Murray, Kentucky

About Murray, Kentucky

What you find here can’t be found on a shelf or bottled up to be taken home. What you find here is a spirit, a way that captures the hearts and minds of those who visit us. The enchantment of a small, southern town, filled with smiles and big hearts, leaving an impression on visitors and locals, alike. Don’t come to Murray expecting cookie-cutter stores and the average restaurant. Come to Murray to find soulful food and deep conversations, where it feels like home.

Things to do in Murray, Kentucky

Murray is well known regionally for being a destination for boutique shopping. Clothing shops, jewelers and home decors stores are open in abundance in Murray, all owned by locals. Just south of town, Hazel, Kentucky, is an antique-lovers paradise. Enjoy more than 25 stores near campus, downtown and along the main drag of town.

Enjoy a small, southern town with big dining options. Stop by Dumplins’ for a famous roll, enjoy fresh pie from Rudy’s or indulge in a delectable, fresh donut from Murray Donuts. Many of the restaurants have specialty menu items, specifically created for locals - try the Murray Roll at Jasmine or the Racer Chicken at the Keg. Interested in eating outside or patio style? Several local establishments have added additional seating to accommodate those needs: Burrito Shack, the Keg, Los Portales, Mister B’s, Stephano's Trattoria and Willow Bistro.

We are lucky in Murray and Calloway County to be surrounded by the outdoors, that contributes to our quality of life and reconnects us with nature. In Western Kentucky, we have plenty of opportunities for you to disconnect and relax while enjoying the outdoor recreation we offer. If you enjoy activities such as canoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, golfing, or just a walk in the park, you’ve come to the right place! In Murray, exploring the outdoors isn’t just for our quality of life…it’s a necessity.

The Calloway County Quilt Trail combines art, history, and a pleasurable drive through the countryside. Quilt patterns are painted on large squares and then hung on barns, homes or businesses. The patterns tell a story of the family or its land. Visitors travel for miles to drive the trails, boasting more than 60 quilts, and is a common attraction in Murray and Calloway County.

Parks play a big role in contributing to the quality of life and serves as a vital part of any community. Murray is proud to be home to multiple community parks, including 164 acres of land to play and explore. Murray has been named a Playful City USA for eight years in a row.

The American Society of Golf Architects designated the Miller Memorial Golf Course as one of the best designed 18-hole courses in America. It presents a unique challenge for competitive and recreational golfers alike. Measuring 6,592 yards from the championship tees, the par-71 layout has two distinct nines which require a wide array of shot-making. The outward nine is set on hilly terrain and requires pinpoint accuracy from tee to green, whereas the inward nine rewards length and accurate long-iron play. The facility also offers two large practice putting greens, as well as a wide two-level practice tee and a spacious 315-yard driving range.

The Doran Arboretum at Murray State is a fully accessible horticultural display, public garden and educational laboratory located on the Pullen Farm of MSU. The farm includes three greenhouses, playgrounds, classroom and office spaces, and numerous flowering beds and landscape structures. Horticultural students in the MSU School of Agriculture are responsible for maintaining the grounds and working in the greenhouses. The Arboretum features collections of native plants, trees and flowers with a pavilion often used for hosting special events. Don’t miss the Butterfly Garden next to the pond while children are welcome to play in the Butterfly themed playground.

Disconnect and immerse yourself in the outdoors on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, connected by a free-flowing canal, forming one of the largest man-made bodies of water in North America. Combined, the two lakes have more than 4,000 miles of shoreline and 3,000 miles of water all held within our backyard, and a short 20-minute drive from Murray.

One of Kentucky’s top tourist attractions, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area manages 170,000 acres of forests, wetland, and open lands on a peninsula between Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, scaling alongside Western Kentucky and Tennessee. This recreation area playground makes a perfect location for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, and water sports. Along with these activities, there are four main attractions at LBL, listed in detail below.

Travel details

Located less than two hours northwest of Nashville, Murray is three hour drive of Louisville, Memphis and St.Louis. Our population is 19,000 with an influx of students attending Murray State University nine months out of the year. Murray State is a Division I NCAA program, home to the Racers and part of the Missouri Valley Conference.

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