Good times abound in Ardmore, Oklahoma where you can dock at Lake Murray State Park's beautifully clear, 5,700-acre lake. Enjoy a round of golf at the state's oldest and largest state park, a favorite for Ardmore locals and tourists alike. At the Tucker Tower Nature Center in Lake Murray State Park, you'll discover many fossils, a 288-pound meteorite found nearby and educational programs in the summer.
There's plenty more to discover in Ardmore — enjoy boutique shopping experiences on Main Street, and find modern art at the Charles B. Goddard Center for Visual & Performing Arts. For local history, visit the Greater Southwest Historical Museum and the adjacent Military Memorial Museum. Try your luck and take a spin at Gold Mountain Casino in Ardmore or venture just outside of town to spend a day with the animals at Woodbine Farms. Ardmore also offers plenty of great dining options including well-known favorites like Two Frogs Grill and Cafe Alley.
Go on a scenic adventure through Ardmore, Davis, Sulphur and Tishomingo in South Central Oklahoma. Look up in awe at the iconic Tucker Tower in Lake Murray State Park or the magnificent waterfall in Turner Falls Park. The Chickasaw Cultural Center preserves the tribe's fascinating history and is worth a stop in the Chickasaw's historic capital of Tishomingo.
Those of us traveling in Oklahoma summers prefer to be submerged in cool water at every given opportunity. Like animals of the African savannah, we move in herds to life-sustaining watering holes. Fortunately for us, though, the threat of predators is minimal, and Oklahoma State Parks offer affordable and accessible swim escapes. From metro-adjacent favorites like Lake Keystone and Lake Thunderbird to popular destinations like Lake Sequoyah or Lake Texoma, there’s no shortage of options. Here are six other state parks where you can beat the heat.
Barbecue, barbeque, BBQ or bar-b-q: no matter how you spell it, the end result is nothing short of delicious. Dry-rubbed, salt and peppered, or smothered with sauce, Oklahoma’s delicious barbecue restaurants are waiting to serve up some tasty 'cue just how you like it.
There’s more than meets the eye at Oklahoma State Parks. Historic structures are just some of the wonders waiting to be found.
Whether enjoying dinner on a bustling patio overlooking the setting sun or soaking up the last few minutes of daylight on a serene shoreline, Oklahoma’s sunsets have the power to stop you in your tracks.
Featuring more shoreline than the Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined, Oklahoma wears its Lake Country badge with pride. Glistening lakes in every corner of the state have beckoned swimmers, anglers, outdoors enthusiasts and casual vacationers for generations. Whether you want to take a swim surrounded by rolling hills, reel in the big one among ancient mountains or pilot your watercraft around lush forested shoreline, there’s a lake for every taste in the Sooner State. Here’s our rundown of standout lakes from each region of the state.
