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Oklahoma:

Published: Thursday, July 26, 2007

Oklahoma is generally considered as the land of Native Americans, the area having been originally named as an Indian territory as early as 1834 before eventually being divided into two separate divisions in 1890, then consequently being reunited as one whole state in 1907. Perplexing as it may seem, that is how Oklahoma evolved, and as interesting as its history are its many attractions scattered in various places. Attractions that RV-boarded travelers will find to be as diverse as the state itself.

An Overview of Oklahoma Regions

The American state that goes by the nickname the "Sooner State" covers a landscape that is generally divided into six basic regions. These include the Red Carpet Country, the Green Country, the Great Plains Country, the Frontier Country, the Arbuckle Country, and the Kiamichi Country.

The Red Carpet Country

So-called because of the red soil that covers a significant part of its landscape, the region also happens to be filled with rugged hills and sand dunes. Two great rivers namely Cimarron and Canadian, traverse this region as they head toward Mexico Gulf, providing several recreational opportunities for visiting RV riders although state parks and wildlife centers are likewise present here for a more diverse outdoor option.

Apart from the two great rivers, lakes also make up a good portion of this region, and one such lake is Kaw, set in Ponca City. Covering a surface area of 17,000 acres, Kaw Lake is the place to head off to in the Red Carpet Country for many RVers owing to more than 250 RV sites found in the immediate vicinity of the lake. The most common activity here is naturally swimming, but the biggest draw has to be fishing since the lake, along with the Arkansas River, has long built a solid name for producing the largest variety of catfish in Oklahoma. Other than these, RVers can also hold picnics and family get-together events since there are picnic areas and group shelters in these parts, complemented by drinking fountains and a separate playground for children.

The Green Country

The region covers the northeastern part of Oklahoma and is characterized by prairie lands with verdant hills serving as good backdrops. Large regional lakes also abound here, many of them found within public parks.

Tulsa, the second biggest Oklahoma city, is the dominant feature here, and this is not surprising considering the many changes that it has undergone and the impact these have had on Oklahoma in general. RV-boarded travelers seeing the Green Country for the first time will likely find their visit incomplete without seeing even a glimpse of Tulsa. Doing so need not be hard since there are at least six RV parks found in Tulsa although for quick access to the downtown area, Tulsa Warrior Campground should be most ideal as it is situated a mere five minutes away. From the campground, RVers can tour Tulsa and get to see some of its major attractions, including famous museums and historic sites like the renowned Route 66.

The Great Plains Country

The vast short-grass prairie land that comprise much of this region is contrasted by ancient mountains rising out of high plains set from afar. Its rich Native American heritage provide inspiration to many RV-boarded tourists exploring its equally rich outdoor offerings, of which the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is the most prominent.

Being an area overflowing with outdoor attractions, the many regional cities should most likely be interesting enough for RVers to visit. Fine examples of these are the cities of Duncan, Cordell, Clinton, Fort Cobb, and Elk. The latter should prove to be a highly interesting city since it has two resident RV parks, one of which was named by the National Association of RV Campgrounds as the 2003 "Park of the Year". Elk Creek RV Park, nestled in Elk City just between Amarillo and Oklahoma City, boasts of several modern amenities not usually found in other RV campgrounds. These include sauna centers, storm shelters, gas/diesel stations, an RV supplies area, and a clubroom covering 2,000 square feet that comes complete with pool tables, an indoor shuffleboard, and a kitchen.

The Frontier Country

Set in the central area of Oklahoma, the Frontier Country represents the cowboy days of the "Sooner State" and these are quietly showcased in many of its regional museums, including the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The biggest attraction here, though, has to be Oklahoma City, the state capital, which features big-city entertainment, ably providing contrast to the small-town setting that pervades in most other areas of the Frontier Country.

Needless to say, Oklahoma City is the place to see here, and RV riders will not be dismayed once they see what the state capital has to offer. These include several RV parks like A-OK RV Park, Abe's RV Park, and Eastland Hills RV Park which RVers can use as jump-off points from where they can begin a tour of Oklahoma City attractions like the State Capitol building, several state museums, and various historical sites. Highly recommended, however, especially for RV-boarded families, is White Water Bay, the 20-acre wide Oklahoma City theme park that features exciting water rides like body flumes, wave pools, and inner tubes. The biggest attractions, though, are the speed slide and the free fall, both of which measure 277 feet and 64 feet long respectively.

The Arbuckle Country

Encompassing the south-central area of Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Country is sometimes referred to as the Lakes and Trail Country owing to the presence of at least five great lakes here aside from the many trails scattered in various regional areas. Obviously, these natural attractions provide various opportunities for outdoor exploration, easily making the Arbuckle Country the preferred destination of many RVers.

Majority of the regional cities host at least one RV park and these are usually situated on or near a major regional lake. Excellent examples of these are Pauls Valley which hosts Pauls Valley City Lake Campground and Thackerville where one can check in at Red River Ranch RV Resort. For RVers, meanwhile, who want to experience a more diverse set of outdoor recreational opportunities, the regional city to head off would have to be Tishomingo where Pennington Creek Park lies waiting. The RV park covers only 15 acres but prides itself in being adjacent to Pennington Creek where its waters offer a wide range of water-based outdoor activities. Alternatively, RV-boarded travelers can opt for a tour of the Chikasaw Nation Capitol Museum located nearby where one can learn about the Chikasaw people who once made the region their home.

The Kiamichi Country

Just like the Arbuckle Country, outdoor recreations are teeming in the Kiamichi Country but in this instance, land forms, particularly mountains, and not lakes, are the dominant figures. In fact, the region holds four distinct mountain ranges namely the Winding Stair, the San Bois, Jack Fork, and Kiamichi, after which the region ostensibly got its name. Lending support to these are hills, canyons, valleys, rivers, and a forest area with unique pathways. Needless to say, passion can run high in these parts among RV-boarded travelers.

Clayton, Millerton, Broken Bow, and Hodgen are the regional cities worth checking out for they have RV parks in their midst with the latter playing host to Winding Stair Recreation Area, an RV campground set within the Winding Stair Mountain Range area where both hikers and bikers are welcome to take on its multi-purpose trails that stretch to more than 200 miles. Nearby is the Talimena Scenic Drive Byway where RVers can take a cruise and get fantastic views of the regional landscape.

A Look at the Cities

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are ostensibly the more prominent areas in the "Sooner State", but RV trippers will generally want to explore the other lesser-known places to find out what these can offer them. For this, information on existing RV parks found in these cities and a general information on its unique attractions are the essential points that should guide any visiting RVer.

Sayre

The city was named after Robert Heysham Sayre, the wealthy Pennsylvania-based railroad tycoon who gave generous donations to what was then a newly-created town. Founded sometime in 1901, Sayre may well be considered as among the pioneer towns in the "Sooner State" having been established even before Oklahoma became an official American state. Its growth started during the railroad years, continuing on even after the ground-breaking Route 66.

With such a long and glorious past, Sayre is one Oklahoma city that RV riders should definitely include in their list of places to see. Its many historical landmarks, represented by various museums like the Shortgrass Country Museum, offer wondrous tours and provide glimpses into early American history, but if these sound boring to outdoor-loving RVers, they can also look forward to visiting the Sayre City Park where outdoor fun comes in various forms, including fishing and hiking ventures, tennis and volleyball games, and a good nine-hole golf game. For those intent on camping out, the park can accommodate as many as 80 campers with its shaded RV sites that come with full hook-ups and a dump station. Alternatively, there are several other Sayre-based RV parks that RV-boarded travelers can try checking out and these include Recess RV Park and Flying W Guest Ranch.

Broken Bow

Originally starting out as a sawmill town, Broken Bow eventually woke up from its slumber and learned to use its numerous natural attractions to its advantage. Today, its verdant hills, awesome headlands, and rugged canyons are features that continually attract tourists of all types, including RV-boarded visitors. Still, the city refuses to rest on its laurels such that today, there is Broken Bow Lake to explore particularly among scuba diving enthusiasts, Mountain Fork River for the fishing buff, and Beavers Bend Resort Park for hikers and campers.

For a place to stay, RVers can choose from two significant RV parks, both situated near principal city attractions. These are Secluded Acres RV Park and Beavers Bend Resort Park with the former being found about a mile away from such attractions as Broken Bow Lake and Cedar Creek Golf Course. The latter, meanwhile, offers a more convenient access since it lies along the Broken Bow Lake shoreline where various water-based activities can be enjoyed including paddle boating, trout fishing, canoeing, and water skiing.

Lake Murray State Park

The biggest state park in Oklahoma also happens to be the oldest. Covering about 12,496 acres of park land and an extra 5,278 acres of lake waters, the Lake Murray State Park has the basic advantage of being near several other Oklahoma tourist destinations like the Arbuckle Wilderness, the Lake Texoma Resort Park, and the Turner Falls, making it easy for visiting RVers to easily hop from one attraction to another. Yet, this does not mean that the park is wanting in attractions. On the contrary, numerous recreational interests can be pursued here particularly water-based activities like swimming and paddle boating since picturesque Lake Murray stands as the most prominent park resident.

Of course, the park has also set aside various facilities for a few other outdoor activities such that there are now basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pits, softball and baseball fields, and even a golf course in these parts. A fishing dock, a scuba outfitter, an airstrip, a riding stable, and a marina can likewise be found here, making for a more diverse set of recreational pursuits.

More significantly, Lake Murray State Park boasts of about 450 camping sites, several of these having electrical hook-ups, thus making them RV-friendly. Additionally, tent camping is allowed here, with tents even being provided by the park itself although for a more restful sleep, trying out the park cabins, suites, and guest rooms ought to be a great experience.

Chikasaw National Recreation Area

Originally occupied by Chikasaw Indians from where it got its present name, the Chikasaw National Recreation Area is one Oklahoma attraction that should easily attract any visiting RVer. This is because the place is literally filled with various natural wonders where opportunities for outdoor fun are always present. These natural wonders come in the form of lakes that came about as a result of geological changes that has characterized a significant portion of this particular area.

Water-focused activities are quite obviously the most common form of recreation here and these should include fishing, boating, and swimming. Yet, aside from that, many other activities can be engaged in here, nature viewing being just one of many. For example, in the eastern side of Chikasaw, a dense forest land occupies the area while on the opposite end, prairies take hold of the place. This two contrasting features create an image of a transition zone between two different worlds. This should be an amazing scene and for visiting RV-boarded travelers, seeing this can best be done via Veterans Lake.

A full and total enjoyment of all these and the other wonders found at Chikasaw National Recreation Area need not be that difficult for most RVers since there are about six modern campgrounds set up inside the park. Three of these are certified RV-friendly as they offer basic electrical hook-ups apart from many other provisions.

Taking the Time to Visit Oklahoma

Oklahoma typically experiences mild weather conditions owing to its southern position although summer visits can be quite unbearable with day temperatures averaging 100 degrees. However, major events do take place during this time, most of them borne out of tradition so if ever a summer visit is planned, hats and sunscreen are things one should never be without.

By October, autumn begins to make its presence felt, providing cooler temperatures and a generally crisp air to Oklahoma. This should be the most ideal time to see Oklahoma which is roughly from late September up to the early days of November.

Big Cedar RV Park and Cabins

Its ideal location in the midst of the Ouachita National Forest makes the Big Cedar RV Park and Cabins the preferred choice among RVers visiting the southeastern corner of Oklahoma. The setting affords them access to the forested mountains that surround the campground where ostensibly popular outdoor endeavors like hiking, hunting, and even simple wildlife viewing are readily available. Magnifying this further are the two major Oklahoma mountain ranges, namely, Kiamichi and Winding Stair, that literally sandwich the RV campground.

Set in Hodgen City, Big Cedar RV Park and Cabins boasts of RV sites spacious enough to accommodate even the largest of RVs and situated off the main road, allowing solitude and serenity to pervade all across the grounds. Yet, if one ever needs to buy anything of value, a SuperCenter lies waiting across the road. A smaller-sized grocery store also lies adjacent to the campground where various items including gas, can be purchased at reasonable prices.

For more area exploration, RVers can try traversing the Talimena Scenic Drive settled at the eastern tip of the RV park. Covering 54 miles, the drive should allow RV-boarded travelers exciting views of many scenic spots as they drive past several major landmarks like the Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Winding Stair Mountain Range.

K River Campground and RV Park

For RVers looking for an Oklahoma RV park that allows them to get back in touch with nature without the unnecessary trappings of modern life, the one park to head off to is K River Campground and RV Park. Settled in Moyers City, the RV park prides itself in helping visitors experience the unspoiled beauty of nature through its varied outdoor activities with the Kiamichi River serving as the main venue. Among the more popular pursuits here are canoeing, fishing, tubing, and bird-watching although what would most definitely catch the attention of prospective RV-boarded travelers to the campground is gold panning especially since there are confirmed reports that gold flakes are present in these parts as reported by the GPAA Gold Prospectors Association of America Chapter 21.

Other than that, another exciting activity in this RV campground is camping, both in RV and tent fashion. The former is especially suited for those bringing in their RVs but after parking in the vehicle, a cool way to experience nature is through tent camping. Feel the wonder and the thrill of being inside a tent set up near the river while the dark and mysterious wilderness area beckons from afar. For lighting, firewood is readily available and lighting it to keep warm or cook raw fish is like going back to the olden days.

K River Campground and RV Park operates all year through and can be reached within three hours if one is coming from either Tulsa or Oklahoma City.

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