Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Vian. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Camping with your horse in Vian just got easier. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect equestrian sites that are scenic and easy to access.
Devil’s Den includes 17 cabins with kitchens and fireplaces and 6 camper cabins. The park also offers 135 campsites (44 Class AAA, 4 Class B, 13 Class C, 24 Class D [no hookups], eight hike-in [tent only], and 42 sites with hookups in the horse camp that includes a bathhouse and access to the horse trails). The park’s cafe is open seasonally. The pool is open in summer only. Also on-site is a group camp, standard pavilion, playground, store, and meeting room.
Join park interpreters on hikes along trails including the 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail and for a variety of programs and special events year-round, like the Ozark Mountain Bike Festival held annually in the spring.
$20 / night
Welcome to our KOA, a green oasis only 3/4 mile off I-40, with long, level, shaded Pull-Thru RV Sites, Deluxe and Camping Cabins, a tiny house and large, grassy Tent Sites. You'll find fast, streamable, and secure free Wi-Fi and great satellite reception. Enjoy the pool, jump pad, walking trails, fishing pond, playground, gaga ball pit, box hockey, washer toss, volleyball and Kamp K9. The rec room has a kitchen, treadmill, board games, books, puzzles, and a 50-inch TV/DVD player with movies. Make this KOA your base camp while you discover all the area has to offer, including restaurants, antique stores, Native American history, casinos, farmers' markets, train rides, all while just 25 miles from Fort Smith, Arkansas. Explore the beautiful Ouachita or Boston mountains, Robert S. Kerr Reservoir or Lake Tenkiller, where hiking, biking, boating, scuba diving and fishing are plentiful. We also fill propane tanks mounted on RVs or portables from 20#-100#! Pool: May 20 - October 1. Max pull thru: 90 feet. Your hosts: the Maust family.
Situated in the hills and forests of southeast Oklahoma’s San Bois Mountains, Robbers Cave State Park has a history almost as exciting as the scenery and activities it offers. The park earned notoriety in the early part of the 20th century as a hideout for outlaws including Jesse James and Belle Starr. While the park recognizes this fame, today the park’s draw is as a family-friendly destination offering luxurious Robbers Cave cabins and campsites. Campers can stay at 22 modern RV sites with full hookups, 67 sites with water and electric hookups, and 86 primitive camping along secluded trails. For those looking for a more cozy stay, the 26 Robbers Cave cabins offer stunning park views, as well as a full kitchen, a fireplace, television and a full bathroom (these make for a reliable stay at the park depending on the weather in Wilburton, OK). Once you’ve settled into your stay, you’ll find countless activities in the park, enough to make you come back to do it all. There’s miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, swimming, fishing and paddling at the park’s three reservoirs and numerous creeks, rock climbing/rappelling, and guided tours through the historic sites that once hid outlaws from law enforcement.
$32 / night
Head to Chicken Creek Campground for tons of fun on Tenkiller Ferry Lake. As one of the most popular campgrounds on the lake, Chicken Creek boasts modern facilities, impressive vistas, convenient access to boating and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife. It's no wonder why so many campers return each year.
Water skiing, boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming are some of the activities enjoyed by visitors. Prevailing winds and secluded coves create an ideal environment for sailing. Scuba divers enjoy the lake's clear waters and high visibility. Fishing is good 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.
Tenkiller Ferry Lake is often referred to as "Oklahoma's clear water paradise." The 12,500 acre lake is sourced by the Illinois River and the Baron Fork, which are both designated as Oklahoma Scenic Rivers. 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.
Visit the Tenkiller State Park for its nature center and scuba diving park, the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge near Vian, or the historic city of Tahlequah - the capital of the Cherokee Nation. The scenic upper Illinois River near Tahlequah is great for canoeing and rafting, and the lower Illinois near Gore offers prime trout fishing.
$50 / night
Let us help make your stay in Fort Smith a great one. William O. Darby RV Community is family-owned and operated with 47 RV sites providing local and cross-country RV campers with a wonderful place to stay and great service. Whether you are visiting for a day, a week, a month, or even longer, we offer great rates to make your stay the most affordable and enjoyable it can be. Our prices include WiFi, cable, & full hook-ups, which only helps make your decision even easier.
At William O. Darby RV Park, the level of comfort is incomparable. We like to consider ourselves to be a friendly community. We are located in a secluded country setting at Chaffee Crossing, but we are just minutes from all the amenities that Fort Smith has to offer. We are the perfect retreat whether you are just passing through, on vacation, visiting family, or on a job for an extended time in the area. We have something for everyone to enjoy and look forward to you coming to stay with us!
$22 - $25 / night
$35 - $40 / night
GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations maintained access areas can be used for picnicking, fishing, swimming, floating and camping: https://grda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Illinois-River-Guide-and-Map-2022-DRAFT-5.pdf
• Camping is $14 per night. This fee is per camp site with no more than one adult tent and one child tent and two vehicles. • One site with electric (110 volt, 20 amp), at Round Hollow
Public Access Area, $28 per night. Fees are collected on site by GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations Staff and at the Scenic Rivers Office. Several access areas are alcohol-free, meaning alcohol cannot be consumed in the area. These areas are marked on the enclosed map.
$14 / night
GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations maintained access areas can be used for picnicking, fishing, swimming, floating and camping. • Camping is $14 per night. This fee is per camp site with no more than one adult tent and one child tent and two vehicles. • One site with electric (110 volt, 20 amp), at Round Hollow Public Access Area, $28 per night. Fees are collected on site by GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations Staff and at the Scenic Rivers Office. Several access areas are alcohol-free, meaning alcohol cannot be consumed in the area.
$14 - $28 / night
Guide
Great camp ground, pleanty of shady spots. Would have given 5 stars, but they are limited on sites with 50amps. Showers were in rough shape as well
Scout
Absolutely beautiful from the Senic Overlook!! The trails are easy to traverse, and the nature here is breathtaking!!
Scout
Contacted owner late in the evening looking for a spot after a 9hour drive. This place had everything and the bathhouse was just like taking a shower at home! Would stop here again when passing through!!
LegendI’ve lived within 2 hours almost 20 years and hadn’t visited. I’m so mad! LARGE, well spaced sites with two bath house within 50 yards in either direction. There were trails out of the campground. Riverfront spots are most ideal but the anything on the outside of the loop is beautiful. Visitors center with wood. Small store with small amount of camping supplies and snacks. Cafe onsite offering three things. The hikes are short and just amazing!!!!!
TravelerMy husband and I have yet to have a camping trip together. Both of us have always talked about and loved doing it as a kid but never found the time to do it until now. We had a blast.
We tent camped and stayed in Site 80 on the RV camping area as it was the only area that had electric and water. We weren’t quite ready to go without electricity just yet as we kind of scrambled to make this trip happen before the weather turned cold and gets jammed with holidays.
We stayed a Sunday & Monday night. Upon checking on Sunday the park was PACKED as expected. Rangers were advising people to avoid Yellowrock and find other trails to do. We weren’t even going to bother until the Monday afternoon. So we went down to check out our site and get set up. Site was clean and close to the bathrooms. Neighbors were a little noisy at night but calmed down around 9:45.
Slept great and had a great day exploring the park and walking along the creek and went to Yellowrock which was gorgeous. Just download your maps before you go. No service so be mindful of that. I loved that aspect though.
Monday night was great and previous neighbors had check out that day so a peaceful nights sleep was had.
Can’t wait to come back and visit again!
Legend
This was our second stop at the KOA in Fort Smith AR. They have many improvements since out last stay. The campground is convenient to I-40. It’s far enough away to not have traffic noise. The sites are level, there is a pool, Propane, fishing pond, and camp store. Also hiking trails. Also some tent sites. There is a whole new section for Class A and large 5th wheel campers now. The are located behind a highway department facility, and last visit the smell of the treated power line poles was overwhelming. No problem this time. This is one of the few campgrounds I’ve been to that have a storm shelter!
TravelerWe absolutely loved our stay in Site #11 in Campground A. The site was absolutely massive, and turned out to be even better than the one that we had initially picked out, but was already reserved. We were a little concerned about lack of shade in this site, as it only had one tree in it, but it shaded at least some of the site all day every day, and even provided a nice umbrella to hang out under during the brief bouts of rain. Hiking was fantastic, with each trail being dramatically different than the one before, and we did at least 7 of them in the 4 full days we were there.
Things I loved:
- no cell signal. They did offer ViaSat WIFI for a fee, but I love to unplug when I get the chance.
- the quiet natural beauty and dark sky
- very clean bathrooms, which were cleaned daily, even though there might have been a total of 4 sites occupied at any given time during our stay.
- frequent patrols by park rangers
- beautiful trails
Things I was not fond of:
- the park rangers that patrolled did nothing to enforce the rule that dogs must be on-leash, even when we know they saw this multiple times. Thanks to this, we had two dogs in the site next door that would randomly wander over to and through our site, much to the consternation of our two on-lead dogs. Thankfully, this couple left the day after we got there.
- the firewood was soaking wet when we purchased it, even though it was stored in a shed near the visitor's center. Decent price for the amount, but it was very difficult to start.
- a few more people than I would have expected during the week at this time of year. I would hate to see it on the weekends.
Guide
We stayed here for two weeks we stayed on the north end which has a private shower house. We caught some catfish right off the rock peer. It is close to Hwy 51 but you really can’t tell. Gate keepers were wonderful and very helpful I saw some old oyster mushrooms all over the place possibly some lions mane 💓 I had a great time. Bait and a Dollar General were right down the road. The only thing is we were told that the lake would be low for the next two years for reconstruction of the dam. Because of the low water you can walk very far into the water from where we we’re staying. The north side we were on will close for the winter soon. I do advise having a water filter system on your rig we Will totally be returning anytime of year because this COE stays open all year. Two dump stations!
TravelerWe stayed at Devil’s Den state park over indigenous peoples holiday weekend (Sunday-Tuesday) and had a really relaxing time. The site are large and clean, most of them are shaded and the bathroom is a full bathroom with flush toilets, sinks, and showers. The trails are gorgeous and plentiful. We saw deer, armadillos, and skunks and while we are not bird watchers there were a ton of birds. We were at site 5 which is a very spread out site. You park in the middle between your fire pit and the tent pad, which was big enough for our 8 person tent. We also had a small meadow to ourselves and then woods between us and site 3 which was great for privacy. Site 7 is close to the tent pad but not too close. Site 6 was vacant the first night but the second night had 2 large families (about 15 people) that were closer than we would have liked but still fine. All the even sites are in the center and all odd site are on the outer ring, which I think giver more privacy. Sites 4 and 1 are the least shaded with almost no trees. 1 has the advantage of direct access to the creek and a gorgeous view. My husbands favorite site was 16 which has about 10 trees and would be perfect for hammocking. It’s on the end of the loop. There was talk that a bear was spotted in the park, so be prepared and be sure not to leave scraps out or the skunks can get close to your site. Overall, it was a great campground and we would 100% go back!
GuideWe didn't know what to expect. This place has absolutely everything you could need. Full Hookups, level sites (mostly gravel but level), shop with souvenirs and RV gadgets. The office also has a gameroom, pantry, and propane. We didn't get to use the playground area this visit as pool and hot tub were closed for the year. 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. Plenty of room for your RV but so close that you can hear and smell your neighbors. Nearby Walmart and restaurants were handy.
LegendI had heard so many great things about this park but I was not that impressed. The sites are fairly close together. There’s no signs warning that if you are in a large RV you shouldn’t come in on a certain highway. They do have equestrian trails and a campground to accommodate campers with horses. They have a lot of hiking trails. There are cabins and a pool.
GuideI was here last week and stayed Tuesday - Friday and had a great time. I came back, this week in a better spot and here M-F. Saw some really interesting paw prints and found a bunch or fish skeletons. One was an Alligator Gar and the rest were catfish of different types. I would recommend the campsite to anyone. Is quite, nice and well kept.
GuideThe campsite itself wasn’t the best but the whole experience was amazing. The weather was beautiful, water was warm, and the sounds of the highway was soothing.
Legend
We stayed at Pine Trails campground which is semi modern but no bathrooms. This is well disclosed so you must be self contained. There are ATV trailheads in the campground so it might be noisy but this weekend it was almost deserted. Tall trees, gravel semi level sites, and huge fire rings. The park itself is phenomenal…so much to do but the hiking is the best. Don’t miss the Cave Trail!
GuideWe truly enjoyed staying here! From the great hiking, to the fun buildings there’s so many opportunities to explore. Great temps too.
TravelerFirst time here, we opted to stay at a site with water/electric - Old Circle 21. Small site but we managed to get our 11 person instant tent up. Lots of hiking trails - went up to Robbers Cave (more like a hideout spot than an actual cave) enjoyed the hike. We only explored a small bit of the campgrounds. Definitely want to go back and explore some more
RangerGreat location with easy access. Sites were good size and folks were friendly.
We only stayed one night passing through OK.
We’ll stay again!
LegendFollow route alerts by taking AR170 at West Fork from Interstate 49!
Do not go to Visitor Center to check in while towing. Go to campsite, unhitch, and then go to Visitor Center.
Fayetteville for Walmart, Target and other box stores + Braun's Ice Cream
Jakes in West Fork Harps grocery store & fuel
PROS
Senior discount
No fee to make my own on-line reservation
Dark sky friendly
Quiet during weekday stay
Campground E has lots of trees
Campsite asphalt parking pad level
Metal picnic table (on concrete pad), pedestal BBQ grill, metal fire ring with cooking grate that consumed half of the ring and metal lantern hook
Good space between most campsites
Campground E trash bin at every other campsite
Clean toilet/shower facility
Ample TP, hand soap and an electric hand dryer in toilet facility Campground E
Climate controlled toilet/shower facility. Felt great on a 38 degree morning!
Park ranger drive thru campground during daylight hours
Good signage throughout park concerning burn ban
Good assistant park superintendent presentation at the park amphitheater regarding the CCC constructing DDSP
Nice hiking trails
Squirrels will eat from your hand in Campground E
CONS
No cell service. Pay phone at campground toilet/shower facility
Only free WiFi is at camp store by the pool. We purchased WiFi from park vendor Viasat $20 unlimited for 3 days for one device
Cannot see or hear creek from site 89
Sewer connection at rear of site pad
No privacy from any other campsite in Campground E
Cannot move site picnic table
No camp host
TravelerWe stayed at Bob Cat crossing, and it was fine for the most part. There’s a campfire ring, a table, and a double lamp pole at each site. The campground is close to a pavilion with lots of tables and grills, and some pretty clean bathrooms with hot showers. It really was beautiful out there and there were a million things to do that were close by; we really enjoyed our stay for the most part. There is firewood for sale at the office, but word to the wise, bring your own wood because they charge $6 for 4 really pathetic twigs.
The biggest problem I had was with #004. It’s on a horrible slope, and so is the picnic table, which caused our food to continually roll off our plates. There is no flat ground for a tent, so we would wake up in the night from sliding off our sleeping mats. It’s also really close to the road and the RV campground, so we would get woken up by cars and golf carts going up and down the road at night. Other than that, we had a pretty good time.
RangerWe’ve visited this site many times throughout the years and there is almost always something new to see! There are trails for all levels and a bunch of caves (sadly closed) scattered around the area. Fantastic views!
RangerJoined a lot of fall campers. Good overall experience, didn’t have time to take in all the trails. No phone or internet, no problem!
GuidePretty fun, lots of areas to do some bouldering, rappelling, rock climbing
ScoutThe campground is great except no sewer connections. The boat ramp is fantastic, great views of the lake and plenty of trees most sites are shaded.
ScoutWe’ve stayed here multiple times and love it. Beautiful place. Some sites are a little tricky backing into with 29’ trailer though.
TravelerRemains one of my favorite Oklahoma State Parks, and we always enjoy the scenery and off-road jeep trails in Thundering Pines area. Many hiking trails of varied difficulty, all scenic, and fishing - including trout - in the waterways. Seeing the actual “Robber’s Cave” should be done, but I think you only need to do it once in your life…the graffiti ruins some of the ambiance.
The jeep trails now require a $10/day fee and are only open 8am to sunset; used to be free and open all the time, and maintained by local volunteers…hopefully they’re still maintained with the trail funds. Trails have lots of variety, from beginner to difficult, all well-shaded and several seasonal creeks for small water crossings. Rocks won’t cut up your tires like Disney, which is a BIG plus. Trail maps available in the park office, or on GAIA.
We brought our teardrop trailer, and when booking, I was told I had to book an full RV site. Wanting a theoretically quieter campground, opted for Deep Ford campground, site 5, as the majority of the sites in here are tent sites.
The campground itself was clean, with about half on the east bank of the Fourche Maline creek. If you stay near the entrance, around sites 4, 5, and 16-17, you can hear the rushing water over the ford (and see it from your spot at 16-17). Single stall restrooms and hot push-button showers are located at the entrance to the campground, as was our site, so while we had easy access, we also got lots of traffic.
4 and 5 are VERY close together, with the picnic tables and fire pits sharing the same small patch of grass. We had a neighbor with a bumper-pull RV in 4 our last night, and ended up eating at the same table because we were sharing the rest of the space, so might as well! Our little trailer and jeep had plenty of room on the pavement, but I can’t imagine cramming two full-size RVs in each spot.
Personally, we’d try a tent spot next time - teardrop is fully self-contained and doesn’t need hookups (we did plug in, since we were paying for it), and there were several other folks parking their small trailers on tent sites. Would stay at Deep Ford again, but it is definitely popular. Younger Campground also looked nice and quiet, but does not have their own set of restroom/showers.
We did take a turn around the Pine Trails(?) - I think, couldn’t get Pine Needles out of my head - RV campground at the south end of the park, on the east side of the highway. Lots of trees and shade, but all of the spots except the ADA spots were gravel. There were several trailheads into the ATV area.
LegendThe state park is situated on both sides of a main road and is broken down to several smaller campgrounds throughout the park. Campsites vary from primitive to water and electric, so there is something for everyone. The state park also offers cabins, yurts, and wagon sleepers if you're looking for something different. Each campsite has a fire ring, table (concrete or wooden), trash hook, grill, and a pad to set your tent on. The sites on the southwest side of the road are alongside a small river, while those on the east side of the road are on a hill.
The state park has a lot of amenities which have significantly improved over the past three years. This is not the campground for you if you're wanting to be isolated as it can be busy. Pretty cool spot to bring the family as you can explore caverns, hike, use ATV trails, fish, MTB, and swim. Some camping spots are farther from toilets and showers than others.
GuideLots to do here at this conveniently located spot. Basketball hoop, pool and hot tub, pond with kayaks, and more. Laundry, showers and a decent shop too.
Oklahoma offers a variety of options for horse camping enthusiasts, combining beautiful landscapes with facilities that cater to both riders and their horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Vian, OK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Vian, OK is Devil's Den State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 82 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Vian, OK?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Vian, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
