Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Chickasaw National Recreation Area, National Recreation Area in Murray County, Oklahoma.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area spans roughly 9,888 acres and encompasses lakes, springs, and streams within the Arbuckle Mountains with varied terrain. Water is the defining feature throughout the landscape.
The area began in 1902 as Sulphur Springs Reservation and merged with Arbuckle Recreation Area in 1976 to form its current identity. This union brought separate protected lands under one management.
The area is named after the Chickasaw Nation, who sold the original land to the federal government after their relocation in the 1830s. That name reflects the deeper indigenous history of this land.
Visitors will find six public campgrounds with around 400 campsites, boat launches at Lake of the Arbuckles, and several swimming areas spread throughout. Facilities are clearly marked and easy to locate.
Structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s dot the area, including stone pavilions and buildings that still serve visitors today. These works show solid craftsmanship that has lasted decades.
Location: Murray County
Inception: July 1, 1902
Website: https://nps.gov/chic
GPS coordinates: 34.50060,-96.97220
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Oklahoma offers destinations beyond the well-traveled routes. The state holds a biblical city replica built into a hillside, a roadside blue whale large enough to climb, a Western museum with roaming bison and elk, and a park filled with hand-carved totem poles. Natural formations add depth to this list, including caverns lined with alabaster, red-rock canyons, waterfalls, and thermal springs. Some parks preserve sand dunes, forests, and lakes that provide space for hiking and water recreation. The region's history appears in frontier forts, homes of settlers and oil barons, and museums dedicated to the indigenous nations of the area. The collection includes galleries of Western and Native American art, natural history exhibits with fossil discoveries, and a museum holding the largest private arms collection in the country. Architectural examples range from preserved Victorian mansions to a 1950s tower now serving as an arts center.
Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park
25.9 km
Turner Falls
18.2 km
Turner Falls Park
18.1 km
Lake of the Arbuckles
9 km
Indian meridian
25.3 km
Treasure Valley Casino
18.3 km
Chickasaw Cultural Center
2.3 km
Gold Mountain Casino
37.3 km
Ada Gaming Center
43.5 km
Wintersmith Park Historic District
40.8 km
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
46.8 km
Wanette–Byars Bridge
47.2 km
Chickasaw Nation Capitols
39.7 km
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
44.9 km
Pontotoc County Courthouse
40.5 km
Black Theater of Ardmore
39.3 km
Ada Arts and Heritage Center
40.5 km
Ardmore Carnegie Library
39.7 km
Murray County Courthouse
511 m
Garvin County Courthouse
35.1 km
Travertine Creek
389 m
Marshall County Courthouse
49.3 km
First National Bank Building
32.8 km
Travertine Nature Center
2.1 km
Cold Springs Campground Comfort Station #30
1.4 km
Bromide Pavilion
1.1 km
Cold Springs Campground
1.4 km
Lake Murray State Park
46.8 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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