Sunset Beach
Ardmore
Camp, Hike, Kayak, and Swim
Sunset Beach is the day-use swim beach on the east shore of Lake Murray, inside Lake Murray State Park south of Ardmore. The park is run by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, and at more than 12,000 acres it is the oldest and largest state park in Oklahoma. The lake itself is a 5,728-acre reservoir with about 67 miles of shoreline, built in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project and opened to the public in 1938. The beach sits on a sheltered arm on the east side, a short way north of the Martins Landing campground.
From Ardmore it is roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive. Head south toward the park and follow Scenic Highway 77, the park road that runs down the east side of the lake (the park office is at 13528 Scenic Hwy 77). The Sunset Beach turnoff leads to a short access road with two small parking lots set right behind the sand, so the walk from car to water is short. The park lists entry hours of 7am to 11pm daily, and the park office is open 8am to 4:30pm. Because it is a day-use area, there is no camping at the beach itself.
The beach is a long, narrow strip of sand, a little under a quarter mile end to end, facing west across the water, which makes it a good spot to stay late for the evening light the name suggests. There are picnic tables under shade trees behind the sand and vault toilets on site. Lake Murray is known as one of the clearer lakes in Oklahoma, and by midsummer the water is warm enough for long swims. The park's materials do not mention lifeguards at Sunset Beach, so plan on swimming unsupervised and keep a close eye on children.
On cost: TravelOK's own Lake Murray guide describes Sunset Beach as a place to swim without paying a day-use fee. Most of the rest of Lake Murray State Park is part of the Oklahoma State Parks parking pass program, which charges $10 per vehicle per day, or $8 for vehicles with an Oklahoma or Oklahoma tribal plate, with free passes for Oklahoma residents 62 and older and for honorably discharged veterans. If you drive on to other parts of the park, expect to need a pass, and call the park office at 580-223-4044 if you want to confirm how Sunset Beach is being handled this season.
Lake Murray is a busy boating lake with a marina, rental jet skis and pontoons, and boat ramps on several arms, so stay close to shore and watch for boats beyond the swim area. Park materials do not describe a roped-off swim area here, and Oklahoma lakes can carry blue-green algae advisories in hot, dry spells. No closure or advisory was posted for Sunset Beach when this was written, but conditions change, and the park office is the place to check. Pets are allowed in Oklahoma state parks on a leash no longer than 10 feet.
There is plenty more in the park once you have had your swim. Martins Landing just to the south has campsites and its own beach, the lodge sits across the lake on the west shore, Tucker Tower and its nature center stand on a rocky point to the south, and the park has more than 30 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and an ATV area. Kayaks and other boats can be rented from the marina concessionaire.
More Information
Lake Murray - 405 Magazine
The beautiful, 5,700-acre lake just outside Ardmore is situated in Lake Murray State Park – Oklahoma’s largest – and its clear water makes it ideal for a day at the beach. What to do There are several beaches to choose from, including Sunset – on the east side of the lake –
https://www.405magazine.com/lake-murray/Lake Murray State Park | TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/lake-murray-state-parkLake Murray State Park | TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/lake-murray-state-park/maps-and-resourcesLake Murray State Park: An Overview | TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site
Discover popular day-use areas, campground information, insider tips and fun park activities at Lake Murray State Park.
https://www.travelok.com/articles/lake-murray-state-park-an-overviewOklahoma debuts new parking pass program at state parks - MetroFamily Magazine
Explore the new parking pass program aimed at enhancing Oklahoma State Parks infrastructure and visitor experiences.
https://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/parking-passes-state-parks/TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/faqsBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Ardmore
- Head northeast toward Sibley Ave (62 ft)
- Turn left onto Sibley Ave (351 ft)
- Turn right onto Coulter Ave (384 ft)
- Turn left onto Llanfair Rd (472 ft)
- Turn left onto Montgomery Ave (4.9 mi)
- Continue onto PA-320 N/
S Gulph Rd (0.6 mi) - Continue straight onto S Gulph Rd (0.9 mi)
- Turn left to merge onto I-76 W toward Valley ForgeToll road(3.1 mi)
- Take the exit to stay on I-76 W toward HarrisburgToll road(10.3 mi)
- Slight right to stay on I-76 WToll road(242 mi)
- Take exit 75 to merge onto I-70 W toward New Stanton/
Wheeling WV Entering West Virginia(67.1 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-470 W, follow signs for ColumbusEntering Ohio(10.9 mi)
- Merge onto I-70 W (118 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 W, follow signs for US-23/
4th St/ I-71 S (2.0 mi) - Keep right to stay on I-70 WEntering Indiana(168 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 W (3.4 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 W, follow signs for I-65 S/
Michigan St/ Ohio St/ Fletcher Ave (0.1 mi) - Continue onto I-70 W (0.1 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 W, follow signs for I-65 S/
Michigan St/ Ohio St/ Fletcher Ave (0.5 mi) - Merge onto I-65 S/
I-70 W (1.7 mi) - Keep right to continue on I-70 W, follow signs for St Louis/
Indpls. Int'l Airport Entering Illinois(144 mi) - Keep right to stay on I-70 W, follow signs for St Louis (76.9 mi)
- Take the exit onto I-55 S/
I-70 W toward St Louis (16.7 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-55 SEntering Missouri(3.4 mi)
- Take exit 40B to merge onto I-44 W/
I-55 S (1.3 mi) - Slight right onto I-44 W (signs for Tulsa)Toll roadEntering Oklahoma(378 mi)
- Take exit 34 for I-44 W/
US-412 W toward OK-66/ Tulsa Toll road(0.5 mi) - Merge onto I-44/
US-412 W (4.6 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-44 (13.9 mi)
- Take the OK-66 W/
I-44 W exit toward Sapulpa/ Okla. City (0.3 mi) - Continue onto I-44/
OK-66 W Continue to follow I-44Toll road(43.0 mi) - Take exit 179 for OK-99 toward Drumright/
Stroud Toll road(0.6 mi) - Turn right onto OK-99 S/
US-377 S/ N 8th Ave/ S Hwy 99 Continue to follow OK-99 S/US-377 S/ S Hwy 99 Pass by BancFirst (on the right in 18.9 mi)(69.7 mi) - Take the exit toward OK-1 W/
Latta/ Roff/ Sulphur (0.2 mi) - Turn right onto OK-1 W/
S Latta Rd Continue to follow OK-1 W(9.7 mi) - Turn right onto OK-301Toll road(12.9 mi)
- Take the US-177 ramp to SulphurToll road(0.4 mi)
- Turn left onto US-177 S (signs for Sulphur) (25.5 mi)
- Continue straight onto Dickson Rd (5.6 mi)
- Turn right onto US-70 W (2.7 mi)
- Turn left onto OK-77S (2.1 mi)
- Turn right onto Sunset Beach RdRestricted usage roadDestination will be on the left(0.2 mi)
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