8 Best Road Trips to Take in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a great state with many intriguing towns and cities perfect for a road trip adventure along Route 66, otherwise known as the Mother Road, as it can take you through eight states, spanning 2,400 miles, with Oklahoma having the longest stretch of 400 miles. With many intriguing landmarks and incredible landscapes, a road trip to Oklahoma is enriching and exciting. Using our list as a guide, take your vehicle on an exciting drive to serene outdoor recreation areas, bustling city streets, and well-known tourist destinations for the ultimate road trip through The Sooner State.

Oklahoma City

Travel along Route 66 to get to Oklahoma City, one of Oklahoma's largest and most popular road trip destinations. Some of the most visited landmarks and attractions along the way include the Winchester Drive-In, Oklahoma City's oldest drive-in movie theater; the Blue Whale of Catoosa waterfront structure; Coleman Theatre, an iconic performance venue and movie house; and Milk Bottle Grocery, a small grocery building that features a massive milk bottle statue. From the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Historic Stockyards City to Frontier City Theme Park and the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, there are many fun things to do, family-friendly activities, and excellent attractions. Bricktown Entertainment District is another great place to add to your itinerary while you are there, as it has restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, and shopping. Sports fans can see the Oklahoma City Thunder play live or watch a game at one of the city's vibrant sports bars.

Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma's second-biggest city, is a beautiful destination with modern and Southern styles. It is about 1 hour and 40 minutes (107 miles) from Oklahoma City along Route 66. You can stop in Bristow to take photos of the Plymouth Chrysler sign and visit the Sooner Pecan Company store for road trip goodies. If you want a casual place to eat, stop at Rock Café, a diner in Stroud, then make your way to Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 gift shop. You will also come across the Golden Driller Statue, Tulsa's most unusual and unique Route 66 attraction. Tulsa is a great destination because there are many dining, retail, entertainment, nightlife, and gambling areas in the city's entertainment districts. Families and others who prefer outdoor recreational activities will find plenty to do, too. Tulsa is also known for its music and performing arts scenes—witness a live concert one day and a theatrical play the next. You can also find plenty of museums to visit while you are there. Many annual festivals and events also showcase Tulsa's culture and heritage, which are worth checking out.

Durant

Durant, a city in Bryan County, has something for everyone, making it the perfect place for a road trip. The drive from Oklahoma City to Durant is about 2 hours and 30 minutes (149 miles). Your drive will take you through Shawnee (the birthplace of Hollywood actor Brad Pitt), where you can stop at places like the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Oklahoma's oldest art museum. From Shawnee, you will make your way through the city of Tecumseh. You will eventually make it to Stonewall, home to Wildcat Springs Ranch, a ranch-style resort with activities like hunting and fishing. After leaving Stonewall, you will reach Durant within an hour. Durant, the capital of the Choctaw Nation, features the Choctaw Cultural Center, which features exhibits, a large Living Village, classrooms, a theater, a café, and retail space, all dedicated to bringing the history and culture of the Choctaw people to life. Durant is also home to Choctaw Casino & Resort, a world-class resort featuring gaming, entertainment, restaurants and bars, a spa, a movie theater, a bowling alley, an arcade, and a pool complex with cabanas. Durant also has multiple museums, parks, and annual events, including the Choctaw Nation Annual Powwow.

Kingston

Who says you cannot do two road trips at once? If you plan to visit Durant, take a short drive to Kingston, which is about 30 minutes away. In Kingston, Lake Texoma State Park is a top place many people visit. It has a variety of activities, such as hiking, equestrian paths, camping, picnic areas, and wildlife observation. The park has 93,000 surface acres of water so that you may enjoy water sports like swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Also within the park is a full-service Catfish Bay Marina that offers striper guide fishing services and a fuel dock. With so much to do, you can easily spend a whole day enjoying the great outdoors.

Clinton

Oklahoma City to Clinton is only an hour and 30-minute drive (85 miles). You will pass through Yukon, a historic city known for its art and culture. Continue as your drive will take you to Hydro and Weatherford before reaching Clinton. Once you make your way to Clinton, you will see that it is one of the most scenic road trips in Oklahoma, as it is in a big valley surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills and open areas. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is one of the city's most visited sites and one of the most prominent museums devoted to Route 66's heritage and history. Clinton is about more than just culture and history. The quaint town also has gaming options, a family-friendly indoor water park, and hiking and fishing opportunities nearby.

Chandler

A trip to Chandler from Tulsa is a little under an hour away. Within 63 miles, you will reach Chandler, a city home to fantastic sites. At the Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center, you can learn about the historic Route 66 and Oklahoma's past. Chandler has many excellent museums, such as the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum and Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History. Options for fishing, boating, camping, and horseback riding are also nearby. Chandler is also known for notable sites: the Chandler Municipal Golf Course and H&S Theatre, a historic movie theater dating back to the 1920s.

Medicine Park

Medicine Park is one of Oklahoma's most idyllic small towns. It is located near Lawton, about an hour and 20-minute drive from Oklahoma City. The 86-mile drive takes you through Bridge Creek and Chickasha before arriving in Fletcher, home to Ozark Trail Motel & Restaurant. Before reaching Medicine Park, stop by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. Once you reach Medicine Park, you can dine at local eateries, stroll picturesque paths along Bath Lake or Medicine Creek, or soak in the sun sinking over the nearby Wichita Mountains. The abundance of cottages, cabins, and bed and breakfasts makes an overnight stay more enjoyable. There are also many places to pick up souvenirs and unique keepsakes to remind you of your visit. Many festivals and events take place here annually, too.

Broken Bow

Broken Bow is a small city in Southeastern Oklahoma with breathtaking scenery and activities for all interests. If you are coming from Oklahoma City, it is about a 3-hour and 30-minute drive away (236 miles). Along the way, stop by the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore, visit the Museum of the Red River, or enjoy some time at Talimena National Scenic Byway in Le Flore County, which offers breathtaking views. Once in Broken Bow, visit Beavers Bend State Park, the city's main attraction, which attracts visitors year-round. It is the ideal location for fishing in the Lower Mountain Fork River, hiking or horseback riding on the David Boren Hiking Trail, and boating on Broken Bow Lake. For convenience, consider staying at the Lakeview Lodge at Beavers Bend State Park or venturing into the bush to camp in the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.

Oklahoma is an excellent place for your next road trip because it is spanned by interstate highways and is connected to both borders by Route 66. Whether you are interested in the breathtaking scenery and outdoor wonders of Lake Texoma State Park or Beavers Bend State Park or want to learn more about Oklahoma's rich history and culture at places like the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, our list of the best Oklahoma road trips highlighted above covers it all. Consider this itinerary of things to see and do: pack your bags, get in your car, and prepare for an epic adventure through Oklahoma.