2025's Most Underrated Towns In Oklahoma
Oklahoma, a state that seems to sit simultaneously in the American South and the American West, brings to mind many of the classic images of its region. Cowboys, homesteaders, and hardscrabble living helped transition the place from territory to state, which it completed (only) in 1907. Since then, the state has grown and prospered from the combined industries of cattle, other agriculture, and oil and gas, which the state has in abundance. For historical and cultural elements like these to weave into a future visit or vacation, some of Oklahoma's best towns lie beyond the more common draws of Tulsa or the capital, Oklahoma City. These towns prove that the true-grit character of the state endures in small towns that make the trip worthwhile.
Claremore
Claremore, in the state's northeast, boasts a historic district that few towns in America can match. The zone developed in the years after Claremore's incorporation in 1883, and today, the old buildings and homes enjoy a spot on the US National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Standout structures include the Belvidere Mansion, erected in 1907, which is also on the NRHP. The Lilac District, a zone for a night out, offers modern bars and restaurants, like the locally popular Main Street Tavern, amid historic and attractive surroundings.
Most Oklahomans know that Claremore is the hometown of cowboy entertainment legend Will Rogers, the mid-20th-century musician, actor, and storyteller of the American West. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum, here in town, shares information and artifacts on his legacy in and beyond Oklahoma. The town's reputation as an entertainment hub likewise derives from the classic musical comedy Oklahoma!, one of the most successful Broadway shows ever. The play takes Claremore for its setting and is based on a 1931 production by the playwright Lynn Riggs, another one of the town's local boys made good.
Davis
Davis, sitting south of Oklahoma City, is a small town with broad appeal. Davis draws tourists year-round to its Davis Museum, which also goes by the name of the Arbuckle Museum. The site honors the history and legacies of the bygone American West. The museum itself sits in the Sante Fe Depot, a one-time railway station, and is also on the NRHP. Davis itself was settled in 1898, part of Oklahoma's famous land rush, from which the state's settlements sprang into existence seemingly overnight. The town's Forgotten Wheels Museum, a monument to vintage cars, motorcycles, and other motorized transport, draws hotrod fans from around the country.
For fresh air, head to Turner Falls Park, which surrounds a waterfall of the same name. Turner Falls bears the distinction of being the single-largest waterfall in Oklahoma. Southeast of Davis, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and within it, the Lake of the Arbuckles, make for other family-friendly outdoors ideas.
El Reno
West of Oklahoma City, the town of El Reno brings together lakeside recreation and a touch of local history. Lake El Reno, not far from the center of town, attracts fans of fishing, boating, and outdoor fun with family and friends. Amateurs of golf can find Crimson Creek Golf Course on the lake’s eastern shore. The course provides mostly flat links under a wide-open Oklahoma sky.
The town’s history adds another layer of interest, especially for students of Western history between 1850-1950. El Reno derives its name from Fort Reno, built-in 1874 during the United States' push into western territories under the long-running doctrine of Manifest Destiny. Gradually, the fort transitioned from a cavalry training station to a prison for German and Italian POWs from the 1940s. Travelers to the site can learn about the fort’s historic roles and purposes, all within an easy drive from the state capital.
Grove
Grove is a northeast Oklahoma town beloved by boaters and those who never get enough time on the water. The town sits on the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, a reservoir that is fed by the Neosho River. The Shangri-La Resort draws an upscale crowd for weekends and longer, while others prefer to hike, fish, and boat elsewhere across the lake's expansive perimeter. Grove each year hosts a fishing competition for largemouth bass, and the event brings in some of the best fishermen of this type in the country, and from abroad.
Grove's ample accommodations range from angler-focused motels, like the Angler's Inn, to RV parks and well-known chains that line the reservoir's shores. The more upscale Patricia Island Estates and Country Club encourages guests and visitors to dine, golf, and gamble to their satisfaction. North of Grove, the Grand Lake Casino likewise welcomes visitors to its slots and table games.
Guthrie
North of Oklahoma City, Guthrie brings together a small-town feel and a lively calendar of festivals and events. Its position along the Cimarron River allows for summertime fun and a family-friendly place to picnic, barbecue, or simply unwind. Highland Park, a green space stretching over more than 40 acres, features a fountain, trails for jogging or walking, and disc golf course.
Culture mavens will appreciate Guthrie's old Pollard Theatre, constructed in 1901. The venue puts local legacies on stage each year with its production called "A Territorial Christmas Carol", held in the December holiday season. The town bills itself as the 'Christmas Capital of Oklahoma,' a suggestion of the various yuletide shows and events that take place at the end of each year. Guthrie also enjoys a reputation as a fine arts mecca. The G Gallery & Glass Studio downtown displays blown and other forms of glasswork. A short walk away, the Steve Boaldin Art of a Cowboy Gallery expresses the unique spirit of the Oklahoman West through paintings, western furniture, and other objects of art. Fun fact: Guthrie served as Oklahoma's first capital from 1907-1910.
Ponca City
In Ponca City, set in north-central Oklahoma, this mid-sized town, established in 1893, draws its name from one of Oklahoma's numerous Native American tribal peoples. Situated near the state border with Kansas, the town's sparse-suburban, almost countryside setting should interest friends, couples, or families looking to slow down and recharge. Entertainment options include The Poncan Theatre, not to mention Ponca City's various museums and historical points of interest, like the E.W. Marland Mansion. The stately home, built in the Mediterranean Revival style and occupying almost 44,000 square feet (or 55 rooms), was the one-time residence of a multi-millionaire oil baron and former state governor.
Fresh-air alternatives like Lake Ponca, as well as Lake Ponca Park, give visitors a chance to relax beside tranquil waters. The Cann Memorial Gardens, a stone's throw from the Marland Museum, include elegant brick-paved walking paths and a goldfish pond. Golf fans will enjoy the Ponca City Country Club and the Wentz Memorial Golf Course. As Ponca City lies above a bend in the Arkansas River, warm-weather fun awaits in the form of swimming, boating, and fishing.
Stillwater
Stillwater, a larger town at nearly 50,000 residents, enjoys a growing reputation as a travel destination for Oklahoman and out-of-state crowds. As the home of Oklahoma State University (OSU), the town often draws sports fans and tailgate types to its many events and competitions. The town likewise attracts combat sports fans to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, which operates in the north of town.
If travelers need a break from the intensity of football, wrestling or the hard-charging lifestyle of OSU's students and fans, the university's botanical gardens stretch over 100 acres and grow plant species from Oklahoma and beyond. Strickland Park, with its complex of baseball fields, makes for another exciting green space to visit. Culture awaits at the Stillwater History Museum, based at the Sheerar, a downtown cultural center.
Tishomingo
Tishomingo, in Oklahoma's southwest, served for over 50 years as the capital of the Chickasaw Nation. The Chickasaw Capitol Building joins Victorian architectural styles with the designs valued by this prominent Native American people. The Chickasaw Council House Museum attracts tourists hungry to learn more about Oklahoma's territorial history. The building holds one of the world's largest exhibits of authentic Chickasaw objects and artifacts. Tishomingo sits near the Blue River, flowing east of town, and is beloved to anglers for the Blue's local populations of bass, catfish, and rainbow trout. The Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery has supported the town's fishing community for nearly a century, having operated here since 1929.
For culture of a more modern and musical kind, fans and groupies flock here hoping to catch a glimpse of Oklahoma-born country music star Blake Shelton. The singer and co-host of talent show "The Voice" has made Tishomingo, and a nearby estate called the Ten Point Ranch, his adopted home since 2006.
Oklahoma's Smaller Towns Rank Among Its Best
Away from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the bustle of Oklahoma's more urban environments, smaller towns bear witness to the state's rugged past and vibrant present. From a rough-and-tumble territory to the home state of oil magnates and entertainment stars, Oklahoma has grown in its short, dramatic history as a part of the United States. Lake and river destinations like El Reno, Grove, and Ponca City have thrilled anglers and boaters for generations. The classic and contemporary cultural draws of Guthrie, Stillwater, and Tishomingo assure Oklahomans of the attractiveness that keeps bringing tourists to the state. These underrated towns will delight visitors into the future, and their buzz as worthy vacation destinations will continue to grow with time.
