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

Cookson Bend

Cookson Bend Campground is a popular area that lies on Tenkiller Ferry Lake, among the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains. Visitors here delight in breathtaking views of 200-foot limestone bluffs rising from the scenic waters.

Reservable · Recreation.gov 134 sites 160 ft max Electric hookupsPets ok

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 ↗

Photos courtesy of Sheryl R. Townsend, Tiffany Natividad · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups		64
Standard with electric		64
group shelter electric		2
Tent-only		1
Host/management		3

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

Towing a trailerRear or front mounted accessoriesi

Tow vehicle length, ftTrailer length, ft

The longest site here provides 105 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

131 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Fits, ft	Surface	Shade	Power	People / vehicles
017	0512	Electric	Back-in	35	Gravel	Partial	30 amp	8 / 2
018	0512	Electric		40	Paved	Full	30 amp	8 / 2
019	0512	Electric		40	Paved	Full	30 amp	8 / 2
058	0512	Standard	Back-in	30	Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
059	0512	Tent only	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
060	0512	Standard	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
061	0512	Standard	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
062	0512	Standard	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
063	0512	Standard	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 2
064	0512	Standard	Back-in		Gravel	Partial	No	8 / 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

Hookups	Electric, water
Max vehicle length	160 ft
Equipment	RVs & trailers, Tents
Pets	Allowed

The campground has sites with electric hookups, and some sites are non-electric. The group picnic shelters have electricity and are reservable. The park has waterborne restrooms with hot showers, drinking water, a dump station, swim beach, playground, and boat ramps. A marina with concessions is adjacent to the campground.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →

The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Tahlequah, 16 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 Tahlequah, OK go 17.5 miles southeast on Highway 82. Look for sings for Tenkiller and turn right, then go two miles west on the paved access road.

Nearest town	Gore, Oklahoma
Coordinates	35.7067° N, 94.9600° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gear	Atwoods ↗	13 mi
Dump station	Dump station ↗	15.5 mi
RV sales & service	Victory Lane Motors ↗	29.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

Cookson Bend, Tenkiller Lake Oklahoma,Campground Tour

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 capitol 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.

0.1 mi
Cookson Bend Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
0.2 mi
Cookson Bend Marina ↗Boat launch

Other campgrounds nearby

Historic landmarks nearby

On Register Atlas →

National Historic Landmark · 10 mi

Murrell Home

Park Hill

National Historic Landmark · 18 mi

Stone Barracks

Fort Gibson

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. Located in the northeastern part of the state, the region is known as Green Country, with surroundings of dense Oak-Hickory forests, tall bluffs, and rolling hills. Tenkiller boasts 130 miles of shoreline with plenty of wildlife such as deer and turkey. It also serves as one of the flyways of migratory birds, including bald eagles, common loons, and white pelicans.

Recreation

Boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking and swimming are among the activities enjoyed by visitors. Scuba divers enjoy the lake's clear waters and high visibility. Ten marinas are located on the lake. Most offer boat and jet-ski rentals, and several have floating restaurants. 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 state laws.

Guidebooks for Oklahoma

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Best Easy Day Hikes Oklahoma City
Gigi Ragland, 2012
Find at Bookshop.org
Oklahoma hiking trails
Kent F. Frates, 2010
Find at Bookshop.org
Scenic Routes and Byways the Ozarks
Don Kurz, 2013
Find at Bookshop.org

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Cookson Bend?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Cookson Bend?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Cookson Bend have?

134 sites, including 64 standard sites without power, 64 standard sites with power, 2 group shelter electric, and 1 tent-only site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Cookson Bend?

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 Cookson Bend have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Cookson Bend?

The park has waterborne restrooms with hot showers, drinking water, a dump station, swim beach, playground, and boat ramps.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Cookson Bend?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cookson Bend. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Cookson Bend?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, 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 Cookson Bend?

Boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking and swimming are among the activities enjoyed by visitors. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Cookson Bend?

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 capitol of the Cherokee Nation.

Source: Getting there

What if Cookson Bend is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Chicken Creek (1.7 mi), Pettit Bay (3.3 mi), and Snake Creek (4.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby