What are the best state parks in Oklahoma?
From Red Rock Canyon State Park to Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma’s geographical diversity has earned our state a reputation for natural beauty.
If you’ve ever stood in the sands of Little Sahara, or waded into the cool waters of Tom Steed Lake at Great Plains Park, you’ve witnessed something that is fairly unique compared to the rest of the state.
What does this large combination of these unique places make? A lot of opportunity for regional exploration.
Here is a list of Oklahoma state parks worth visiting — most that I’ve been to and and a few that I plan on visiting soon.
Obviously, these state parks are scattered all over the state, but don’t let that scare you; I highly recommend you take a look at the website roadtrippers.com to find interesting, quirky, and scenic features between your origin and destination.
Okay — let’s get to the list!
1. Roman Nose State Park
Roman Nose State Park — situated near Watonga, OK — was actually one of the first state parks in Oklahoma.
One of my favorite things about this state park is the the awesome “art deco”-style sign at the entrance, but there are a lot of fun things to love about Roman Nose State Park.
Known For The:
Teepees! (And of course an amazing cluster of streams and lakes)
Come For The:
- Newly renovated 22-room lodge, which sports a beautifully mid-century style, reflective of its 1956 construction.
- A full-sized 18 hole golf course and mini-golf.
- Two lakes with paddleboat, kayaking, and fishing (including trout fishing) opportunities.
- Three different campground areas with a great swimming pool.
- Hiking and mountain biking trails.
- A beautiful canyon whose bluffs wrap the state park.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
1h15m from OKC, 2h45m from Tulsa, 1h15m from Woodward, 2h from Lawton
Contact Them Here:
580-623-7281 or romannosepark@oklahomaparks.com. Alternatively, you can book rooms here: romannoselodge@oklahomaresorts.com.
2. Lake Murray State Park
If you grew up with family from Ardmore, you’re no stranger to this place.
One of Oklahoma’s most popular state parks, Lake Murray boasts over 12,000 acres of explorable nature — 5,700 of that acreage made up by the impressive Lake Murray.
Known For The:
Lake Murray Rock Tower! (that and the lake is probably the best place to enjoy any kind of water sports in South Central OK.)
Come For The:
- 500 primitive campsites on this massive state park (and another 329 RV sites.)
- Lake Murray Lodge’s 52 guest rooms and suites, as well as an additional awesome 56 cabins.
- An array of trails for horseriding, ATVs, and hikers that is practically unmatched in the state.
- 150 miles of beautiful shoreline.
- A beautiful 18 hole golf course. Other sports amenities feature baseball fields, tennis courts, and horseshoe pits.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
1h40m from OKC, 3h from Tulsa, Like 20 seconds from Ardmore, 30m from Gainesville TX.
Contact Them Here:
580-223-4044 or lakemurrayresort@oklahomaresorts.com.
3. Red Rock Canyon State Park
A smaller and slightly lesser known state park, Red Rock Canyon is still 110% impressive when you see the giant red boulders that wall the corridors of the park.
Red Rock Canyon has a great park for kids, too!
Known For The:
Rappelling and Old wagon wheel ruts from the historic California Trail.
Come For The:
- 44 campsites (26 of which are primitive.)
- Unrivaled rappelling from some of Oklahoma’s most beautiful cliffs; one featuring an 80 ft face.
- 2 peaceful nature trails and 1 more challenging hiking trail.
- A great swimming pool for cooling off post-hike/climb.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
2h30m from Tulsa, 1h from OKC, 35m from Weatherford, 1h20m from Lawton
Contact Them Here:
405-542-6344 or redrockcanyon@oklahomaparks.com.
4. Robbers Cave State Park
Tucked away just outside of Wilburton, OK, Robbers Cave State Park is quite possible Oklahoma’s ultimate hiker’s vacation spot. Spanning over 1,000 acres, this park is enjoyed by hikers, horseback riders, and general outdoor lovers.
Known For The:
Scenic hiking trails and peerless rock climbing.
Come For The:
- 8,300 acres of state park land, including Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, and Coon Creek.
- Amazing cliffs — some of which reach 1,500 ft.
- The ultra-comfortable, 20-room Belle Star View Lodge.
- Belle Star Express train, with a 30 minute round trip ride
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
2h from Tulsa, 2h45m from OKC, 1h30m from Ft Smith, AR, 45m from McAlister.
Contact Them Here:
(918) 465-2565 or robberscave@travelok.com.
5. Gloss Mountain State Park
If you’ve ever made the long drive between Tulsa and Woodward, you’ve been rewarded for your resilience with the mind-blowing site that is Gloss Mountain State Park. With its glistening red mesas looking more like something out of Arizona than Oklahoma, this state park is definitely one of my favorites.
Known For The:
Most scenic point of view in North Central Oklahoma.
Come For The:
- Medium difficulty trail to the top of Cathedral Mountain.
- Desert wildlife, from eagles to Oklahoma’s own native lizards.
- Unmatched hiking, camping, and fishing at Newton Ranch.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
2h30m from Tulsa, 45m from Enid, 2h from Oklahoma City, 45m from Woodward.
Contact Them Here:
580-227-2512 or majoredc@sbcglobal.net.
6. Natural Falls State Park
If you grew up anywhere near Siloam Springs, you know about this place already. Featuring a massive 77 foot tall waterfall, among many other beautiful features, this state park takes the cake for the northeast corner of the state.
Known For The:
77 foot tall waterfall. Also, the location where 1974’s Where The Red Fern Grows was filmed.
Come For The:
- Did I mention the 77 foot tall waterfall?
- 44 RV/17 tent camping spots.
- Two observation decks that really bring to light the magnificent natural spectacle of the Ozark Highlands.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
1h15m from Tulsa, 15m from Siloam Springs AR, 2h45m from Oklahoma City, 50m from Fayetteville AR.
Contact Them Here:
918-422-5802 or scarlett.couch@travelok.com.
7. Little Sahara State Park
Somewhat of an anomaly of our state’s typical geography, Little Sahara’s dunes are the products of many years of alluvial sand deposits from the Cimarron River. Boasting a hands-down position as Oklahoma’s #1 ATV riding spot, its dunes are something that can’t be explained with words.
See this place in person.
Known For The:
Sand. (That’s really all that needs to be said.)
Come For The:
- Camp and Ride experience. Camp at your site, then drive your offroad vehicle of choice to this massive 1,600 acre sandy desert.
- 86 RV sites and 143 tent sites.
- ATV rental and shop nearby.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
3h from Tulsa, 35m from Woodward, 1h15m from Enid, 2h15m from Oklahoma City.
Contact Them Here:
580-824-1471 or littlesahara@oklahomastateparks.com.
8. Alabaster Caverns State Park
Situated atop the world’s largest gypsum cave, this state park boasts some of the best finest cave spelunking in the state.
It is also situated so closely to Little Sahara, Gloss Mountains, and the Great Salt Plains, that you can actually visit all of them in 24 hours, like we did. If you do plan to visit Alabaster Caverns State Park, make sure to call ahead before you leave, as some of their activities are season, due to local bat hibernation.
The guided cave tour is possibly one of the most impressive spectacles of nature that this state has to offer.
Known For The:
Cave spelunking
Come For The:
- An impeccable guided cave tour that involves climbing 300+ steps, bats, and salamanders. Bring a good camera and some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty!
- From April through September, “wild cavers” can choose from 4 different caves of varying degrees of difficulty for spelunking.
- Hiking trails, playground, volleyball court
- 11 RV sites/12 tent sites.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
3h15m from Tulsa, 30m from Woodward, 1h45m from Enid, 2h30m from Oklahoma City.
Contact Them Here:
580-621-3381 or alabastercaverns@travelok.com.
9. Great Salt Plains State Park
Arguably one of the most bizarre geographical feature of Oklahoma, this park will blow your mind when you see the sheer size of Great Salt Plains Lake. Looking out over the salt flats are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
If you’re looking to take your family to a place that will keep everyone having fun, this is your best bet.
Known For The:
Selenite crystal digging and birdwatching.
Come For The:
- From April 1 to October 15, visitors can dig for selenite crystals in the lake bed for free. Kids love this. Adults love this.
- Selenite Sam is usually on hand to help new “miners” figure out how to get started finding these crystals. This is highly recommended.
- Great Salt Plains State Park consists of 8,700 acres and 41 miles of shoreline. The park is home to more than 300 species of birds.
- 64 RV sites/95 tent sites.
Hours From Major Bigger Cities:
2h30m from Tulsa, 1h30m from Woodward, 1h30m from Enid, 2h15m from Oklahoma City.
Contact Them Here:
580-626-4731 or Greatsaltplains@travelok.com and shawna.clepper@travelok.com.
A Few Tips To Guarantee a Good Time
I personally recommend starting out with some of the state parks that are closer to your house.
Most importantly, be sure to call ahead during business hours to verify that the park amenities are available for use. This will save the tremendous disappointment of showing up to a feature that is closed.
I hope this list helps you find some great weekend destinations as the summer cools off! Shoot me an e-mail here if you have any questions about any of these places — I’m glad to help where I can!