Oklahoma / Cherokee Nation / Cherokee County

Pettit Bay

Closed — Closed for winter. The campground has been winterized and is closed to camping. Pettit Bay Area I remains open for boat ramp use only. Typically reopens April 1 for the season.

About

Pettit Bay Campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake is a well-maintained recreational facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located on the northwestern shore of the lake near the historic town of Tahlequah. The campground features 92 campsites offering both electric and non-electric options, with amenities including flush toilets, hot showers, water hydrants, a swimming beach, playground, group shelters with electricity, and boat ramps with courtesy docks. Tenkiller Ferry Lake, often called Oklahoma's clear water paradise, is a 12,500-acre lake sourced by the Illinois River and Baron Fork in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The lake's clear waters and high visibility make it popular with boaters, water skiers, swimmers, and scuba divers. Anglers can fish for black bass, white bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish. The lake is surrounded by dense oak-hickory forests, tall bluffs, and rolling hills with abundant wildlife including deer, turkey, and migratory birds. The campground provides convenient access to Tenkiller State Park with its nature center and scuba diving park, the historic city of Tahlequah (capital of the Cherokee Nation), and the scenic Illinois River for canoeing and trout fishing. The facility attracts returning campers year after year who appreciate its waterfront location and well-maintained facilities.

Directions

From Tahlequah, go 8.25 miles south on Highway 82, turn right on Indian Road and go two miles south. Then turn left and go one mile southeast on the paved access road.

Nearby Campgrounds