Discover Calloway County: Kentucky Lake, nature and culture

Kentucky Lake forms the eastern boundary of Calloway County and covers 160,000 acres of water. There are several access points to the lake in the county. You can fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass at Kentucky Lake. Blood River, a major tributary of the lake in Calloway County, offers year-round crappie fishing opportunities.

Your itinerary can help determine which hotel to choose: the lake and fishing, trails and parks, or cultural attractions in Murray each offer a different focus. This lets you tailor your search to your planned interests without assuming any particular hotel features.

Trails, parks and recreation

Central Park has walking trails. In Murray, it is also home to Calloway County’s first courthouse and the preserved Waters Schoolhouse. Chestnut Park has a paved walking path. Doran Arboretum offers a 0.8-mile loop for walking, running or walking a leashed dog.

Sports facilities and golf are also among the recreational activities described. Bee Creek Park is a soccer complex with 19 fields. Miller Memorial Golf Course is a public course with 18 holes, 6,742 yards and a par of 71. These details make the differences between a soccer complex, a dedicated golf facility and the trails in the parks clear.

Marinas in Calloway County rent pontoons, jet skis, kayaks and fishing boats. If a particular boat rental is important to your plans, check availability in advance; individual operators may change.

Land Between The Lakes is near Calloway County but outside the county. It is a 170,000-acre National Recreation Area with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. This clearly distinguishes the nearby regional natural area from places and attractions within Calloway County.

Cultural attractions in Murray and the county

The Wrather West Kentucky Museum explores the social, cultural and economic development of West Kentucky and the Jackson Purchase. Three galleries of Murray State University—the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, the Eagle Upper Gallery and the Mary Ed Mecoy Hall Gallery—are located in the Fine Arts Building, 620 Fine Arts Building, on the university campus in Murray.

Historic Lovett Auditorium has been one of the four original buildings on the Murray State University campus since 1926. It hosts Broadway shows, symphony concerts, operas, dance performances and appearances by nationally known speakers. The university’s recurring Humanities+ Series includes public lectures, teaching workshops and cultural events in its 2026–2027 program.

The Calloway County Barn Quilt Trail also showcases local design: across the county, visitors can find dozens of quilt patterns painted on large squares and mounted on the sides of buildings. Individual displays may change. Playhouse in the Park stages many performances each year in a former L&N Railroad freight depot. The depot was moved to its current location in Murray in the fall of 1979.

Fort Heiman and views of the Tennessee River

Fort Heiman, part of Fort Donelson National Battlefield, is preserved in Calloway County, Kentucky, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site includes interpretive signs along the trail, historic earthworks and a small pavilion with exhibits; it is still being developed. Visitors should park near the pavilion and walk about half a mile to a higher viewpoint overlooking the Tennessee River. Conditions at the site may change; check before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Murray, Morgan County, McCracken County, Hopkins County, Jessamine County, Montgomery County, Whitley County, Warren.

For the main travel overview: Kentucky.