Spring Break Getaways

Beavers Bend State Park is located in the mountainous region of southeast Oklahoma along the shores of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River. 

“There are so many things to do here for spring breakers that I don’t think I can list them all,” says Kaitlyn Rivas, a communications specialist and researcher for Beavers Bend State Park. “Inside the park, we offer hiking, fishing, camping and swimming. We also have a restaurant; mini-golf course; canoe, kayak and paddle board rentals; canoe float trips; a miniature train ride; a horseback riding stable; a zipline; a museum; and a gift shop.”

She continues: “Our park is divided into two types of areas, our river area and our lake access area,” says Rivas.  

In the river area, the park offers rental cabins, RV and tent camping. In the lake access area, the park provides lodging with the 40-room Beavers Bend Lodge, as well as RV and tent camping options.  

Little Sahara State Park is a prime example of Oklahoma’s diverse terrain. It boasts over 1,600 acres of sand dunes, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet. Located south of Waynoka in northwest Oklahoma, the park offers RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups, tent sites, picnic areas and comfort stations. 

The main attraction at Little Sahara State Park is dune buggy and ATV riding across the sand dunes. Visitors can either bring their own ATV or rent one off-site by a private vendor. 

Located in northeast Oklahoma City at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44, the Adventure District is home to some of the most outstanding tourist attractions in the state, according to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. 

Experience the excitement at Remington Park Racing and Casino, or make memories with the family at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Take a journey through the exciting world of the Oklahoma City Zoo, learn about the old west at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, or step into the amazing and fun world of science at Science Museum Oklahoma. The sky’s the limit.

Worn by time and nature, the Wichita Mountains loom large above the prairie in southwest Oklahoma and are a lasting refuge for wildlife. Situated just outside the Lawton/Fort Sill area, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge preserves approximately 60,000 acres of mixed grass prairie, ancient granite mountains and freshwater lakes and streams. 

It’s best known for roaming herds of bison, longhorn and Rocky Mountain elk, and the Wichita Mountains also offer quality opportunities for recreation, including fishing, bird watching, wildlife photography, hiking, camping and kayaking.

Enter one of the largest natural gypsum caves in the world at Alabaster Caverns State Park. Located in Freedom, this rare cave is open to the public, and is the only gypsum show cave in the United States. 

Daily guided tours leave promptly on the hour from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Alabaster Caverns State Park also features reservable RV and tent sites. Enjoy hiking trails, picnic areas, group shelters with electricity, grills, water access and a volleyball court.

An oasis on the plains, Boiling Springs State Park captures some of the finest elements of nature. The park is one of seven original state parks built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Named after a natural “boiling” spring that still flows, visitors can view the park’s namesake attraction in a natural wooden shelter and interpretive center. 

All RV, cabins and tent campsites within the 820-acre park can be reserved online. There are more than 150 picnic tables and grills throughout the park. Enjoy swimming in the pool or fishing in the 7-acre spring-fed Shaul Lake. The Boiling Springs State Park Trail System includes five hiking and mountain trails of various lengths that are perfect for beginners. 

Featured image cutline: Beavers Bend State Park is a must-visit vacation spot in southeastern Oklahoma. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Tourism