Arcadia Lake State Park sits 15 miles east of Warr Acres at 1,024 feet elevation with varied terrain around its 1,820-acre reservoir. Campsites are positioned within hardwood forests providing natural shade during Oklahoma's hot summer months when temperatures routinely exceed 90°F. Most pet friendly camping options near Warr Acres maintain underground storm shelters due to the region's spring tornado season, typically running from March through early June.
What to do
Water activities at Lake Arcadia: The lake offers swimming beaches and boat launches for kayaking and fishing. "We have taken our family to Arcadia many times to camp. While it's close to the city, it feels far away. Lake activities and hiking are available," notes Angela H. about Arcadia Lake.
Wildlife watching: Many campgrounds have resident wildlife that's become accustomed to visitors. At Scissortail Campground, "The kids loved feeding all the deer. Great clean park!" according to Rachael V. Rockwell RV Park maintains a small buffalo enclosure that campers can observe.
Indoor recreation during storms: Spring visitors should plan indoor alternatives during stormy weather. "We were glued to the news channels a couple of nights in fear of golfball sized hail, or worse - the dreaded tornado! This RV park has 4 or 5 underground shelters, which is somewhat of a comfort," shares Lynn G. from Mustang Run RV Park.
What campers like
Storm shelters: Oklahoma's spring tornado season makes underground shelters a highly appreciated feature. "Tornado shelters become an important safety feature for families traveling with animals," especially during evening storms which are common in April and May.
Accessible locations: Many campgrounds offer convenient access to urban amenities while providing camping experiences. "Twin Fountains is right off where I-35 and I-44 meet in Oklahoma City so it's fairly easy to get to this campground. We were immediately met by staff, handed our info package and escorted to pull through site P-1 with FHUs," writes MickandKarla W. about Twin Fountain RV Park.
Shade coverage: Summer heat makes tree coverage valuable. "Site 201 in particular had some great shade, which helped a lot during the warmer parts of the day," reports Nashoba_tohbi about Central State Park Campground. Several campgrounds maintain mature trees that provide natural cooling during hot months.
What you should know
Seasonal weather challenges: Oklahoma weather patterns vary dramatically by season. "It is Springtime here in Oklahoma City, so that means tornado season. Not my favorite thing - torrential rains, hail, wind, thunder, lightening, and every bodies favorite - tornadoes! We stayed here for a week, and nearly every night we had buckets of rain," reports Lynn G.
Varying bathroom quality: Bathroom facilities range widely between parks. "The bathrooms were nice and clean, individual rooms with toilet, sink and shower in each," notes Amy D. about Oklahoma City East KOA. However, at other locations like Scissortail, some campers report that "showers and bathrooms were disgusting."
Site selection matters: Many campgrounds have significant variation between sites. "This park has a handful of full hookup sites, a greater number of sites with electric only, and a large number of tent/rv sites with no hookups. There are water fill points conveniently located throughout the park," explains Dale Y. about Central State Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Indoor pool options: When weather prevents outdoor recreation, indoor swimming provides alternatives. "They have a decent indoor pool, buffalo in an enclosure, and laundry facilities. They have a church service on Sundays, and they bake muffins each morning that are free for guests. My youngest did not miss a day," writes Bret N. about Rockwell RV Park.
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "Nice playground for the kids, pool was closed (opens Memorial Day to Labor Day), dog park is large and very well shaded," notes Rachel P. about Oklahoma City East KOA.
Camping location selection: Family-oriented camping typically works better at state parks rather than highway-adjacent RV parks. "Arcadia lake is an absolutely beautiful area but central state park is overpriced for what it offers and trying to find whether a site was already rented is almost impossible," shares Zach P., highlighting the importance of advanced planning for family trips.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through accessibility: Most RV parks near Warr Acres feature pull-through sites for easier access. "The parking spaces are wide and easy to navigate with full hookups and 50-amp service," as noted at several area campgrounds.
Highway noise considerations: Several RV parks sit close to major highways. "You can hear lots of traffic from the interstate. It has 2 dog runs, storm shelters, pool, playground, laundry, and nice clubhouse. So everything you might need. There are pull through sites and back in. The sites are concrete so level," reports Shannon G. about Mustang Run RV Park.
Electrical service reliability: Various parks offer different amperage options and reliability levels. "Electric was sketchy & was non-working at some sites. Asphalt drive was broken & rough throughout," warns Terri W. about Abe's RV Park, suggesting RVers confirm electrical service before booking.
