9 of the Most Walkable Towns in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has been referred to as "The Sooner State" because of the quantity of early settlers and pioneers who illegally entered Osage territory without permission. Fortunately, you can legally travel to some of the most walkable towns in Oklahoma for convenient and nearby attractions. As home to one of the biggest populations of Native Americans, one should be mindful and respectful when exploring Native American territories like Broken Bow and Pawhuska. Even in other destinations like Muskogee, Stillwater, and Bartlesville, visitors ought to pay homage to the many individuals who contributed to the modern development of each town. But do not feel burdened in your travels because the most walkable towns in Oklahoma have several noteworthy amenities within walking distance to a lodging of your choosing.

Muskogee

The humble, historic town of Muskogee is a riveting landmark for those who want to get an initial taste of Oklahoma’s past and present. As a settlement located on the Arkansas River, travelers are sure to enjoy touring the USS Batfish, a World War II submarine converted into a museum in the Muskogee War Memorial Park. There is also an arboretum and several trails in Honor Heights Park for those desiring to walk through the simplicities of nature.

The Five Civilized Tribes Museum, on the other hand, is home to a collection of Native American artifacts, specifically those that represent the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole nations. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame is an excellent venue for several nation-praised concerts to boost the popularity of local musicians, while the medieval-style Castle of Muskogee has all the attractions seen in a Renaissance fair. Only 50 minutes away from Tulsa, let your gallant spirit out while roaming the rural countryside and urban wonders of Muskogee.

Stillwater

You will not be standing or idling still when you are roving through the many attractions in Stillwater. Regarded widely as America’s friendliest college town, Stillwater is home to Oklahoma State University, a prestigious institution that has won many national championships in wrestling. Several of these triumphs are on display at the Heritage Hall Museum and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which are within easy walking distance of the downtown area.

It was also in Stillwater that famed musician Bob Childers created a unique music genre called Red Dirt to celebrate the livelihood and culture of Oklahoma. Because Stillwater is a college town, students, residents, and newcomers alike can relish several relaxing activities like fishing and kayaking in serene lakes like Carl Blackwell Lake, Boomer Lake, and Lake McMurtry. One can even head to the Lost Creek Safari to admire kangaroos and camels. Only an hour away from Oklahoma City, give yourself the adventure of a lifetime by not staying still in Stillwater.

Broken Bow

Follow the arrows towards Broken Bow, a town promising the bucolic beauty of Oklahoma where the most adventurous can find a good mixture of tranquility and excitement. Trailblazers and outdoor lovers will feel blessed and satisfied while traveling through the Beavers Bend State Park. However, you ought to take care when walking through this untamed wilderness, especially since there are black bears, bald eagles, and other wild animals in these vast swathes of pine forests. Consider visiting the Forest Heritage Center Museum to learn more about the local flora and fauna of the Hochatown area.

If you are not eager to brave Oklahoma’s dynamic wilderness, you might be invested in seeing Native American artifacts and articles belonging to old pioneers at the 1884 Gardner Mansion & Museum. Travel down the Mountain Fork River and into the Broken Bow Lake, nourished by the Mountain Fork River, where dozens of islands and beaches await the latest travelers. Finally, walk downtown and discover local businesses, such as Doughnut Theory, Papa Poblanos Broken Bow, and Rogue Local.

Bartlesville

The underrated town of Bartlesville is also the most walkable small town in Oklahoma, thanks to its proximity to a handful of convenient attractions. Among these nearby amenities is the Price Tower, the only skyscraper in Oklahoma designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright and one that offers an unparalleled view of Bartlesville and beyond. At OK Mozart, newcomers can listen to dozens of musicians from around the world during a musical event held annually in June.

People who need oil in their lives have much gratitude to offer to Bartlesville, considering it was the origins of many world-renowned oil companies, such as Phillips Petroleum Company, ConocoPhillips, and Phillips 66. The man who founded these companies, Frank Philip, also established the Woolaroc Museum in the Osage Hills, which houses a collection of world-class artworks. The museum also serves as a great wedding venue and a wildlife preserve.

Medicine Park

Give yourself a dose of happiness and leisure while exploring the town of Medicine Park, a town approximately 22 minutes from Lawton. There are many remedies to your worries and woes in Oklahoma’s first resort town, especially since this was where famous individuals like President Theodore Roosevelt, Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and Jack Abernathy hunkered down from long, arduous days. One can stroll along the pristine beaches of Bath Lake and Lake Lawtonka, with access right in town, or roam through the forested slopes of the Wichita Mountains.

One might also be interested in traversing 60,000 acres in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, or you can ascend Bison Mountain for a grand view of the landscape. These days, Medicine Park functions as a premier vacation destination for soldiers after completing their Basic and AIT training in nearby Fort Sill.

Guthrie

In the 1800s, many of the early settlers and pioneers persevered through hardships in order to build Guthrie. Walk around through Guthrie’s downtown, one of the largest Historic Preservation Districts in the United States, replete with structures that have barely changed since their construction. With easy walking access from Division Street (US-77), visitors can explore the Frontier Drugstore Museum and the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, and Carnegie Library to get a glimpse of how life was lived by the early pioneers.

Aside from being a town with convenient and walkable attractions, Guthrie is also a haunted destination with its own Guthrie Ghost Walk for those wanting to explore some of the haunted houses in the place. Get pumped and excited while undertaking paintball fights and other sports at the Avid Extreme Sports Park, and make memories in a town only around 35 minutes from Oklahoma City.

Sulphur

Being named after an element in the periodic table implies that the resource is abundant. Fortunately for the residents and visitors to the town of Sulphur, there is only a small amount of sulfurous elements in some of the cleansing springs in the Cold Springs Campground. Aside from these luxurious or hazardous pools, travelers are treated to the wild landscapes dominating the Arbuckle Mountains, which the Native Americans once called “the land of rippling waters” as an allusion to the many streams, lakes, and swimming holes in the region.

Among these flowing bodies of water are the Little Niagara Falls and the Lake of the Arbuckle in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The town has several walkable landmarks, including the Arbuckle Historical Museum right downtown on Muskogee Ave; it informs visitors more about the early history of Sulphur.

Pawhuska

Approximately 25 miles from Bartlesville, adventurers will be enamored by the tribal capital of the Osage Nation, the town of Pawhuska. So named after Paw-Hiu-Skah, a proud Osage chief whose name meant “White Hair,” Pawhuska has been the setting for many old and modern Wild West movies, such as the critically acclaimed Killers of the Flower Moon by Martin Scorsese. Historically and film-wise, Pawhuska was the site of the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ first major case when the FBI investigated the infamous Osage Murders.

Pawhuska was also the birthplace of Oscar-winning cowboy Ben Johnson, whose life and times can be gleaned at the Osage Nation Historical Museum, which is right downtown on Lynn Avenue. Modern cowboys and trailblazers can always meet bison, deer, and coyotes at Pawhuska’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, or go roving through the Osage Hills State Park to explore the Bluestem Lake and Bluestem Falls. There are many more walkable amenities to admire in Pawhuska, so get your gear and start walking in the tribal capital of the enduring Osage Nation.

Eufaula

Approximately 32 miles south of Muskogee lies the town of Eufaula. With its pristine location on the shores of the Gentle Giant known as Lake Eufaula—one of the most peaceful and biggest lakes in Oklahoma—Eufaula welcomes tourists near and far with a plethora of festivities. Among these yearly celebrations are the Whole Hawg Days that occur in the last weekend of July, where townsfolk and visitors get together for carnival rides and picnics at Lake Eufaula State Park and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park (which is right downtown by the water).

You can learn all about Eufaula’s origins and development at the Eufaula Area Museum (just off of Main Street), and if you happen to have a dog or more, bring them over for the annual Barktoberfest on Lake Eufaula in October. You might be willing to lose or win big at the Creek Nation Casino Eufaula. Whatever you decide on, remember to purchase a room at the Lakeside Inn and enjoy all of the walkable attractions downtown.

Explore the Sooner State sooner rather than later, where wind turbines and tornadoes stir the winds and kick your feet off the ground. Blessedly for you, these fierce winds will take you to some of the most walkable towns in Oklahoma, each with its unique and attractive landmarks that embody the spirit of the Sooner State. From watery paradises like Eufaula to cinematic landscapes like Pawhuska, there is no deficit of destinations to cherish your memorable journey in Oklahoma. Prepare to avoid tornadoes and get your cellphones and cameras out to take pictures of the many wind turbines and other attractions in Oklahoma’s most walkable towns.