Black Kettle Campground

I arrived just before sunset, and I missed the turn where the camping area was. After looking at some photos on this app, and disconnecting my car from my motorhome, I was able to find the camping area. Just make sure you turn left pretty much right after you pull in. I was there on a Thursday night, and I was the only person in the whole rack area. I did see three rangers/park workers, but that was it. In the camp area, there was plenty of shade to not be miserable on a hot day, and there were open areas, which were really great for viewing the stars at night. There were so many stars! I could faintly hear trucks on the nearby highway, but it was still rather quiet. There were water pumps at the campsites. They were public restrooms. There was also a boat launch into the lake. I forgot to note the cell coverage, but I had good enough coverage with my AT&T hotspot to work on my laptop. And my phone is Verizon, and I didn’t have any issues with it.

We are 28’ plus F250 and the sites in the photo would be too small for us. Luckily there was NO ONE else around trying to camp when we rolled in at 7p local so we just turned around at the very far end and parked facing out along the lake in one of the pulloffs. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise, would be tough for anything bigger than a teardrop in busy season, who knows when that is.

And you can’t pass up free

On our way to Texas, found this for a quick free overnight. We were pleased to find a heavily wooded area with clean pit toilets. No fire ban and wood was provided so we had a fire. We were the only ones here. Heard coyotes, and an owl. Much better than a rest area, nice to sleep without road noise. It took a bit to get there but well worth the good nights rest.

Traveling through, we would stay again.

This camping area was pretty full. A lot of hunters out camping right now. We went around the loop and pulled off to the side with the camper still hooked up just to get stopped somewhere before dark. Just brought our stairs in so people could still pass us with ease. It’s not right off the highway so it was a gamble but it did the trick. We didn’t drive up past the left turn area just in case we couldn’t turn around.

This camping area was pretty full. A lot of hunters out camping right now. We went around the loop and pulled off to the side with the camper still hooked up just to get stopped somewhere before dark. Just brought our stairs in so people could still pass us with ease. It’s not right off the highway so it was a gamble but it did the trick. We didn’t drive up past the left turn area just in case we couldn’t turn around.

We arrived at the Black Kettle Campground in the National Grassland of the same name on Friday, Oct. 8 at around 4:30 p.m. We’ve spent two nights here and plan on one more before making our way to Lake Meredith in the Texas panhandle on our way to Sedona, AZ for a few weeks. This free site has been lovely—plenty of trees for shade but enough sun to top our battery bank off via solar. There are fresh water spigots and vault toilets, a very nice trail and a reservoir nearby. 100% recommend to anyone traveling I-40 through western Oklahoma and needing a day or two of respite. Note: our GD Imagine 2970RL (35’ long) fit nicely backed into the spot at the end of the first road to the left upon entering the campground. As others may have mentioned, big rigs will struggle to turn around if you go straight past the boat ramp.