Bison and granite mountains in the southwest, plus more than 400 miles of Route 66 across the state, with state park hookups to anchor the trip.
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has bison, Texas longhorn and Rocky Mountain elk roaming freely among granite peaks. There is no entrance fee. Doris Campground is the refuge’s campground and takes reservations only through Recreation.gov.
Great Plains State Park near Mountain Park is a few miles from the refuge and has RV sites including full hookups and 30/50-amp service. Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore is Oklahoma’s largest state park with 323 RV sites.
Route 66 runs more than 400 miles through Oklahoma, the longest drivable stretch in any state, with museums, a Round Barn and the Blue Whale of Catoosa.
| Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge | No entrance fee. Open sunrise to sunset. Visitor Center 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. 580-429-3222 |
|---|---|
| Doris Campground | 23 electric, 47 non-electric and 20 walk-in tent sites, plus 3 group sites. 14-day maximum stay. Reservations only on Recreation.gov. Non-electric about $14, electric about $22–$24, plus an $8 processing fee |
| Great Plains State Park | 58 RV sites, 14 with full hookups. Online reservations required, 877-657-2757 |
| Lake Murray State Park | 323 RV sites, mix of full hookup and water-electric. Elephant Rock has pull-throughs |
| Route 66 in Oklahoma | More than 400 miles, the longest drivable stretch in any state |
| Wildlife safety | Do not approach bison, longhorn or elk. Best viewing early morning and late evening |
Refuge roads and limits matter more than campsite size, so confirm with the visitor center.
Southwest Oklahoma is hot in summer, and the state parks are open year-round.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring | Mild weather and active wildlife. |
| Summer | Hot. Wildlife is most active early morning and late evening. |
| Fall | Cooler and quieter. |
| Winter | Great Plains State Park office is closed on weekends December 1–February 28. |
Doris details come from the Fish and Wildlife Service. State park details come from Oklahoma tourism. Route 66 RV parks were not verified.
Best for: Camping inside the refuge at Quanah Parker Lake. Most sites fit RVs and trailers.
Watch out: A numeric length limit is not stated. Reservations only, with an $8 processing fee. Strict generator and parking rules.
Best for: A few miles from the refuge with a dump station, camp store and swim beach.
Watch out: Online reservations required. Rates were not listed.
Best for: Oklahoma’s largest state park, with several campgrounds.
Watch out: Large and busy. Check each campground’s length.
Granite Pointe RV Park is listed near the refuge on Oklahoma’s travel site, but we did not verify its details.
These plans pair the refuge with Route 66 stops reachable by tow vehicle.
First visit.
History fans.
Anyone who wants spare days.
Bison, longhorn and Rocky Mountain elk roam freely. Do not approach them.
Fishing, non-motorized boats and paddleboards. The easy Quanah Parker Lake Trail is 0.4 mile.
In Clinton, tracing the highway decade by decade from the 1920s to its decline.
In Arcadia, built in 1898 and the only wooden round barn left in Oklahoma.
A cement whale built in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift and a popular photo stop.
A 66-foot pop bottle sculpture, a diner and more than 650 sodas, in Arcadia.
Leave the RV for Route 66. Museums and roadside stops are easiest with a tow vehicle.
Give wildlife space. Bison, longhorn and elk are wild animals.
Reserve in advance. Doris and Great Plains State Park take reservations only.
Bring drinking water into the refuge, since none is available there. Fill your tanks and stock up in a town before heading into the mountains.
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agencies.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Refuge entry | No charge | Camping costs extra. |
| Doris Campground | ~$14 standard, ~$22–$24 electric | Plus about $8 per booking. |
| Great Plains State Park | Not listed | Check travelok.com or call 877-657-2757. |
| Lake Murray | Not listed | Check Oklahoma state park reservations. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
No. Camping costs extra and is booked through Recreation.gov.
Yes at Doris. All refuge camping is by reservation only. Great Plains State Park also requires online reservations.
Great Plains State Park lists 14 full-hookup sites, and Lake Murray has full-hookup and water-electric sites.
More than 400 miles, the longest drivable stretch of the road in any state.
No. All caves, sinkholes, tunnels and mines in the refuge are closed.
No. Bring water and expect spotty cell coverage.
Not from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., not while the site is unoccupied, and not above 60 decibels at 50 feet.
Rules were checked October 22, 2026. State park rates and Doris site details were not on the pages we read.