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Best Tent Camping near Watts, OK

834 Reviews

The Ozark foothills surrounding Watts, Oklahoma offer several tent camping options where water features and natural scenery create memorable backcountry experiences. Flint Creek provides walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including toilets and picnic tables, while Highwater Camp offers more secluded tent campsites along the Illinois River. Both locations are within 15 miles of Watts and provide access to swimming, fishing, and hiking opportunities. Natural Dam, located across the Arkansas border approximately 25 miles southeast of Watts, offers free primitive tent camping near a scenic waterfall.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal site preparation. Flint Creek provides electric hookups and basic toilets, though drinking water is not available at most sites. Highwater Camp requires reservations and fills quickly due to limited availability, typically offering only one or two tent sites per day. Jackson Bay Recreation Area, though farther from Watts, provides free primitive tent camping with a 14-day stay limit. Campers should bring their own water and supplies, as amenities are limited throughout the region. Roads to some sites may become difficult to navigate after rain, particularly at locations near rivers where high water can affect campsite access.

Tent campers frequently mention the natural water features as highlights of the camping experience. According to reviews, Highwater Camp offers "privacy compared to other campgrounds in the area with large crowds" and features "large, open campsites with lots of shade trees." At Natural Dam, one visitor noted that "the waterfall provides good noise cover for the road nearby," making it suitable for tent-only camping despite its proximity to roads. Morning fog over the waterfall creates memorable views for early risers. Flint Creek campers appreciate the "expansive swimming and wading areas" with both deep pools and shallow sections suitable for families. Wildlife viewing opportunities include various bird species, particularly at riverside locations.

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Best Tent Sites Near Watts, Oklahoma (25)

    1. Flint Creek

    3 Reviews
    Colcord, OK
    9 miles
    Website

    "I stay at a camp right off of flint creek every summer , it is open to the public for the most part for fishing or swimming , there is a gorgeous little natural waterfall right under the highway so you"

    2. Highwater Camp

    1 Review
    Watts, OK
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (918) 226-1308

    $30 - $45 / night

    "You will enjoy the privacy compared to other campgrounds in the area that have large crowds.  Book early as it fill up fast and they do not offer more than one or two spaces per day. "

    3. Heavenly Hollow - 4WD Only

    Be the first to review!
    Siloam Springs, AR
    3 miles
    +1 (479) 715-5247

    4. Elephant Rock Nature Park

    1 Review
    Tahlequah, OK
    22 miles
    +1 (918) 456-4215

    "Right up highway ten in tahlequah."

    5. Horseshoe Bend Primitive Public Use Area

    3 Reviews
    Park Hill, OK
    27 miles

    "Traveling north towards Tahlequah, Oklahoma I caught a glimpse of a brown sign, as we travel on I thought about that sign and made my decision and asked my husband to turn around."

    "There are still signs up showing tent camping, but they are apparently inaccurate. We had a great time and he welcomed us to stick around and hang out for the day, but no more camping."

    6. Natural Dam

    5 Reviews
    Natural Dam, AR
    33 miles
    Website

    "We found this quiet spot with a small waterfall on Mountain Fork Creek that has a fairly large (semi-level) gravel parking lot right next to the natural waterfall which gives good noise cover for the road"

    "A little road noise off in the distance but the waterfall all but drowned it out."

    7. Miracle Mountain Homestead

    Be the first to review!
    Winslow, AR
    25 miles
    +1 (479) 435-5900

    $50 - $60 / night

    8. Jackson Bay Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Fort Gibson Lake, OK
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (918) 682-4314

    "Only drawback I wish there were trash cans or even just a big dumpster. The water was gorgeous and the site was peaceful."

    "Beautiful view over the lake at sunrise!"

    9. Eagles Point — Tenkiller State Park

    3 Reviews
    Monroe Lake, IN
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (918) 776-8180

    "The plus to that is despite busy holiday weekends, spring flooding or special event weekends, you can always find a place to pitch a tent.

    The park rangers are friendly."

    "The sites are well spaced and the lake is fantastic. The facility is clean and there is plenty of hiking opportunities. I come back over and over again."

    10. Sequoyah Bay State Park Campground — Sequoyah Bay State Park

    2 Reviews
    Fort Gibson Lake, OK
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (918) 772-2046

    "We did see some sites near the water that looked tricky to get into, but you’d be right by the water, so that’s the trade off, I guess. The host was friendly and helpful, dump sites easy to manage."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Watts, OK

7 Photos of 25 Watts Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Watts, OK

834 Reviews of 25 Watts Campgrounds

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Devil's Den State Park Campground

    Ranger Review of Banner & Oaks Bull Tan Hat at Devil's Den State Park

    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.

  • Matt S.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Lost Bridge South

    Stay at South Bridge for Lakeside camping and beautiful scenerey

    I really like Lost Bridge South and Lost Bridge North. They are on the banks of Beaver Lake and are beautiful. The only downside is both campgrounds are built on the slopes of a hill. The RV and camper pads are level with asphalt, but to pitch a tent can be a bit tricky to find level ground.

    Personally I do not like pitching my tent on concrete or rock pads, I prefer good old grass and dirt. Both my tent and my back last a little bit longer when on soft ground versus rocks.

    The facilities were clean nice. The showers and bathrooms were pretty good. The only problem was there were no soap dispensers, so bring your own if you like clean hands.

    This is a solid four star campground. I highly recommend getting a campsite next to the lake. We had a lot of fun with some great views.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 17, 2024

    Shores Lake

    Quiet stay in a hardwood forest

    Camped in site #10 in mid-November 2024. Site 10 is non-electric; paid $7.50/night with senior pass. Overall clean campground, well maintained and managed, in pretty hardwood forest. Not busy during my stay. Sites have picnic tables, tent pads and clean metal fire rings. Site 10 was level. The campground includes a clean restroom/shower house, one clean vault toilet at the far end of the campground, trash dumpsters and drinking water; all of these facilities and services were available during my stay in November. Campground can accommodate tents, camper vans, car camping and RVs. Some sites are electric. There are no water and sewer hookups. Campground road is paved as well as Highway 215 from I-40 accessing the campground. Sites are mostly shaded, but there is no privacy between sites. Shores Lake trailhead is located in a parking area in the campground. Day use area nearby with good fishing in Shores Lake. Campground hosts Donna and Eddie were wonderful. I really liked this campground.

  • M
    Mar. 6, 2022

    Lost Bridge North

    Off Season Perfection

    Visited here in early spring and were spoiled with amazing lake views and not many neighbors. When the trees leaf out I’m guessing you still would have good privacy. No water hook ups at the site (if you need to fill your tank the water next to vault toilet by the lake is the most flat) but 30 amp hook up made it very comfortable. Large concrete picnic tables and fire rings (some also have grills) at each site. Close enough to Bentonville to spend a day in town or exploring Crystal Bridges!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Gopher Valley - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Pleasant RV/Tent campground

    Gopher Valley campground in on of several campground in the Twin Bridges area of Grand Lake State Park.  This campground is fully paved with both full hook up RV camping area, tent camping area and areas that work for both.  Campground have drive through and pull in sites.  Sites all have picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Campground has a large pavilion which can be rented.  The pavilion has a huge BBQ grill.  Campground has a small playground for the kids.  Small restroom with showers is available.  With the exception of the RV pull through sites all the other sites have plenty of grass to set up a tent.  Sites can be reserved.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Eagle Bluff - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Tent camping with covered picnic tables

    Eagle Bluff campground has both RV and tent camping spots.  Drive in sites have electrical, picnic tables, metal fire rings, BBQ grills and paved parking pads.  The nice part of this campground is the undeveloped camping area for those tent campers, the sites while close together have Shelters over most of the sites picnic tables as well as BBQ grills.  Sites with electricity have plenty of room for setting up tents.  Campground has a new playground for the kids.  Rest room has showers as well.  Horseshoe pits and a basketball hoop are also available.  Sites can be reserved.  A Pavilion is available.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2018

    Natural Falls State Park Campground

    Where the Red Fern Grows

    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.

  • Tom K.
    Jun. 17, 2018

    Devil's Den State Park Campground

    Back country review - Butterfield Trail

    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.

  • S
    Oct. 21, 2019

    Natural Falls State Park Campground

    Great for small family

    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.

Guide to Watts

Tent camping near Watts, Oklahoma offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from serene creeks to beautiful state parks, there's something for every camping enthusiast.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Flint Creek, campers can enjoy electric hookups and picnic tables, making it a comfortable spot for families.
  • Horseshoe Bend Primitive Public Use Area provides a free camping experience with no permits required, perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.
  • Jackson Bay Recreation Area features well-maintained sites with grills and picnic tables, allowing for enjoyable outdoor meals.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Flint Creek is a popular destination for swimming and fishing, with a natural waterfall that adds to the scenic beauty.
  • At Natural Dam, visitors can explore small trails along the creek and enjoy the soothing sounds of a nearby waterfall.
  • Eagles Point — Tenkiller State Park offers a range of activities, including hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching, making it ideal for adventure seekers.

Tips for tent camping near Watts

  • When visiting Horseshoe Bend Primitive Public Use Area, be prepared for a steep drive down to the campsite; a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
  • At Sequoyah Bay State Park Campground, take advantage of the park's amenities, including restrooms and showers, for a more comfortable stay.
  • Always practice Leave No Trace principles, especially at sites like Natural Dam, to help preserve the natural beauty for future campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Watts, OK is Flint Creek with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Watts, OK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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