Lake McClellan Campground can stay open when the lake is dry

Lake McClellan Campground and Lake McClellan do not always share the same status. As checked July 30, 2026, the campground was listed open while the lake was listed dry. The reservoir is prone to drought and low water, and it has gone dry several times since 2000.

The campground has 60 units and is listed for year-round use. Potable water, vault toilets, and picnic tables make a dry lake different from a closed campground. Those basics can still support an overnight or picnic. They do not turn a camping trip into a water trip.

ATVs may not be ridden inside the campground. A separate UTV and ATV trailhead serves the designated off-highway routes elsewhere in the recreation area, so a campsite is not a riding-area staging spot.

From I-40 exit 128, the campground is about three miles north on FM 2477. If fishing, boating, or lake access is the reason for the drive, call the Black Kettle Ranger District at 580-497-2143 before leaving. The open campground and the dry lake are two facts to check separately.