Hawthorn Bluff, near Oologah, Oklahoma, is a solid choice for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. This campground offers a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and even cabins for those who prefer a little more structure while still soaking in nature.

The campground is known for its shady spots and proximity to the lake, making it a great place to kick back and relax. Visitors have mentioned the clean facilities, including restrooms that are well-kept, which is always a plus when you're out in the wild. One camper noted, “We had a great site on the bluff overlooking the lake,” highlighting the beautiful views you can expect here.

If you're into fishing or just want to enjoy some time by the water, there are fishing docks and a sandy beach for swimming. Plus, the hiking trails nearby offer a chance to stretch your legs and explore the area. As one long-time visitor put it, “There’s a lot to do!” 

While the campground has a few rules, like a 10 PM gate closure, most campers find the atmosphere friendly and welcoming. Whether you're planning a family trip or a weekend escape with friends, Hawthorn Bluff has the right vibe for a memorable camping experience.

## Overview

 Hawthorn Bluff is located on Oologah Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, less than 30 miles from Tulsa. The lake provides an ideal getaway for fishing, boating, picnicking and camping. Prevailing winds make Oologah one of the most popular lakes in the area for sailing.
## Recreation

 Oologah Lake is a prime location for boating, sailing, water skiing and swimming. Several recreation areas with boat ramps and docks are scattered around the lake, including at Hawthorn Bluff. Fishing is a very popular activity. Black bass, crappie, paddlefish, channel and blue catfish, walleye and hybrid striped bass are the primary sport species found in the lake. Young anglers love the Kid's Sun, Fun and Fishing Derby Day held annually in June. The forested hills of the Oologah Wildlife Management Area provide excellent hunting opportunities, with nearly 13,000 acres open to the public.
## Natural Features

 Oologah Lake sits on the Verdigris River with a surface area of nearly 30,000 acres. Over 200 miles of shoreline are dominated by old-growth post oak and blackjack oak forests, which provide habitat for a variety of wildlife and birds, including deer, turkey, rabbits, quail, squirrels, ducks, geese and doves. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Dog Iron Ranch, the birthplace of Will Rogers, is nearby. The ranch is a living history museum featuring Rogers' two-story post-Civil War birth home, educational programs, picnic areas and a 400-acre pasture on the lake shore with Texas Longhorn cattle and other livestock. The ranch is open year-round.

Hawthorn Bluff

Join the fun near Oologah. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Oologah. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Oologah

The Best Camping Near Oologah, Oklahoma

This is not our favorite place.  It’s close to a busy road and you can hear the vehicles all night.  Wildlife is also been a problem here as far as raccoons and skunks go.

Convenient but that’s about it

I love the this campsite! Been going here since I was young! Easy access to everything, close to town, and literally the easiest site at this campsite to give directions to! The couple that runs this is literally the sweetest! ❤️ They've been running it since i was little and they stay ON SITE, so if you have an emergency.. they are there. Love it! 100% recommend 😊

Lifetime Camper

My wife and I had stayed here a couple of years ago, but we didn't get a lot of time to explore the place back then. We got in late and weather forced us out early, as we were not properly prepared. (Were still new to camping at the time) 

Recently our friends suggested this park as a close and easy place to camp as a group and I couldn't have been more pleased! The site that we had was more than enough room for 4 adults, 3 kids and a dog. We had 2 cars, two tents, a canopy and the dog on a tie out leash and still had plenty of room for the kids to play and run without interfering with other campsites. The swim beach was well kept and easily accessible with free life jacket loaners. The bathrooms were pretty spotless even though they are primitive style toilets only. The grounds were well kept, clean and spacious. They offer fishing docks, boat launches, plenty of bank to fish from as well as small playground equipment in a few places for the kids. Definitely one of our "close to home, quick overnight" favorites and we will be back very soon!

Wonderful little park!

We were in site #31 with is right across from the fishing dock and close to a potable water source. The Campground is very shaded and the spot was large and easy to back in to with our 33' TT. The fishing dock was very spacious and secure for us and the grandkids we love everything about the park, except. The site did not have a dedicated water hook up. We had to buy a 75' hose to put water in our fresh tank. Not a huge deal. #2 complaint is that the site was slanted so much that we could not get level front to back. We moved a couple of times and tried all combination of stacking lumber under the tongue jack but still had to sleep with our heads at the foot end of our bed. Still not a huge deal. We'd go back and if #31 is the only site available we'll take it.

Nice Quiet Campground

I grew up in Oologah and spent many many nights camping here. The camping sites are good and close to restrooms, there is a nice sandy beach for swimming, a long rocky shoreline that is fun to explore and hunt shells, you can go fishing, boating, kayaking, visit goat island, the hiking trails are nice although I have been a couple of times and had a TON of ticks but not very often. There a lot to do!

Good camping sites and hiking trails

Very nice and clean campground. Reserve early though this one fills up fast. We camped here in the middle of the week and they where already at 75%. Lake side spots are not advisable if you have little ones, the bluffs are very close to the fire pits and have about a 30ft drop. 

Nice views of the Lake

**Vibe:** Classic quiet Army Corp park. Almost all RVs. Ours was the only tent. 

  

**Cleanliness:** Above average 

  

**Facilities:** Average 

  

**General spots:** Good size, good spacing, not private, some back up to lake, but there is a sizable drop off to lake level. 

  

**Our site:** Don’t remember the number, but it backed up to the lake. 

  

**Noise:** Quiet. It was a mid-week stay during the school year.

  

**Cell signal:** Good/Verizon

  

**Other:** Close to dam and behind the dam appeared to be a popular fishing spot when water was being released.

Nice campground on an underrated lake

We had a great site on the bluff overlooking the lake.  It was close to the restroom that was very clean and convenient.  

Perfect site! 

Great location with lots of shade. Also, very close to the playground. Easy spot to back-in and is very level. Only downside is that you must be back in the park by 10:00 PM. They park managers will lock the gate and you either have to walk to your campsite or if you leave a car at the gate you can drive your secondary car while leaving your primary car outside the main gate. We were in town for a baseball tournament. Otherwise we would’ve been back in plenty of time. 

Photos of Hawthorn Bluff

Real photos from real campers