to camp. Tent camping, hike in camping, RVs, cabins, they have it all. Want to bring your horse, you can do that as well. Devil's Den has some great hiking and mountain biking trails, from short to long. If you only do one trail be sure that is the Devil's Den Trail, you won't be disappointed on this 1.5 mile trail. If you want a longer trail there is the 15 mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. Devil's Den campground includes 135 campsites ranging from basic tent sites to full hookups for the RV crowed and horse sites. Campground are all paved with paved parking pads. Individual sites have tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings and a first for me, hooks for hanging your lantern. Flush toilets and showers are included. If you like to swim they even have a pool. Park has a store to provide your food needs. Sites all appeared to be well spaced. If you want complete privacy the word is get one of the walk in sites, you will have a bit of a walk but the reward is complete solitude. Lee Creek runs through the park and a 8-acre lake which allows fishing and boating with canoes and pedal boats. You need to reserve your site before hand or at the visitor center. One thing I do like is if you arrive to late to register at the visitor center, then you can just grab an empty site for the night, you just have to register the next day by 10am.

Ranger Review of Banner& Oaks Bull Tan Hat

Got the Bull Tan hat and have been wearing it for about a month now. Hat fits great, looks great. This is a very well made hat with quality materials and made in the U.S.A. It has held up amazing well in all weather conditions, sun, heat, rain and even snow and continues to hold its shape. I have a lot of hats and this one is one of my favorites.

Cookson Bend Campground is a popular area that lies on Tenkiller Ferry Lake, among the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains. Visitors here delight in breathtaking views of 200-foot limestone bluffs rising from the scenic waters. 

Open All year Peak season Apr 1- Sep 30 Reservations welcome 

Off peak Oct 1– Mar 30 FCFS Electric sites $19.00 Non electric $14.00 

Ten only non electric $14.00 Group shelter $50.00 You will find sites with electric and sites without. 

There are hot showers, water, playground, swimming beach, dump station, fishing dock, boat ramps, flush toilets. The sites are older and consist of gravel and grass but the grass is well maintained. Beautiful water sites make the visit worthwhile. There are lot of trash dumpster scattered throughout the park. Most sites are nicely shaded. There is a marina next to the campground with the ability to purchase needed items, rent boats, etc. 

Tenkiller Ferry Lake has waters that are clean and clear from a distance of 8 to 28 feet. It is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and it is covered in oak, and hickory forest. There are tall bluffs and gently rolling hills. The lake has 12,500 acres of surface water which make it the perfect getaway. 

Check-out time: 3:00 pm. Check-in time: 6:00 pm. Quiet hours: 10:00 pm- 6:00 am. Entrance gates will be closed during this time. Grey water and sewage must be properly disposed of in the provided dump station receptacle. Trash must be placed in the provided dumpsters. Pets must remain restrained on a leash or penned at all times. Pets are not allowed on swim beaches or in bathrooms.

Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Group shelters are day use only. Limit 3 tents, or 1 wheeled camper and 2 tents per camp pad. Fireworks are prohibited.

Open April 1– Sep 30 Off season Oct 1– Mar 31 

Limit 14 days 

Fees $10.00-$50.00 

There are two sections to this campground section II is an older version.  Each side hs camping and a marina.

Boat Ramp Dump Station Flush Toilets Marina Picnic Area Playground Showers Swimming Sewer Hookup Accessibility Water Hookup Electricity Hookup Accessible

The campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake is an excellent location for visitors looking for a well-kept waterfront facility, which offers access for boating, swimming and wildlife viewing. It is located near the historic town of Tahlequah and attracts many campers who return year after year. The campground is well maintained and well shaded. There are many beautiful water sites but you will need to reserve those. The facilities were clean and also well maintained. 

The boat launch is a nice are with sufficient parking. Pettit Bay II seems to be older and the sites are not in as good a shape. The campground has sites with electric hookups, and some sites are non-electric. The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station, and boat ramps with courtesy docks. 

A marina with concessions is adjacent to the campground. Of the ten marinas with concessions located on the lake, most offer boat and jet-ski rentals, and several have floating restaurants. The lake offers so many areas of enjoying the lake and all that surrounds the lake. The water is clear and offers a very high visibility for fishing, scuba diving, swimming and boating. It is truly a beautiful lake.

From Tahlequah, OK, go 8.25 miles south on Highway 82, turn right on Indian Road and go two miles south. Then turn left and go one mile southeast on the paved access road. Check-out time: 3:00 pm. Check-in time: 6:00 pm. 

Quiet hours: 10:00 pm- 6:00 am. Entrance gates will be closed during this time. Grey water and sewage must be properly disposed of in the provided dump station receptacle.

Peak Season April 01, 2021- September 30, 2021

First-come, First-served October 01, 2021- November 30, 2021  

All campsites are equipped with electric hookups, and the group shelters have electricity, too. 

flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station and a boat ramp complex playground

Lake Tenkiller is an amazing location to scuba dive.  It's waters are clear and cool from a distance of 8 to 28 feet.  A diver will have the opportunity to investigate a sunken airplane fuselage, school bus, helicopter and two boats.  In some areas of the lake divers can see the remains of homesteads.  The underwater terrain ranges from gently sloping hills to rocky cliffs.  The water ranges in depth up to 165 feet.

Tenkiller Ferry Lake is often referred to as "Oklahoma's clear water paradise." The 12,500 acre lake is fed by the Illinois River and the Baron Fork . It is nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in the northeastern part of the state. This area, known as Green Country, is surrounded by dense oak-hickory forests, tall bluffs, and rolling hills. The lake has 130 miles of shoreline with plenty of wildlife such as deer and turkey. It serves as one of the flyways of migratory birds, including bald eagles, common loons, and white pelicans.

Water skiing, boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming and even sailing.  Scuba divers enjoy the lake's high visibility and the beautiful clear waters.  Fish for black bass, white bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. The trout stream below the dam is one of only two year-round trout fisheries in Oklahoma, and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. Hunting is also permitted in parts of the lake area, in accordance with federal and state laws. 

Latitude 35° 40' 54.0001" N Longitude 94° 57' 46.0001" W 

Directions:  From Gore, Oklahoma, go 17.5 miles northeast on Highway 100, take the turn left and go 1.5 miles northwest on the paved access road. Follow signs into the campground.

Check-out time: 3:00 pm. Check-in time: 6:00 pm. Quiet hours: 10:00 pm- 6:00 am.

Entrance gate will be closed during this time. 

Grey water and sewage must be properly disposed of in the provided dump station receptacle. 

Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. 

Group shelters are for day use only. Fireworks are prohibited. Fishing and hunting are regulated by federal and state laws.

This State Park is best known for the filming of the movie Where the Red Fern Grows and it's understandable why. The falls and the trails/nature walks are beautiful. Very easy hiking/walking with a nice reward on views of the falls and river/stream.

Now the camping. There is an RV area and a Tent only area. When we arrived (Oct) the RV area was pretty filled up and we prefer less neighbors, plus we were tent camping. So off to the Tent camping area. The sites were nice and level but no real break up/divide between sites. Luckily there was only 2 other Tent campers when we showed up so we chose the opposite side of the area. There were fire rings, grills and cement picnic tables.

There are full facilities and the camp host does a great job keeping them maintained and also checking in on all the campers/RV'rs.

This review is for the Butterfield Trail in Devils Den. You have to hike in to get to theses spots. If you start at the traditional Devils Den and park at the pedestrian bridge you have a nice challenging hike up to the back country portion of the park. You start hiking along a river and after a mile or so you start your upward journey. The trail is generally in good shape but if it has been raining, beware as some of the trail is also used for horses which makes the trail sometimes tough to make it through as it gets pretty mushy. My favorite spot is about halfway through right on a river that flows a blueish color that doesn't make you want to even filter and drink the water. The spots are level and secluded but you sometimes find trash as people don't abide by the leave no trace principle. I bring all my own water on the trail but there are a few spots you can filter. We have found many snakes here and some are poisonous. BEWARE! The geography has is pretty unique and flash flooding is common. Be very aware of your surroundings and watch the river if you are in a rain storm. You must check in at the ranger's station before you do any back country camping in the park. The trail is a pleasant longer trail in the area and is a must but I would recommend trying this trail in the Spring or late fall.

Peaceful area outside of Tulsa metro on the outskirts of Broken Arrow near Coweta. 25min drive into Tulsa. 10min drive to Walmart and fast food. Checkout Smokies BBQ nearby for great food. Sites were pretty level using gravel. A few were completely shaded but most were barely shaded. Shoreline really close to campsites with boatdock and fishable shoreline. Restrooms were clean but very hot. Showers available but did not use. Fire ring, picnic tables and lantern hooks available. Dump station is clean and easily manageable. Grass needed to mowed especially since several snakes were seen. Whole area was pretty clean and peaceful.

• Quiet time 10:00 pm to 6:00 am 
• No firearms Tobacco free Pets on leash 
• Fees and info call 918-464-2920 grills picnic tables Trash Picnic shelter Camphost Dump station New comfort station Electric Water Primitive sites are available Rates from$7.00 to$15.00

Webbers Falls is a very small community in Muskogee County Oklahoma with a population of just over 600 people. on the Arkansas River. The park is located right next to the river. Wonderful views of the river and the bridge spanning the Arkansas. The campground is dotted with large mature trees. The grass provides a soft carpet for parking any size rig. There is a circle drive and you will pull thru All sites are good sites with view of the river.

Hunting, fishing, and wild flowers and colors to keep you entertained. Directions off US 64 turn off at the Webber Falls exit; continue straight onto E1040(Weatherly Drive; keep left to continue on Commercial; turn right onto S. River Road; turn left onto Commercial Street

We chose the rv site 16 from their website before ever seeing what the campground looked like in person. It is the site toward the back of the rv park overlooking the bluffs. 

Our site had plenty of tree cover that kept us from seeing the bluffs; but it also provided for a cool experience looking out of the back windows of our camper, especially at night. 

The sites are a bit too close to one another. But our neighbors in site 15 were super cool. We came with only one bundle of firewood and they quickly provided us with more than enough to have a great time, and more than enough for the next morning. 

The reason it gets 4 stars is because the sites are too close to one another. What was especially strange is that the fire ring that belongs to site 15 was actually directly behind our pad on site 16. Our fire ring was located between our site and the other neighbor's site (17) next to us. Very strange.

The campsite otherwise was wonderful. Our kids loved the two playgrounds. The weather was great. So we took a quick stroll through the woods and to the small waterfall nearby. Would definitely go again, maybe even to book two or three sites next to one another, being so close. That would be fun for a larger group.