Map showing campground location near Talihina, Oklahoma

Camper submitted image from Talimena State Park Campground

Talimena State Park Campground

Hikers heading out on the Ouachita Trail will find Talimena State Park Campground serves as the western terminus for this 200-plus-mile route that stretches into Arkansas. The campground sits alongside Highway 271, providing easy drive-in access to both RV sites with full hookups and walk-in tent areas. RVs up to 50 feet can access electric, water, and sewer connections, while tent campers can choose from sites near the trailhead or more secluded spots away from the main camping area.

Road noise from the adjacent highway carries through most sites, particularly those closest to the pavement. Scott found spot eight "very secluded," while other campers report that truck traffic and jake brakes can be heard throughout the night. A small hill and trees provide visual screening but don't eliminate the sound. The campground stays open year-round with reservations available through the state park system.

ATV riders use the park as a staging area for approximately 45 miles of designated trails in the surrounding Ouachita National Forest. ShaneB notes that "tent site 1 is outstanding" and is "located at the head of the trail" for those planning to hike. The forest holds black bears, so proper food storage applies. Campers can access the Talimena Scenic Drive nearby for mountain views and fall foliage.

Sites include covered picnic tables, fire pits, and level pads. The bathhouse provides hot showers, though hours can vary seasonally. A playground serves younger children, and a small camp store operates with limited hours. The town of Talihina sits about six miles away for supplies and dining options. Campers seeking additional options in the region can explore camping areas around Talihina.

The campground works well for trail access and overnight stops, though the highway proximity makes it better suited for active campers than those seeking quiet relaxation.

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Map & DirectionsTalimena State Park Campground is located in Oklahoma near Talihina

Public Campground

Directions

Located 20 miles south of Wister and 6 miles north of Talihina on Hwy 271 one mile south of the entrance to the Talimena Scenic Drive (Hwy 1).

Address

50884 Hwy 271
Talihina, OK 74571

Coordinates

34.78300081 N
94.95200028 W

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Last on 5/7/26
VerizonLTE
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Verified by 8 users
Last on 5/7/26
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Last on 5/7/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
30 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

59 min from Fort Smith, AR
1 hr 46 min from Fayetteville, AR
2 hrs 16 min from Tulsa, OK
2 hrs 37 min from Texarkana, TX

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Reviews13 Camper Reviews - Talimena State Park Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.0

out of 5

13 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the well-maintained facilities, clean showers, and helpful hosts at this trailhead location. Highway noise from the adjacent road was commonly mentioned as the main drawback, though most found the park's amenities and trail access worthwhile.

patrick L.

Traveler

Reviewed Mar. 3, 2026

Small clean + trail

Place for van is level. Electricity but not need. Very noisy road on day with truck motor brake(Peter is not my friend), ok in the evening.

SiteTL006

Month of VisitMarch

Scott

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 20, 2025

Motorcycle camping trip

I wanted to get one more camping trip in before winter set in, i reserve spot nine but was occupied when I arrived. The park host was very helpful. Putting me in spot eight, which was very secluded which I liked. The showers were available friday night, but they were closed saturday night for some reason, like everyone else, the highway is close to the park, so there is a little noise. Overall a nice park.

Site08

Month of VisitNovember

Christian D.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 1, 2023

Good place to stay the night

We had a nice site with a covered table. Only negative part is the road noise.

Site6

Month of VisitMarch

(8) View All

Adams

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 27, 2021

Small campground with close suites

Right on the highway bringing road noise, an all-in-one bathroom shower with only one male/female in each at a time, close campsites, and lots of ATV’s. A good place for us to stay the night, but not much longer.

Sitetent 1

Month of VisitNovember

(4) View All

Kenneth S.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 15, 2021

Talimena State Park

Nice small State Park. Camp host was very helpful. Good clean shower house.

Month of VisitOctober

Bryan A.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 12, 2021

Quaint and Clean!

I love this state park and will come back to stay longer! Super nice trailed, clean showers, big spaces…loved it. My only negative would be that it’s fairly close to highway and can get loud at moments. But no big deal to me.

Site6

Month of VisitOctober

(4) View All

Neil T.

Legend

Reviewed Mar. 4, 2021

Nice, clean little camp

The people who take care of this camp do a great job. Everything is tidy and well kept.

Spaces aren’t too tight together, but not much privacy either - except for us because we were the only ones there!

The Ouachita Trailhead starts here and two of the primitive camps (1 and 2) are right at the trailhead.

There was at least one other trail leading away from camp.

Camp store is closed during the week - at least during the time of year of our visit.

The town of Talihina is about 6 miles from camp. I didn’t see a grocery store, but it had a couple of well stocked convenience stores. It also has a few cafes. The food at Pam’s Cafe was good. There was also a nice looking coffee shop, but we didn’t try it.

The Talimena Drive starts very close by, so this would be a good base camp for cruising that scenic drive. I’d love to come back in the fall, but the views are incredible anytime. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Many sites back up right to the adjacent highway. A little hill and some trees block the view, but the road noise is loud. And several trucks in the middle of the night were heavy on their jake brakes.

Our site had a nice gazebo over the table. My son enjoyed the playground, though it is really sized for kids 6 and under.

Absolutely wouldn’t mind camping here again.

(16) View All

ShaneB

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 25, 2020

Gateway to the Forest

This is a great place with awesome camps hosts and a cozy feel.

A great gateway to the national forest and the Ouachita Trail. The trail starts at the park and heads East for some 200 miles. But you don’t have to do it all! Just get out and enjoy what you can.

The ATV crowd is present and sometimes a little loud, but they leave out in the morning and don’t typically get back till dusk.

Tent site 1 is outstanding. Located at the head of the trail it is otherwise pretty remote.

The RV campsites are against the highway and although you can’t see it, you can certainly hear it. It’s not an interstate though and the traffic does die down at night.

I don’t think they have a problem in camp, but be aware that the Ouachita National Forest holds a fair number of Black Bears. Proceed accordingly.

Overall this is a gem of a park, nothing really to do at the park, but the adjacent forest awaits whatever adventure you choose!

(4) View All

Teresa C.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2020

Grear

I love this park! The Camp host are very kind and helpful!

Month of VisitDecember

Mike D.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 26, 2020

Great campground to start your OT hike!

I've stayed here a couple of times the night before starting my hike on the Ouachita Trail. The OT is a 200+ mile trail and this is park is the Western Terminus. The park has tent and RV sites. The tent sites are level and clean.

The bathrooms and showers are very clean. It is a great place to grab a shower after a few days hiking. The showers have plenty of hot water and the water comes out a good rate to make it easy to knock off that trail dirt.

For a small daily fee you can park your car here for the duration of the hike. I have left my car here several times with no issues.

Month of VisitOctober

Mark C.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 10, 2020

A must stay

Very well kept campgrounds. Full RV hook ups (30 amp). Also has area for primitive camping. Direct access to miles of hiking trails. Also direct access to approximately 45 miles of ATV trails.

(4) View All

Levi A.

Traveler

Reviewed Jan. 20, 2020

Nice park

Beautiful park. Lots of trails in the area, lots that start from this park. Level pads, table and fire pit. Nice view! Clean showers and toilets. Really nice place, we will stay here again!!

Troy W.

Legend

Reviewed May. 2, 2018

Talimena State Park + The Ouachita Trail

This State Park is located in SE Oklahoma and is a hidden gem. The park has a number of RV sites and tent sites. There are a number of picnic tables with covers which make preparing and eating meals easy. There are bathrooms with toilets, sinks, showers and hot water. The grounds are well kept. The Park Host was super friendly and a great source of knowledge about the area. It is a great place to start hiking the Ouachita Trail. The Ouachita Trail is a 220 mile trail that travels from Oklahoma to Arkansas. Near the campground the forest is predominantly made up of pine trees, but as you hike along the trail you'll pass through a variety of hardwoods like oak. In the spring the dogwood trees were blooming with flowers. A short distance from the park is the town of Talihena where you can stock up with supplies or grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants. We picked up Subway sandwiches on our way into the park and dined in at the El Rancho Mexican Grill on our way out of the park. The El Rancho restaurant had friendly service and great food.

Month of VisitApril

(7) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitor reviews say about Talimena State Park?

Talimena State Park is described as a hidden gem in Southeast Oklahoma with well-maintained grounds and facilities. The park features clean bathrooms with showers and hot water. Many visitors appreciate the helpful and kind camp hosts who keep everything tidy. The park serves as the western terminus of the Ouachita Trail and offers direct access to numerous hiking and ATV trails. While the park receives high marks for cleanliness and natural beauty, some visitors mention highway noise as a drawback. Most people find it has a cozy feel with good views and appreciate the level camping spots.

Are cabins available at Talimena State Park?

No, Talimena State Park does not offer cabins. The accommodation options are limited to RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and primitive camping areas. For those seeking more comfort than tent camping provides, the RV sites with 30-amp service are the most developed option available at this park. Visitors looking for cabin accommodations would need to explore other nearby parks or lodging options in the region.

What camping options are available at Talimena State Park?

Talimena State Park offers several camping options to accommodate different preferences. There are RV sites with full hookups (30 amp electrical service), as well as designated tent camping sites that are described as level and clean. The park also features primitive camping areas, with sites 1 and 2 located right at the trailhead. Each campsite comes with a table and fire pit, and many have covered picnic tables that make meal preparation convenient. The campsites are reasonably spaced but offer limited privacy between sites.

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