🌿 RelaxedLong weekend · from Oklahoma City, OK
Lake Texoma & the Red River — Southern Shores & the Blue River
This laid-back three-day getaway heads south to Lake Texoma, the vast reservoir straddling the Oklahoma-Texas line where the Red and Washita rivers pool into 89,000 acres of blue water and rocky, cedar-clad shoreline. Day one settles in at Lake Texoma State Park near Kingston and takes in the sheltered coves of Catfish Bay. Day two drifts along the Chickasaw Pointe and Kingston shore, with easy boating, a lakeside lodge stay, and long views across one of the biggest lakes in the region. Day three swings inland to the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge and the crystalline, spring-fed Blue River — one of Oklahoma's few designated trout streams — before the drive home. With big water, wooded hills, and the wild green ribbon of the Blue, it is a restful long weekend of southern-Oklahoma lake country.
Day 1 — Lake Texoma State Park & Catfish BayDay 2 — Chickasaw Pointe, the Kingston Shore & a Lakeside LodgeDay 3 — Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge & the Blue River
Day 1 — Lake Texoma State Park (Kingston), OK
Day 1 — Lake Texoma State Park (Kingston), OK
🚗 1 hr 50 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Oklahoma City, OK → Lake Texoma State Park, OK
1 hr 50 min8:00 AM → 9:50 AM
Lake Texoma State Park
★ 4.5Set on a peninsula near Kingston on the lake's northern shore, Lake Texoma State Park is the gateway to one of the largest reservoirs in the country and the ideal place to begin the weekend. The park's shaded picnic grounds, swimming areas, and easy shoreline paths open onto sweeping views of the blue, island-dotted water framed by rocky bluffs and cedar. Boat ramps, a marina, and gentle coves make it a hub for the lake's famous striped-bass fishing and easygoing water recreation. Stretch your legs, get oriented to the vast shoreline, and settle into the unhurried rhythm of Texoma lake country.
9:50 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch10:50 AM
Pelican's Landing, Lake Texoma
A relaxed waterfront restaurant on the Texoma shore, Pelican's Landing is the natural spot for a first lakeside meal after the drive down. The menu leans into the lake — fried catfish, shrimp, burgers, and hearty American plates — served on an open deck with wide views over the water and the marina. Cold drinks, easy service, and a come-as-you-are atmosphere make it a fitting introduction to the weekend. Take your time and watch the boats work the coves before an afternoon exploring Catfish Bay.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
Catfish Bay & Texoma Coves
★ 4.5The sheltered inlets around Catfish Bay, on Texoma's northern shore, are among the lake's most inviting for a relaxed afternoon on the water. Rocky, cedar-lined coves give way to gentle swimming beaches and quiet fishing spots, and the calm, protected water is ideal for wading, paddling a rented kayak, or simply lounging on the shore. Anglers prize Texoma for its striped bass and abundant catfish, and the bay lives up to its name. Spend the afternoon at an easy pace — a swim, a stroll along the rocky shoreline, and a long look across the immense expanse of blue water toward the Texas shore.
12:00 PM📍 See location
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Evening
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Lake Texoma Overnight, Night 1
Texoma's shoreline offers a wide range of lakeside stays, from cabins and cottages to full-service resorts. Near the state park and Kingston, look to lakeside cabins and the well-regarded Chickasaw Pointe area lodging for a first night close to the water; many spots come with docks, decks, and long lake views. For a livelier base, the marinas around Catfish Bay have cabin rentals within walking distance of the water. Choose a waterfront spot if you can, enjoy a relaxed lakeside dinner, and turn in early for a full day along the southern shore tomorrow.
Day 2 — Chickasaw Pointe & Kingston Shore, OK
Day 2 — Chickasaw Pointe & Kingston Shore, OK
🚗 20 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Lake Texoma State Park, OK → Chickasaw Pointe, OK
20 min8:00 AM → 8:20 AM
Chickasaw Pointe & the Kingston Shore
★ 3.9The Chickasaw Pointe area, tucked along the wooded shore near Kingston, is one of Texoma's most scenic stretches, where a celebrated golf course rolls down toward the water and quiet coves invite an unhurried morning. Walk the shoreline paths, take in the long views across the lake from the bluffs, and watch the sailboats and fishing craft drift the open water. The gentle, protected inlets here are perfect for a morning paddle or a lakeside sit with coffee. It is the kind of calm, scenic reach that rewards slowing down and simply taking in the immensity of the lake.
8:20 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
Continue at The Grille at Chickasaw Pointe
★ 3.9Use the afternoon to explore a different side of Chickasaw Pointe & the Kingston Shore — there's more to discover beyond the morning highlights.
9:20 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
Boating & Swimming on Lake Texoma
★ 4.5The afternoon is made for getting out onto the water. Texoma's marinas near Kingston rent pontoon boats, ski boats, and kayaks by the half day, and the lake's vast open reaches and hidden coves reward a leisurely cruise to a quiet swimming spot. Drop anchor in a sheltered inlet for a swim in the clear water, cast a line for the striped bass the lake is famous for, or simply drift with the wooded shoreline sliding past. Even from shore, the swimming beaches and rocky points along the Kingston coves make for an easy, sun-soaked afternoon. It is Texoma at its best — big water, warm sun, and nowhere to be.
12:00 PM📍 See location
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Evening
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Lakeside Lodge Overnight, Night 2
For the second night, settle into a lakeside lodge or cabin on the Kingston shore, where decks and docks put the water right at your doorstep. The Chickasaw Pointe area and the marinas along this stretch offer comfortable cabins and lodge rooms, many with sweeping lake views ideal for watching the sun drop over the water. Grab a relaxed dinner at one of the lakeside grills, then settle in on the deck as the lights of boats blink across the dark expanse. Rest up; day three turns inland to the wildlife refuge and the Blue River before the drive home.
Day 3 — Tishomingo NWR & the Blue River, OK
Day 3 — Tishomingo NWR & the Blue River, OK
🚗 2 hr 50 min driving📍 3 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Kingston, OK → Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, OK
35 min8:00 AM → 8:35 AM
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
★ 4.5At the upper end of Lake Texoma where the Washita River spreads into the reservoir, the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge protects some 16,000 acres of water, marsh, cropland, and bottomland forest that draw enormous numbers of migratory birds. An auto-tour route and easy walking trails wind past ponds and prairie where geese, ducks, herons, and — in the cooler months — bald eagles gather in remarkable numbers. The visitor contact station and observation points make it easy to take in the wildlife at a relaxed pace. It is a serene, uncrowded morning of birdwatching and open, watery landscapes before turning toward the Blue River.
8:35 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch9:35 AM
Boomerang Diner, Tishomingo
In the small county-seat town of Tishomingo — the historic capital of the Chickasaw Nation — this friendly local diner is an easy, hearty stop between the refuge and the river. Expect classic American fare: burgers, sandwiches, plate lunches, and generous sides, served with genuine small-town warmth. The surrounding town is worth a short look, with the handsome granite Chickasaw National Capitol building nearby. Fuel up for the afternoon along the Blue River, the final and one of the loveliest stops of the weekend.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
Blue River Public Fishing & Hunting Area
★ 4.7The Blue River, east of Tishomingo, is one of Oklahoma's most beautiful streams — a clear, spring-fed river that tumbles over rocky ledges and small waterfalls through a wooded conservation area, and one of the state's only designated trout fisheries. Walking paths follow the water past cascades, rock shelves, and shaded pools, and the river's cool, glassy stretches invite a wade, a photograph, or a quiet sit on the rocks. It is a wild, green, restorative final stop, utterly different in character from the vast open lake — a fitting close to a weekend of southern-Oklahoma water. Take a last unhurried walk along the river before the drive north.
12:00 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Blue River, OK → Oklahoma City, OK
2 hr 15 min5:00 PM → 7:15 PM
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