Applegate Cove Campground

We arrived on our third night of camping to find that we didn’t have enough hose length for our reserved campsite #15. This site requires two 25ft hoses. We moved to site #4 which is a very nice concrete pad. Further from the lake but fairly level and more convenient water and electric. The camp host came and helped us change our reservation. There is a lot of space between campsites and some even have a place for your boat. We met the most wonderful people at this campground and enjoyed our time. The sunset was stunning and the campground was peaceful. The bathrooms were clean and heated. We would love to come back here next time we are traveling on I-40.

NOTE: many of the sites require multiple water hoses. Because we had just picked up the camper we haven’t added a second. There are sites that require 4-5. Inquire before making a reservation.

Reserved the same day via reservation.gov using my half-price pass ($20 is reg price). Not crowded and picked a spot with lake view. A little off-level. Electric worked fine and had potable water conveniently located. The shower/restrooms were very dated and a little unclean (some dead bugs and no soap) but it may have been just before they were cleaned. Showers had nice hot water. There was supposed to be a dump station but I didn't see it. Neighbor said it was outside the gates. I see it on the map but didn't have a map available at the time. Camp host was there when I arrived and provided helpful verbal info but no handouts or contact info. Google Maps got a little confused in the directions in and out. The GPS coordinates in Campendium will get you there. However, the directions provided to me in my email confirmation were the simplest, I thought: "Head south on US-59 out of Sallisaw, OK for 7 miles, turn right at Pier 7 General Store onto E1140 Rd for 2.4 miles, where road forks, keep left towards Applegate Cove Marina and you will dead end at your destination of Applegate Cove Campground". One of my photos shows the fork. There is a sign but it's not clearly visible from the fork. When leaving I used "my current location" and Google Maps and it didn't take me the same way out. It may have eventually taken me out to US 59 but the roads seemed more remote. I turned back and went the provided way in reverse. The check-out time was 4 pm. Weird, but I appreciated it. Check-in was also late, 6 pm.

Camped 6/10/20 (Wednesday). $20 is for 30a electric and water. Rates run from $14-$24 (see sign photo). We didn't have an advance reservation, so when we arrived, we picked a site and got with the camp host at the entrance. There's a small office in a barn shed next to his camper with free Wifi. He checked availability, and I got online (recreation.gov), reserved & paid for our site. Campground is popular and was over half full. Note: Wifi doesn't extend to the campground, it's just at the office. Sites 1-10 have 50a, sites 11-27 have 30a.

Campground is nicely maintained with asphalt roads and asphalt or gravel pads. Sites are back-in and most are in shade w/dappled sun. Our site's water pump was on the other side of the grill and fish station, by the next site's pump, not at the back of the camper. Not all sites are like this though. Amenities include fire ring, grill, picnic table, fish station, trash hook, dump station, dumpsters, deluxe playground & large swingset, group picnic pavilion, basketball hoop, volleyball net, a fishing pier, boat ramp, swim area, 2 restroom buildings (showers in building at entrance of campground).

With a boat ramp at the end of the campground, there was regular traffic to it by locals putting in in the early morning and all day. Some didn't drive slow! The road used is the one that goes between sites 15 and 20.

Showers were great, and water even seemed like soft water. No bench in the shower stall though, just one long one outside. The shower/restroom building was very clean. While there was one handicapped toilet stall, the three shower stalls were not handicapped accessible.

Most sites were fairly close to each other and most had partial view of the lake. At our site we felt a bit cramped, but other sites were larger. Even with the other campers and kids playing, it was fairly quiet. Not much AT&T cell service - we could get 2 bars depending on where we stood, but mostly 1 bar.

Very pleasant campground, There are 27 sites but two are taken by campground hosts, these hosts keep very well maintained grounds, even decorated for the seasons. It is a popular park and even though we stayed in early October on a weekday, the park was over half full. The bathhouse is dated but very clean and has showers with good hot water. The sites are under mature deciduous trees. Some sites are level but many aren’t. There are nice play areas for kids under the trees. The camp hosts keep a close eye on things so this is a very safe campground with curfew noise strictly enforced.