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Established Camping

Chicken Creek

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

The park will be closed for the winter from November 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025. First come/first served campsites will be available March 1, 2025, and reservations will begin April 1, 2025.

Chicken Creek, near Gore, Oklahoma, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors by Tenkiller Ferry Lake. With a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and even cabins, there's something for everyone, whether you're rolling in with a big rig or just pitching a tent.

This campground is known for its electric hookups and access to drinking water, making it a comfortable choice for campers. Visitors have raved about the beautiful lake views and the nearby boat ramp, perfect for fishing or just soaking up the sun. One camper mentioned, “We had a great spot located 200 yards from the lake,” highlighting the convenient access to water activities.

For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, Tenkiller Ferry Lake is a hotspot for scuba diving, with clear waters revealing sunken treasures like an airplane fuselage and a school bus. The surrounding area is rich with wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for deer, turkey, and even bald eagles soaring overhead.

While the campground has its quirks—like some tricky backing spots for larger trailers—most campers appreciate the friendly atmosphere and the well-kept facilities. Just remember, no fires are allowed, so plan your meals accordingly. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Chicken Creek offers a laid-back vibe and plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Tenkiller Ferry Lake

Overview

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.

Recreation

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.

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

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Location

Chicken Creek is located in Oklahoma

Detail location of campground

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.

Address

446977 EAST 980 ROAD
Gore, OK 74435-9547

Coordinates

35.6816667 N
94.9627778 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin
  • Yurts
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • WiFi
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 9, 2024

Chicken Creek

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

Site83
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 13, 2022

Chicken Creek

We’ve stayed here multiple times and love it. Beautiful place. Some sites are a little tricky backing into with 29’ trailer though.

Site66
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Sep. 22, 2021

Love the Lake

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.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2020

We liked it

Pretty nice campground. Vault toilet was buggy enough that the kids wouldn’t use it. Our site had good water access. Beautiful lake. I’d come back. Excellent Verizon service.

  • Review photo of Chicken Creek by John A., July 9, 2020
  • Review photo of Chicken Creek by John A., July 9, 2020
  • Review photo of Chicken Creek by John A., July 9, 2020
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2019

Great Camping Spots

We had a great spot located 200 yards from the lake. Also had the boat dock just on the other side of us. Great place to stay, friendly staff! Had a picnic table, grill and a covered area to sit at as well. No sewer at the site but did have dump stations. Most beautiful place by far!

  • Review photo of Chicken Creek by Ashley T., June 3, 2019
  • Review photo of Chicken Creek by Ashley T., June 3, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2018

My favorite on Tenkiller

Only seven 50 amp spots and no sewer sites but the campground is great. Store outside gate. Gates going in locked at 10:00 p.m. and open at 6:00 a.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Chicken Creek have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Chicken Creek has 50 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Chicken Creek?

    Chicken Creek allows vehicles up to 146 feet.

  • Does Chicken Creek have wifi?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Chicken Creek does have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Chicken Creek?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Chicken Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Chicken Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Chicken Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Chicken Creek?

    There are 103 campsites at Chicken Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts