Things to do on Lake Texoma

Top things to do on Lake Texoma

Come explore Lake Texoma, which is nestled on the Oklahoma-Texas border. Lake Texoma is an incredibly beautiful destination, offering a stunning backdrop that’s ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. From camping and hiking to swimming, boating, fishing and beyond, this lake offers something special for everyone. Whether you’re planning a weekend away with friends or looking for a place to take your family on vacation, there are plenty of fun things to do at Lake Texoma. Here is our list of the top things to do while visiting this enchanting place!

A Lake Texoma vacation wouldn’t be complete without a little play time on the water!   Water taxi services will whisk you away to the Islands for an afternoon of frolicking on the beach, or rent a tow boat and ski, tube or water board in the big waters.

Slow things down a bit and rent a pontoon or  houseboat for lazy cruising around the shorelines.  Make it easy and charter a boat to take you to on a private cruise or anchor up at quiet cove for  splashing around in the water – the captain does all the work, you get to play.

Want a little more action?  Rent a jet ski and zip around the lake and jump the waves.  See the Business Directory for boat, jet ski and wake board rentals.

Lake Texoma is famous for its beautiful sunsets and what better way to enjoy the spectacular setting of the sun than with a dinner cruise aboard the Island Girl.

Dinner and Sunset Cruises are scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights and reservations are required.  Lake Sightseeing Tours are available on Saturday afternoons. Other specialty cruises are scheduled throughout the year – Eagle watching early morning cruises during winter, fall foliage cruise during the autumn months, and the July 4th Fireworks cruises. Themed cruises area also very popular. Visit the Lake Texoma Activities page for dates and times.

Private charter services are also available for afternoon get-always to a quite cove or touring the lake.  Walk to a different beat and float on the Red River.  See the Business Directory for charter services, water taxi, shuttle service and boat rentals

Lake Texoma is especially suited to sailing with points of interest 25 miles apart and 90,000 acres of water, you will often see vessels suitable for ocean waters.

Lake Texoma is known as the Striper Capital and for good reason.  It is one of the few lakes where these fish spawn naturally and they get really, really big!  It is rod bending line zinging time when one of these monsters takes your bait and the fight is on!  Lake Texoma is also well known for small and largemouth black bass, crappie and catfish.  If you are not familiar with the lake, we suggest a guided fishing trip.

This is a big lake and professional fishing guides know where the fish are most likely to be and what type of bait works best for the season.  At the end of the day they fillet the fish and bag them for you so don’t forget an ice chest to take your “catch” home.  Most guides offer some type of guarantee.  Want to know if the fishing is good?  Check out the Fishing Reports from Lake Texoma professional fishing guides.

Sailing racing events are held from March to October with the Lakefest Regatta being the most popular, drawing hundreds of sailors to Lake Texoma each year. You don’t have to be a sailor to join in the fun – watching the races and the parties are open to all.

Lake Texoma has miles of shoreline with beautiful beaches.  Stroll along water’s edge, build sand castles, splash in the water or get a beach volleyball game going.  Remember, this is a LAKE not a swimming pool.  The bottom is uneven, underbrush not visible from the surface and sudden drop-offs can present dangerous situations.  Life jackets for all ages are recommended when in the water. It is very important to use the buddy system – especially for children.

Several resorts have swimming pools, fitness centers and spas.

Waterloo Pool in Denison is open year round.  The Splash water park, Gainesville and Whitesboro pools are open June, July and August.

Explore the shoreline in a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddleboard. Quiet coves offer plenty of opportunities to paddle around while enjoying the serene landscape. Eisenhower State Park frequently offers shoreline kayak/canoe excursions. Island View Park rents Kayaks and offers a two-hour sunset paddling experience. Several Marinas around Lake Texoma offer paddling rentals.

For those looking for a wet and wild ride, Water Wings of Texoma offers fun hydroboarding. Basically, it is a hoverboard propelled by jets of water that can thrust you up as high as 80 feet. It’s the closest thing you can get to flying over the water. Instructors will help first timers get the basics down and keep their flights at a maximum height of 10 ft. Reservations are required for individuals and groups up to 12 by calling 580.235.7667

Wherever you stay on Lake Texoma there is a golf course close by! Designed by well-known designers like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicholas among others, these courses challenge golfers of all levels of experience.

Love to golf and fish?  Ask about golfing and fishing combo packages!

Whether you need relief from civilization for a day or an entire vacation, Lake Texoma Campgrounds are here to accommodate your needs! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages 15 Lake Texoma campgrounds offering campsites for primitive tent camping and RV sites with electric and water hookups. In addition there are campsites available at many marinas and private RV Resorts

Lake Texoma State parks and nature centers have hiking, biking, multi-use and equestrian trails for exploring nature and enjoying the great outdoors.

These areas are perfect for birding and nature photography so be sure to bring your camera or smart phone along and wear good sturdy shoes. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge has an electric tram that runs on Saturday and Sunday if you don’t want to stomp around the prairie.  Bring the binoculars or borrow some from the refuge.

Stroll the beaches in search or fossils or try your hand at geocaching.  Lake Texoma has something for everyone who loves the great outdoors!

There are many areas of Lake Texoma where the shoreline gives way to jagged cliffs with caves and larger boulders, perfect for rock climbing/bouldering. 

Texoma rocks! And it is country-es, and blues-es, and acoustic-es, and bluegrass-es!  There is something about the red-dirt clay of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma that seems to produce outstanding singers, songwriters, and musicians.  Home to Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Stoney LaRue and others, live music is just a way of life around here.   

You’ll find national recording artist and local bands at area night clubs and event centers in the Lake Texoma area on the weekends and jam sessions during the week.  Summer Concerts in Gainesville, Denison and Sherman are free family friendly outdoor events held during  June and July.  Bring your lawn chair and sit back to enjoy some of the best in music as local, regional and national singers, songwriters and musicians take the stage

Be sure to check the Event Calendar to find music festivals and other entertainment events. The Live Music Calendar has a lineup of who will be performing in the Lake Texoma area. 

Texoma’s  French Connection began when the Munson Family Vineyards sent root stock to France to save their vineyards.  Tours and wine tastings of the local vineyards are fun, interesting and educational.

The Munson Memorial Vineyard is open for tours and is part of the Grayson College Viticulture and Enology Center -one of the best known educational facilities in the country.

There are twelve wineries on the Munson Wine Trail.  Many are open to visitors, have tasting facilities and tours.  All are within easy driving distance of Lake Texoma

Although new to Texas, craft breweries, distilleries, and winey producers have found a home in Texoma. Their taprooms and tasting rooms have become hot-spots if you’re a lover of beer, wine, and spirits. Some offer a behind the scenes brewery, winery, or distillery tour and others offer a tasting room where you can sip on the delectable samples. Local distiller, IronRoot Replublic, is not only a local favorite but has won the USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Award and Best Craft Whiskey Distillery in 2019 & 2020, World’s Best Burbon At World Whiskies 2020.

Lake Texoma Casinos are located in southern Oklahoma only minutes from the shores of Lake Texoma.  These casinos offer a world class gaming experience. On the weekends, live entertainment is offered in numerous bars and lounges.  Casual and fine dining experiences await in a wide variety of restaurants available in the Casinos.

Frank Buck Zoo is a small facility on about 30 acres and offers tons of fun for the whole family. There are also lots of opportunities for hands-on experiences like feeding baby goats or giraffes. An elevated walkway winds about a mile around the park over the kangaroos, giraffes and zebras.

Frontier Village is a fun place to visit for all ages. In this replica of an early village, structures and artifacts preserve the rich background of the pioneers who settled here in the nineteenth century.

Texoma has a rich history which dates back to the days of the wild west. From early settlements and trading post, Texoma has emerged as a major cultural, educational, recreational, industrial, and economic center. Take a peek into the journey of this transformation by visiting area museums and cultural centers.  Texoma museums contain collections of memorabilia from Jazz to World War II and beyond.  Visit a Fort, a Wildlife Museum, the birthplace of a President and more!

Southern Oklahoma Casinos offer the best in electronic games, table games and bingo only minutes from Lake Texoma. Watch world class poker tournaments or try your hand at the slots.

You’ll also find an assortment of entertainment and dining options that will satisfy any palate – try the Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill or Gilley’s – both offer great food and lively entertainment.  Choctaw Casino and WinStar bring nationally recognized entertainment to the Lake Texoma area.

The District at Choctaw Casino Resort is fun for the entire family!  Arcade, Bowling Center, Laser Tag Arena, Cinema, food court, concessions and sports bar.

Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille is the newest indoor attraction. Located in Sherman, TX the indoor entertainment hub features a movie theater, bowling alley, video arcade and rock climbing. Guests can also check out the axe-throwing area. What you can expect is a full range of activities and a full day of attractions for the entire family to be together.

HeyDay is fun for the entire family! Bowling, Mini golf, Laser Tag, ropes course, and Arcade are open to all ages. Upstairs is 21+ with a bar featuring 8 cherry wood bowling lanes, a fireplace, pool & shuffle board tables and HD big screen TV. If you need a breather, refuel with lunch, dinner or a snack at the HD Grill featuring DoubleDave’s Pizzaworks. Great for families, groups of friends, date nights, birthday parties and more.

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Denison, TX offers over 25 activities for all ages. Try the Warrior Course, Sky Rider, and Ropes Course or Take a Leap of Faith. The ProZone Performance Trampolines attraction is the local landing spot for all the best acrobats, stuntmen, and daredevils! There is also a Kids area 7 & under. Great for a family outing, groups of friends, birthday parties and more.

Each community boast their own boutiques for your shopping pleasure – clothing, hand crafted jewelry, home and garden accessories and more!  Stroll along historic downtown main streets in search of the unique.  Art Galleries nestled beside antique shops, restaurants, historic theaters, and clothing boutiques offer a great day of shopping in Texoma.

Sherman Town Center at the intersection of Hwy 82 and Hwy 75 in Sherman is the largest regional mall with many department stores, specialty shops and restaurants.