Another stop on our trek away from the East Coast was the Cherokee casino in Roland, Oklahoma. This was arguably our first time staying in a casino parking lot. Normally, we shy away from parking lots as it’s not really our vibe. However, there are not a lot of boondocking opportunities in the southeast. The Cherokee Casino in Roland, OK was unique in that its dedicated RV lot has free full hook-up sites!
When we pulled in, there was only one other camper in the lot, and we had no problem backing the bus into one of the slips. We did notice, though, that the 50-amp power wasn’t working consistently, and we had to use our 30-amp dogbone to get juice.
A previous review we read claimed that when you check in, you get a $10 or $20 voucher to spend in their casino. That was not the case when we were there, but we weren’t going to complain; we got a free place to park and plug in! Definitely do check in, though; you don’t want to get kicked out in the middle of the night and it’s free to stay there.
Whenever we stay in a lot, we like to patronize the establishment as a way to “pay” rent. However, we weren’t able to afford it at Cherokee Casino. We love buffets and were looking forward to trying out theirs. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to go in, they had closed their lunch service and were setting up for dinner. The staffer at the door let us know that the buffet would cost almost $200 for our family. More frustrating still was the Cherokee Casino doesn’t have the price information on their webpage so we didn’t know until we got in.
Cherokee Casino; Free and Fills Up Fast
While we only stayed one night to catch our breath between travel legs, the casino allows folks to stay for up to 2 days. We noticed the lot did fill up in the evening, so it would be wise to get there sooner. While there was more room than there were power poles, and many folks were doubling up, with the damaged pole we had it would be very likely that a latecomer would end up without any power. According to the latest reviews, their power situation hasn’t gotten any better and may be worse.
All that said, the site is still very secure and well-lit, with regular patrols from hotel security. You can hear music playing from the parking garage all day and night, but it’s not too obtrusive. If you’re just passing through and need a place to relax, fill your water tanks, and dump your waste, Cherokee Casino in Roland, Oklahoma may be just what you’re looking for.