Is Black Mesa State Park first-come first-served or reservation?

Black Mesa State Park accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Black Mesa State Park?

Black Mesa State Park does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Black Mesa State Park?

Pets are not allowed at Black Mesa State Park. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Black Mesa State Park?

Black Mesa State Park offers: Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Black Mesa State Park

4.69

189 reviews

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4,314 ft

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Reservable

Sites

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Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

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Partial Hookups

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Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

4,314 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Partial Hookups

Official Website

Get Directions

Black Mesa State Park

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Black Mesa State Park

36.8406, -102.8815

Weather at Black Mesa State Park

About Black Mesa State Park

Natural Features and SceneryBlack Mesa Campground is set within **Black Mesa State Park** in far northwestern Cimarron County, Oklahoma, near the western tip of the Panhandle and close to Colorado and New Mexico.[1][4] The landscape is distinctive because it sits where **shortgrass prairie transitions into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains**, creating a mix of open plains, gentle mesas, and rugged volcanic formations.[4] Key natural features: - **Black Mesa and surrounding mesas:** The nearby Black Mesa Nature Preserve contains the state’s highest point at 4,973 feet, capped by dark volcanic rock that gives the mesa its name.[1][4] This mesa and its outlying ridges form the backdrop to the campground. - **Lake Carl Etling:** The campground is arranged around or near this small reservoir, providing **water views, riparian habitat**, and opportunities for fishing and birdwatching in an otherwise dry prairie environment.[4] - **Shortgrass prairie and wide open skies:** The park sits in an expansive prairie with low vegetation, giving **huge horizons and unobstructed views of sunsets and stars**.[4][6] - **Exceptional dark skies:** Black Mesa State Park is recognized as a **Bortle Class 1** dark‑sky site, among the darkest accessible places in the U.S., making night‑sky viewing and astronomy a defining feature of the environment.[6] Campers frequently describe the scenery as **remote, quiet, and expansive**, with a strong sense of isolation and minimal light pollution or urban development.[2][6]

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RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

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Reservations are allowed

Best CampsitesCamping blogs and review platforms do not provide detailed site‑by‑site rankings for Black Mesa Campground, but several themes appear: - Campers on The Dyrt praise **lake‑adjacent sites** for views of Lake Carl Etling and easier access for fishing and sunrise/sunset photography.[2][4] - Many visitors highlight the value of **more open, unobstructed sites** for stargazing, since trees are sparse and an open southern or eastern horizon helps maximize dark‑sky viewing.[2][6] - Reviews mention that sites are **spaced out and generally quiet**, so there is less concern about “bad” sites; most are considered good if you match your preferences (closer to water vs. more shelter from wind).[2][5] Because individual site numbers and specific recommendations (e.g., “Site 12 is best”) are largely missing from camping blogs and user reviews, precise “best sites” cannot be reliably identified based on available sources.

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Amenities available

Electricity hookups

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Dump station

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From Booking Sources

4.7

189 reviews

Top-Rated

Black Mesa State Park is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Review Summaries

Based on 189 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers and astronomy enthusiasts highlight several major positives: - **Outstanding stargazing:** A Bortle Class 1 rating means extremely dark skies; visitors rave about the Milky Way visibility...

Based on 189 reviews

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Campgrounds

Black Mesa State Park

Black Mesa State Park

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Real-Time Availability

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About Black Mesa State Park

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