Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Oklahoma! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Oklahoma.
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Oklahoma is famous for cowboys, country music, and Native American culture. Beyond the attractions that surround those, Oklahoma also has some beautiful nature preserves, especially the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and various Oklahoma state parks. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are both fine cities, each with excellent museums and lovely green spaces.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN OKLAHOMA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Oklahoma? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Oklahoma, in no particular order:
✮ Visit either one of Oklahoma's two great Route 66-focused museums (there's one in Clinton and Elk City)
✮ Stroll around the Bricktown shopping and dining district in Oklahoma City
✮ Enjoy the great outdoors on scenic trails within the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Pay your respects at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
✮ Visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma
✮ Take a selfie with the gigantic Golder Driller roadside attraction in Tulsa
✮ Drive the Talimena National Scenic Byway through the Oauchita Mountains
✮ See the stunning bronze sculptures at Centennial Land Run Monument in Oklahoma City
✮ Visit the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville, a working ranch w/excellent Western art & history exhibits
✮ Enjoy beautiful architecture and art at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa
If I could select only one place to visit in Oklahoma, I would choose either Oklahoma City or the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN OKLAHOMA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Oklahoma. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Oklahoma bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Western Oklahoma (including the Oklahoma Panhandle)
✮ Alabaster Caverns State Park, Freedom - guided cave tours and also unguided wild cave tours (permits required)
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Little Sahara State Park, Waynoka - arguably the finest ATV/ORV-ing area in Oklahoma
✮ Autograph Rock, Boise City - see 200+ historic inscriptions/signatures from travelers on the Santa Fe Trail
✮ Black Mesa State Park, Kenton - hike to the highest point in Oklahoma
✮ Gloss Mountain State Park, Fairview - scenic park with a great hiking trail up Cathedral Mountain
✮ Little Sahara State Park, Waynoka - ATV/ORV riding on 1,600 acres of sand dunes; one of the premier ATV/ORV destinations in the Midwest
✮ National Route 66 Museum, Elk City - one of two great Route 66-focused museums in Oklahoma
✮ Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton - one of two great Route 66-focused museums in Oklahoma
✮ Shattuck Windmill Museum, Shattuck - outdoor museum with more than 35 windmills on display
✮ Stafford Air & Space Museum, Weatherford - more than 20 historic aircraft on display, plus space and rocket exhibits
Central Oklahoma (including Oklahoma City)
✮ 45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City - excellent indoor and outdoor military museum, with planes, helicopters, tanks, and more
✮ Armstrong Auditorium, Edmond - top-rated performing arts theater
✮ Bricktown, Oklahoma City - tourist district in Oklahoma City
✮ Centennial Land Run Monument, Oklahoma City - series of beautiful large bronze sculptures
✮ Hefner Lake & Park, Oklahoma City - public park with excellent birdwatching and sailing; has a lighthouse and also walking/biking trails
✮ Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City - arguably Oklahoma's best gardens
✮ National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City - exhibits on the history of cowboys and the American West
✮ Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City - good art museum with several excellent glass art pieces
✮ Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City - exhibits covering the worst incident of domestic terrorism in the U.S.
✮ Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, Oklahoma City - features 1,900 animals from more than 500 species
✮ Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman - catch a college football game at a giant stadium
✮ Pops 66, Arcadia - famous diner and gas station with a 66-foot tall soda bottle roadside attraction outside
✮ Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park, Hinton - nature park with trails, fishing, and camping
✮ Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman - impressive skeletons of dinosaurs and other creatures
✮ Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City - arguably the best science museum in Oklahoma
✮ Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City - features skeletons from over 300 animal species
Northeastern Oklahoma (including Tulsa)
✮ Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa - famous roadside attraction of a giant blue whale
✮ Cave House, Tulsa - a quirky building that looks like something out of The Flintstones
✮ Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park, Foyil - an outdoor sculpture park of giant totem poles; not everyone will appreciate this roadside attraction
✮ Gathering Place, Tulsa - riverfront park/green space with playgrounds, gardens, tourist attractions, walking trails, and more
✮ Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa - museum with a strong focus on art and artifacts of the American West
✮ Golden Driller, The / Titanic Oil Man, Tulsa - a 76-foot tall yellow statue; a great photo-op and one of Oklahoma's best roadside attractions
✮ Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Pawhuska - the largest protected area of tallgrass prairie left on the planet
✮ Natural Falls State Park, West Siloam Springs - features a scenic 77-foot waterfall; camping and yurts available for overnight stays
✮ Oklahoma Aquarium, Jenks - the best aquarium in the state
✮ Philbrook Museum Of Art, Tulsa - beautiful building and art galleries
✮ Praying Hands, Tulsa - famous religious/roadside attraction of giant praying hands
✮ River Parks, Tulsa - huge urban park with 45 miles of trails for hiking, cycling/mountain biking, walking, and trail running
✮ Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville - working ranch w/excellent Western art & history exhibits
Southern Oklahoma (including Broken Bow)
✮ Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow - scenic park with tons of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, and canoeing
✮ Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur - museum celebrating Chickasaw history and culture
✮ Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Sulphur - nature park that offers offers a variety of activities in springs, streams, and lakes
✮ Medicine Park - Oklahoma's best small town
✮ Museum of the Great Plains, Lawton - history museum with exhibits covering the diverse cultures of the Great Plains region
✮ Quartz Mountain State Park, Lone Wolf - offers a myriad of outdoor activities, including boating, bouldering, hiking, mtn biking, and golfing
✮ Rugaru Adventures, Broken Bow - ziplining tours and "Swincar" off-road driving tours
✮ Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton - attractive nature park with sandstone cliffs and formations; overnight accomodations
✮ Talimena National Scenic Byway - a 54-mile scenic drive through the Ouachita Mountains between Talihinia, Oklahoma and Arkansas
✮ Talimena State Park, Heavener - a popular ATV/ORV riding area; good hiking & backpacking trails too
✮ Turner Falls Park, Davis - one of several great waterfalls in Oklahoma; recent online reviews suggest the park is being mismanaged though
✮ Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge - some of the best landscapes in Oklahoma; has a few top-rated hiking trails; drive or hike to the top of Mount Scott for great views
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Oklahoma? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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TX
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN OKLAHOMA
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These towns and cities in Oklahoma are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Medicine Park - a "cobblestone resort town" that serves as a gateway to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge; water sports are nearby
✮ Oklahoma City - a major city famous for its excellent museums and the Bricktown entertainment district; strong cowboy/western heritage
✮ Tulsa - the 2nd largest city in Oklahoma has interesting Art Deco architecture, a strong arts scene, and several famous roadside attractions
My favorite city in Oklahoma is Oklahoma City - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 1-2 nights there
My favorite small town in Oklahoma is Medicine Park - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 1 night there
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS OKLAHOMA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Oklahoma is famous or well-known for:
✮ casinos
✮ college football
✮ country music
✮ cowboys
✮ Native American tribes, culture, and museums
✮ oil & gas industry
✮ Route 66 sites and museums
✮ tallgrass prairies
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN OKLAHOMA
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There are currently no national parks or national monuments in Oklahoma, but there are several other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Recreation Areas
✮ Chickasaw National Recreation Area
✮ Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Ouachita National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Fort Smith National Historic Site
✮ Oklahoma City National Memorial
✮ Santa Fe National Historic Trail
✮ Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
✮ Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
There are also several national wildlife refuges in Oklahoma, including the excellent Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.
For more information on Oklahoma's national parks, visit the Oklahoma page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Oklahoma has more than 30 state parks. I think many would agree that these represent Oklahoma's finest state parks:
Western Oklahoma (including the Oklahoma Panhandle)
✮ Alabaster Caverns State Park, Freedom - guided cave tours and also unguided wild cave tours (permits required)
✮ Black Mesa State Park, Kenton - hike to the highest point in Oklahoma
✮ Gloss Mountain State Park, Fairview - scenic park with a great hiking trail up Cathedral Mountain
✮ Little Sahara State Park, Waynoka - ATV/ORV riding on 1,600 acres of sand dunes; one of the premier ATV/ORV destinations in the Midwest
Northeastern Oklahoma (including Tulsa)
✮ Natural Falls State Park, West Siloam Springs - features a scenic 77-foot waterfall; camping and yurts available for overnight stays
Southern Oklahoma (including Broken Bow)
✮ Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow - scenic park with tons of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, boating, and canoeing
✮ Quartz Mountain State Park, Lone Wolf - offers a myriad of outdoor activities, including boating, bouldering, hiking, mtn biking, and golfing
✮ Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton - attractive nature park with sandstone cliffs and formations; overnight accomodations
✮ Talimena State Park, Heavener - a popular ATV/ORV riding area; good hiking & backpacking trails too
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN OKLAHOMA
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Oklahoma has an estimated 15-25 natural waterfalls. These are the best waterfalls in Oklahoma:
✮ Dripping Springs in Natural Falls State Park, Colcord
✮ Little Niagara Falls in Chickasaw National Recreation Area
✮ Post Oak Falls in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge - seasonal and best visited after recent rains
✮ Turner Falls, Turner Falls Park
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Oklahoma, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN OKLAHOMA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Oklahoma:
✮ Mountain Gateway Scenic Byway/US-49 - a 22-mile paved route from Heavener that heads southeast to the Arkansas state line
✮ Mountain Pass Scenic Byway/US-259 - a 26-mile paved route from Page to Octavia that passes through Winding Stair Mountain NRA
✮ Talimena National Scenic Byway - a 54-mile paved route from Mena, AR to Talihina, OK thru Ouachita National Forest; 40 miles are in OK
✮ Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway - a 93-mile paved route that passes through a part of the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
In addition to the scenic drives mentioned above, take note that Oklahoma also has more than 400 miles of driveable Route 66 (the nation's longest driveable stretch of that historic highway).
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN OKLAHOMA
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There are a few notable amusement parks in Oklahoma, including:
✮ Frontier City, Oklahoma City
✮ River Country Water Park, Muskogee
✮ Safari Joe's H2O, Tulsa
✮ Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Oklahoma City
✮ Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park, Clinton
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Oklahoma has a suprising amount of excellent museums, especially in Oklahoma City. The best museums in Oklahoma include:
Western Oklahoma (including the Oklahoma Panhandle)
✮ National Route 66 Museum, Elk City
✮ Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton
✮ Shattuck Windmill Museum, Shattuck
✮ Stafford Air & Space Museum, Weatherford
Central Oklahoma (including Oklahoma City)
✮ 45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City
✮ American Banjo Museum, Oklahoma City
✮ Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
✮ National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City
✮ Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City
✮ Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City
✮ Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
✮ Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman
✮ Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
✮ Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City
Northeastern Oklahoma (including Tulsa)
✮ Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa
✮ Philbrook Museum Of Art, Tulsa
✮ Muskogee War Memorial Park / USS Batfish, Muskogee
✮ Tulsa Air and Space Museum, Tulsa
✮ Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
✮ Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville
Southern Oklahoma (including Broken Bow)
✮ Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur
✮ Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, Duncan
✮ Museum of the Great Plains, Lawton
✮ Toy and Action Figure Museum, Pauls Valley
As you can see above, Oklahoma City is a national hotspot for museums.
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BEST DAY HIKES IN OKLAHOMA
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Oklahoma offers a surprising amount of great hiking trails. While many of the premier hikes are in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, there is good hiking to be found across the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Oklahoma:
Western Oklahoma (including the Oklahoma Panhandle)
✮ Black Mesa, Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve
Southwestern Oklahoma
✮ Bison Trail, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Elk Mountain,
Charon Garden Wilderness, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Kite Trail / Forty Foot Hole, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Quartz Mountain State Park trails (e.g. Baldy Point, Cedar Valley Trail, Summit Trail)
Northcentral Oklahoma
✮ Cathedral Mountain, Gloss Mountain State Park
✮ Inspiration Point, Roman Nose State Park
Southcentral Oklahoma
✮ Buffalo and Antelope Springs Trail, Chickasaw National Recreation Area
✮ Travertine Creek Trail, Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Northeastern Oklahoma (including Tulsa)
✮ Dripping Springs Trail, Natural Falls State Park
✮ Sparrow Hawk WMA Trail, Sparrow Hawk Wildlife Management Area
Eastcentral Oklahoma
✮ Rough Canyon Trail, Robbers Cave State Park
✮ Talimena State Park trails (e.g. Quachita Trail)
Southeastern Oklahoma
✮ Beavers Bend State Park trails (e.g. Cedar Bluff, Friends Trail, Skyline Trail, Lookout Mountain, etc.)
The highpoint of Oklahoma is Black Mesa (4,973'), and it is located in Black Mesa State Park in the far western corner of the state (the "Oklahoma Panhandle"). A moderate hike is required to reach the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN OKLAHOMA
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I only know of a few backpacking opportunities in Oklahoma:
✮ Ouachita National Recreation Trail - 192-mile trail connecting Talimena State Park in Oklahoma with Perryville in Arkansas
✮ Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge - e.g. Charons Garden Wilderness Unit
If you are aware of any other backpacking opportunities in Oklahoma, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN OKLAHOMA
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Oklahoma offers a few great outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Hogan's Off Road Park
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Little Sahara State Park
✮ Backpacking the Ouachita National Recreation Trail - 192-mile trail connecting Talimena State Park in Oklahoma with Perryville in Arkansas
✮ Bouldering in Quartz Mountain State Park
✮ Bouldering in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Illinois River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Lower Mountain Fork River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Oklahoma River
✮ Caving in Alabaster Caverns State Park
✮ Cycling the Oklahoma River Trails
✮ Day hiking in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge (e.g. Elk Mountain)
✮ Dig for crystals at Salt Plains State Park
✮ Diving at Lake Tenkiller in Tenkiller State Park
✮ Float/raft the Illinois River
✮ Mountain biking in Lake Thunderbird State Park
✮ Mountain biking in McGee Creek State Park
✮ Mountain biking the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness in Tulsa
✮ Parasailing on Grand Lake
✮ Rock climbing in Quartz Mountain State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Robber's Cave State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Sailing on Hefner Lake
✮ Skydiving in Cushing
✮ Tubing the Illinois River
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN OKLAHOMA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Oklahoma:
✮ braums
✮ catfish
✮ chicken-fried steak
✮ crispy cornmeal okra
✮ fry bread
✮ lamb fries / testicles
✮ migas
✮ onion-fried burgers
✮ white gravy
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Oklahoma (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Oklahoma (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY OKLAHOMA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Oklahoma:
State Capital:
Oklahoma City
Major Airports:
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
Largest Cities:
Oklahoma City (701,266), Tulsa (417,298), Norman (131,446), Broken Arrow (116,478), Edmond (97,032)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-35, I-40, I-44
State Highpoint:
Black Mesa (4,973'); a moderate hike in Black Mesa State Park and Nature Preserve in western Oklahoma s required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Bowlegs, Greasy, Happyland, Hooker, and Okay
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Route 66 sign in Oklahoma
Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma
the Golden Driller in Tulsa, Oklahoma
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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