Army Corps of Engineers · Tenkiller Ferry Lake · Gore, OK

Chicken Creek

Head to Chicken Creek Campground for tons of fun on Tenkiller Ferry Lake. As one of the most popular campgrounds on the lake, Chicken Creek boasts modern facilities, impressive vistas, convenient access to boating and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife. It's no wonder why so many campers return each year.

More like this: electric hookups in Oklahoma · reservable in Oklahoma · big rigs in Oklahoma · pets allowed in Oklahoma · group sites in Oklahoma

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Campsite at Chicken Creek ParkCampsite at Chicken Creek ParkChicken Creek Park EntranceA photo of Site 090 of Loop CHICKEN CREEK at CHICKEN CREEK with Picnic Table, Electricity Hookup, Fire Pit, Shade, Water Hookup
Photos courtesy of Sheryl R. Townsend, Tiffany Natividad · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric101
group shelter nonelectric1
group shelter electric1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 110 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

103 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
001ElectricBack-in75GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2No
002ElectricBack-in60GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
003ElectricBack-in60GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
004ElectricBack-in40GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
005ElectricBack-in60GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
006ElectricBack-in60GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
007ElectricBack-in55GravelFull30 ampYes / –8 / 2
008ElectricBack-in105GravelFull30 ampYes / –8 / 2
009ElectricBack-in70GravelPartial30 ampYes / –8 / 2
010ElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length146 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed

All campsites are equipped with electric hookups, and the group shelters have electricity, too. The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station and a boat ramp complex. Of the ten marinas with concessions located on the lake, most offer boat and jet-ski rentals, and several have floating restaurants.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Chicken Creek30°40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 2.47 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowFebruary: 2.95 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowMarch: 4.37 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowApril: 4.74 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 6.33 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 5.50 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.43 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.10 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.88 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.23 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.82 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.4°F averageFebruary: 43.8°F averageMarch: 52.5°F averageApril: 61.2°F averageMay: 68.6°F averageJune: 76.8°F averageJuly: 81.1°F averageAugust: 79.8°F averageSeptember: 73.0°F averageOctober: 62.2°F averageNovember: 50.9°F averageDecember: 41.9°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Tahlequah, 18 miles from the campground at 850 feet, station USC00348677 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 51 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Gore, Oklahoma, go 17.5 miles northeast on Highway 100, take the turn left and go 1.5 miles northwest on the paved access road. Follow signs into the campground.

Nearest townGore, Oklahoma
Coordinates35.6817° N, 94.9628° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗14.5 mi
Outdoor gearAtwoods ↗14.7 mi
RV sales & serviceVictory Lane Motors ↗28.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Chicken Creek, Tenkiller 2022

Worth a stop

Visit the Tenkiller State Park for its nature center and scuba diving park, the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge near Vian, or the historic city of Tahlequah - the capital of the Cherokee Nation. The scenic upper Illinois River near Tahlequah is great for canoeing and rafting, and the lower Illinois near Gore offers prime trout fishing.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge begins about 14.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Tenkiller Ferry Lake is often referred to as "Oklahoma's clear water paradise." The 12,500 acre lake is sourced by the Illinois River and the Baron Fork, which are both designated as Oklahoma Scenic Rivers. It is nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in the northeastern part of the state. This area, known as Green Country, is surrounded by dense oak-hickory forests, tall bluffs, and rolling hills. The lake has 130 miles of shoreline with plenty of wildlife such as deer and turkey. It serves as one of the flyways of migratory birds, including bald eagles, common loons, and white pelicans.

Recreation

Water skiing, boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming are some of the activities enjoyed by visitors. Prevailing winds and secluded coves create an ideal environment for sailing. Scuba divers enjoy the lake's clear waters and high visibility. Fishing is good for black bass, white bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. The trout stream below the dam is one of only two year-round trout fisheries in Oklahoma, and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. Hunting is also permitted in parts of the lake area, in accordance with federal and state laws.

Guidebooks for Oklahoma

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Chicken Creek?

Sites at Chicken Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Chicken Creek?

Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Chicken Creek have?

103 sites, including 101 standard sites with power, 1 group shelter nonelectric, and 1 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Chicken Creek?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Chicken Creek have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Chicken Creek?

The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station and a boat ramp complex.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Chicken Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Chicken Creek. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Chicken Creek?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Chicken Creek?

Water skiing, boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming are some of the activities enjoyed by visitors. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Chicken Creek?

Gore, Oklahoma. Visit the Tenkiller State Park for its nature center and scuba diving park, the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge near Vian, or the historic city of Tahlequah - the capital of the Cherokee Nation.

Source: Getting there

What if Chicken Creek is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cookson Bend (1.7 mi), Snake Creek (2.4 mi), and Pettit Bay (5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby