Things to Do in Oklahoma
Ten stops running from the longest surviving stretch of Route 66 in the country to a memorial built where 168 people lost their lives in 1995.
Oklahoma sits at a real crossroads of American history, this list heads past what the quiz already covers toward the longest remaining stretch of Route 66, a properly significant Native American heritage spanning 39 tribal nations, and a bison herd that roams free across protected prairie. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Route 66's Oklahoma Stretch
Oklahoma holds the longest continuous stretch of historic Route 66 anywhere in the country, over 400 miles of the original road still drivable, small towns and vintage roadside attractions surviving here in greater numbers than along most other sections of the route. The Blue Whale of Catoosa, a giant concrete whale built in the 1970s as a swimming hole attraction, remains one of the most photographed roadside stops on the entire highway.
Pops 66 Soda Ranch, a modern roadside stop holding hundreds of soda varieties beneath a properly enormous 66-foot soda bottle sculpture, makes a proper photo stop if you're driving the route specifically.
Address Historic Route 66, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Built on the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history, the outdoor memorial holds 168 empty chairs, arranged in rows matching the floors of the destroyed building, each representing a life lost that day. The adjacent museum covers the bombing and its aftermath in real, careful depth, allow proper time to engage with this history rather than rushing through.
This runs as a properly significant, sobering stop, the survivor tree, a 90-year-old American elm that withstood the blast, remains a real symbol of resilience within the memorial grounds.
Hours Memorial 24 hours; museum daily, roughly 9am-6pm
Address 620 N Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa's Art Deco Architecture
Tulsa's oil boom in the 1920s and 1930s funded a properly significant concentration of Art Deco architecture, several buildings downtown still hold their original ornate detailing, the Boston Avenue Methodist Church among the most striking examples anywhere in the country. Self-guided walking tours cover the main downtown buildings, a proper unhurried walk pays off if the architecture interests you specifically.
The Philbrook Museum of Art, housed in a 1920s Italian Renaissance-style mansion, adds a proper art collection stop beyond just the architecture itself, a good combination if you're spending a full day in Tulsa.
Address Downtown Tulsa, OK
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
A properly substantial museum covering the American West's history, real artefacts from working cowboys, Native American communities, and rodeo culture, alongside significant Western art collections. The End of the Trail sculpture, a properly striking bronze depicting a defeated Native American warrior, remains one of the museum's most significant single pieces.
This runs considerably larger than most visitors expect, allow a proper half-day given how much ground the museum covers across its various themed galleries.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
One of the oldest managed wildlife refuges in the country, bison were reintroduced here in 1907 after the species nearly went extinct, and a healthy herd now roams freely across the protected prairie and granite mountains. Longhorn cattle and elk both share the refuge too, a proper wildlife-viewing stop that runs considerably less crowded than similar bison-viewing spots elsewhere in the country.
The scenic drive through the refuge lets visitors see bison directly from the car in many cases, keep windows up and a respectful distance regardless, these remain properly wild animals.
Best time Early morning or evening for the best wildlife activity
Address Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Cache, OK
Oklahoma's Native American Heritage
Oklahoma is home to more federally recognised tribal nations than any other state, 39 headquartered here, a direct legacy of the forced relocations of the 19th century that brought numerous tribes to this specific region. The First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City covers this history and the continuing cultures of these nations in real depth, built and run in direct partnership with the tribal nations it represents.
This runs as a properly significant stop for understanding a chapter of American history that gets considerably less attention than it deserves, allow real time to engage with the exhibits.
Hours Tue-Sun, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 659 First Americans Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
A collection of freshwater springs, streams, and lakes within the Arbuckle Mountains, Little Niagara and the Travertine Creek area both offer proper natural swimming spots that run noticeably cooler than the surrounding summer heat. This runs as a good, accessible outdoor stop for families, considerably gentler terrain than some of the more demanding hikes elsewhere on this list.
This park draws serious crowds on summer weekends specifically, a weekday visit helps if you'd rather avoid the busiest swimming spots.
Best time May-September for swimming weather
Address Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Sulphur, OK
Science Museum Oklahoma
A properly hands-on science museum in Oklahoma City, exhibits covering weather, space, and general science, a tornado simulator lets visitors experience actual high wind gusts in a controlled setting, a fitting exhibit given the state's frequent tornado activity. This runs well for a full day, several distinct wings mean most families don't cover everything in a single rushed visit.
The planetarium runs regular shows throughout the day, check the current schedule if space and astronomy interest you alongside the wider science exhibits.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address 2020 Remington Pl, Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma's Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken fried steak, a breaded, pan-fried cutlet smothered in white gravy, runs as something of an unofficial state dish, particularly common at diners and family-run restaurants throughout the state's rural areas. This is proper, heavy comfort food, best tried at a local family-run diner rather than a chain restaurant for the most authentic version.
Several small towns run real local rivalries over which diner makes the best version, ask a local for their recommendation rather than relying solely on online reviews.
Address Diners statewide
Red Earth Festival
One of the largest gatherings of Native American culture and art in the country, held annually each June in Oklahoma City, hundreds of dancers and artists from tribal nations across the country participate in a properly significant celebration of traditional dance, music, and craft. This runs as a proper immersive cultural event rather than a token display, time a visit specifically around the festival dates if this interests you.
The festival includes a juried art market alongside the dance competitions, a good opportunity to purchase authentic, directly sourced Native American art and crafts.
Best time Early-mid June
Address Oklahoma City Convention Center, OK
Best time to visit Oklahoma
April through June and September through October cover the most comfortable weather for this list, mild enough for the outdoor stops without summer's serious heat.
Early June specifically suits the Red Earth Festival, plan a trip around then if that event appeals particularly.
Getting around Oklahoma
A car is essential, the distances between Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and the southern refuge areas run into a couple of hours each, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Oklahoma worth visiting beyond Tornado Alley?
- Yes, particularly for the Native American heritage and Tulsa's Art Deco architecture, a state with considerably more depth than the storm-chasing reputation suggests.
- How many days do you need in Oklahoma?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace to cover Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and either the Wichita Mountains or Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- Is Oklahoma expensive to visit?
- No, generally affordable, food and accommodation both run well below the national average across most of this list.
- What's the best Oklahoma trip for kids?
- Science Museum Oklahoma and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state sitting at a real crossroads of American history.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
