Oklahoma
Oklahoma suits travelers who want museums, Route 66 history and open prairie, with spring storm season to plan around.
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Oklahoma is a landlocked state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico and Colorado. Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city. Tulsa is the other main economic center, and about two-thirds of Oklahomans live in the metro areas of those two cities.
Travelers come for the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which honors the 168 people killed in the 1995 bombing, and for Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of art and artifacts of the American West. Tulsa's Route 66 history is another draw, and in Tulsa you can learn about the 1921 race massacre that destroyed much of Greenwood, once one of the most prosperous Black communities in the US. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve show the state's open country beyond the cities. Plan around the weather: most of the state lies in Tornado Alley, May is usually the wettest month, and summer temperatures often pass 100 °F (38 °C).
Oklahoma in five
- Fly into Oklahoma City or Tulsa and rent a carBoth cities have airports, and the state's best sights are spread along interstates and Route 66. Public transit covers little beyond the downtown cores.Getting around the USA
- Drive the Route 66 stretch, not the whole roadA section between Oklahoma City and Tulsa shows diners, neon and roadside museums in a day. Pick a segment and enjoy it, instead of rushing the full length.
- Visit the Oklahoma City National MemorialThe memorial and its museum sit downtown, close to Bricktown. Check the official site for hours and ticket rules before you plan the day.
- Plan around spring storm seasonSevere storms and tornado watches are most common in spring, so keep a weather app with alerts on and be flexible with outdoor days. Follow local guidance if a warning is issued.
- Pair it with Dallas or Kansas CityOklahoma City sits on the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Kansas City, so a two-city or three-city road trip is easy to plan.Dallas
Neighborhoods
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma's capital, founded in the 1889 Land Run, draws visitors to the Bricktown canal district, its museums and the 1995 bombing memorial.
Tulsa
Tulsa suits travelers who want history, architecture and a road trip stop, with a riverside park and the Philbrook museum to fill a few days.
Things to do in Oklahoma
See all attractions in Oklahoma
Need to know
- Airport
- Will Rogers World (OKC) and Tulsa (TUL)
- Getting there
- Fly; I-35, I-40 and I-44 cross the state
- Getting around
- A rental car; rideshare covers Oklahoma City's downtown and Bricktown
- Best base
- Oklahoma City's Bricktown or Midtown; Tulsa's downtown
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 days
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCool, quiet
- MarchMild, storms start
- AprilWarm, storms
- MayWarm, storms
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyHot, dry
- AugustHot, dry
- SeptemberWarm, clear
- OctoberMild, clear
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberCold, quiet
Right now in Oklahoma
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 40 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 53%
Oklahoma
02:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today24°18°53%Monday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Tue18°11°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed20°9°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu19°11°20%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Fri18°7°11%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat21°10°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sun16°8°6%Sunday: Clear. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 11:45 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Tulsaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by carArt deco downtown and the Route 66 stretch between the two cities.
- Dallasabout 3 to 3.5 hours by carA larger Texas city reached on I-35, better as an overnight.Read the guide
- Fort Worthabout 3 to 3.5 hours by carStockyards, rodeo history and museums, close to Dallas.Read the guide
Before you go to Oklahoma
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Rules for Oklahoma, checked
- Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Check current rules on travel.state.gov.Source
- Tornado risk is highest in spring and early summer. Know where your shelter is and check weather alerts at weather.gov before you go out.Source
- Much of eastern Oklahoma is Indian Country for criminal law after the 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling. Follow tribal rules when you visit tribal land.
Plan around Oklahoma
South on I-35 for a bigger city
Read the guideFort WorthStockyards and museums near Dallas
Read the guideKansas CityNorth on I-35 for barbecue and jazz
Read the guideGetting around the USARental cars for long plains distances
Read the guideeSIM for the USAMaps and weather alerts on long roads
Read the guideNorth DakotaAnother Great Plains drive, with badlands and bison
Read the guideAll of the USAStates, parks and cities in one planning hub
Read the guideOklahoma FAQ
Is Oklahoma worth visiting?
Yes if you like road trips, Route 66, American history and food rather than famous landmarks. The state is a good stop between Texas and the Midwest, and its cities are easy to navigate.
What is there to do in Oklahoma City?
The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, Bricktown's canal and restaurants, the Stockyards and western heritage sites, and local museums. Check each venue's site for hours and ticket rules.
How many days do you need in Oklahoma?
Two days cover Oklahoma City's main sights. Four days add Tulsa and a Route 66 drive between the two cities. Add days if you want to link Dallas or Kansas City.
When is the best time to visit Oklahoma?
April and May are green but stormy, so keep plans flexible. September to early November is mild and drier, with fewer storm risks. Summer is hot, and winter can bring ice.
Do you need a car in Oklahoma?
Yes for most trips. Oklahoma City's downtown can be done on foot and by rideshare, but Route 66 stops, Tulsa and the rural sights need a rental car.