While you’re dreaming up ideas for vacations or getaways, I’m here to help with a list of my favorite road trips from Oklahoma City. If you’re looking for a weekend trip from Oklahoma City or an extended vacation, this list of destinations is a great resource to start your planning!
Most of these destinations are within the 4-5 hour range. (A handle are longer, but so worth it!) Don’t forget you can always stop along the way and see other great places.
So, let’s get started and check out some great road trips from Oklahoma City!
1. Kansas City, Missouri
Starting off our list of great road trips from Oklahoma City is Kansas City. Kansas City is really solidifying its spot as the cool place to be in the midwest. You’re always sure to find something new to see or experience. Some of the KC faves include: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, National Museum of Toys & Miniatures, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Hallmark’s Visitor Center, and of course – the Power & Light District. Count as many fountains as you can (Kansas City is known to have more fountains than any other city in America.) The city is bustling with cool theaters, hip restaurants (not just BBQ) and a new way to experience downtown – the free KC streetcar!
Bill’s Advice Don’t forget about nearby Independence, too – Harry Truman’s home town and Presidential Library & Museum! There’s plenty to check out on the Kansas City, Kansas side as well!
2. Waco, Texas
Waco has become a hotspot for tourists lately thanks to the popularity of Chip & JoAnna Gaines who have their mixed use complex based there. But there’s more to explore around Waco than overpriced wash cloths and home decor. Check out the Dr Pepper Museum to learn about America’s first national soft drink which was invented in a Waco pharmacy in the late 1800s. The original bottling plant still stands and houses the museum. You can visit the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, the Waco Mammoth National Monument, or enjoy a bike ride along the Cottonbelt Trail.
3. Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a lively and bustling place that’s often called America’s friendliest college town! Here you’ll find lots of kind, welcoming locals and so many cool things to experience! Check out the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; art museums, the Kicker Audio Visitors Center; or one of the many sporting events or attractions on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
You haven’t experienced Stillwater until you’ve eaten at Original Hideaway Pizza or gobbled up some yummy cheese fries at the world famous, Eskimo Joes. Definitely one of the best road trips from Oklahoma City.
4. Bentonville, Arkansas
What’s not to love about Bentonville’s welcoming town square, complete with the original Walmart store? Bentonville is a charming small town with great restaurants and one of the easiest road trips from Oklahoma City. Bentonville has grown to be a hot spot for biking with trails popping up all over the place. Oh, and one of the coolest art museums in the country is located here! Crystal Bridges is an awesome place to spend the day! And it’s free!
5. Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is such a cool town, located about 6.5 hours from Oklahoma City. Downtown Fredericksburg has SO many cool stores and places to eat it’s almost unbelievable. The Main Street just keeps going and going! Add in some great museums and nearby historic spots (Lyndon Johnson’s Ranch and Luckenbach, Texas) and this is an awesome road trip from Oklahoma City.
6. Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is one of the most under-the-radar road trips from Oklahoma City. Located along historic Route 66, Springfield lays claim to some of the mother road’s best tourist attractions in Missouri. Check out Johnny Morris’s Wonders of Wildlife for an amazing experience that includes one of the coolest aquariums in the country. Take a cave tour; see the world’s largest fork; or see some of the area’s Civil War historic sites.
7. Dallas, Texas
Get two destinations in one road trip! Both Dallas and Fort Worth have plenty of things to see and do. Take a trip to the top of Reunion Tower, or visit the historic site where JFK where killed. Dallas is loaded with great museums and restaurants. Forth Worth is home to the world famous Fort Worth Stockyards, which is a great place to experience your first rodeo! You can also visit the Bureau of Engraving – one of just two places in the U.S. that prints currency. North Texas also has wineries and plenty of outdoor activities. DWF (that’s what the cool kids call it) makes our list of best road trips from Oklahoma City!
Bill’s Advice: Dallas is the closest place to Oklahoma that has In-N-Out fast-food restaurants! While it’s just a personal favorite, it’s worth checking out since most of them are located in southern California.
8. Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas is a great road trip from Oklahoma City as visitors from around the world come to bathe in the famous healing waters. Besides a healing bath, enjoy the beauty of Hot Springs National Park, visit the gorgeous Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens or learn about mobsters in the Gangster Museum of America. Arkansas is known as “the natural state” and all of its state parks are outstanding if you’re interested in outdoor activities.
9. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is always a perfect destination for a road trip and only four hours from DFW. Grab a great meal or drink along the famous River Walk or take a ride up to the top of the Tower of The Americas. Built for the 1968 World’s Fair – the 750 foot high observation deck gives a great 360 degree view of town and could be helpful in getting your sense of direction before you set out to explore. Be sure to check out The Saga light show downtown and visit The Pearl – a mixed use entertainment area a short drive from downtown that has shops, food, and outdoor activities like a local farmers market. San Antonio makes a great weekend trip from Dallas.
10. Branson, Missouri
Branson is one of those towns that has a little bit of something for everyone. This southern Missouri entertainment destination once had a reputation for attracting only seniors and retired country music performers. Truth is, there is so much to do for any age group, especially families. See magic or comedy shows, or stroll downtown and shop before watching the synchronized water fountains dance to oldies music. Take a ride on the massive observation wheel overlooking the Branson strip or a ride on the Branson Scenic Railroad. And don’t forget about Silver Dollar City – one of the best theme parks in the country with award winning roller coasters! This is one of our favorite road trips from Oklahoma City!
11. Wichita, Kansas
It’s one of the shortest road trips from Oklahoma City and I think you’ll find Wichita to be a pleasant surprise. Start by learning about the early days of Kansas at the Old Cowtown Museum which has actors and buildings you can explore to truly step back in time. Check out the Delano neighborhood for some cool shops and good food. Get a hat at Hatman Jack’s – known for providing custom hats to lots of celebrities. Tell him I sent you! And if you’ve ever eaten Pizza Hut, I bet you didn’t know that it started in Wichita. Yep, the original Pizza Hut location is a tiny brick building and now a museum on the campus of Wichita State University. There is so much to do and the people are so welcoming!
Bill’s Advice: If you do anything while you’re in Wichita – be sure to check out the famous Keeper Of The Plains monument at night. Check ahead for times, but each evening there’s a fire show along the water across the pedestrian bridge. The local science museum – Exploration Place is great for kids, too!
12. Brownsville, Tennessee
One of the longer road trips from Oklahoma City, Brownsville is best known as the hometown of Tina Turner. You can easily visit Brownsville and Memphis on the same trip! Check out Tina Turner’s hometown (Nutbush) and the Tina Turner Museum set up in the one room school house she attended as a child. Brownsville has a really cool downtown with some amazing restaurants! You’ll also find lots of places to enjoy the great outdoors!
13. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis road trips from Oklahoma City. If you can’t keep busy for several days here, something is wrong with you. Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate and museum are still popular tourist spots. Be sure to visit the historic Sun Studio where music legends like Elvis and Johnny Cash were discovered. The Stax Museum of American Soul is one of my favorite Memphis museums and of course the National Civil Rights Museum and Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr was killed is worth a visit. Beale Street is always a favorite tourist stop.
Bill’s Advice: Be sure to check out the giant Bass Pro Shop located in the giant pyramid that you’ll see off the interstate as you come into town. There’s an elevator you can take to the top for cool views of the city!
14. Little Rock, Arkansas
If you’ve not been to Little Rock in the last five years, you owe it to yourself to make a return trip. Arkansas’ Capital city is on the move with new restaurants and things to see and do popping up all the time. The River Market District has become a great spot for local nightlife with outdoor concerts, a weekend farmers market, shops, a sculpture walk, and pedestrian bridges that light up each night with cool LED multi-colored lights. If you’re a history buff, the Clinton Presidential Museum is a must, as well as Central High School where the Little Rock 9 made world headlines at the start of the civil rights movement. If you need something cool for the kids – be sure to visit the Museum of Discovery and take a tour of the USS Razorback submarine docked on the north bank of the Arkansas River.
Bill’s Advice: Any time I’ve ever suggested Little Rock as a road trip stop, people will always tell me how surprised they were at what a great city it is. The people are friendly, it’s a foodies paradise, and guys – you’ll earn extra brownie points for taking your lady to the only purse museum in the United States. It’s one of the great weekend road trips from Oklahoma City.
15. St Louis, Missouri
The Gateway to the West is more than just the country’s tallest national monument. (630 feet high, in case you were wondering – and yes, you can take a tram all the way up to the top.) Saint Louis is home to Forest Park, which is bigger than New York’s Central Park, and full of free attractions like the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum and yes – the award winning Saint Louis Zoo, which is only one of two major zoos in the America with free admission.
Enjoy a great meal on “The Hill” – one of the last still thriving Italian neighborhoods in America and take your kids to City Museum – one of the most bizarre, yet incredible places in the midwest. Tour Budweiser, take a stroll at the Missouri Botanical Garden, or try some St. Louis style thin crust pizza or toasted ravioli! Yum!
16. Roswell, New Mexico
If learning about aliens suits your fancy, maybe Roswell should be on your list. Roswell is one of the longer road trips from Oklahoma City, but still a fun family friendly destination. The epicenter for UFOs in New Mexico features museums, gift shops, and tours that all revolve around alien activity that supposedly occurred in the city limits. There is also an aviation museum, a local zoo, and some outdoor recreational opportunities. But, let’s be honest – you’re going here because you want to know if humans are really alone in the universe.
17. Fort Smith, Arkansas
Talk about a town that completely exceeds expectations! Fort Smith has preserved its historic downtown and retains its old west vibe. You’ll find quality restaurants and interesting local attractions like the newly updated U.S. Marshals Museum and Fort Smith Historic Site. Spend some free time in the town’s Bakery District for fresh cup of coffee or a bite to eat from one of the food trucks parked outside.
Fort Smith is one of the best small towns in America for impressive public art. You won’t be able to miss the abundance of very cool murals located all over town!
18. Amarillo, Texas
Check out this famous Route 66 town with a stop at the Big Texan Steakhouse and a visit to the world famous Cadillac Ranch. In addition to those historic spots, check out the views at Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in the United States. If you’re into the arts scene, Amarillo has the Amarillo Civic Center where you can catch the local symphony, the Lone Star Ballet or the Amarillo Opera.
19. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa has been working hard to bring their historic city back to life and their efforts are starting to show. Dining options now range from exotic to casual, including one of the best calzones I’ve ever eaten at Bohemian Wood Fire Pizza located downtown. You’ll find plenty of Route 66 history and roadside attractions including The Golden Driller and the Blue Whale of Catoosa – about 15 minutes away. For art lovers, one of the coolest art museums in the south is the Philbrook Museum of Art – housed in the extravagant mansion that once belonged to the founders of Phillip 66. For something a bit unusual, consider a guided tour of Tulsa’s underground tunnel system.
20. Lubbock, Texas
Considered one of the best “western towns” in America, Lubbock is one of the more unique road trips from Oklahoma City. Visit the world’s largest collection of windmills at the American Windmill Museum or learn about music history at the Buddy Holly Center. Lubbock has no shortage of wineries and craft breweries and a great steak awaits you at Bryan’s Steaks. Be sure to see a movie at the Stars & Stripes Drive-In – ranked as one of the best drive-in theaters in the nation according to The Travel Channel.