Oklahoma
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Oklahoma gives you the essential Sooner State experience, from the extraordinary Route 66 heritage of the Mother Road's finest stretch through Tulsa and the remarkable Pops soda ranch at Arcadia to the vibrant Native American culture of Oklahoma City and the extraordinary Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This route covers the heart of Oklahoma. The extraordinary Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, the Blue Whale of Catoosa on Route 66, the remarkable Gathering Place riverfront park, the extraordinary National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the magnificent American bison herds of the Wichita Mountains.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to November
Getting There
Fly into Tulsa (TUL) or Oklahoma City (OKC)
Getting Around
Rental car essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx $90 to $150 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mostly driving and walking
DAY 1
TULSA AND ROUTE 66
MORNING
PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART AND THE GATHERING PLACE
The Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa is the most extraordinary art museum in Oklahoma, its extraordinary collection of American, European and Native American art housed in a 1927 Italian Renaissance villa surrounded by 23 acres of formal gardens. The collection of Native American art and pottery is the finest in any general art museum in America. The Gathering Place on the Arkansas River is the most extraordinary free urban park opened in the last decade in America, its extraordinary 66 acres of riverfront parkland giving Tulsa a public space of national significance. Philbrook entry approx $12. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
TULSA ROUTE 66 AND THE BLUE WHALE OF CATOOSA
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is the most extraordinary roadside attraction in Oklahoma, its extraordinary 20-foot fiberglass blue whale rising from a pond beside Route 66 built as a private anniversary gift by Hugh Davis in 1972 and now one of the most photographed Route 66 icons in existence. The Tulsa Route 66 corridor through the historic Brookside and Brady Arts District neighborhoods gives the finest Route 66 urban experience in Oklahoma. Blue Whale free. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
POPS 66 SODA RANCH, ARCADIA
Pops 66 in Arcadia on Route 66 is the most extraordinary roadside stop in Oklahoma, its extraordinary 66-foot illuminated soda bottle sculpture and collection of over 700 varieties of artisan soda from across America giving the finest quirky Route 66 experience in the state. The Round Barn of Arcadia nearby, an extraordinary 1898 circular barn that locals said could not be built, is the most photographed historic barn on Route 66. Pops free to visit, soda from $2.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa's Brady Arts District is the finest folk music museum in America, its extraordinary archive of the This Land is Your Land songwriter's manuscripts, recordings and personal effects giving the most extraordinary insight into the greatest American folk musician. Entry approx $8. The finest hidden cultural gem in Tulsa.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Brookside Diner, Tulsa The finest breakfast in Tulsa. Extraordinary biscuits and gravy, local eggs and strong Oklahoma coffee. | Lunch: Coney I-Lander, Tulsa The most legendary Route 66 lunch stop in Tulsa since 1926. Extraordinary chili dogs and onion rings. | Dinner: Juniper, Tulsa The finest restaurant in Tulsa. Extraordinary locally sourced Oklahoma cuisine and outstanding wine list.
DAY 2
OKLAHOMA CITY
MORNING
NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, OKLAHOMA CITY
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is the most extraordinary Western heritage museum in America, its extraordinary collection of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell bronzes, the finest Western art collection in the world, alongside galleries of Native American culture, rodeo history, firearms and the extraordinary Prosperity Junction recreation of an 1890s cattle town. The Remington collection alone is worth the visit. Entry approx $15. Drive: 1.5 hr drive
MIDDAY
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL, THE MOST MOVING MEMORIAL IN THE SOUTH
The Oklahoma City National Memorial is the most extraordinary memorial in the American South, its extraordinary Field of Empty Chairs, 168 bronze and glass chairs representing each victim of the 1995 bombing arranged in nine rows for each floor of the Murrah Federal Building, giving a space of extraordinary solemnity and beauty. The Survivor Tree, an American elm that survived the blast, is the most extraordinary living symbol of resilience in America. Outdoor memorial free, museum approx $15. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BRICKTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND OKLAHOMA CITY RIVERWALK
Bricktown is the most extraordinary entertainment district in Oklahoma City, its extraordinary historic warehouse district of 1900s red brick buildings along the Oklahoma City canal giving the finest waterfront dining and nightlife in the state. The Bricktown Canal boat tours give the finest view of the district from the water. The nearby Automobile Alley with its extraordinary collection of car dealerships converted into restaurants and galleries is the finest design district in OKC. Canal tours approx $12.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Stockyards City district in Oklahoma City is the finest hidden Western heritage neighborhood in America, its extraordinary network of livestock auction facilities, Western wear shops and the legendary Cattlemen's Steakhouse giving an authentic cowboy experience entirely unlike the tourist-focused areas of downtown OKC. Monday livestock auctions are the most extraordinary free show in Oklahoma.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sid's Diner, El Reno The most legendary onion burger in Oklahoma since 1989. Extraordinary smash burger on Route 66. | Lunch: Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Stockyards City The most legendary steakhouse in Oklahoma City since 1910. Extraordinary Oklahoma beef. | Dinner: The Jones Assembly, OKC The finest live music venue and restaurant in Oklahoma City. Outstanding local cuisine and craft beer.
DAY 3
WICHITA MOUNTAINS
MORNING
WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE, THE AMERICAN BISON
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the most extraordinary wildlife refuge in Oklahoma, its extraordinary 59,000 acres of ancient granite mountains rising from the southern Plains sheltering one of the oldest continuously managed bison herds in America, longhorn cattle, Rocky Mountain elk, white-tailed deer and wild turkey. The bison herd of over 650 animals roams freely across the refuge roads. The extraordinary Mount Scott summit drive gives the finest panoramic view of the refuge. Entry free. Drive: 1.5 hr drive
MIDDAY
LAKE LAWTONKA AND QUARTZ MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
Quartz Mountain State Park near Lone Wolf is the most extraordinary state park in southwestern Oklahoma, its extraordinary pink and white granite mountains rising abruptly from the flat plains of the Anadarko Basin giving a landscape entirely unlike the rest of Oklahoma. The Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center with its extraordinary views over Lake Altus-Lugert is the finest arts venue in rural Oklahoma. The lake kayaking below the quartz peaks is extraordinary. Park entry free. Drive: 1 hr drive
AFTERNOON
MEDICINE PARK AND HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS
Medicine Park is the most extraordinary historic resort town in Oklahoma, its extraordinary cobblestone buildings constructed from local granite boulders along Medicine Creek giving the finest Victorian resort atmosphere in the state. The Holy City of the Wichitas on the refuge is the most extraordinary outdoor religious amphitheater in America, its extraordinary granite recreation of the streets of Jerusalem constructed in 1926 hosting an annual Easter pageant. Both free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Doris Campground in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge gives the most extraordinary stargazing in Oklahoma, its extraordinary dark skies far from any city light pollution giving a Milky Way view from the granite boulders of the ancient Wichita Mountains that is the most extraordinary in the state. Free with refuge entry. The finest hidden gem in the Wichitas.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Meers Store and Restaurant The most extraordinary longhorn cattle burger in Oklahoma. Extraordinary Meers burger of locally raised longhorn. | Lunch: Meers Store and Restaurant The only restaurant near the Wichita Mountains. Outstanding longhorn beef in a legendary Oklahoma institution. | Dinner: Napoli's Italian, Lawton The finest restaurant in Lawton. Extraordinary local Oklahoma produce in the finest Italian kitchen in the southwest.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Tulsa, Night 1 The Mayo Hotel or 21c Museum Hotel Tulsa. Approx $120 to $200 per night. Oklahoma City, Night 2 The Skirvin Hilton or 21c Museum Hotel OKC. Approx $130 to $220 per night. Lawton or Medicine Park, Night 3 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge cabins or Montford Inn. Approx $80 to $140.
Top Tips
1. Pops 66 soda ranch on Route 66 in Arcadia has 700 varieties of soda and an extraordinary giant soda bottle sculpture.
2. Wichita Mountains bison herds roam freely on the roads. Never approach on foot and drive at 25mph at all times.
3. The Meers Store near the Wichita Mountains serves the most extraordinary longhorn cattle burger in Oklahoma.
4. Tulsa's Philbrook Museum of Art in a 1927 Italian Renaissance villa with 23 acres of gardens is extraordinary.
5. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is the most moving memorial in the South. Allow at least one hour.
6. Gathering Place in Tulsa is the finest free urban park built in the last decade in America. Extraordinary playground.
Total Budget
$90 to $150/day