About 70 miles southeast of Ada, Oklahoma, you’ll find the magical Mcgee Creek State Park. The Park is on the south side of Mcgee Creek Reservoir, which they created in 1985 to provide flood control in the area.
Now, you’ll find 2,600 acres of stunning forests of pine trees that line the gorgeous shoreline. The lake is approximately 3,800 acres and teeming with wildlife and beautiful fishing locations for visitors to try out.
I recently spent the weekend there with my dog, Wednesday, and I wanted to share my experience with you so you know what you can expect:
Camping at Post Oak
I started my weekend camping at Mcgee Creek State Park at the Post Oak campground, which lies in between the town of Atoka and Antlers on State Highway 3.
The campsite was beautifully located, very clean, and also well kept. I was also happy with the many lovely amenities they had to offer, and the updated comfort station and restrooms made the experience all the better.
One of the things that stood out to me about the campsite was its within walking distance of the entrance to Mcgee Creek State Park. This gave me instant access to a stunning swimming beach and fishing piers, and this was a massive bonus.
One of my first mornings there, I was awoken to the songs of cardinals chirping away in the distance, which wasn’t a terrible way to start my day off.
My dog Wednesday has always loved going on lake trips with me, so of course, I had to take my ride and die buddy with me.
Southern Hospitality
We started our hike through Mcgee Creek State Park in the morning and met some of the local park rangers. I was introduced to Karen and Sandie who both grew up in the area and have worked at the park for more than 20 years.
And this was very evident considering the colossal amount of information they gave me about the area.
But I have to say; my highlight was when they invited Wednesday and I to the office for a photo opportunity with the rangers.
If you’re worried if the park is dog friendly, I can assure you they are, as you can see in this photo (see above).
The rest of my day was spent hiking around the lake with Wednesday and looking out for sightings of eagles.
But what really stood out was the beautiful views across the lake. It was honestly breathtaking standing on the edge of the lake with an endless view of pine tree shorelines and being surrounded by water.
Just Go to the Dam Store
Eventually, Wednesday and I started to get a bit hungry, so we stopped off at the local Dam Store. They are known for serving up the most delicious cheeseburgers in Atoka County, and boy, they didn’t disappoint…
Just make sure you get there early; they can quickly run out of grub.
The next day before I left, I decided to take Wednesday out on the kayak. As I said, she’s my ride and die, and I love to spoil her…. I’m not even sorry.
As you can see in my photo, she loved the trip around the lake and was helping me spot the wildlife from the kayak.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
If you’ve never made it out to Mcgee Creek State Park, you’re missing out. It’s one of those hidden gems that not many people speak about, but I can say with all honesty that it was a blast.
The people there were extremely friendly and made me feel very welcome as soon as I arrived.
I’d highly recommend staying at Post Oak Campground. It’s ideally located and has all the amenities you need.
It was also great to see park rangers with a love for dogs; it’s something you don’t see very often.
So, if you’re looking for a dog-friendly weekend away, you won’t find many better places in the area.
But there’s far more to do there than just walking your dog. The lake is vast and home to some fantastic bass to fish from the lake. You can also rent some kayaks to explore the 3,800 acres of the reservoir.
If you’re looking for some classic southern hospitality, bird watching, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and so much more, then Mcgee Creek State Park checks all the boxes.
If you haven’t booked your trip to visit this hidden gem, then what are you waiting for?
-CT