Lake Murray State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Lake Murray State Park offers exceptional RV camping across 10 campgrounds, featuring over 300 RV sites. This Oklahoma state park spans 12,500 acres of forested rolling hills, crystal-clear waters and offers year-round outdoor adventures. From the iconic Tucker Tower to nearly 1,000 acres of ATV trails, strategic gateway cities like Oklahoma City RV rentals and Tulsa RV rentals provide prime access to this 5,728-acre lakefront wonderland that welcomed over 1.7 million visitors annually, making it Oklahoma's most popular state park.
What Makes Lake Murray the Ultimate RV Destination?
Nestled in the rolling hills of south-central Oklahoma, Lake Murray State Park captures the authentic beauty and adventure of America's heartland. As Oklahoma's first state park, established in 1933, it sprawls across an impressive 12,500 acres surrounding the pristine 5,728-acre Lake Murray. The park holds a special place in history—it's the first Oklahoma state park listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to its stunning Depression-era architecture built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration.
Lake Murray is the ultimate RV adventure since it combines water recreation, outdoor activities, and historical landmarks. The iconic Tucker Tower, a five-story stone castle originally intended as a governor's retreat, now serves as a nature center offering breathtaking lake views from 65 feet above the water. The park features an 18-hole championship golf course, extensive hiking and biking trails totaling over 30 miles, and nearly 1,000 acres dedicated to ATV and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
You'll be in store for limitless adventure during your RV trip to Lake Murray, from boating and fishing to swimming and horseback riding. The lake's crystal-clear waters are perfect for water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Lake Murray Water Sports & Mini Golf offers equipment rentals, including water trampolines and wave runners. Wildlife viewing is excellent here—white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, roadrunners, scissor-tailed flycatchers (Oklahoma's state bird), red-tailed hawks, and even bald eagles during winter months call this park home.
Summer brings peak season with temperatures reaching pleasant 70 to 95 degrees, perfect for enjoying the lake's multiple swimming beaches. Spring and fall offer mild weather with fewer crowds, making them ideal for hiking the park's extensive trail system, including the Anadarche, Buckhorn, and New Deal trails. While winter sees some campground closures, the park remains open year-round with temperatures ranging from 31 to 57 degrees, perfect for those seeking peaceful solitude. No matter when you take your RV road trip to Lake Murray, you'll experience authentic Oklahoma hospitality and outdoor adventure.
The park welcomed over 1.7 million visitors as Oklahoma's most popular state park, making advance planning essential for securing campground reservations, especially during peak summer weekends and holidays when families from Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area flock to this outdoor oasis.
Oklahoma City RV rentals position you perfectly for a scenic 90-minute drive south to Lake Murray, making weekend trips effortless. The capital city offers extensive RV options from compact campervans for couples to spacious Class A motorhomes for family adventures.
Tulsa RV rentals provide excellent access from eastern Oklahoma, approximately two hours from the park. Tulsa's thriving RV rental marketplace makes finding the ideal rig easy, whether you need a travel trailer or luxurious motorhome.
For the closest access, explore RV rentals near Lake Murray in nearby Ardmore, just 15 minutes from the park entrance. Local rentals eliminate long drive times, letting you start your adventure immediately.
RV Rentals in Lake Murray State Park
Transportation
Driving
Lake Murray State Park is easily accessible from I-35, located just 3 miles east of the interstate at Exit 24 or Exit 29. From Oklahoma City, head south on I-35 for approximately 90 miles, then follow signs to the park entrance. From Dallas-Fort Worth, drive north on I-35 for about 100 miles. The park office is located at 13528 Scenic State Highway 77.
Scenic State Highway 77 loops around the entire park, providing easy access to all campgrounds, beaches, and attractions. There are no driving restrictions for RVs throughout the park—the well-maintained roads accommodate rigs up to 40 feet in length. Most campgrounds within Lake Murray offer pull-through sites, making navigation straightforward even for first-time RV travelers.
Where Are the Best Gateway Cities for RV Rentals?
Oklahoma City Northern Access: Oklahoma positions you for easy southbound access via I-35, with just 90 minutes separating you from lakefront camping. This gateway city serves as Oklahoma's capital and offers full supplies, services, and dining options before your adventure.
Tulsa Eastern Gateway: Tulsa camper van rentals provide an excellent starting point from eastern Oklahoma, offering approximately two hours of scenic driving through rolling hills. Tulsa's extensive RV rental marketplace ensures you'll find the perfect rig for your Lake Murray adventure.
Dallas-Fort Worth Southern Access: For travelers from Texas, the DFW metroplex sits just 100 miles south via I-35, making Lake Murray an easy weekend destination. Dallas RV rentals and Fort Worth RV rentals offer numerous options for cross-state adventures.
Parking
Lake Murray State Park offers ample RV parking throughout the facility. You'll find designated parking at the park office, marina, Tucker Tower Nature Center, Lake Murray Lodge, and all major campgrounds. Day-use parking is available at swim beaches, boat ramps, and picnic areas. A daily parking pass is required for all vehicles entering the park, starting at $10 per vehicle per day.
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Lake Murray State Park
Campsites in Lake Murray State Park
Reservations camping
Duke’s Forest Campground
Located south of Pecan Grove along Scenic Highway 77, Duke's Forest is one of the park's smaller, more secluded campgrounds. This peaceful location offers 35 sites equipped with 30-amp electrical hookups, perfect for travelers seeking a quieter camping experience away from crowds.
Facilities include hot showers, flush toilets, a playground, picnic shelter, and a dump station. Group camping is available for both RVs and tents. Due to lower traffic, this campground typically closes during the winter season. The tranquil forest setting provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and stargazing.
Tipps Point Campground
Tipps Point offers a mix of RV and tent camping opportunities on the west side of Lake Murray. The campground accommodates smaller RVs and campervans up to 30 feet in length, making it perfect for those seeking a more intimate camping experience. All RV sites feature 30-amp electrical hookups and back-in configurations.
Most campsites provide gorgeous views of Lake Murray framed by mature trees. Amenities include hot showers, modern restrooms, a picnic pavilion, picnic tables, and a dump station. The campground shares the gated entrance with Elephant Rock and Cedar Cove, providing security and peace of mind.
Elephant Rock Campground
Named after a massive rock formation visible from the water, Elephant Rock Campground sits on the west side of Lake Murray and shares a gated entrance with Cedar Cove and Tipps Point campgrounds. Access requires a vehicle entrance fee. This RV-focused campground features multiple sites with 30-amp electrical hookups, concrete pads, and excellent lake views.
The campground includes modern restrooms, hot showers, picnic pavilions, a swimming beach, and a boat ramp. The gated entrance provides added security, and the campground's location on a peninsula offers stunning water views from most sites. This is one of the more popular campgrounds, so reservations well in advance are recommended, especially for summer weekends.
Cedar Cove Campground
Cedar Cove shares the same gated entrance as Elephant Rock and Tipps Point along Scenic Highway 77 south of Duke's Forest. This RV-friendly campground focuses primarily on motorhomes and travel trailers, offering spacious sites with 30-amp hookups and beautiful lake views.
Facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and easy access to the shared beach and boat launch. The campground's location provides convenient access to nearby hiking trails and is within easy driving distance of Tucker Tower and the marina. Sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
Buzzard’s Roost Campground
Buzzard's Roost stands as one of the park's premier camping destinations, located just south of the main entrance along Scenic Highway 77. This popular campground offers over 30 RV sites with 30-amp electrical hookups and more than 50 tent sites, most featuring captivating views of Lake Murray, the marina, and the iconic Tucker Tower. The recent renovation enhanced the facilities while maintaining the campground's natural beauty.
Amenities include modern restrooms with showers, a playground for children, picnic tables near the lake's edge, a boat ramp for easy water access, and a dump station. The campground's proximity to both the marina and Tucker Tower makes it ideal for families wanting convenient access to water sports and historical attractions. Sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length with both pull-through and back-in options.
Marietta Landing Campground
Known as the southernmost campground within Lake Murray State Park, Marietta Landing is a smaller facility offering 27 RV-friendly sites and 30 primitive tent sites. The campground typically remains open year-round, providing a reliable option even during off-peak seasons.
Sites include electrical hookups and basic amenities. The campground's southern location makes it convenient for visitors arriving from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and provides a quieter atmosphere than busier northern campgrounds.
Rock Tower Campground
Rock Tower Campground takes its name from the historic Rock Tower built in the 1930s. This beautiful campground features mature trees and more spacious campsites than many other park campgrounds. If you're looking for something a little more out of the way while still enjoying full amenities, Rock Tower is an excellent choice.
The campground offers both tent camping and RV sites, with hookups and facilities designed for comfortable extended stays. The historic Rock Tower nearby adds a unique historical element to your camping experience.
Martins Landing Campground
Martins Landing Campground sits on the west side of Lake Murray and is known for its stunning lake views—almost all campsites offer water vistas. This very nice campground features a beautiful swim beach within the grounds, making it perfect for families with children.
The campground accommodates both RVs and tents, with sites providing electrical hookups, water access, and modern facilities including restrooms and showers. The peaceful setting and excellent views make Martins Landing a favorite among return visitors.
First-come first-served
Private Campgrounds Near Lake Murray
If you prefer to stay outside the state park, several excellent private campgrounds serve the Lake Murray area. By The Lake RV Park and Resort in Ardmore (1.5 miles from the lake) features full hookups, free WiFi, a swimming pool, playground, hiking trails, fishing pond, and welcomes pets. This convenient location near I-35 makes it easy to access while still being close to Lake Murray.
Additional private options in the Ardmore area provide full hookups, modern amenities including laundry facilities, and easy interstate access. These campgrounds often remain open when some state park campgrounds close seasonally.
Explore more RV parks and campgrounds across North America for your next adventure.
Alternate camping
ATV Campground
For thrill-seekers bringing their off-road vehicles, the ATV Campground provides direct access to nearly 1,000 acres of designated ATV, motorcycle, and dirt bike trails. This campground offers basic amenities with electrical hookups at most sites.
The campground operates year-round and fills quickly on weekends, especially during prime riding weather in spring and fall. Helmets are required for riders under 18, and riding double is only permitted on ATVs manufactured for two passengers. A small per-passenger ATV riding fee applies.
Seasonal activities in Lake Murray State Park
In-Season
Biking
Lake Murray State Park is an excellent place to bring your bike and cruise out onto the nearest trail. Once you park your rig, you can cycle down Beaver Trail, an exciting path that takes you near the shores of Lake Murray that will provide you with sensational lake views. With ten miles of different types of trails to pick from, the sandy, tree-lined terrains can provide you with a fantastic experience.
Fishing
If you are an avid fisherman, you will love the chance for smallmouth bass to chase your lure as they swim through the water. Located primarily in the lower end of the lake due to its rocky terrain and deep areas, they are plentiful at Lake Murray State Park, and you will enjoy engaging in a fight with them to reel them in. Largemouth bass are also located in the shallow areas on the north end of the lake due to the large amounts of grass located there. Fishing licenses are available for non-residents either for six consecutive days or a one-day pass.
Hiking
Make sure you pack a great pair of hiking boots in your RV, since there are two hiking trails to choose from at Lake Murray State Park. With several sections coming off these rocky tree-lined trails, you will always have something to hike on. The Lake Shore Trail offers magnificent lake views along the edge of the water. While trails are clearly marked, it is always a good idea to take a trail map with you should you become turned around.
Off-Season
Touring the Visitor's Center
If you wish to learn more about the history of the park and the surrounding area, park your RV at the Visitor Center and take a look at the exhibits inside. There are displays you can walk through at the Visitor Center that will showcase the natural history, geology, as well as cultural history of the park. An added bonus is that Lake Murray State Park was the first Oklahoma park to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so you know that you are staying in one of Oklahoma's most revered parks.
Bird Watching
Lake Murray State Park is home to over 100 native birds, so make sure you pack your binoculars in your RV if you are a birding fan. Some of the birds you may encounter include the scissor-tailed flycatcher, which is the state bird of Oklahoma, red-tailed hawks, and roadrunners. Tucker Tower is a great location to spot the scissor-tailed flycatcher. While you are enjoying a hike along the water's edge, keep your eyes peeled as there will be ample opportunities to take in all kinds of bird species.
Tucker Tower
Lake Murray State Park features Tucker Tower, a facility built initially for Oklahoma governors as a retreat. No governor has ever spent the night here, however. With a tower of five stories high and an observation deck at the top, Tucker Tower showcases a two-story area meant to be the living area. After funding dried up in 1935, the tower lay dormant until years later, when a spiral staircase and flooring were added to the tower section. Eventually, the entire facility turned into a museum.
Did you enjoy reading this guide? For more Oklahoma outdoor adventures, check out our Lake Texoma State Park guide and Chickasaw National Recreation Area guide.
