Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Restaurants
1 within 3 miles
Attractions
10 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
539 reviews
Excellent
332
Very good
142
Average
23
Poor
19
Terrible
23
mbarnes27
Tulsa, OK133 contributions
Jul 2019
Let me start by saying that I've been here several times and enjoyed it. It's a beautiful park and place to camp and paddle along the river.
...But we just camped there this past weekend and after a good trip, were greeted with a pretty sucky experience when we stopped by the Heritage Center to pay on the way out.
Our group of 4 adults and 1 toddler camped at a single campsite at Hickory campground that consisted of a fire ring, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill with a vault toilet nearby. My wife and I put up a small 3 person tent and the others slept in a 6 person tent. We also put up 3 hammocks in a few trees next to the tent. In every camping experience I've ever had until this point, that would be considered a single site. Pretty standard stuff right?
But when stopping by the Heritage Center to pay what we expected to be $14/night ($28 total) we were told that it would be $42/night ($84 total) after they asked us how many tents and/or hammocks we had. When presented with that price we clarified that it was only 4 adults and 1 toddler but they said that each hammock or tent is classified as a unit and that each unit pays $14/night. This was not even correct according to the document they handed us with pricing and yet they charged it.
I believed this to be a clerical error but then others in the office agreed that $84 was the correct price for a single site for 5 people on a primitive campground.
Overall it's a great place to visit but unless they get their pricing sorted out I'm not sure it's worth what they might ask you to pay (they never charged me like this in previous visits).
...But we just camped there this past weekend and after a good trip, were greeted with a pretty sucky experience when we stopped by the Heritage Center to pay on the way out.
Our group of 4 adults and 1 toddler camped at a single campsite at Hickory campground that consisted of a fire ring, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill with a vault toilet nearby. My wife and I put up a small 3 person tent and the others slept in a 6 person tent. We also put up 3 hammocks in a few trees next to the tent. In every camping experience I've ever had until this point, that would be considered a single site. Pretty standard stuff right?
But when stopping by the Heritage Center to pay what we expected to be $14/night ($28 total) we were told that it would be $42/night ($84 total) after they asked us how many tents and/or hammocks we had. When presented with that price we clarified that it was only 4 adults and 1 toddler but they said that each hammock or tent is classified as a unit and that each unit pays $14/night. This was not even correct according to the document they handed us with pricing and yet they charged it.
I believed this to be a clerical error but then others in the office agreed that $84 was the correct price for a single site for 5 people on a primitive campground.
Overall it's a great place to visit but unless they get their pricing sorted out I'm not sure it's worth what they might ask you to pay (they never charged me like this in previous visits).
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart
Dibble, OK1 contribution
Nov 2020
I am never going to camp at Beaver's Bend/ Hochatown State Park again. I've never been treated so piss poorly at a state park in my life. I showed up and went to pay for my campsite for two nights. They charged me $40 a night for tent camping. I asked why and was fed a line about high cost of living and that they are not a state park but a resort park. Of coarse they told me that the price was $80 bucks total after they ran my card. I told them I wasn't going to be putting up a tent, because I was going to be gone most of the day saturday,and wouldn't be back until after dark, so I didn't want anyone getting into my stuff. They said it was fine. I wasn't happy about it, but since I paid that much for the site (which wasn't a good one, but all the other sites were "full"), I was determined to use it.
So I went to the swamps south of Idabel and came back about dusk. I set up my bedding and was there for about an hour, largely quietly keeping to myself. Then a ranger pulls up and informed me that they had complaints about me from the other campers. Despite the sites all being full, you had about three groups of people who rented all the surrounding campsites to their own, and didn't like the fact that I had got one of the ones that they didn't rent. The ranger demanded to see my reciept, which I showed him. He asked where my tent was and I told him that I wasn't going to set one up as I was going to be gone all day saturday photographing wildlife in the swamps to the south and do the Talimena drive. I also told him that I had told the clerk at the lodge this when I paid for the site. The ranger looked at my receipt and then told me I had to leave the park because I didn't have a tent. Even though I had a reciept and had clearly paid for the overpriced site for two days, I got kicked out for the dumb reason of not setting up a tent.
So then I go to the lodge to get my money back and make a formal complaint. I told them to give me my cash back and I would just go get a room in town. It wouldn't cost much more anyway. And that is when I was promptly told no refunds. So they charged me $80 for a tent site with no power, then refused to let me use it, and kept my money.
Beaver's Bend Park can go screw itself. I will never spend money at that park again.
So I went to the swamps south of Idabel and came back about dusk. I set up my bedding and was there for about an hour, largely quietly keeping to myself. Then a ranger pulls up and informed me that they had complaints about me from the other campers. Despite the sites all being full, you had about three groups of people who rented all the surrounding campsites to their own, and didn't like the fact that I had got one of the ones that they didn't rent. The ranger demanded to see my reciept, which I showed him. He asked where my tent was and I told him that I wasn't going to set one up as I was going to be gone all day saturday photographing wildlife in the swamps to the south and do the Talimena drive. I also told him that I had told the clerk at the lodge this when I paid for the site. The ranger looked at my receipt and then told me I had to leave the park because I didn't have a tent. Even though I had a reciept and had clearly paid for the overpriced site for two days, I got kicked out for the dumb reason of not setting up a tent.
So then I go to the lodge to get my money back and make a formal complaint. I told them to give me my cash back and I would just go get a room in town. It wouldn't cost much more anyway. And that is when I was promptly told no refunds. So they charged me $80 for a tent site with no power, then refused to let me use it, and kept my money.
Beaver's Bend Park can go screw itself. I will never spend money at that park again.
Written November 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnnyma45
Irving, TX12 contributions
May 2021
We stayed at nearby cabins in Broken Bow and went to the park for family/kids activities. We hiked two trails which were very scenic but could have been clearer marked while on the trail - signage is not great and there is no cell/internet reception depending on carrier, so bring a trail map or download ahead of time. We tried to rent paddle boats and ride horses/the train at the Train Depot, but neither one was open during operating hours - there was a lot of forecasted rain which did not pan out so I assume that they pre-emptively closed, but there were no updates online regarding closures or voicemail recordings when we called. Still a very beautiful place and worth a visit.
Written May 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kat0118
Moore, Oklahoma, United States138 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
My kids loved the train ride, pony ride, paddle boat, swimming, nature center and history center-where you check in, playground areas, and walking around where my in laws had their RV- near Cedar/acorn area but the cabin we stayed in was horrible! For the price $165 or so a night I will definitely find an Airbnb much nicer next time. I read reviews so I knew I needed pots and pans. I also brought my own linens just in case and did end up using them just because I felt the place was unclean. These cabins definitely need updating. Cobwebs everywhere, animal droppings all over the porch, paper thin walls (we were in a duplex cabin). I have no plans of ever staying in one of these cabins again. No tv which was nice actually and the sofa bed had a mattress that was maybe 2 inches thick so not really a cabin comfortably for 6 (there were only 2 adults + 3 kids but my 2 older kids wanted to try sleeping on the sofa bed since they sleep on a queen bed at home and the room in cabin had two twin beds).
Also to note I had a hard time finding out how to get cabin key but at the main office they have a lockbox in case you arrive later. My husband called the office in the morning the day we would arrive and the lady at the office was very helpful. I had tried emailing before but the email was kicked back to me even though I used the email address provided on website.
Also to note I had a hard time finding out how to get cabin key but at the main office they have a lockbox in case you arrive later. My husband called the office in the morning the day we would arrive and the lady at the office was very helpful. I had tried emailing before but the email was kicked back to me even though I used the email address provided on website.
Written August 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott P
Manchaca, TX10 contributions
Jun 2020
We camped here for 5 days in our RV. We stayed in the Cypress section. The campsites are very close together so not a lot of privacy. However, the campground was clean and well maintained. This was our first time here camping so we did get lost on our way in. You do not need to check in apparently, you can just go to your site and set up if you have a reservation and if you know where you are going. I did go to the office since we hadn't ever been here before and got a map and directions from the girl at the front desk but her verbal directions were confusing and we took a wrong turn right off the bat. However, I was able to figure it out using the map after a few minutes.
As for the park itself, it is beautiful and my wife and I enjoyed the scenery and the lake very much. The surrounding area of Hochatown and Broken Bow are very nice as well, with great restaurants. We also enjoyed the fishing and caught two nice size rainbow trout. We had pretty full days and wished that we had spent more time here, I would have liked to have done some hiking and spent more time at the lake. In the campground and most of the park we had no cell phone service or wifi but that is not what camping is all about. It was nice to decompress.
As for the park itself, it is beautiful and my wife and I enjoyed the scenery and the lake very much. The surrounding area of Hochatown and Broken Bow are very nice as well, with great restaurants. We also enjoyed the fishing and caught two nice size rainbow trout. We had pretty full days and wished that we had spent more time here, I would have liked to have done some hiking and spent more time at the lake. In the campground and most of the park we had no cell phone service or wifi but that is not what camping is all about. It was nice to decompress.
Written June 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dtack2019
11 contributions
Sep 2019
We have been coming up to Beavers Bend for 25 years now. Basically nothing has changed over time but we love it. They have everything from a museum, to loads of hiking, to swimming, to horseback riding and even a train ride for kids. There are cabins, RV sites and even their own restaurant. The area is absolutely beautiful Spring through late fall and if you want more peace, travel up in the winter or early spring. Nature at its best.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
midwayhorn
Hewitt, TX95 contributions
Nov 2021 • Family
Stayed 3 nights in one of the Riverview cabins. 2 bedrooms, small fireplace, fire ring, kitchen, just steps from the river. All linens provided, but no cookware, silverware, dishes provided-bring your own. Old tv with no cable or satellite. Guess you could bring a DVD player to hook up.
Be aware that there is no Wi-Fi and I couldn't even get a LTE signal. My wife has an IPhone and she had no problem with signal. (I didn't miss not being connected!)
Be aware that there is no Wi-Fi and I couldn't even get a LTE signal. My wife has an IPhone and she had no problem with signal. (I didn't miss not being connected!)
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda G
Houston, TX47 contributions
Nov 2021
Park is very nice. My family has been going there off and on for many years. However, we rented a cabin and it was DIRTY and needs lots of repairs. For 150 plus tax a night they can do way better. Smelled like mold upon further investigation found water damage and mold. There air vents were falling apart. Wads of hair in the bathtub upon arrival. Sticky residue on the floor we had to clean up. Crumbs from previous renters all over the couch. Guess they don’t vacuum or sweep. Just gross!! Not worth the price we paid.
Written November 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne O
Kennesaw, GA3,819 contributions
Jul 2021
We camped at Beavers Bend in our 40' RV. The heavily wooded site could not have been more beautiful overlooking a cove of the lake. There are trails of all skill levels nearby, although they could stand to be better marked. Other activities in the area include water sports and horseback riding. I agree with another reviewer that more attention should be paid to trash pickup. Although this was not a problem for me, lack of cell and internet service could be an issue for some visitors.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darcyharris
Grand Prairie, TX52 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Beautiful Park. Lots of recreation areas. Paddle boats. Marina. Fishing areas. Swim areas. Scenic overlooks. Foggy Bottoms Restaurant right on the river is a great place to eat. We enjoyed eating on the back deck. The view was great.
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Miller
Plano, Texas
Any recommendations on bass fishing in the area? Looking to take my daughter out for her first time so we are trying to find a nice and easy area. Thanks!!!
Written August 29, 2020
Sorry, I only trout fish when we are there! Good Luck!
Written September 8, 2020
Hey all,
We're trailer camping here in a few weeks and wonder if anyone knows if there is a formal checkin when you arrive at the park or do you just drive back to your campsite and setup.
Having a hard time contacting the park directly so I figured I'd try here!
Thanks!
Written July 30, 2020
Sorry, we have always stayed in cabins. There are some great camp sites right along the river. So beautiful. We love the park! Enjoy!
Written August 1, 2020
mayra s
Athens, Texas
Hi! Family and i will be visiting in about a week and was wondering if their was any shallow rivers were my kids can sit in the water this will be our first time visiting.
Written June 24, 2020
Yes there are shallow rivers there is a swimming area as well. However, there is a considerable current so be careful.There are a few access points, make sure you get a map from the park headquarters. The water is very cold.
Written June 27, 2020
What is the best way to rent a pontoon with out breaking the bank? I went on to their marina sight & for 4 hours it’s near $1,000(including the deposit) any tips?
Written May 1, 2020
For RV’ers, which is the best area to camp in. Armadillo? Turkey? Cypress? Or Fern?
Written February 18, 2020
Yes, you should have good color change of the foliage.
Written November 13, 2019
They are allowed at the park. However not in the lodge.
Written October 18, 2019
I do not see why not. I rented one while there but I did not see any signs saying you could not bring your own. If in doubt they could answer your question on the website or if you call.
Written July 29, 2019
Hi, we are planning on bringing a family of four to tent camp in a couple of weeks. Do the tent sites have a picnic table and potable water? Also are there resstrictions on number of tents per site? Teen sons want to bring their own tent.
Written June 9, 2019
There are multiple tent camp sites. I think it would be worth calling to check on your questions just to make sure. Or you could check out their website to see if that answers things for you. tel:580-494-6300 Have fun!
Written July 22, 2019
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