8 Top-Rated Small Towns In Oklahoma
Oklahoma does not always rank first on the list of places to see among domestic and foreign visitors to the southwest United States. Beyond the state's larger cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City, there are several little-known regional attractions that more than justify a visit to crack into the state's fascinating and dramatic histories. From Native American heritage to politics and the vast fortunes that a few made in the opportunities of the state's early days, these eight top-rated towns draw visitors to Oklahoma — whether for the first time or the latest in a lifetime of local exploration.
Tishomingo
Before Oklahoma was made a US state in 1907, the town of Tishomingo, population 3,100, served as the Chickasaw Nation's capital from 1856 until formal statehood. (This Oklahoma town should not be confused with the small town of the same name in northeast Mississippi.) The Chickasaw Capitol Building, which still stands today, is a testament to this history, combining a red Victorian architectural style with the timeless tradition of a prominent Native American tribe. Another must-see is the Chickasaw Council House Museum, which focuses on the region's local history before Oklahoma formally joined the United States. The Council House Museum offers one of the most expansive exhibits of Chickasaw art and artifacts worldwide.
For outdoorsmen and women, especially those who love to fish, the Blue River flows east of town and is renowned for its abundance of bass, catfish, and rainbow trout. Other green spaces include the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, which borders Tishomingo to the south. The refuge spreads over 16,000 acres and sustains vibrant local wildlife, making it a natural stop for hiking, photography, and birdwatching.
Guthrie
Guthrie, with about 11,200 residents, makes for a charming escape and an easy drive north of Oklahoma City. The town offers under-sung cultural delights like the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, the old Pollard Theatre, and Lazy E Arena, a stadium dedicated to that quintessential sport of the Old West: rodeo. The town's Bluegrass Festival held each autumn, has operated since 1997.
Despite its modest size, Guthrie's setting by the Cimarron River allows for summertime cooling off for visitors and locals of all ages. Highland Park, a 43-acre site, blends a small pond and fountain with walking trails for those who like their exercise on the light side.
Claremore
Claremore, with a population of 20,200, is famous as a place in Oklahoma's northeast corner, which promises numerous attractions inside its historical district and further afield. Most famously, Claremore boasts of being the hometown of Will Rogers, the larger-than-life country and western actor of the mid-20th century. Visitors can drop into the Will Rogers Memorial Museum for a deeper exploration of the city's vibrant cultural legacy. Claremore's historic center has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2016. The town's downtown also boasts the Belvidere Mansion, on which building began in 1907, which likewise sits on the historic places register.
Stillwater
Stillwater, a larger town with 49,200 inhabitants, is widely known for an inviting historic main street that calls out for the curious visitor. The town itself owes its start to the Unassigned Lands movement in the late 19th century, better known by the term "Sooner," which today serves as a synonym for a person from Oklahoma. A must-visit in Stillwater is Eskimo Joe's, an All-American sports bar whose reputation spread far and wide on the tastiness of its cheese fries. A very different cultural gem awaits nearby at a local chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, paying homage to the wrestlers of Oklahoma and beyond.
Floral enthusiasts can take a stroll through the Oklahoma State University Botanic Garden, boasting a breathtaking display of the state's native plant life. As you head back to town, make a detour at the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History to further explore the local history.
Ponca City
The underrated town of Ponca City, a mid-sized town in north-central Oklahoma with 24,300 residents, has an outsized menu of cultural offerings. Founded in 1893, the place itself draws its name from one of the state's Native American tribes. Located not far from the state's border with Kansas, the town's more rural setting will appeal to visitors and tourists looking for a more relaxed getaway than larger towns like Stillwater. The Poncan Theatre, as well as the town's numerous museums and historical sites, all make for very visitable points of interest, not least the E.W. Marland Mansion, the Spanish-style former home of an illustrious political family and former state governor. The house now doubles as an art museum.
The town's local green spaces, specifically Lake Ponca and the nearby Lake Ponca Park, provide a vibrant natural play space for boating, biking, and fishing, not to mention the Cann Memorial Gardens, a local favorite. Golf options abound here, including the Wentz Memorial Golf Course and the Ponca City Country Club. The town's position along the Arkansas River attracts anglers of all ages and skill levels.
Davis
The quaint small town of Davis, south of Oklahoma City, has only 2,800 inhabitants. Yet, in contrast to its modest stature, the town should interest visitors with its Davis Museum, also referred to locally as the Arbuckle Museum, devoted to the history and memory of the Old West. The museum operates out of the Sante Fe Depot, a former rail station, and is in the National Register of Historic Places. Davis as a town was established in 1898, a part of the land rush and rapid European settlement of the then-territory. A more modern history is available at the Forgotten Wheels Museum, a monument to bygone types of cars, motorcycles, and other motorized transport.
For natural options, Davis offers Turner Falls Park, home of the waterfall of the same name — the largest waterfall in Oklahoma, which bears the same name as the memorably titled pioneer and legislator Mazeppa Turner. The Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and within it, the Lake of the Arbuckles, lies to Davis' southeast.
Weatherford
With a total number of residents at about 12,000, Weatherford is known for its inviting main drag, Custer Street. The town achieved incorporation in 1898. In town, a popular stop is the beloved Stafford Air & Space Museum, where you can admire astronaut Thomas Stafford — the town's most illustrious native son — and his spacesuits and the genuine Gemini VI spacecraft. Weatherford's other draws include its Heartland of America Museum on Route 66, which exhibits unique artifacts that stretch from Native American history to tools and modern agriculture.
Sulphur
Sulphur, with a population just shy of 5,000, makes for a quaint, smaller-town visiting experience. The town is renowned for its mineral-rich hot springs, which turned the place into a vacation and wellness magnet over a century ago. Sulphur likewise hosts the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, a protected area managed by the US National Park Service. For a look at Oklahoma's hidden history as a luxury travel spot, dig in to the past of the Artesian Hotel, Casino & Spa. Created in 1906, the hotel has been meticulously restored and continues its tradition of welcoming those after live entertainment, fine dining, and mineral-based rest and relaxation.
For another kind of local culture, head to Sulphur's Chickasaw Cultural Center. The site is dedicated to the Chickasaw Nation that called the land home before European settlers appeared. The center displays a replica village, traditional Native American dwellings, and an interactive theater space that shows and shares Chickasaw stories. In this way, Sulphur blends the business of spa-based pleasure with testimonies of the area's Indigenous past.
Given that the state has so much to choose from — and that a menu of Oklahoma's high-ranking towns could run far longer — towns like these should whet the tourist appetite of those thinking of a visit, or a return to the Sooner state. Native American history takes a well-deserved prominence across these and other small-town tourist options. Relaxation awaits at places like Davis and Sulphur, while culture lovers will find much to stimulate their imaginations across Oklahoma's architectural, musical, and museum-style heritage sites. In short, Oklahoma's mix of rich history and the signals of a vibrant future warrant a stop there soon.
