Lake Texoma.
93,000 acres of water, 930 miles of shoreline, and a lifestyle unlike anywhere else in North Texas. Lake Texoma isn't just a place to visit. It's a place people choose to call home.
Where Is Lake Texoma?
The lake spreads across the Texas-Oklahoma border along the Red River. Sherman, Denison, Pottsboro, and Gordonville anchor the Texas side, while Kingston and Madill sit just across the line in Oklahoma.
About 75 miles north of Dallas, the lake stretches between the Texas shore towns of Sherman, Denison, Pottsboro, and Gordonville and the Oklahoma towns of Kingston and Madill.
This Month at the Lake
Fall is in full swing around the lake, and the next 30 days are packed with reasons to get out. The Choctaw Music Fest is still going through Sunday, October 11, with Kings of Leon closing it out. The weekend of October 10 is a lovely one for families: the Pottsboro Citywide Garage Sale, the Homegrown Art Fest in Durant, and the guided Treasure Island paddle all land on the calendar. Halloween brings a run of family fun, from the Shadowy Spooktacular in Sherman to Trunk-or-Treat in Durant and the Durant Harvest Market season finale. The weather is still lovely for an afternoon on the water, the lake is sitting right at its normal fall level, and the striper fishing is at its prime. Here is what I would not want you to miss over the next 30 days.
Choctaw Music Fest
Still going through Sunday, October 11: Cross Canadian Ragweed plays tonight and Saturday, Kings of Leon closes it out Sunday, and more than 20 free shows fill the festival stages.
Treasure Island 3-Mile Paddle
A guided 3-mile paddling adventure from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a friendly way to see the lake by kayak or paddleboard with company. Spaces are worth booking ahead.
Second Saturday at Hagerman
The free monthly bird walk at the refuge along the lake’s western shore, a peaceful morning for shorebirds and waterfowl during fall migration.
Eisenhower’s Birthday Celebration
The 136th birthday celebration for President Eisenhower returns with a sunrise brick dedication at the Veterans Monument, free house tours, and birthday cake.
Homegrown Art Fest
A Saturday celebration of local makers and artists at the Visual & Performing Arts Center on the Southeastern Oklahoma State campus, a relaxed way to support regional creators.
Pottsboro Citywide Garage Sale
The chamber’s citywide garage sale weekend, a fun way to shop local finds across Pottsboro and catch a glimpse of the neighborhoods around the lake.
Texoma Island Day Excursion
A guided day trip out to the lake’s islands, a relaxed way to explore the far reaches of Texoma with a captain and company.
Travis Tritt with The Frontmen
The country mainstay plays the Grand Theater just across the river with The Frontmen, an easy night out near the marinas.
RP Elite Fall Fun Run
A powerboat gathering billed as the final big boating weekend before winter, headquartered at West Bay on the Oklahoma side, October 15-18.
Tom Jones in Concert
The legendary singer brings his tour to WinStar for a Friday night show, an easy drive from the lake.
Haunted Downtown Denison Ghost Tour
A guided sidewalk ghost tour through historic downtown at 7:30 p.m., a spooky, history-rich evening on the Texas side.
Cardenales de Nuevo León
The legendary Mexican norteño group headlines the WinStar arena with Gerardo Coronel “El Jerry” for a Saturday night show.
Wynonna Judd: The Hard Truth Tour
The country icon brings The Hard Truth Tour across the river with Troubadour Blue, a big Saturday night show at the Grand Theater.
Refuge Rocks: Creatures of the Night
A hands-on Saturday morning program at the visitor center, 10 to 11:30 a.m., for kids ages 5 to 10 to meet the refuge’s night-loving residents.
Ryleigh’s 5K + Mile Walk
A family-friendly 5K and mile walk in Pottsboro, a feel-good morning run close to the marinas.
Ricky Martin Live
The international superstar headlines the WinStar arena for a Friday night show, one of the biggest bookings of the month.
Charlie Willy Music Festival
A two-day music festival at the airport, a lively fall weekend of live acts just a short drive from the marinas.
Texins Fall Festival
The private lake club’s fall get-together: horseshoe tournament, chili cookoff and potluck, the Lil’ Texins costume contest, and a hayride for the whole family.
Shadowy Spooktacular
A family-friendly early Halloween celebration at the park starting at 6 p.m., a warm-up for the big night a week later.
Trunk-or-Treat Durant
A family-friendly trunk-or-treat on the Oklahoma side, a safe, easy way for the little ones to gather candy a few days before Halloween.
Durant Harvest Market Season Finale
The last Saturday farmers market of the season on the square, a final chance to stock up on local produce and crafts before winter.
A few notes on timing. The big weekend of September 26 has come and gone, with the Durant Oktoberfest, the Pumpkin Grove Festival at Eisenhower State Park, and the Wu-Tang Clan show at WinStar all in the books. The first week of October wrapped up with John Fogerty, Staind & Hoobastank, Riley Green, the 39th annual Denison Fall Festival, and the VIP Grand Tasting in Sherman. Just past the 30-day window, a few more picks are worth a look: La Mafia headlines WinStar on November 13, Clay Walker plays the Choctaw Grand Theater the same night, Boyz II Men lands at WinStar on November 19, and Denison on Ice returns November 21 through January 3. As always, dates and details can shift, so it is smart to confirm on each host's own site before you head out.
Where You Dock, Tee Up & Stay
Whether you keep a boat on the water or love a lakeside round, here are the full-service marinas and courses worth knowing. A few have made updates recently, and seasonal hours matter, so I have gathered what is current and I will flag the details that can change.
Highport Marina
903-786-7000The lake’s deep-water showpiece with 800-plus slips from 25 to 68 feet, a fuel dock, and a full-service harbor. Rentals include pontoons, ski boats, jet skis, and wakeboards.
The fuel dock runs off-season hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and the boat rental fleet runs March through November, so there is still time this fall. Jet ski and golf cart rentals book through the marina’s rental desk, and weekend slots go fast. The 4-lane paved boat ramp stays open 24/7 with a courtesy pier, on-site ice, and a self-service kiosk, and the courtesy patrol runs seven days a week.
Cedar Mills Marina & Resort
903-523-4222A classic lakefront resort with 600-plus open and covered slips, Pelican’s Landing restaurant, and cabins, RVs, and cottages for staycations. Family-owned since 1982, it even has its own airport on site.
The ship store and main office are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; the parts and service desk runs Tuesday through Saturday and is closed Mondays. With fuel, boat rentals, and the restaurant on site, it remains a full-service stop, and as fall moves toward winterization season, a quick call ahead locks in your day.
Grandpappy Point Resort & Marina
903-465-6330A full-service Denison marina with roughly 800 slips, more than 30 boathouses, and about 20 cabins, plus a fuel dock and a complete maintenance shop.
The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday), and the fuel dock runs seasonal hours, so it is worth a quick call to confirm fuel and pump-out windows. Pontoon, ski boat, and paddleboard rentals keep the whole family on the water, and the resort is a favorite home base for fall fishing weekends.
Little Mineral Marina
903-786-2332A friendly, local-favorite marina on the Texas side of the lake, popular with boaters and fishermen who like a quieter pace.
Little Mineral has made the switch to its winter hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the schedule easing again when summer returns. This is the one I always tell folks to call ahead on, because a quick ring before you head out is the surest way to find them open. Slips run up to 60 feet, and Red Duck Watersports on site rents jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards Wednesday through Sunday.
Lighthouse Resort & Marina
903-786-2311A friendly Pottsboro marina with tritoon and pontoon rentals, kayaks, paddleboards, and jet skis, plus the Island View beach day-use area. Its booking arm, Discover Texoma, handles most rentals online.
Off-peak hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the main office, fuel dock, and rentals. Tritoon and pontoon rentals run roughly $275 to $600 by the half-day or full day, and kayaks and paddleboards rent by the hour, so there is still plenty of time this fall to get out on the water.
Tanglewood Resort Golf Course
800-833-6569An Arnold Palmer and Ralph Plummer designed 18-hole championship course stretching about 7,000 yards over rolling lakeside terrain, just minutes from Highport Marina.
The course stays open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round. Call ahead for tee times and guest access, and bring your camera: the lakeside views are the best part of the round.
Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club
580-564-2581A scenic 18-hole semi-private course designed by Randy Heckenkemper, set right on the Oklahoma shoreline with lake views on almost every hole. It is consistently ranked among the top public-access courses in Oklahoma.
Peak season runs through October 31: pro shop open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Come November the low season eases back, with Monday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., so September and October are the months to get your round in. New holes have opened in recent years that changed the layout, and the Chickasaw Nation has announced Hard Rock Hotel & Residences Lake Texoma for the Pointe Vista development, so this stretch of shoreline is on the move.
Rock Creek Golf Club
903-523-5357A Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole private championship layout near the water, a top-tier course for members and their guests.
Open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday with first tee at 8 a.m. and the range open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. A new pro shop is under construction at the club, so expect a refreshed clubhouse experience in the months ahead. As a private club, it is best to arrange tee times through a member or the clubhouse directly.
Stone Creek Golf Club
903-870-7980A Cal Olson designed 18-hole public course in Sherman, a solid, accessible option when the lakeside clubs are booked or you want a quick round close to town.
Open to public play year-round, so it is an easy backup when the resort courses are full. Call ahead for tee times and current rates, and it makes a great pairing with a day in Sherman.
A word of advice: the former state park golf course on the Oklahoma side of the lake has been permanently closed, and the old Lake Texoma Lodge and course land is now being redeveloped as Pointe Vista at Lake Texoma, a roughly 2,700-acre master plan where the Chickasaw Nation has announced the Hard Rock Hotel & Residences Lake Texoma. There is no round to book on that land yet, so if you want another layout close by, Stone Creek Country Club over in Sherman is a solid option. And keep an eye on the horizon: Preston Harbor, a roughly $7 billion master-planned community near Denison, broke ground with plans for a Margaritaville resort and a 900-slip marina, and the Lake Texoma Marina in the Sherwood Shores area is under new management with ongoing upgrades. As always, a quick call before you set any tee time saves you a wasted drive.
Get Out on the Water
However you like to spend your day, there is a way to do it on Lake Texoma. Rentals are plentiful through the marinas and local outfitters, and fall is a lovely time to take advantage: the water stays warm well into October, the crowds thin out, and chartered sunset cruises run year-round. Highport runs its rental fleet March through November, and Grandpappy, Lighthouse, and the Oklahoma-side marinas keep pontoons, kayaks, and boards out through the fall. Rates and hours are seasonal and vary by operator, so a quick call ahead locks in your day.
Right now at the lake: as of early October, Lake Texoma is holding about 94 percent of its conservation pool, right at the normal fall level after an active summer. That means easy ramp access, but it also means keeping an eye out for floating debris near the channels after the high water. Striped bass season is open year-round, and this is the stretch of the year guides wait for, with cooling water bringing the fish shallower through October and into mid-November.
Pontoon & Tritoons
The classic way to spend a day on the water. At Lighthouse and its booking arm Discover Texoma, tritoon and pontoon rentals run roughly $275 to $600 by the half-day or full day, with boats holding up to a dozen people. Highport’s rental season runs March through November, so fall afternoons on a pontoon are still very much on the table.
Jet Skis & Powerboats
Zoom across the open water with a personal watercraft or a tow boat. Invert Sports keeps Yamaha Waverunners and MasterCraft ski boats at the lake with lessons and flyboarding, Red Duck Watersports rents jet skis at Little Mineral Wednesday through Sunday, and Texoma Jet Ski Rental delivers jet skis and paddleboards right to your ramp or campsite on the Oklahoma side.
Kayaks, Canoes & Paddleboards
Quiet, easy rentals for coves and calm mornings, from single kayaks and canoes to stand-up paddleboards. At Discover Texoma, kayaks run about $17 to $25 an hour and paddleboards about $25 an hour, and Lighthouse, Grandpappy, and the Oklahoma-side marinas keep boards and kayaks in the rotation through the fall.
Fishing Boats & Guides
Lake Texoma is the Striped Bass Capital of the World, and fall is one of the best seasons to book a charter, with stripers feeding closer to shore through October and mid-November. Guides like Striper Express and Sharp’s Striper Guide are booking now, so the sooner you call, the better your weekend slots.
Tubes & Water Toys
Towing toys, floats, and wakeboards for tubing and wake sports fun on the afternoons the water stays calm. The water stays warm enough for a tow well into October.
Sunset, Dinner & Scenic Cruises
Leave the driving to the captain. Fastrac runs 90-minute Saturday sunset cruises out of the Lighthouse Marina charter dock for about $35 a person, with room to bring your own snacks and beverages, plus dinner cruises, lake history tours, and a fall foliage cruise. Eagle-watching breakfast cruises return as winter settles in, and reservations are required, so check the calendar before you go.
Wakeboarding & Wake Surfing
Mornings before about 10 a.m. offer the calmest water for boarding and surfing before the afternoon wind builds chop.
Striper & Bass Fishing
World-class striper fishing draws anglers from across the country, and fall is a prime window: cooling water pushes the fish shallower through October and into mid-November, and guides are booking now. Texas and Oklahoma both hold the combined striper and hybrid bag to 10 fish per angler, with only two allowed 20 inches or longer, and a $12 Lake Texoma license lets you fish the entire reservoir from either bank, so check the rules before you go.
Swimming & Beach Time
Sandy coves and state park beaches make for easy, family-friendly days in the water, and the lake stays warm well into October.
Wildlife & Birding
Head to nearby Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl during fall migration, or join the free Second Saturday bird walk on October 10.
Thinking about a life at the lake? Let's talk about what feels right for you.