Lake Murray State Park and surrounding areas offer diverse cabin accommodations within 30-40 miles of Ada, Oklahoma. The region sits in the Arbuckle Mountain foothills with elevations ranging from 800-1,000 feet. Water temperatures at Lake Murray remain comfortable for swimming from late May through September, typically ranging from 78-85°F during summer months.
What to do
Hiking trails: Buckhorn Trail at Tipps Point Campground — Lake Murray State Park provides easy lake access and scenic views. "The bathrooms and showers were awesome. Good sized areas for tents. Swimming area was fun and easily accessible," notes Eric R.
Cave exploration: The trails at Turner Falls Park offer exciting cave exploration opportunities. "The trails are awesome, there is even a cave in an off the trail area back behind the bathrooms at the waterfall. Stay in the wash out area and hike up a ways and than off to your left you climb this up hill rock boulder up to the cave," advises Tyler S.
Water activities: Cold-water swimming is available at Central Campground — Chickasaw National Recreation Area. "Along ice cold Travertine Creek, quick dips or extended swims are mere steps away! Plenty of hiking trails nearby as well," shares Paul W.
What campers like
Peaceful off-season stays: Winter visits offer solitude at Lake Murray cabins when most visitors are gone. "Stopped here on the way south to San Antonio. There were only two RVs in the entire campground. Reservations easily made online. Chose a nice spot adjacent to the Lake where I was visited by a friendly goose for breakfast," explains Jake from Elephant Rock Campground.
Clear water: Buzzards Roost — Lake Murray State Park offers exceptional water clarity compared to other Oklahoma lakes. "Green/blue waters that were clear enough to see the tip of my paddle when stuck straight down 4-5 feet," reports Brian B.
Spacious sites: Cedar Grove Campground provides shaded waterfront sites ideal for summer stays. "We loved the shade and the trees. Perfect for the heat. I think any of the sites in the 20s would be good," recommends Ashley R.
What you should know
Seasonal variations: Weather can change dramatically between seasons near Ada's cabin rentals. "I camped here in November and was not at all prepared for how cold it was at night. We arrived after dark and set up and went to sleep right away," warns Hannah F. from Turner Falls Park.
Crowding concerns: Summer weekends bring heavy crowds to many cabin areas. "Busy as can be lots of people. If you like to camp and be secluded this isn't the park. There are a couple great spots but the go fast. We got here on Wednesday and most of the secluded spots were taken," shares Zahru A.
Water hookup distances: Some sites require extra-long hoses. "The water hookup was nearly 70' from us so we did have to borrow a water hose," notes Lindsey M. from Cedar Grove Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Off-peak timing: For cabin camping with children, visit Wewoka Lake on weekdays for a quieter experience. "It's a small lake in Seminole County Oklahoma a couple miles from the town of Wewoka. It has a small RV campground and some primitive campsites along waters edge. During the week there is always campsites. The lake is overcrowded on the weekends and during festivals," advises Melanie W.
Playground access: Choose cabins near play areas for easier supervision. "It has a decent little playground and a swimming area, course you can swim around your campsite as well," Aaron T. notes about Wewoka Lake.
Advance booking: Reserve Lake Murray cabins months ahead for summer visits. "Lake Murray is one of the more clear lakes in Oklahoma. I just kept refreshing the booking page," shares Andrea P., who secured a last-minute cancellation at Tipps Point.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose pull-through sites for overnight stays, lakefront for longer visits. "We paid a little more (about $7) to be right on the lake. Probably should've just got a pull-through site because we only stayed one night," advises Lynn W. from Cedar Grove Campground.
Site accessibility: Some sites at Buzzards Roost can be challenging to access. "The site (BR011) was hard to back into. The approach is narrow and there's a large boulder right in the turn path of the tow vehicle. It also leans slightly downhill so leveling pads were critical," cautions Cheryl O.
Parking challenges: Cedar Grove can become congested during peak season. "Each of those families seemed to have multiple vehicles cramming into camp, parking on the narrow roadway and littering the space," observes Crystal C., recommending arrival early in the day for easier site access.
