Lake Murray State Park and the surrounding Chickasaw National Recreation Area offer unique glamping opportunities near Davis, Oklahoma. The region features limestone hills and clear blue-green waters that contrast with Oklahoma's typically red-brown lakes. Water temperatures remain cool year-round due to natural springs, with Lake Murray maintaining visibility depths of 4-5 feet even during summer months.
What to do
Explore Tucker Tower: Located at Lake Murray State Park, this historic structure provides educational exhibits and panoramic views. "The tower has a dock if you want to take the tour (we were there before they opened, so no tour for us). The view is mostly obstructed by trees. There's a short path leading down to the lake with a bit of bank area that was good for fishing," notes a visitor at Buzzards Roost Campground.
Cave exploration: The area features natural caves for adventurers. "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," explains a camper at Turner Falls Park.
Trout fishing: Blue River offers exceptional fishing opportunities for those with proper licenses. "We come here every February for a guys' trip. We camp and fish. Scotty's is a great place to stop in and get local fishing advice as well as a tasty breakfast/lunch," reports a regular visitor to Blue River Campground.
What campers like
Crystal clear water: Unlike many Oklahoma lakes, the water clarity at Lake Murray stands out. "Green/blue waters that were clear enough to see the tip of my paddle when stuck straight down 4-5 feet," shares a kayaker from Buzzards Roost Campground.
Private glamping sites: Many luxury camping spots provide seclusion. "The tent sites are walk-in, not too far from the parking spots. Each are pretty secluded and quiet until Saturday when one of the tent sites decided to play their music loud enough for half of the grounds to hear all day long," reports a visitor at The Point Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Native animals frequently visit camping areas. "When the sun starts setting the wildlife start to appear. 3 deer passed right by our campsite with no fear. And I watched a family of squirrels having a good day in a tree we had our tarp tied to," notes a glamper at The Point Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many popular glamping sites fill quickly, especially during summer. "We drove down Thursday night to try to snag a FCFS site. We drove first to Buckhorn but almost every site was full. We found all of the tent sites at The Point were empty. By Friday night the RV sites were all full but there were only a few other tent campers."
Licensing requirements: Some recreation areas require fishing permits even for camping. "You need to have an OK fishing license to camp (or visit) here. If you do have the license, the campground is free but they do not provide any services or amenities, except an open site among the trees with a fire pit," explains a camper at Blue River Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping presents unique challenges. "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. The sites are pretty spread out but there were no restrooms, only porta pottys," warns a visitor to Turner Falls Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "There is a fire pit and grill, for charcoal grilling. There are bathrooms, with a sink and toilets, cleaned daily, as well as showers," mentions a family at Tipps Point Campground.
Water safety: The clear water makes swimming popular but requires preparation. "Swimming is plentiful and the campground host was present and friendly. The bathrooms are amazingly nice, and the campsite platforms are superb," reports a visitor to Buckhorn Campground.
Wildlife education: Use animal sightings as learning opportunities. "Be careful which rocks in the water you choose to sit on in the shallow fast moving water parts, many are covered with thousands of little tiny leeches," warns a camper at Turner Falls Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose glamping sites based on privacy needs. "If you are looking for special place at the lake that is a bit more secluded feeling this is the campsite for you at Lake Murray. There is no swimming here so that is a big detour for a lot of those visiting with larger families looking to enjoy that aspect."
Power considerations: Plan for potential electrical issues. "Our electric did short out on us a few times causing us to need to unplug and plug back in. It didn't concern us too much, we understood it comes with territory when using these heavily used hook ups," notes an RVer at Marietta Landing Campground.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment. "Great view of the lake, clean restrooms and showers! Campground hosts were friendly and helpful! Just beware if you are camping in an RV, the site is VERY unlevel! We we're in a pop up camper and had one tire up off the ground at least 6 inches with our Baleveler."
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