Great Plains State Park
This state park, located between Lake Tom Steed and the Wichita Mountains about 25 miles from Alva, has approximately 460 acres of forests and park land, including 31 miles of shoreline along the Tom Steed Reservoir. There are 52 RV sites; 14 sites have full hookups and 42 have water and electric. Both 30- and 50-amp service is available. The park has a small store, dump station, picnic areas, barbecue grills, playground and modern bathhouse. There's a swimming beach, fishing dock and biking and hiking trails. The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the park and is popular for bird watching and digging for hourglass selenite crystals.
Great Plains State Park
22487 E. 1566 Road
Mountain Park, OK 73559
(580) 626-4731
travelok.com/State_Parks
Doby Springs Park and Campgrounds
This municipal park, run by the town of Buffalo and located on the High Plains Loop of the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, has rolling grasslands, meadows and ponds. There are 18 RV sites with water and electrical service. The property includes a group pavilion, playgrounds, picnic areas, dump station and public restrooms. There's a fishing pond at the park and a network of nature trails. Also at the park is the Doby Springs Golf Course, one of the highest-rated 9-hole courses in the state. The park is about 30 miles from Alva.
Doby Springs Park and Campgrounds
P.O. Box 167
Buffalo, OK 73834
(580) 735-2654
buffalooklahoma.com
Alabaster Caverns State Park
There are 10 RV sites at this popular state park in northwestern Oklahoma, less than 30 miles from the center of Alva. The sites have water and electrical service, picnic tables and grills. There's also a dump station and outdoor swimming pool. The biggest draw of this state park is the 3/4-mile long cave--the largest gypsum cave in the world open to the public. Guided tours of the cave, which last about an hour and include 330 steps, are offered May through September. Rock formations in the cave include huge boulders of alabaster and pink, white and black gym rock. There are also five additional undeveloped caves that you can explore (with a permit.)
Alabaster Caverns State Park
Hwy 50 & Hwy. 50-A
Freedom, OK 73842
(580) 621-3381
travelok.com/State_Parks
Little Sahara State Park
The park has three separate campgrounds with 212 campsites, including 90 RV sites with water and electrical hookups. The Golden Sands camping area is located in the southern region of the park and has 50 RV sites with water and electrical hookups. The Buttercup camping area, located in the northern section of the park, has 20 sites with water and electric. The Cowboy camping area, also located in the northern region of the park, has 20 sites with water and electric. The park is a popular place for dune riding, with more than 1,600 acres of rideable sand dunes, some as tall as 75 feet. (You must bring your own dune buggy to ride.) The park, located less than 30 miles form Alva, also has picnic areas and showers.
Little Sahara State Park
101 Main St.
Waynoka, OK 73860
(508) 824-1471
travelok.com/State_Parks
Article Written By Pamela Wright
Pamela Wright is a freelance writer, author of more than two dozen guidebooks, and hundreds of articles. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including "National Geographic Traveler," "Family Circle," "Family Fun," "Backpacker," "Hemispheres," "Cooking Light," "Yankee" and more. An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she holds a Bachelor's from Michigan State University
