Oklahoma

[PKCSPT]

Going to my favorite resource for suggestions.
I might be driving down to Oklahoma for a few day and was thinking I might try one of the state parks for a night since I will be bringing my teardrop for quick on the road naps heading home.
What are the Oklahoma state parks like, do you have to reserve a site in advance or can I just show up? Trying to figure out which one is closest to Oklahoma City, looks like maybe Norman. If I do it will probably be Thursday May 29th.

My son is getting out of the army and him and his wife are driving from California to North Carolina then back up to Minnesota, I offered to meet them along 35 and take their pets for them and bring them home so they can just enjoy their trip. (really just an excuse to see them) Taking my mom down to visit a cousin a few days early and thought what the heck, if I bring the tear might as well use it right?

[HMK]

I'm in Texas, but I would assume Oklahoma is similar. As I've recently discovered, You must make a reservation. What does this entail? It's not a complex or simple process.

1st, you must call weeks in advance if the park is popular. The phone wait times is sometimes 45 minutes. It took my wife all day of phoning and being on hold, last week trying to get us a spot at Opossum Kingdom.

2. They won't let you reserve a particular spot. They just reserve spot for you and it's first come first serve. This irks me to no end!!! I have spots I like and spots I hate, but that's the way it is.

Good Luck!!!

[mezmo]

Be sure to take a Weather Alert Radio with you, so you
won't be caught unawares. It's severe weather time
now down there ! Have a safe journey.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Nobody]

A few years ago there were 2 state parks with nice campgrounds near OKC. Just a few miles east of Norman on Lake Thunderbird, they were Lake Thunderbird SP & Little River SP. Can't find Little River SP anymore so it may be part of Lake Thunderbird SP. No other state parks in the I-35 corridor 'til you get near the Texas border at Lake Murray. Most campsites at Oklahoma SP's are first come first served but I think you can make reservations at a few parks. Dunno if Lake Thunderbird is one of 'em. We used to start our trips west so we could be at Red Rock Canyon, SP, near Hinton, OK ('bout 35mi W of OKC) at days end. Great place, very scenic & popular with hikers/rock climbers. Unless it was on a popular weekend we'd just always 'take a chance' on finding a spot (always did )when we got there. Going home we'd always try to find a site at one of the SP's on Lake Eufaula, 90mi or so east of OKC. Never had a problem but we never tried it on a busy/holiday weekend.

If you're gonna be there on a weekend, especially a holiday, you might want to see about making reservations at Lake Thunderbird if ya want to try it. Think they have about 440 campsites. Being that close to OKC it probably gets lotsa use & may be one of the parks that take/require reservations. We've camped in most Oklahoma SP's at one time or another over the years & always enjoyed 'em.

Gettin' a little further off the beaten path, about 50mi west of I-35 in northern OK is the Great Salt Plains SP near Jet, OK. Located adjacent to the Great Salt Plains NWR, it's a good place for birdwatching or just relaxing. I've hunted geese near there in autumn & camped at the SP. Nice facilities.

[PKCSPT]

Mezmo, being in Minnesota I always take my weather alert radio with me.

Great Salt Plains state park,,,, 50 miles from OK City isn't too bad.