Local Guide
Welcome to Calloway County
... a special lake community
Home of Kentucky Lake, Land Between The Lakes and Murray State University, Calloway County, Kentucky offers a wide-range of activities and amenities for residents and visitors alike.
Murray, our county seat, is a college town of nearly 20,000 residents. Our community is enriched by excellent healthcare, outstanding school systems, vibrant industry, and a strong retail and restaurant sector.
Kentucky Lake is on our eastern border with 160,000 acres of water just waiting for you to experience! Whether you are into fishing, boating, or just playing on the water, Kentucky Lake has plenty of room for everyone!
Anglers fish for crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, yellow bass, and other species. Calloway County has several lake access points and marinas to spoil any adventurous fisherman!
… experience nature.
Land Between The Lakes, located just across the lake, is a 170,000-acre National Recreation Area. An outdoorsman’s paradise, LBL boasts hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, OHV trails, and backroads waiting to be explored.
Many environmental educational facilities are located in LBL, including the Homeplace 1850s, Woodlands Nature Station, and The Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. The Elk & Bison Range, a drive-through area for visitors to experience elk and bison, is one of the most popular attractions. The Turkey Bay OHV Area is a fun place for off-road enthusiasts.
… a college town, too!
Murray State University is located in the heart of Murray and Calloway County. With nearly 10,000 students, our four-year public university offers 145 academic programs, a diverse campus life experience, and NCAA Division I athletics.
Murray State is consistently ranked in US News & World Report and other national publications as one of the country’s top regional universities.
Locals enjoy watching the Racers on the gridiron and the courts. The men’s basketball team is uniquely successful, having made the NCAA Tournament 18 times.