Cookson Bend
Tenkiller Ferry Lake — lakeside
Location: GORE, OK, OK
Price: From $16 per night
Price range: $16–$50 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (102 reviews)
Season: Year-round
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.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 ra
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cookson-bend to be notified when sites open up.
Popular lakeside campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake with 200-foot limestone bluffs, offering boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, swimming, and scuba diving. Google reviewers praise the scenic location and well-maintained bathrooms.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Elk, Timber Rattlesnake, Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, and Eastern Hognose Snake present in area
Insider tips for Cookson Bend: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly for RV needs Ten marinas on lake offer boat and jet-ski rentals
Skip Cookson Bend if: You need full RV hookups — water and sewer not available. Most sites lack hookups. You cannot tolerate windy conditions or variable water levels.
Best time to visit Cookson Bend: Year-round — Campground operates year-round, though some seasonal operations noted in known issues.
Nearby campgrounds: Chicken Creek (GORE, OK), Pettit Bay (GORE, OK), Snake Creek (GORE, OK), Elk Creek Landing (GORE, OK).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cookson Bend
Cell signal at Cookson Bend (GORE, OK): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.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.Boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking and swimming are among the activities enjoyed by visitors.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand
Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly for RV needs
Ten marinas on lake offer boat and jet-ski rentals
Campground operates year-round, though some seasonal operations noted in known issues
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Tenkiller Ferry Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Tenkiller Ferry Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cookson Bend cost per night?+
What season is Cookson Bend open?+
Does Cookson Bend have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cookson Bend?+
How do I make reservations at Cookson Bend?+
What is the cell service like at Cookson Bend?+
What season is Cookson Bend open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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