Oklahoma's Best Small Towns For A Weekend Escape
Officially admitted to the Union on November 16, 1907, the landlocked state of Oklahoma is dramatically set between the Ozark Mountains and the Great Plains in south-central US. With rugged mountain ranges, treeless high plains, rolling red hills, and numerous pristine water bodies, this incredibly varied state has something for every visitor. Although populous metropolises like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, and Broken Arrow garner a lot of tourist attention, the innumerable small towns in the Sooner State are too vying for a similar kind of attention from vacationers. These appealing, tight-knit communities, with their rich Native American heritage, mind-boggling natural splendor, loads of shopping, dining, and accommodation options, colorful celebrations, and genuine hospitality, are worth touring on your next weekend getaway in the “Land of Red Man.”
Guthrie
Logan County’s administrative center, Guthrie, christened in honor of the Kansas Jurist John Guthrie, occupies the Frontier Country region in Central Oklahoma, around 32 miles north of Oklahoma City. This pretty town is well-publicized for its extensive collection of Victorian architecture and the Guthrie Historic District, comprising more than 2,169 buildings in different architectural styles in the town’s commercial core. Heritage tourism thus immensely contributes to Guthrie’s economy and some of the town’s astounding attractions include the Oklahoma Territorial Museum & Carnegie Library, Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum, Territorial Capital Sports Museum, Pollard Theatre, and Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. Take a trolley tour through Downtown Guthrie to observe these landmark properties in addition to antique stores, art galleries, specialty shops, and comfy bed & breakfasts like The Pollard B&B. The Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, Red Brick Nights, Fourth of July Festivities, Eighty-Niner Day Celebration Parade, and Guthrie’s Territorial Christmas Celebrations are held annually.
Claremore
Claremore, the Rogers County seat labeled after an Osage Indian chief, sits at the foot of the Ozark Mountains in Northeast Oklahoma, close to the meeting of State Highways 20 and 88 and the historic U.S. Route 66, roughly 29 miles northeast of Tulsa. The town is widely known for being the homeland of the eminent American vaudeville performer Will Rogers. Apart from visiting the principal campus of Rogers State University, travelers must take note of the town’s remarkable tourist spots, including the Belvidere Mansion, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum, etc. Breathe in some fresh country air while strolling the walking trails of Claremore Lake Park and enjoy your stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Claremore.
Medicine Park
This serene alpine town in Comanche County is located at the foothills of the Wichita Mountains, near the entry point of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Medicine Park is distinguished for its red granite cobblestone deposits aside from its long-standing popularity as an age-old cobblestone resort community. When visiting Oklahoma’s first resort town, gaze in wonder at the various original structures built using these unique cobblestones and walk down 'Cobblestone Row' - packed with many locally-owned retail stores, finest eateries, and souvenir shops. The meandering Medicine Creek is stocked yearly with rainbow trout, while the Bath Lake Swimming Hole provides vacationers ample swimming opportunities. Supplementarily, participate in a wide variety of recreational activities at the proximate Lake Lawtonka and Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, hike the Medicine Park Black Trail Loop, watch performances at the Discovery Outpost Performing Arts Inc., enjoy animal feeding shows at Medicine Park Aquarium & Natural Sciences Center, and stay overnight at InnHabit Tiny House Resort.
Sulphur
Home to 5,065 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, Sulphur, the administrative center of south-central Oklahoma’s Murray County, is situated at the intersection of State Highway 7 and U.S. Highway 177, about 84 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Prior to the settlement’s establishment, the abutting area has been noted for the mineral springs and the presence of sulfur in the water bodies, giving the town its name. Situated just to the south of Sulphur, the 9,899-acre Chickasaw National Recreation Area is a favored destination for local and international tourists. Also, survey the Chickasaw Cultural Center, and Vendome Well, take part in hiking and recreational activities at the Arbuckle Mountain Range, and unwind at The Artesian Hotel, Casino & Spa.
Perry
Named in honor of J. A. Perry - a Cherokee Strip Commission member, this seat of Noble County in north-central Oklahoma is located approximately 100 miles south of Wichita and 60 miles north of Oklahoma City. A substantial portion of the town is a part of the National Register-listed Perry Courthouse Square Historic District, which includes several landmark properties such as the Noble County Courthouse, Wolleson-Nicewander Building, First National Bank & Trust Company Building, etc. De-stress at Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Perry after touring the Perry National Guard Armory, Cherokee Strip Museum & Rose Hill School, Perry BMAC Baseball Complex, Perry Lake, CCC Lake & Park, and the nearby Lake Carl Blackwell and Lake McMurtry.
Broken Bow
A pleasant McCurtain County community, Broken Bow sits within the Little Dixie Region at the base of the Kiamichi Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma. This 4,228-resident town is one of the most sought-after destinations in the state, offering holidayers the perfect combination of recreation and relaxation. Located exactly 9 miles northeast of the town is Broken Bow Lake - one of the largest freshwater lakes in the state, created by the impoundment of the Mountain Fork River. Residents, tourists, and especially nature enthusiasts are mesmerized by the exceptional beauty and visual appeal of the 22-mile stretch of the lake into the Ouachita Mountain Country. Holidayers must explore the town’s eye-catching attractions like the Beavers Bend Resort Park, Beavers Bend State Park & Nature Center, Choctaw Casino, Cedar Creek Golf Course, Beavers Bend Brewery, and Beavers Bend Wildlife Museum, before getting a good night’s sleep at Rodeway Inn Broken Bow-Hochatown.
El Reno
El Reno, called after the adjoining military base Fort Reno, is the seat of Central Oklahoma’s Canadian County, set at the center of the Canadian River Valley at the junction of Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 81, about 25 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City. In fact, vacationers visiting El Reno can soak in the small-town ambiance besides getting easy access to all big city amenities. When in town, hop aboard the Heritage Express Trolley that traverses the downtown area, stop by the Canadian County Historical Museum, learn about the past at Fort Reno, play golf at Crimson Creek Golf Course, watch movies at Reno 8 Movie Theater, engage in an array of outdoor recreations alongside Lake El Reno, and gamble at the Lucky Star Casino. Rest after an eventful day at Holiday Inn Express & Suites El Reno and spare time from your busy schedules to attend the many annual festivities like Oklahoma Indian Nations Pow Wow, Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, and Christmas on the Western Frontier.
Eufaula
McIntosh County’s seat of government, Eufaula is situated in the east-central portion of the state, roughly 29.8 miles north of McAlester and 31.7 miles south of Muskogee. Primarily a Creek settlement and trading post, the town’s major site of interest is the Eufaula Lake - Oklahoma’s largest-capacity lake created by the Eufaula Dam’s construction on the Canadian River, with a surface area of 102,000 acres and volume of 2,099,000 acre-feet. Thousands of holidayers flock to the Lake Eufaula State Park yearly to participate in unlimited water-based recreational activities. Furthermore, peruse the Main Street chock-a-full of unique boutiques, performance venues, antique stores, eateries like La Finca Mexican Grill, and accommodations like the Best Western Eufaula Inn.
Pauls Valley
Pauls Valley, initially settled by Smith Paul - a native of the North Carolinian city of New Benn, is the Garvin County seat that occupies the core of the high-yielding Washita River agricultural complex, close to the meeting of Interstate 35 and State Highway 19, around 57 miles south of Oklahoma City. With oil production and agriculture being the main drivers of its economy, Pauls Valley welcomes tourists to stroll the brick-lined streets of the downtown featuring old structures, locally-owned shops, eateries like Mimi’s Restaurant and Tio’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina serving delectable cuisines, and homey bed & breakfasts like Judges Inn. Additionally, check out the various exhibits at the Toy & Action Figure Museum, pioneer artifacts and time-worn collections of the Santa Fe Depot Museum, and partake in multiple recreations at the adjacent Pauls Valley City Lake.
Bartlesville
The administrative center of Washington County, Bartlesville, christened after Jacob H. Bartles is located alongside the Caney River not far from the Washington-Osage county line, approx. 18 miles south of the state border with Kansas and 47 miles north of Tulsa. From being the first oil boomtown in the state and the home of Philips Petroleum Company, a renowned erstwhile American oil company, the community slowly developed into a picturesque vacation retreat. The iconic Price Tower, Bartlesville Area History Museum, Pathfinder Parkway trail, Washington Park Mall, Nellie Johnstone No. 1 oil well, Philips Petroleum Company Museum, Bartlesville Community Center, Old Washington County Courthouse, Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Frank Philips House, and Jo Allyn Lowe Park are some must-visit attractions. Enjoy your stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville, and attend any of the town’s annual festivities such as Bartlesville Biplane Expo, Oklahoma Indian Summer Festival, etc.
From Medicine Park - “America’s cobblestone community” to the spellbinding Broken Bow, the gorgeous towns in the nation’s 20th most extensive and 28th most populous state are waiting to be discovered by globetrotters. Each town offers an exclusive glimpse into the heart and soul of this diverse state in addition to proudly upholding its rich legacies and distinguishable charismas. So, all those looking for stunning locales to visit with your loved ones on weekend trips, look no further than these Oklahoma towns.
