Best Day Trips from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Under Three Hours

We spent a full month in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and had a fantastic time in the underrated Oklahoma city. That said, we felt the urge to hit the road quite a bit while we were there. 

There’s a lot to see, and we kept meeting locals who’d tell us to do this and the other thing and that thing, too.

This guide takes a look at the best day trips from Tulsa that are under three hours. I’ll include a few weekend getaways that we’ve loved in the region, but the focus here is really on unique things to do near Tulsa that are doable in one day.

Jenks

Distance: 12 miles
Drive Time: 15 minutes

Jenks is a charming Oklahoma town just 15 minutes from Tulsa. If you’re looking for day trips from Tulsa with kids, this is a great easy option. Start at the Oklahoma Aquarium and visit its over 8,000 water inhabitants. 

This is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the region, so expect to spend a few hours here. There are over 100 unique exhibits, including an underwater tunnel with sharks swimming overhead. 

From there, you can go antiquing or take a stroll around the Riverwalk Jenks. I keep wanting to call it the Jenks Riverwalk, but alas. They do what they want here. It’s the town’s hub for dining, shopping, entertainment, and people-watching.

In the mood for unique gifts? Roark Acres Honey Farms is a great place to start and support a locally-owned business.

Catoosa

Distance: 16 miles
Drive Time: 20 minutes

Our primary objective in Catoosa was the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and this thing did not disappoint. This is one of the most popular destinations along Route 66, especially if you’re driving the Mother Road through Oklahoma. 

It’s a literal big blue whale, people.

Fun fact: At one point, it was a local swimming hole open for public use. The original owners expanded it with an attached reptile kingdom and shops for sales of what I imagine were tchotchkes and treats.

The attraction closed by 1988 when the owners aged out of the upkeep. Revitalization efforts in modern times have focused on giving the whale a fresh paint job and adding some picnic tables for lingering in the warmer months.

You can visit and climb around inside without incident, but we stayed out of the very top level. It was pretty sketchy (and dirty as heck!) up there.

Yale

Distance: 43 miles
Drive Time: 45 minutes

Our visit to Yale was admittedly quick, but that’s only because we thought we could stop at the Jim Thorpe House on our way back to Tulsa from Oklahoma City.

Despite clearly posted signage about hours of operation on the front door and signage leading up to the house, no one was there.

So I called the posted number.

“Well, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m in the tub,” the guide on the phone told me.

She offered to return in a half hour when she was done with her soak, but we didn’t want to stick around. The point of this story is that the house seemed like an intriguing thing to do as you consider Oklahoma day trips from Tulsa.

If you’re at all into Thorpe’s legacy, I’d recommend calling ahead just in case, especially if you’re visiting in the winter as we were.

Chelsea

Distance: 50 miles
Drive Time: 50 minutes

A quick trip of under an hour will get you to Chelsea and Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park. As we visited in the off-season, we weren’t able to see inside his Fiddle House, a literal collection of fiddles, but the totems were still impressive.

Galloway was a retired teacher and semi-retired artist who used the last few years of his life to build these giant totem poles with his art students.

It’s not exactly on Route 66, but it’s close enough that it doesn’t feel like an aggressive detour if you’re already traveling the Mother Road.

Muskogee

Distance: 50 miles
Drive Time: 55 minutes

If you start early enough, you could add a trip to Muskogee on the way to Tahlequah, but there’s enough in the historic town to warrant its own Tulsa day trip.

Muskogee is home to the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, which tells the story of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee Creek, and Seminole tribes.

Spend some time here learning about what the region is doing to preserve the history and culture of our tribal nations.

From there, explore Honor Heights Park, over 130 acres of lovely floral displays. If you’re here in the spring, treat yourself to their annual Azalea Festival. If festivals are right up your alley, Muskogee also hosts the annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival.

Friends, if you’ve never been to a Renaissance Faire, do yourself a solid and add it to your bucket list.

Chandler

Distance: 64 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour

Chandler, Oklahoma, is one of the quirkiest things to do between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

This odd little town was our pick as a meeting point when we didn’t want to drive all the way to Oklahoma City to meet up with Brian’s cousin, a grad student up there.

It’s home to the Route 66 Interpretive Center, a modest museum that kicks things off with a required viewing of one of the strangest home movies I’ve ever seen.

It’s a retelling of a man’s adventures on a Route 66 road trip back in the day, and you really just had to be there.

From there, you can visit the Museum of Pioneer History, which resembles an antique shop or maybe an old lady’s attic. There’s no real coherent thread here, but we did have some fun reading old documents detailing rules for teaching in the 1900s.

Example: No loitering in ice cream shops. 

If you love Route 66 history, you can also visit an old Phillips 66 filling station under the process of renovation and the last remaining Meramec Cavern barn sign in the state. 

Destinations is a kitschy diner for when all of that makes you hungry. The food was fine, but we did have a weird little moment when the waitress lost Brian’s credit card for about 10 minutes. It was in between the dirty plates. Crisis averted.

Sparks

Distance: 70 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This tiny town in Lincoln County is home to the very fun and super casual Sparks Vineyard & Winery. This one is an easy add-on to the end of your day in the riveting town of Chandler. 

Is the wine very good? No, not really. It’s super sweet and reminded me of some of the high-sugar cherry wines in Door County, Wisconsin. If that does it for you, this place may result in some impulse buys for home.

My favorite moment was when the winemaker poured us a blend and proclaimed, “Not sure what the red in this one is. We just use what’s left over sometimes.”

I appreciate the honesty!

Again, the wine wasn’t for me, but the service was stellar and they have an excellent patio for warm-weather wine drinking. You do have to drive down a gravel road for about three miles on the way there, so keep that in mind if you’re in a sedan.

Natural Falls State Park

Distance: 77 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Oklahoma has waterfalls! We didn’t make it out to Turner Falls Park, home to Oklahoma’s tallest waterfall, but I was able to get my waterfall fix with a shorter drive time to Natural Falls State Park. 

Fun fact: Natural Falls State Park was featured in the movie Where the Red Fern Grows. Yes, it’s the one with the dogs.

We spent a few hours here hiking with the pup. The Dripping Springs Trail is what this one is known for, but if you’re up for some scrambling, the Fox Den Trail was my favorite. Check out my detailed guide to Natural Falls State Park to make this one happen.

Park Hill

Distance: 72 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

You can easily combine this one with Tahlequah, but this one will become even more of a destination once the Cherokee Heritage Center reopens. It was under renovation during our visit, but I’m excited to see what they do with all of that land.

Park Hill is still worth a visit for Hunter’s Home, a house and museum that may seem like any other plantation home in the South. Visit for a tour and you’ll find that it boasts quite a bit more depth than that. The home has a connection to the Cherokee Nation. 

It was inhabited by wealthy planter George M. Murrell and Minerva Ross, the niece of Cherokee leader John Ross. You’ll learn all about those folks and about the enslaved population that worked this land on a guided tour from knowledgeable docents. 

Don’t miss all of the farm animals outside. I mean, you probably won’t be able to if you tried because they like to make their presence known with their bleating and gobbles.

Tahlequah

Distance: 72 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Plan a day trip from Tulsa where you learn more about the history of the region. Visit the capital of the Cherokee Nation in just over an hour from central Tulsa.

The trio of museums in downtown Tahlequah is the biggest draw here, and that’s where you should start if you want a primer on Cherokee history.

I describe our own full day in Tahlequah in my complete guide to the town. You can visit a pizza shop where Carrie Underwood worked for a while if you like that sort of thing.

Note: Travelers with more time in the area may want to tack on Sequoyah State Park, a jewel of the Oklahoma State Park system, on trips to Tahlequah. It’s just a 20-minute drive to scenic shorelines, hiking, and horseback riding.

Arcadia

Distance: 90 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

This popular Route 66 stop was high on my list because of Pops 66. It’s a diner and soda shop, but you’re here for those pops. Grab an empty six-pack and choose your bottles from the fridge or the aisles full of weird and wonderful fizzy flavors. 

I’m talking blue cheese sodas (didn’t do it), sarsaparilla root beer (did it and loved it), and blueberry fizz (did it and REALLY loved it). My favorite was a fancy pear beverage that will make you think like you’re in Napa.

READ MORE: Did I spark some wine country FOMO within you? Check out my guide to Sonoma vs. Napa.

If you’re already traveling to Oklahoma City, it’s super easy to add this one to your list.

Note: Don’t miss the Arcadia Round Barn while you’re traveling through here. That’s another Route 66 special. 

Oklahoma City

Distance: 106 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

We visited Oklahoma City from Tulsa a few times during our extended stay, as there really is so much to do here. You could easily spend a full weekend here, but if that’s not happening and you want to see the Oklahoma State Capitol, I don’t blame you.

With just a day, I’d prioritize the First Americans Museum, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, and the Plaza Walls. If it’s chilly out, the Myriad Botanical Gardens pictured above are another great option that doesn’t take up much of your time.

You could also just pick and choose from my weekend in Oklahoma City itinerary.

More Day Trips from Tulsa

Even with a full month in Oklahoma, we still missed out on some easy road trips from Tulsa. Here are a few more ideas for scenic places near Tulsa and easy Tulsa weekend getaways:

• Bixby (23 miles/30 minutes): Escape the city for some green space. Take a stroll through the Washington Irving Memorial Park and Arboretum for starters. If you visit in-season, indulge in the you-pick farms for fresh fruit.
• Claremore (30 miles/35 minutes): Learn about the birthplace of Will Rogers at the aptly named Will Rogers Memorial Museum. While he was born in nearby Oologah, this is your best bet for an education into the life of the famous cowboy.
• Depew (41 miles/45 minutes): This one was at the top of our list thanks to the Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy, home to family-style dining and many goats. Unfortunately, they only do dinners from April through December.
• Bartlesville (45 miles/50 minutes): The draw here is the home of the Phillips Petroleum Company and the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve. The Frank Lloyd Wright tower would have been cool to see.
• Braggs (64 miles/1 hour 5 minutes): The big thing to brag about in Braggs is Greenleaf State Park, a family-friendly place with easy nature trails and camping for those who like waking up outside. It’s not for me, but you do you.
• Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees (82 miles/1 hour 25 minutes): Travelers looking for outdoor activities can check out this popular destination for watersports like boating and swimming. Nearby Grove is your best bet for shopping and eats.
• Commerce (94 miles/1 hour 30 minutes): See the boyhood home of Mickey Mantle, also known as “the Commerce Comet.” The only reason we didn’t make this one a priority was that there were no tours of the inside of the home.
• Pawhuska (56 miles/1 hour 35 minutes): This town is known for its tall grasses at the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. While you’re here, don’t miss The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. Ree Drummond fans, you probably know all about it.
• McAlester (91 miles/1 hour 40 minutes): History buffs will like the Tannehill Museum, home to artifacts from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. This one is also a great base for state parks near Tulsa like Lake Eufaula and Robbers Cave.
• Fayetteville, Arkansas (113 miles/2 hours 5 minutes): This college town is home to the University of Arkansas. If you don’t want to hang out with the coeds, you can stroll around the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.
• Bentonville, Arkansas (114 miles/2 hours 5 minutes): The big draw at this Arkansas town in the Ozarks is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Treat yourself to over 100 acres of an art lover’s wonderland. 
• Springfield, Missouri (181 miles/2 hours 45 minutes): I have to give Missouri some love on this list because it’s so close to Tulsa. Springfield is a great option for art enthusiasts.

READ MORE: Planning a longer trip through the South? Steal my two-week itinerary to help you plan!

Best Weekend Trips from Tulsa

With more time, you can plan a Tulsa weekend getaway. I limited all of the options above to three hours (ideally less!) of driving, and even three hours is pushing it. Once you hit about the four-hour mark, you really should be spending the night at your destination.

Any of the options below are all over three hours from Tulsa, so they’re more suitable when you have time to spend the night:

• Wichita, Kansas (176 miles/3 hours 5 minutes): Bustling lil’ Wichita is a family-friendly weekend trip from Tulsa. Visit the Sedgwick County Zoo, the Great Plains Nature Center, and the Kansas Aviation Museum to keep littles entertained.
• Kansas City, Missouri (272 miles/4 hours): Kansas City, Kansas, is also an option, but the Missouri side is where it’s at if you’re here for the barbecue. Kansas City-style barbecue is an entire movement, people. It’d be best if you tried it. 
• Little Rock, Arkansas (276 miles/4 hours): Start with a tour of Little Rock Central High School and learn more about the Little Rock Nine. Tours are free but you should book them in advance during peak travel times.
• Hot Springs, Arkansas (242 miles/4 hours 30 minutes): I’ve got a full guide to Hot Springs National Park if you’re interested and another on a review of a real bathhouse experience.
• Dallas, Texas (257 miles/4 hours 30 minutes): The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial is worth the trip alone, but the Texas city’s burgeoning food scene also makes this one a great weekend holiday.
• Dodge City, Kansas (317 miles/5 hours): This town is known for its connection to Wyatt Earp. While I had mixed feelings about Tombstone, a fairly cheesy tourist town in Arizona, Dodge City felt a little more authentic.

Where to Stay in Tulsa

I assume you’ll have Tulsa as your base if you’re seeking day trips and weekend getaways from Tulsa.

We stayed at a short-term rental for a full month in Tulsa, but use the map below to peruse your options for shorter trips:

Tulsa is always worth visiting.

That’s true even if you plan some time on the road away from the town. Tulsa is a great base for adventures along Route 66, natural attractions, and towns with significance to the the region’s Native American tribes.

As you plan your next trip to Tulsa, tack on a little extra time to hit the road for a few of these day trips.

Interested in more adventures in the South? Check these out:

• A Guide to Augusta From a Month-Long Stay
• Top Things to Do in Savannah for Couples
• The Perfect Nashville Weekend Itinerary
• A Guide to Memphis Accommodations
• Top Things to Do in Athens, Georgia

I’m not done yet! Here are a few more guides to the South:

• Plan One Delightful Day in Charleston
• A Guide to Charleston for Romantic Times
• A Weekend in Asheville: I’ll Help You Plan!
• Plan a Trip to Lake Oconee for a Relaxed Break
• Check Out the Best Memphis Museums

Want to see more?