Lake Murray State Park encompasses the camping landscape near Overbrook, Oklahoma, with 5,728-acres of clear blue-green water contrasting with most Oklahoma lakes that tend toward red or brown. The park's campgrounds range from fully developed RV sites with sewer hookups to primitive tent camping areas, each offering different accessibility to hiking trails, lake access, and amenities. Winter camping is available at all campgrounds with significantly reduced crowds and rates unchanged from peak season.
What to do
Fishing from shore: Lakefront sites at Buzzards Roost Campground provide direct access to fishing. One camper noted, "There's a short path leading down to the lake with a bit of bank area that was good for fishing."
Hiking the Buckhorn Trail: The trailhead is located within Tipps Point Campground, making it easily accessible for campers. "The Buckhorn trailhead is right in the campground, so easy access to hiking. Trails are well marked and not too difficult," reports a visitor.
Visit Tucker Tower: This nature center/museum is accessible by kayak, car, or hiking trail from several campgrounds. "The trip over to Tucker Tower is quick and there are coves on both sides with glassy water. The tower has a dock if you want to take the tour," explains a Buzzards Roost camper.
Off-season camping: Winter visitors experience a different park. "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," shared a winter camper at Elephant Rock Campground.
What campers like
Clear water visibility: The lake's clarity stands out among Oklahoma water bodies. "The clear water lake is GORGEOUS and makes swimming more fun for any kids afraid of water critters, since you can see at least 10 feet down!" reports a camper from Rock Tower Campground.
Concrete RV pads: Many sites feature level, modern pads. "All concrete pads, dead level with tables," notes a visitor to By The Lake RV Park & Resort, adding that "90% of the sites are pull through, long enough for any size rig."
Shaded lakefront sites: Cedar Grove offers cooling tree cover directly at the water's edge. "We stayed on the water at Cedar Cove and had a waterfront spot and no sewer hookup. We loved the shade and the trees. Perfect for the heat," shared a summer camper.
Camp host service: Experienced hosts provide local knowledge. "The camp host knew our names, our friends names and which spot we were going to be in. They were so welcoming!" reported a Rock Tower camper.
What you should know
Parking fees: Oklahoma State Parks charge daily vehicle fees separate from camping fees. The standard rate is $10 per vehicle per day, enforced throughout all state park campgrounds.
Site selection strategy: Premium lakefront spots require early booking. "We were able to get out and kayak twice. On Saturday the boat ramp for the campgrounds was crazy busy so we drove up the road to Tipps Point and launched from there," explained a Buzzards Roost visitor.
ATV restrictions: Policies vary by campground. "Rock tower doesn't allow ATVs and you can't ride to nearby ATV campground," warns a visitor, noting this important distinction between camping areas.
Water hookup distances: Some sites have unusually long distances to water connections. A camper at Elephant Rock Campground reported, "We didn't realize we would need 50 feet of hose just to hook up to the water."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play equipment. "It has great options- some spots are secluded in the trees and some are open in the middle areas if you want to be around people. It has lake access, great playgrounds for kids, close to town with everything you need," notes a family visiting Elephant Rock.
Swimming areas: Beach options vary by location. "There's a beach nearby with picnic tables that is still well shaded and kept beautifully. It's not too crowded unless it's a holiday," shares a Rock Tower camper.
Primitive camping for groups: Duke's Forest Campground offers more spacious options. "This campground is not entirely close to the lake and you may have to drive or walk a ways to get there. However, my husband and I enjoyed this campground because it was spacious and quiet."
Wildlife encounters: Kids enjoy the natural surprises. "The kids found plenty to do exploring near the camp site and chasing the feral pig (yes, that's right) that came walking through a few times," reported a family at Rock Tower.
Tips from RVers
Winter travel benefits: Off-season camping offers solitude. "Took a run around the area on several miles of developed trails and roads. Campsites are relatively close together and I can see how the place may get crowded in the summer, but it was almost completely vacant in December."
Hookup specifics: Electric service varies across campgrounds. "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," noted a camper at Marietta Landing.
Tight turns at some sites: Backing challenges exist at certain spots. "The site I reserved was hard to back into. The approach is narrow and there's a large boulder right in the turn path of the tow vehicle," warns a Buzzards Roost camper.
Tree encroachment: Mature sites may require planning for slide-outs. "Spots are pretty tight with a trailer and some of the trees need to be pruned back for your slide outs to clear," advises a Rock Tower visitor.
