Billy Creek Recreation Area
The camping area lies along a small stream, which provides a great spot to fish for sunfish in the small pools. Billy Creek Trail starts here and climbs to the top of Winding Stair Mountain. The trail intersects the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which travels east from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas for 225 miles.
More like this: first-come in Oklahoma · free in Oklahoma · tent only in Oklahoma
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Ouachita National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. |
| Fees | No fees. |
| Rules | Hunting and Fishing: All state fishing regulations, fees and seasons apply to national forest lands. Regulations can be obtained from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 North Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, 405-744-1039. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 34.6908° N, 94.7316° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireEast Bailey Road
21 mi from the campground · 104 acres · 40% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 35.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Gellco Outdoors ↗ | 48.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Victory Lane Motors ↗ | 50 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Billy Creek campsite & Hot tub setup
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miBilly Creek4.2 mi trail
- 0.2 miChoctaw Nation Trail ↗18.5 mi trail
- 0.5 miBilly Creek West2 mi trail
- 1.7 miCedar Glade Loop Trail0.1 mi trail
- 2.1 miWsm Eq - 1009 ↗7.5 mi trail
- 2.1 miBilly Creek Spur1.6 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Ouachita National Forest begins about 7.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.2 miOuachita National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,724,422 acres
- 9.6 miUpper Kiamichi River Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 10,372 acres
- 14.5 miBlack Fork Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,347 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Peter Conser HouseHistoric district · Heavener · 10.5 mi
- Old Military RoadSite · Talihina · 14.1 mi
Guidebooks for Oklahoma
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Billy Creek Recreation Area?
No. Billy Creek Recreation Area is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Billy Creek Recreation Area?
Nothing. Billy Creek Recreation Area is listed as free. No fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Billy Creek Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Billy Creek Recreation Area?
Billy Creek Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Billy Creek Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Winding Stair Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), Cedar Lake (Oklahoma) (5.1 mi), and Little Pines Campground (29.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby