Oklahoma is an interesting place to visit. From historic sites and natural areas to museums and delicious food, this state has a little bit of everything, and we could spend weeks exploring it all.
This is why you might want to make an Oklahoma bucket list before you take a trip to the Sooner State.
Below, we’ve put together an Oklahoma bucket list of our own. Use some of our bucket list ideas, gather new ones to add to them, and create the perfect itinerary for you and your travel party.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
The Chickasaw Recreation Area features forests, springs, streams, and lakes. It is the ideal place to get outside and fish, swim, hike, and enjoy Oklahoma’s beauty.
Fort Smith National Historic Site
For nearly 80 years, Fort Smith stood strong on the edge of the frontier. Learn about the people who passed through this place through the stories of soldiers, scandals, outlaws, and lawmen at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.
Oklahoma City National Memorial
The Oklahoma City National Memorial is an outdoor sanctuary of quiet reflection. It is a place to remember those who died and those whose lives were changed forever by the tragic bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19th, 1995.
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
In the fall of 1868, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led an attack on a Cheyenne village. This attack was just one example of the horrible clash of cultures that occurred during this time on the Great Plains, and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site serves as a place of remembrance and reflection for all who visit.
National Historic Trails
A couple of historic trails also wind their way through Oklahoma. Both have stories to share, and both are well worth visiting, especially if you can make it to a visitor center. They include:
Drive the Talimena National Scenic Byway
Oklahoma is a beautiful state. Why not take the time to see some of the most beautiful parts of the state by taking a drive? The Talimena National Scenic Byway begins in Oklahoma and ends in Arkansas. The 54-mile drive provides views of the Ouachita Mountains and lots of scenic overlooks.
Admire Art at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art
The Oklahoma City Art Museum is home to tons of incredible artwork. One of the most beautiful things in the museum is the Dale Chihuly glass piece, but you’ll find pieces in a variety of mediums here.
Check Out the Poteau Balloon Festival
Celebrate the fall foliage and Oklahoma’s beautiful scenery at The Poteau Balloon Festival. Watch colorful hot air balloons as they fill the skies each morning and evening around dusk. There are also tethered balloon rides for attendees. Along with the hot air balloons, the festival has carnival rides, live music, food, and entertainment.
Explore the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
The Wichita Mountains rise 2,400 feet into the sky…not terribly tall by mountain standards. But what makes them impressive is their age – these are some of the oldest mountains in North America. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is there as well and has bison, elk, longhorn cattle, and other wildlife.
Attend a Pow Wow
Oklahoma is home to many Native Americans, and there are many pow-wow events in the state throughout the year. You can attend a pow-wow to learn more about the tribes and Native people who live in Oklahoma.
Ride the Bricktown Canal
Hop on a boat ride through the Bricktown Canal to get a unique glimpse of Oklahoma City. Rides on the Bricktown Water Taxi include interesting and funny narration, as well as plenty of fun sights.
See Sharks at the Oklahoma Aquarium
The Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks features all kinds of marine life, including otters and jellyfish. You can even opt for an up-close encounter to help feed sharks and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Seamore, the aquarium’s loggerhead sea turtle.
Visit Alabaster Caverns
Alabaster Caverns State Park has one of the world’s largest natural gypsum caves you can explore. Look for minerals including black alabaster, white and pink gypsum, and selenite. Also, watch for the bats that make their homes inside the caves.
Dig for Crystals at the Great Salt Plains
Great Salt Plains State Park in Oklahoma is essentially a wide-open piece of land where guests can put their shovels to work. Just beneath the surface, you’ll find hundreds of selenite crystals, which you are allowed to collect and take home with you.
Get Hands-on at the Science Museum Oklahoma
The Science Museum Oklahoma has all kinds of exhibits that kids and adults can enjoy together. There’s a climbing structure, a shadow wall that allows you to freeze your shadow, and a theater where you can watch science demonstrations.
Stroll the Oklahoma City Zoo
Right next door to the Oklahoma Science Museum you will find the Oklahoma City Zoo. This is an excellent zoon with an enormous elephant exhibit in the back of the park. There is also a great ape section. Meanwhile, kids thoroughly enjoy the playgrounds and carousel.
Play All Day at The Gathering Place
If you’re looking for an amazing place for kids to climb, check out The Gathering Place in Tulsa. The park features walking paths, sports courts, a skate park, and so many playgrounds you won’t even know where to begin.
Cool Off at Turner Falls Park
There’s no denying the fact that Oklahoma is extremely hot in the summertime. Turner Falls Park has the highest waterfall in the state and is a great place to cool off. The park also features a swimming hole and plenty of other great opportunities to play in the water. Awesome hiking is available as well for the cooler evening hours.
Grab Ice Cream from Braum’s
Another great way to cool off during those hot Oklahoma summers is to head to Braum’s. This ice cream shop and fast food restaurant began in Oklahoma and has some seriously good ice cream. The chocolate chip cookie dough flavor is especially tasty.
Dine on Steak at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Cattlemen’s is the place to go for steak when you’re in the Sooner State. Make sure to try the house dressing, as well as the incredible homemade rolls.
Learn Something at the National Cowboy and Western Museum
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has all kinds of information on cowboys and the Old West, as well as some amazing artwork inspired by and made in the western United States.
Drive the Longest Stretch of Route 66
Oklahoma is home to the longest stretch of Route 66. Along this 426-mile stretch, you will find three museums and a number of other points of interest.
Have Fried Chicken at Eischen’s Bar
Eischen’s is the oldest bar in the state of Oklahoma. But its age isn’t the only thing that makes it stand out from the pack. Most people know this little dive bar for its incredible fried chicken recipe. Make the trip out to Okarche to give it a try!
Take In the Views from Black Mesa
At nearly 5,000 feet, the Black Mesa is Oklahoma’s highest point. From this height, you can see all around you, and there are some amazing views of the panhandle from up there.
Race through the Oklahoma Sand Dunes
Little Sahara State Park features some surprisingly large sand dunes. It gives you the perfect chance to ride a dune buggy for some sandy fun you won’t soon forget.
Enjoy a Burger at Meers Store
Back in the early 1900s, Meers Store served a small but bustling town in the Wichita Mountains. Meers burgers were served up by the dozens every day, and people loved them. These days, the store is one of the only remaining pieces of the town. The Texas Longhorn burgers are just as big and delicious as ever, and it is well worth the drive to get one.
See a World Premiere at deadCENTER Film Festival
Named one of the top 20 coolest festivals by MovieMaker Magazine, deadCENTER Film Festival is an enormous event that’s a movie-lover’s dream. You can see all kinds of brand-new films before the rest of the world has a chance to catch a glimpse.
Oklahoma has a lot to offer, and building an Oklahoma bucket list shouldn’t be too hard. An Oklahoma rental RV can help you out – you’ll have a place to stay each day as you cross the state exploring all of its fascinating attractions.
