Oklahoma sits at the crossroads of the American South, Midwest, and Southwest, offering travelers a remarkable blend of Native American heritage, cowboy culture, Art Deco architecture, and wide-open natural landscapes. Home to 39 federally recognized tribal nations, more than any other state, Oklahoma's cultural tapestry is uniquely rich. Oklahoma City pulses with energy around Bricktown's canal district and world-class museums, while Tulsa showcases one of America's finest collections of Art Deco buildings alongside the Greenwood District, the historic Black Wall Street. Nature lovers find endless space in the Wichita Mountains, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, and the lakes and rivers of the Ouachita region.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Oklahoma.
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1
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
This memorial occupies the former Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building site, bombed in 1995, and pairs an outdoor Symbolic Memorial (the reflecting pool and field of empty chairs, one for each victim) with an indoor museum tracing the bombing, rescue effort, and trial. The outdoor memorial is open to walk through at any hour and is free; the museum next door requires the paid ticket. Visits are somber and slow-paced rather than a quick photo stop.
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2
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
This museum covers the history, art, and mythology of the American West, from Western film memorabilia to Native American artifacts and a large collection of cowboy and rodeo gear. Its centerpiece bronze, James Earle Fraser's 'End of the Trail,' anchors a building that also holds a reconstructed frontier town street. It draws both art and history visitors, not just Western-genre fans.
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3
Philbrook Museum of Art
Philbrook is housed in an Italianate villa built as an oil family's mansion, and its formal gardens are as much a draw as the collection inside, which spans European, American, Native American, and African art. The garden terraces descend from the house toward a reflecting pool, giving the grounds a layered, walkable structure rather than a flat lawn. It's a full afternoon between house galleries and gardens if you do both.
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4
Gilcrease Museum
Gilcrease holds one of the largest collections of American Western art anywhere, built from oilman Thomas Gilcrease's personal holdings, including major works by Frederic Remington and Charles Russell alongside artifacts spanning pre-Columbian to 19th-century American history. The museum sits on grounds with gardens and walking trails overlooking Tulsa. Its lower admission price relative to other Oklahoma museums reflects its status as a city-owned institution.
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5
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
This refuge protects a stretch of ancient granite mountains rising out of the southwestern Oklahoma plains, with free-ranging bison and longhorn cattle herds visible from the roads, plus hiking trails up granite peaks like Mount Scott. The terrain is unusual for the region: exposed rock domes and boulder fields rather than flat prairie. Roads through the refuge make it easy to see wildlife without leaving your car, but the hiking trails require more time.
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6
Scissortail Park
Scissortail Park is a large downtown Oklahoma City park built along a lake, connecting the Myriad Gardens area to the Skydance pedestrian bridge, with lawns, a promenade, and event space designed to anchor the redeveloped south downtown. It opened in stages, extending the walkable core of downtown OKC toward the Central Boulevard corridor. It's a green, open counterpoint to the Bricktown entertainment district nearby.
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Bricktown Entertainment District
Bricktown is a former warehouse district converted into Oklahoma City's main entertainment strip, centered on a canal lined with restaurants and bars, with the water taxi running its length. It sits next to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City Comets/Dodgers, and gets its identity from the exposed brick warehouse architecture rather than a purpose-built entertainment zone. Evenings are livelier than daytime, when many restaurants and bars are the main draw.
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8
Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
This preserve protects one of the last large remnants of tallgrass prairie in North America, a grassland type that once covered much of the central United States before conversion to farmland. It's managed with a free-roaming bison herd and periodic prescribed burns that mimic the fire cycles the ecosystem evolved with. The land is open range grassland with a scenic driving loop rather than dense forest or dramatic terrain.
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9
Oklahoma History Center
Run by the Oklahoma Historical Society next to the state capitol, this museum traces the state's story from its Native American nations through the 1889 land run, the oil boom, and the Dust Bowl to the present day. Exhibits mix large artifacts, like an oil derrick and vintage vehicles, with galleries on the Five Tribes and 20th-century Oklahoma life. It's a dense, text-heavy museum best suited to visitors who want context before touring the rest of the state.
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10
Science Museum Oklahoma
Formerly known as the Omniplex, this is Oklahoma City's hands-on science museum, with multiple floors of interactive exhibits covering physics, the human body, and aerospace, plus a domed planetarium. It's built for families, with a strong emphasis on touching and testing exhibits rather than reading placards. The aerospace section reflects Oklahoma's ties to aviation and the nearby Tinker Air Force Base region.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Most major OKC attractions cluster northeast of downtown and are best visited by car or rideshare, Tulsa attractions spread across midtown, west, and north — rent a car or use Lyft/Uber, The 'OKC Museum Mile' (National Cowboy Museum, Science Museum, Zoo) are all within 2 miles of each other, Many Oklahoma state parks charge day-use fees of $5–$10 per vehicle
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single must-see attraction in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is the most emotionally powerful and historically significant attraction in the state. The outdoor memorial is free and open 24 hours, while the museum charges $15 admission.
Can I visit Oklahoma City and Tulsa in one trip?
Yes — they are 100 miles apart via I-44/Turner Turnpike (about 1.5 hours). Many travelers split 2–3 days in each city on a week-long trip.
Are Oklahoma attractions family-friendly?
Very much so. The Oklahoma City Zoo, Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma Aquarium, and Chickasaw National Recreation Area are all excellent family destinations.