Murray Vacation Rentals

Plan your Murray getaway

Use Murray as a home base for a university visit, a family gathering, or a getaway that combines local arts with nearby outdoor outings. As you compare Murray vacation rentals, weigh your plans for campus and downtown against days spent driving to Kentucky Lake or the natural areas around Benton.

Choose a home by its location, property type, sleeping arrangements, and the space your group needs between outings. Each home is unique, so amenities, parking, pet policies, and other features vary by home; review the individual listing before booking.

Things to do in Murray

Start with the Doran Arboretum, then add a museum, gallery, or performance to see more of Murray's university and community life. These in-town stops let you enjoy the city without treating every day as a lake excursion.

Doran Arboretum at Murray State University

This public educational garden on Murray State's Pullen Farm has student-maintained plant collections and a 0.8-mile walking track. Walk through the gardens and stop at the butterfly-themed play area for an outdoor break that works well for families or visitors spending time around campus.

Best for:

• Families looking for a garden walk and play stop
• Campus visitors who want time outdoors

Playhouse in the Park

Murray's community theater presents live productions in a historic train depot. Add a performance to your stay when the schedule matches your dates, choosing a show that suits your group's interests and ages.

Best for:

• Theatergoers
• Couples or groups planning an evening out

Wrather West Kentucky Museum

Located on Murray State's campus, the Wrather West Kentucky Museum explores the social, cultural, and economic development of western Kentucky and the Jackson Purchase. Its permanent and changing exhibits are open to the public at no charge, making it a useful stop for history-minded campus visitors.

Clara M. Eagle Gallery

The Clara M. Eagle Gallery is part of Murray State's public university galleries, which present exhibitions of student, faculty, and visiting-artist work. Visit during an exhibition for an indoor arts stop that suits travelers interested in contemporary art and campus culture.

Murray Art Guild

The Murray Art Guild's community art center offers exhibitions and scheduled workshops. Make it part of an arts-focused visit, or plan ahead for a class if you'd like to spend time creating something yourself.

Where to eat in Murray

Start around downtown and Court Square when pairing a meal with time in Murray's historic commercial district. North Fourth Street also gives you a specific coffee stop to work into a morning or a visit to the Murray Art Guild.

Mugsy's Hideout

Located on Court Square, Mugsy's Hideout has served Chicago-style food in Murray since 2005. Deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches make it a practical lunch or dinner stop during a downtown outing.

Shaffer Coffee Co.

Shaffer Coffee Co. on North Fourth Street sources coffee from roasters in Kentucky and Tennessee. Stop for an espresso drink before heading to the nearby art center or continuing your day in town.

Murray local tips

• Visit the Doran Arboretum during daylight; the gardens are open from dawn to dusk.
• The arboretum's walking track permits leashed dogs but not bicycles.
• Put the Wrather Museum on a weekday plan; its published visiting hours are Monday through Friday in the afternoon.
• Murray State's university galleries close between exhibitions and during university breaks, so check the exhibition calendar when choosing your visit dates.
• Keep Kentucky Lake outings separate from your in-town itinerary. Kenlake State Resort Park is in Hardin, not downtown Murray.
• Kenlake has no lake swimming area or beach, so plan that outing around trails, picnicking, or boating rather than a beach day.

Day trips from Murray

Give a nearby outdoor destination its own part of the itinerary rather than rushing it between campus stops. Kenlake offers a Kentucky Lake outing, while Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge adds a different landscape for walking and wildlife watching.

Kenlake State Resort Park

Drive northeast from Murray to Kenlake State Resort Park in Hardin for a half-day of wooded trails and lakeside picnicking, or reserve more of the day for boating on Kentucky Lake. The park's marina and walking options suit travelers who want a lake-country excursion without replacing their stay in town; it does not have a lake swimming beach.

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge

Travel north toward Benton for a half-day of trails, birding, and wildlife watching at Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. Aim for the Environmental Education and Recreation Area rather than the headquarters if walking is your main plan, and use the refuge's published directions because these are separate locations.