Stillwater lives up to its name with camping and golfing near gorgeous lakes.
Stillwater is in the Sandstone Hills region of north-central Oklahoma, where scrublands and prairie hills with mesas reach up to 400 feet high. This large, college city is also home to Oklahoma State University and takes pride in its friendliness, which also draws campers passing through. Campsites near Stillwater range from primitive tent camping and cabin rentals to RV sites and decked-out glamping options. Lakes, creeks, and rivers invite Stillwater campers to swim, boat, fish, and enjoy wildlife viewing and birding, and even better—Sequoyah State Park, Lake Eufaula State Park, and Fort Cobb State Park all have their own campsites, plus golf courses or disc golf courses.
The drive into Sequoyah State Park is lined with shortleaf pine and brings campers to the shores of Fort Gibson Lake for tent and RV camping, lodges and cabin rentals, and recreation on the water. Campsites with water, sewer, and electric hookups are minutes from lighted ramps for fishing and boating, while bait and boat rentals can be found at the marina. Trek 12 miles of biking, hiking, and horse trails, then perhaps share a fire-cooked meal at a group picnic shelter. Sequoyah also features educational experience programming at the Three Forks Nature Center, where rehabilitated mammals and birds are nursed back to health. Campers who golf should be sure to bring their clubs for the park’s 18-hole golf course.
Southeast of Stillwater, the hydroelectric Eufaula Dam turns a large reservoir into Lake Eufaula. The lake’s state park reserves space for nearly every type of camping near the water, from tent and RV campsites to glamping yurts with wifi and TVs. Campsites with water, sewer, and electric hookups can serve as home base for days spent hiking or mountain biking down natural trails, fishing in the designated pond, and taking advantage of the disc golf course. Lake Eufaula also boasts a public airstip for Hipcampers to fly in for a romantic visit to Lovelock Fountain, where sweethearts inscribe their names on padlocks clipped to the fence as a symbol of their devotion.
Fort Cobb Lake, a 4,000 surface-acre watersport paradise, sits within Fort Cobb State Park. Here, Hipcampers have access to full-hookup RV and tent campsites, as well as pet-friendly cabin rentals with queen beds, refrigerators, and stoves. Fort Cobb also has primitive campsites—just be sure to reserve online. Once you’re settled into your site, the lake is prime for swimming, fishing, and boating (rentals available), while the 18-hole golf course also beckons.
Stillwater enjoys a humid subtropical climate, with impressive storms ramping up in summer. The best time for camping and outdoor activities in the area is either before the summer humidity and heat set in or when the cooling fall air rolls in. The generally mild temperatures of September and October usually stay above 55°F and below 80°F, while March through May temperatures hover between 40 and 70°F.