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

Pettit Bay

Pettit Bay Campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake is a recreational paradise for visitors looking for a well-kept waterfront facility, which offers convenient access for boating, swimming and wildlife viewing. It is located near the historic town of Tahlequah and attracts many campers who return year after year.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Pettit Bay RampPettit Bay Boat RampA photo of Site A22 of Loop PBAI at PETTIT BAY with Picnic Table, Electricity Hookup, Fire Pit, Water HookupA photo of Site A29 of Loop PBAI at PETTIT BAY with Picnic Table, Fire Pit, Shade, Waterfront, Water Hookup
Photos courtesy of Sheryl R. Townsend, Tiffany Natividad · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric72
Standard, no hookups14
group shelter electric2
group shelter nonelectric1
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 98 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesAccessible
01PBA2ElectricBack-in66PavedPartial30 ampYes / Yes8 / 2Yes
02PBA2ElectricBack-in50PavedFull30 ampYes / Yes8 / 2Yes
03PBA2ElectricBack-in49GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2
04PBA2Electric58GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2
05PBA2ElectricBack-in60GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2
06PBA2ElectricBack-in30GravelFull30 amp8 / 2
07PBA2ElectricBack-in51GravelPartial30 amp8 / 2
08PBA2ElectricPull-through66GravelPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 2
09PBA2ElectricPull-through47GravelPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 2
10PBA2ElectricPull-through60GravelPartial50 ampYes / –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

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length98 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
AccessibilitySites 01, 02, 47, 48 and 3 more are listed accessible

The campground has sites with electric hookups, and some sites are non-electric. The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station, and boat ramps with courtesy docks. A marina with concessions is adjacent to the campground. 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 Pettit Bay30°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, 13 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 8.25 miles south on Highway 82, turn right on Indian Road and go two miles south. Then turn left and go one mile southeast on the paved access road.

Nearest townGore, Oklahoma
Coordinates35.7536° N, 94.9478° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearAtwoods ↗9.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗18.1 mi
RV sales & serviceVictory Lane Motors ↗31.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Stormy Day Pettit Bay 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 capital of the Cherokee Nation. The scenic upper Illinois River near Tahlequah is great for canoeing and rafting, and the lower Illinois River near Gore offers prime trout fishing.

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

Boating, fishing, water skiing, 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

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

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Pettit Bay?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Pettit Bay?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Pettit Bay have?

89 sites, including 72 standard sites with power, 14 standard sites without power, 2 group shelter electric, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Pettit Bay?

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 Pettit Bay have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Pettit Bay?

The park has flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swim beach, playground, dump station, and boat ramps with courtesy docks.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Pettit Bay?

Yes, pets are allowed at Pettit Bay. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Pettit Bay?

Sites 01, 02, 47, and 48 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 7 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Pettit Bay?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, 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 Pettit Bay?

Boating, fishing, water skiing, 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 Pettit Bay?

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 Pettit Bay is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Elk Creek Landing (2.5 mi), Cookson Bend (3.3 mi), and Chicken Creek (5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby