I don’t know what I expected Murray to be like, but a lake community with a college campus at its center and a thriving art scene anchoring it all was not it. A weekend in Murray, Kentucky combined so many different elements of what I look for in a three-day getaway: the outdoors, the public art and … free-roaming bison? Read on to explore why we loved Murray and the Land Between the Lakes.
This project was a partnership with the Murray, KY Convention & Visitors Bureau. All opinions are our own.
Kentucky is widely known for horse racing and bourbon, but interestingly Murray’s big selling points don’t have much to do with either of those—that said, the local university’s mascot is a much-beloved thoroughbred. Racer One, as he’s called, runs a celebratory lap around the field every time the football team scores a touchdown.
Instead, Murray’s superpower as a destination is its access to the outdoors and the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation area, a massive 170,000-acre peninsula bookended by the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, both created by TVA in the 1940s to boost our nation’s electrical supply and create new navigable waterways. Its position near the borders of five states—Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana and Missouri—and central location to so many Southern cities make it a great weekend destination. It’s less than three hours by car from Memphis, less than two hours from Nashville and under an hour from Paducah.
Looking to take a Kentucky vacation soon? Here’s why you need to plan a weekend in Murray.
Day 1 in Murray, Kentucky
With the Kentucky town just a three-hour drive from our Tennessee home, we arrived mid-morning and were ready to kickstart our weekend in Murray with a bite to eat. As luck would have it, two of our closest friends, Devry and Danny, happen to be from Murray and were more than willing to come up for a weekend in their hometown to make sure we got the full experience.
Have lunch at Hop Hound Brew Pub
To find the pulse of a town, we usually start with the local brewery or gastropub. In Murray, that’s Hop Hound Brew Pub, housed in a building that dates back to 1929 and specializes in flatbreads, burgers, quesadillas stuffed with fillings and street tacos. The pub also has a full bar and craft beer from around the region on tap.
Walk around the Murray State campus
Just a mile from the popular Murray pub is the town’s university, which adds 10,000 students to the population during the school year. Murray State spans an interesting mix of Gothic and brutalist-style buildings; as low-key architecture geeks, we drove multiple loops around the campus marveling at the different styles like the Lovett Auditorium, which is one of the four original structures still standing from 1926 and whose steps host the All Campus Sing each spring.
One of the most visited Murray State sites is the Shoe Tree, which is exactly what it sounds like: a monument comprising the shoes of alumni. This tradition dates back to the 1960s when students who had found their “sole mates” (partner or spouse) during their time at Murray State started nailing up shoes to cement their love; many of the kicks note their owner’s wedding date, and some alums even return with baby shoes once they’ve had a child.
On the west side of the Murray State quad across from the Shoe Tree, you’ll find a statue of Rainey T. Wells, the founder and former president of the university. The legend among Murray State students goes that if you rub his diploma, you’ll pass your finals. If you want to see the historic buildings in Murray, you can take a lap around the campus, making sure to drive by Pogue Library and down the photo-worthy Olive Boulevard, as well as Main Street and 9th and 10th streets.
Eat dinner on the Murray State campus
When it’s time to eat again, Murray State has a couple restaurants walkable from campus like the Willow Bistro, with its Greek-influenced menu, which is open for lunch every weekday with extended hours for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There’s also Stephano’s Trattoria, a fine-dining Italian restaurant with pastas, sharable plates, and filling entrees like ribeye and grouper. After dinner, walk next door for a cocktail at Tap 216, an iconic Murray neighborhood bar that has trivia every Tuesday and karaoke on Thursdays.
Have dessert at the famed Murray Dairy Queen
Before I’d ever visited Murray, I knew of it’s Dairy Queen. It’s not just a regular Dairy Queen, but one steeped in nostalgia for many of its residents who have been going here every summer since it opened in 1949. Today, it’s only open from March through October, and the tradition still holds: Carhops come and take your order from your parking space.
Day 2 in Murray, Kentucky
My favorite thing to do in any new town is find the local coffee shop and enjoy an iced latte among the regulars. And Shaffer Coffee Co. is the coffee shop in Murray. Even on a Saturday morning in the heat of summer, the place was humming with a mix of students and those like us just passing through. We met up with Danny and Devry for cinnamon rolls and coffee before moseying downtown to truly start our day.
Morning at the Downtown Farmers Market
On Saturday mornings in Murray, the Downtown Farmers Market is where all the action happens. This market pulls farmers and vendors from a three-hour radius every weekend from May through October, and the offerings are legit. Pickles, honey, meats, cheeses, heirloom tomatoes, and other farm-fresh produce mingle with the goods from makers like cutting boards, jewelry and pottery. Some weeks feature a band or yoga for all, and the market even has a Kids’ Club where the little ones get their own market money to spend.
Art class at Murray Art Guild
After the farmers market, we were in for a real treat: a clay class at Murray Art Guild. This nonprofit organization has been holding court in Murray for more than 55 years and is in a semi-temporary space on the courthouse square as their permanent dream facility gets built out. But despite having to downsize the studio in the meantime, it still brims with the creations by painters, potters, jewelers, fiber artists and other makers who sell their wares in the front store portion of the studio.
The back is reserved for the actual making, with looms and pottery implements. We were lucky enough to get in on an Empty Bowl class where we sculpted bowls out of clay then stamped them to be sold at the annual Fall Empty Bowls fundraiser. As part of the national Empty Bowls Project designed to combat hunger, the guild generously facilitates this bowl-making through group activities throughout the spring and summer in preparation to be given away with soup at the fall fundraiser.
The guild hosts more than just bowl-making, though. Classes and workshops include figure-drawing, watercolor, weaving, pet portraits, art journaling and plenty of messy activities for kids.
Lunch at Dumplin’s of Murray
With a menu jam packed with sandwiches, salads, burgers and vegan options, Dumplin’s of Murray is a long-time staple of the community that also dishes out a multitude of desserts and, of course, dumplings. This restaurant is also a great option for brunch, as it serves up mimosas, beer and mixed drinks every day but Sunday when it’s closed entirely. There are some cute boutiques like The Place in the same retail development for shopping after you’re done.
Shopping and art in downtown Murray
After lunch, it’s back to the square for more art and shopping. Downtown Murray has a colorful art alley and more than a half-dozen murals scattered throughout the streets flanking the courthouse square; much of the original art was created by Kentucky artist Elias Reynolds. Park on the square, then explore its arteries by foot; you’ll find plenty of hidden art, as well as local boutiques and shops worth popping into.
Without a doubt, my favorite discovery in Murray was the adorable independent bookstore Bolin Books, which sells a mix of used books and new releases. Whitney and Wesley Bolin opened downtown Murray’s independent bookstore in 2020 following the death of Wesley’s father, James Duane Bolin, an author, historian and educator at the local university. It had always been his dream to own a bowtie and books business, and after he passed, the husband-wife team moved forward with their plans of opening a bookstore.
Teeming with books across genres, including a well-stocked children’s room in the back, Bolin is one of those places you simply can’t leave empty-handed. The Bolins completely transformed this downtown historic building into a multi-room bookstore, laid out by genre, with plans to expand into the upstairs space eventually. As an avid reader, I was blown away by how comprehensive the book offerings are and wish every town were so lucky to have a shop full of heart like this one.
Dinner at Jasmine Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar
Living in rural Tennessee, we miss having an abundance of Asian fusion cuisine at our disposal, so if there’s a good Thai and sushi restaurant in a town we’re visiting, 10 times out of 10 we are dining there. Jasmine serves up a novel-length menu of Japanese food and Thai favorites like fried rice, sushi rolls, stir fry platters and hibachi-cooked steaks. The cocktails, too, were on point with the ginger gin fizz my favorite.
A stroll through Doran Arboretum
Located on the 40-acre Pullen Farm, Doran Arboretum is an educational display garden run by Murray State University that is open to the public for free daily until 7pm, a great spot for a post-dinner walk if you’re dining on the earlier side. It was truly one of my favorite places in Murray with its butterfly gardens, walking paths and 0.8-mile track. Traveling with kids who need to burn off energy? Take them to the arboretum. Simply in need of a nature break? Go to the arboretum. It’s a magical little oasis in the heart of an oft-bustling college town.
Day 3 in Murray, Kentucky
Your final day of your weekend in Murray is dedicated to the outdoors, weather permitting. Many restaurants and coffee shops in Murray are closed on Sundays, but Murray Donuts is open and the perfect place to grab a maple bacon donut and a coffee and head east into the wilderness. Don’t like donuts? First, you’re crazy, and second, Murray Donuts also has pastries, breakfast sandwiches and more.
Spend the day on Kentucky Lake
Murray’s outdoors scene is unmatched: It’s the largest city along Kentucky Lake, which has over 2,000 miles of shoreline alone, but also connects to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a veritable wonderland of hiking, hunting, horseback riding and off-road riding opportunities. This waterway links to the Gulf of Mexico along the Great Loop, a series of interconnected rivers, dams, locks and lakes that allow boaters to explore vast portions of the southeastern United States, many of which are protected wetlands and watersheds.
Devry and Danny were kind enough to invite us out on a boat with their friends Frank and Debbie, and we had a glorious afternoon exploring all the nooks and crannies of Kentucky Lake, including the Rock Quarry, the party cove with rocks for jumping if you’re brave enough to do so. Many of the marinas like Kentucky Dam Marina rent out pontoon, fishing and ski boats, as well as paddleboards and kayaks.
If you’re the type who likes to travel with your horses, the Wranglers Camp has more than 200 sites equipped for large trailers and RVs, many with electrical hookups. The 100 miles of pristine horseback trails is open year-round, with services like blacksmithing and farriers available during the warmer months.
For the OHV enthusiasts among us, of which my husband is one, the Turkey Bay OHV Area is a mecca for off-roading. Jeeps, side-by-sides, four-wheelers and motorcycles have the ability to camp and ride on over 100 miles of trails that skirt the lake, dive deep into the woods and otherwise snake all through this gorgeous section of the LBL. If you get there early and snag a spot, it’s even possible to set up camp right on the shores of the lake.
Drive through the Elk & Bison Prairie
After you’re done with your lake day in Murray, venture on over to the Golden Pond Planetarium & Observatory for some A/C and a show among the stars. Open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, the planetarium boasts live presentations that allow visitors to learn about all things space—and even see the constellations via the 360-degree, 40-foot domed theater that is outfitted with surround sound. You can also visit the Elk & Bison Prairie National Wildlife Sanctuary, a 700-acre piece of land that allows these majestic creatures to roam freely within its boundaries just next door.
A great place to take a car full of children to ogle at wildlife, the loop road that runs through the sanctuary is $5 for entrance and has a cash/credit card machine at the gate. The elk are best viewed at dusk during the warmer months.
Hike Eggner’s Ferry Bridge and Hematite Lake
If you’re up for a stroll, tackle the 3.5-mile walk over Eggner’s Ferry Bridge, a modern-looking and soaring structure that crosses the lake. It was originally built in 1932 and later replaced after a cargo ship accident in 2012. The bridge provides a walkway and bike path for runners and cyclists who want to enjoy the views across Kentucky Lake. Park at the Lakeside Trailhead if you’re on the western side of the span; if you’re in the east, stop at Fenton Campground and begin your journey there along the Central Hardwoods Scenic Trail, 11 miles of compacted stone or paved road perfect for mountain or gravel bikes.
Hematite Lake, a favorite spot for scenic photography or birdwatching, is an easy 2.5-mile hike around the 87-acre body of water and is filled with remnants from when it was mined for the iron ore hematite. Nearby is the Woodlands Nature Station that has a mini-zoo of locally rescued animals that couldn’t survive in the wild; it now serves as educational tools for youth groups and adults traveling through the region (entrance fee is $5). Honkey Lake is also very close to the nature station with 4.5 miles of hiking and access for light fishing boats and kayaks or SUPs.
Where to stay in Murray, Kentucky
Because Murray is a college town, there are numerous affordable hotels like a Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express that border the campus. We stayed in the SpringHill Suites, a Marriott property with very large family rooms that was perfect for how much we like to spread out when we’re traveling. While on the lake, we also stopped by Kentucky Lake Glamping, which has lakefront Airstream trailers, geodesic domes, and tiny cabins that would be very cool to rent if you wanted to stay outside of town and really take advantage of the outdoors.
If you love camping in Kentucky, Land Between the Lakes has many sites dispersed across the peninsula. Hillman Ferry has 368 individual campsites with six rustic cabins, access to a 59-mile mountain biking trail and an archery range, boat launches, showers and laundry facilities. Piney Campground has 384 sites, nine cabins for rent and is close to the Fort Henry Trail System, an interconnected 30-mile set of deep forest trails for both hikers and mountain bikes. Energy Lake Campground, a 35-site destination that offers 33 with electrical hookups, also has 13 primitive cabins with a beautiful beach swimming area.
If you’re not the camping type but still enjoy exploration of the outdoors, the region offers hundreds of options, from privately-run lake resorts, hotels and short-term rentals on Airbnb and VRBO.
For more tips on what to do in Murray, check out the local tourism site, or download our one-page itinerary if you need tips on the go.
