Are you looking for some free entertainment in Oklahoma this summer?
Then you’re in the right place!
Today I am going to introduce you to 10 free things for you to do in Oklahoma this summer.
Oklahoma offers an astounding array of free things to do that will keep you and your family entertained without breaking the bank.
Without further ado, Let’s go check out some places!
10 Free Things to Do in Oklahoma This Summer
Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art
If you’re looking for outstanding Native American Art and an extraordinary collection of some of the most beloved artists of all time, then this is your place.
The Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art in Norman, OK offers a substantial amount of art of the American Southwest and beyond.
The museum’s growing collection (17,000 items) has the wow factor when it comes to fine art. What’s even better, this unique place is free of charge!
For more information on Fred Jones Jr. Museum please check them out at https://www.ou.edu
Oklahoma’s Free Museums
The Museum of The Red River
Established in 1974 in Idabel, OK, The Red River Museum has attracted visitors to this tiny town for nearly 50 years.
The reason why.
The official Oklahoma State Dinosaur is on display.
At nearly 40 feet long, Acrocanthosaurus or Acro was one of North America’s largest predators. That’s worth checking out in itself!
As a matter of fact, you will see rotating exhibits that are drawn from the museum’s permanent collection of over 30,000 objects.
You will walk away amazed at the ethnographic art from North, Central, and South America, with comparative materials from Africa, East Asia, and the South Pacific. Pretty cool if you ask me, and pretty free.
For more information on the Red River Museum, please check them out at https://www.museumoftheredriver.org
The Conoco Museum
Do you like to visit interactive museums? Or better yet, a free interactive museum?
If so, you will fall in love with the Conoco Museum in Ponca City.
This museum in Northern Oklahoma fits the bill with excellent exhibits, lots of fun historic artifacts and excellent photo opportunities.
Me being the history nerd that I am, I loved learning about the history of Conoco and its great employees over the years.
Ponca City is rich in oil history which makes this museum stand out above the rest. For more information on the Conoco Museum, please check them out at https://www.conocomuseum.com
Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum
The Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum in Woodward, OK showcases Oklahoma’s western heritage to a tee.
Inside, you will be amazed at the Native American history and the growth of the area from 1880 to present day.
Additionally, The Pioneer Museum features exhibits on Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, the 1889 Land run, and the deadly tornado of 1947 that destroyed this frontier town.
I recommend downloading the app when you arrive, for this reason you will enhance your visit this way and there is a lot to take in when it comes to Oklahoma history.
This Museum is also free of charge. For more information on the Pioneer Museum please stay updated on the latest at https://nwok-pipm.org
Take Some Scenic Hikes
Hike Up to Cavanal Hill
Cavanal Hill in Poteau, OK is boasted as the world’s highest hill at 1,999 ft above the surrounding terrain.
This place is a popular destination for mountain bike races, five-mile runs, and the famous Cavanal Hill Killer 5-mile Walk.
Located in Eastern Oklahoma, this hill will test your endurance and reward you with incredible views of the Poteau River Valley.
As a matter of fact, you can even catch a beautiful glimpse of Mount Magazine in Arkansas.
For your selfie moment, I recommend you take a picture near the famous Cavanal Hill Rock. All in all, this place is worth paying a visit.
Go To the Center of The Universe
The Center of the Universe in Tulsa, OK is unlike any place that I have been.
This mysterious place is a concrete circle a little more than probably 8 feet in diameter is an acoustic anomaly.
Any noise that you make inside the brick circle is loudly echoed, but only those inside the circle can hear it. Pretty freaky!
This place is in downtown Tulsa and can be accessed from a brick path that will lead you from Boston Avenue to this mysterious acoustic phenomenon.
Whatever the causes of this natural sonic distortion may be, it is truly an amazing place.
Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area
The Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area in Tulsa will give my fellow hikers a quiet and secluded nature park for some incredible hikes.
Over 300 acres in size, this area is perfect if you want to get out of the city and get connected with nature.
This undeveloped property stretches along the Arkansas River and will give you some quiet time that you deserve.
Additionally, they have a few trails here for some incredible Oklahoma Sunsets. The Pink Trail is the longest of the trails in the area, and it will give you some interesting zig-zag paths and switchbacks.
Nonetheless, this is a beautiful spot in the Tulsa area that is a can’t miss nature park.
Red Slough Wildlife Management Area
Alligators in Oklahoma you might ask?
The Red Slough Wildlife Management Area is home to this cool creature.
The diversity of this area is astounding to me. From watchable wildlife to the gorgeous pines of SE Oklahoma, this place rocks.
Furthermore, over 88 species of butterflies and 60 species of reptiles call this place home.
If you’re into bird watching and enjoy being outside, then the Red Slough will be your stomping grounds from now on.
By the way, The Red Slough has been compared to the Gulf Coast habitats of Louisiana and Florida thanks to the common sightings of spoonbill, purple gallinule, and the black-bellied whistling duck.
If you’re traveling to Southeastern Oklahoma this summer, then you need to give the Red Slough a go.
The Gathering Place
Are you looking for a fantastic place to take your kids this summer?
Then the Gathering Place in Tulsa needs to be on your radar. For instance, the park is over 100 acres and has a flowing river, art slides, fishing ponds, and a sensory garden.
I am going to do an article on The Gathering Place in the near future that will uncover all of the cool things you will see here. Whether you have kids or not, this park in Tulsa has a lot to offer.
For more information on the Gathering Place, please check them out at https://www.gatheringplace.org
The Great Salt Plains
Anybody up for a digging crystal day?
The Salt Plains State Park located in the tiny town of Jet, Ok will give you a glimpse of the salt leftover from an ocean that covered Oklahoma in prehistoric times.
For Instance, you can spend the day kayaking, horseback riding, and crystal digging. Sounds like a fun time to me. The Selenite crystal dig area is located southwest of the lake in the Refuge.
It is open from April to October, and you can also enjoy a multi-day stay at the newly renovated cabins that is located at the park.
As a matter of fact, Oklahoma is the only place in the entire world where you can see the hourglass shaped selenite crystal. Pretty cool if you ask me.
For more information on the Salt Plains State Park please check them out at https://www.travelok.com
Thoughts & Takeaways
And there you have it. These are 10 free things you can do in Oklahoma this summer. There are many more places to check out, but these might be some things to include in your travel plans that you might not have known about. Please let me know what you think in the comment section below.
-CT