14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Oklahoma City

State capital Oklahoma City is a bustling hub on the southern Great Plains, roughly in the center of the oil-rich state. Known as "The Big Friendly," the city was settled during the 1889 "Land Run," though Native Americans lived in the region long before. In 1995, the capital sadly became famous when a bomb attack claimed 168 lives. A national memorial now remembers the victims and survivors of that tragedy.

Many of Oklahoma City's top attractions and things to do are set in the historic former warehouse district of Bricktown. Museums, event venues, and restaurants create a picturesque neighborhood on the Bricktown Canal with its small water taxis. And for a true taste of ranchland life, you can plan your trip to catch a stockyard auction.

Plan your next trip to the Oklahoma state capitol with our list of the best tourist attractions in Oklahoma City

See also: Where to Stay in Oklahoma City

1. Oklahoma City Zoo

In operation for more than a century, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden engages tourists and families with more than 500 animal species, including rhinos, gorillas, lions, and tigers. Throughout the grounds, you can also see impressive displays of plants from Oklahoma and around the world.

Both kids and adults enjoy interactive experiences, such as lorikeet and giraffe feedings, sea lion shows, elephant demonstrations, a walk-through wallaby enclosure, and a stingray touch tank.

Budding zoologists can also get up close to animals like grizzly bears and Asian elephants at special behind-the-scenes experiences. Boat and train rides provide adventurous ways to explore the expansive park grounds.

Address: 2101 NE 50th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: www.okczoo.com

2. Science Museum Oklahoma

Packed with interactive exhibits, Science Museum Oklahoma presents ever-changing displays of science-themed topics intended to engage, entertain, and educate. Though kids are the main audience, adults, too, love learning and exploring here. Step into a tornado simulator, build with giant Legos, invent and test your own creations, walk a tightrope, and even learn to ride a Segway.

A theater and planetarium both present regular shows, and the expansive grounds are a lovely place to visit for a picnic, with a Japanese garden, children's garden, and lawn games.

Address: 2020 Remington Place, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://www.sciencemuseumok.org

3. Myriad Botanical Gardens

Covering 15 lush acres near the downtown center, Myriad Gardens is a wonderful place to visit for a quiet outdoor stroll amid flowerbeds and horticultural displays. Other features at these beautiful gardens are a children's playground, bubbling fountains, and jogging and walking paths. Even Fido is welcome at the off-leash dog park.

After a walk, dine at the garden restaurant and patio, or go ice-skating at the wintertime Devon Ice Rink.

One of the most stunning spaces is the Crystal Bridge Conservatory, an indoor tropical garden that features separate areas for wet and dry tropical flora. A $9.7-million renovation during the summer of 2022 added rotating exhibits and a second-story terrace with overhead views of the gardens.

There is a nominal fee to visit the conservatory, but access to the grounds is free.

Address: 301 West Reno, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://www.myriadgardens.com/

4. Oklahoma City Museum of Art

The core collection at this Oklahoma gallery focuses on 19th- and 20th-century European and American art, but visiting works widen the scope. Touring national and international exhibitions complement permanent displays, like the bright art-glass work of the Seattle-area's Dale Chihuly.

Other featured artists in the permanent collection include luminaries like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Henry Moore. The museum also runs a popular film program.

Address: 415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://www.okcmoa.com/

5. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Also known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, this large museum uncovers life in the Wild West with its large collections of historical materials, pictures, and sculptures. The Rodeo Hall of Fame features rodeo champions, but on-screen cowboys are also given a tip of the hat in their own hall of fame.

Children can test the ranch-readiness of their skills in the Children's Cowboy Corral.

To follow the cowboy theme, also plan a visit to the Oklahoma City Stockyards, where outdoor cattle pens fill for auctions every Monday and Tuesday.

Address: 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://nationalcowboymuseum.org/

6. Shop or Dine in Bricktown

A fantastic example of a successful urban renewal project, Bricktown is the city's premier entertainment hub. The once-abandoned red-brick warehouses are now converted into funky shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and attractions. In addition to enjoying all the fabulous shopping and dining opportunities, you can catch a baseball or basketball game at one of the sporting venues, attend a concert, see a movie, stroll along the river walk, or explore the American Banjo Museum.

Narrated cruises and dinner cruises along the canal are other popular things to do here. Be sure to stop by the impressive Centennial Land Run Monument, which commemorates the state's heroic settlers. Bricktown also makes a great base for exploring the city, with plenty of hotels nearby.

A different and fun way to explore the Bricktown area is on the Bricktown Water Taxi, which also provides narrated sightseeing information. In addition to the regular service, they offer dinner cruises and other themed specialty trips.

Official site: http://welcometobricktown.com/

7. Oklahoma City National Memorial

This outdoor memorial is a tribute to the victims, survivors, rescuers, and others affected by the events of April 19, 1995, when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed. The reflecting pool and field of empty chairs have become well-known symbols of the city, and visitors can walk through the solemn setting.

To find out more about the tragedy, you can tour the exhibits at the nearby Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

Address: 620 North Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: https://memorialmuseum.com

8. Museum of Osteology

If this tourist attraction seems unusual, it's because it is. The bones of hundreds of animals make up the displays at the only skeleton museum in the United States.

Thoughtfully presented specimens span big mammals to small critters, from apes and kangaroos to snakes and penguins. Most of the specimens are in life-like poses, so you can see how the animals move. You can stand under a giraffe or elephant skeleton or see a sloth skeleton hanging from a tree. Fun activities like treasure hunts are geared towards curious kids.

Address: 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://www.museumofosteology.org/

9. Oklahoma History Center

The Smithsonian-affiliated Oklahoma History Center displays an astounding diversity of fascinating exhibits covering all facets of Oklahoma history. It's also a hub for archival and research materials.

Exhibits cover everything from Native American history, pioneer life, and cowboys to the Crossroads of Commerce and even Oklahomans and Space. Excellent traveling exhibitions round out the collection, and plenty of interactive features keep little hands busy.

The center also offers lovely views of the domed Capitol building from its galleries. Outside, you can explore botanical gardens and stroll among beautiful sculptures and native plants on the Red River Journey, a quarter-mile walking tour that conjures the diverse terrain of Oklahoma's Red River Valley.

Address: 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: www.okhistory.org/historycenter

10. Take the Kids to Frontier City

Operated by Six Flags theme parks, Frontier City is a favorite tourist attraction for families visiting Oklahoma City. The park offers a full range of rides, from high-thrill to kiddie, with a "Wild West" theme throughout.

Kids and kids-at-heart can watch a "gunfight" stunt show and check out a special behind-the-scenes look at how they perform their stunts, and all ages can test how quick their draw is at the electronic "shooting" gallery.

Thrill rides include several roller coasters, with two huge steel courses and a classic wooden coaster, as well as the crazy Gunslinger and other wild rides. Family rides include the classic Ferris Wheel and a carousel, as well as a flume ride and a mining train.

Hurricane Harbor water park is another popular Oklahoma City family attraction, located on the grounds of Frontier City. The water park features a range of refreshing diversions for all ages, a favorite being the Castaway Creek lazy river. Other rides include Renegade Rapids, Wild West Waterworks, and several waterslides, including one that ends in a 64-foot free-fall into the pool below.

Address: 11501 N I-35 Service Road, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: www.sixflags.com/frontiercity

11. The Oklahoma Railway Museum

Train lovers of all ages will enjoy the Oklahoma Railway Museum, which features a steam engine and dozens of examples of passenger cars, freight cars, locomotives, and cabooses that visitors can explore. The oldest equipment on-site is an 1878 CB&Q caboose, a Hinkley 2-8-0 locomotive built in 1879, and a Velocipede made in the late 1800s.

The museum also features several historic train depots, which were moved to the property; a 100-foot Frisco Turntable built in 1920; and an impressive model train layout that is, of course, housed in one of the train cars.

Exhibits are housed in a former Pullman sleeper car originally used on the Saint Louis-San Francisco RR, which was saved from becoming scrap metal in 2001.

The museum offers free admission to view exhibits, and for a small fee, visitors can take a train ride on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of each month during the months of April through August. There are also seasonally -themed rides, as well as a hand-car ride experience, and the museum also hosts themed special events throughout the summer months.

Address: 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org

12. 45th Infantry Division Museum

The 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City is a must-see for military history buffs. It's located in the Lincoln Park Armory, which dates to 1937.

Exhibits at the museum include uniforms and firearms displayed in an expansive facility that you can explore on a self-guided tour. The pieces tell the history of not only the 45th, established in 1920, but many worldwide conflicts. Perhaps most impressive are the dozens of military vehicles presented in a 15-acre outdoor park.

Address: 2145 NE 36th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

13. Tour the State Capitol

The seat of government for the state, the Oklahoma State Capitol building was designed and built between 1914 and 1917, though its grand central dome wasn't completed until 2002. The classic Greco-Roman structure has an Indiana limestone exterior and an Oklahoma pink and black granite base.

Guided and self-guided tours are available daily. Government business keeps the campus a busy place.

Address: 2300 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

14. Overholser Mansion

Founder of Oklahoma City, Henry Overholser built the first grand home in the city, and the lovely 1903 structure still stands as the Overholser Mansion. The three-story French chateau-style house features English carpets, French stained glass, and Antwerp fine oak paneling.

Visitors can walk through the furnished rooms. There are also tales of hauntings at the house.

Address: 405 NW 15th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Official site: http://www.overholsermansion.org/

Where to Stay in Oklahoma City for Sightseeing

To explore the sights, the best place to stay in Oklahoma City is the city center, where there are several upscale neighborhoods, including Bricktown and the Business District. This is also where many of the city's attractions are located. Below are some highly rated hotels in convenient locations:

Luxury Hotels:

• Built in 1912, the 12-story Colcord Hotel Oklahoma City, Curio Collection By Hilton was Oklahoma's first skyscraper and today combines some of the original charms with updated, modern luxury. The hotel is centrally located near the Cox Convention Center and within walking distance of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
• The posh Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City, Autograph Collection is in a 1920s Art Deco building in Midtown, just a short stroll from the Bricktown Entertainment District.
• In a fabulous, historic landmark building, The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City was recently renovated and restored and has a great central location in the downtown area.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• In the heart of Bricktown, Homewood Suites by Hilton is an all-suite hotel with full kitchens, an indoor pool, fitness center, and business center.
• Nearby, the Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown is a stylish, contemporary hotel with a small pool, large fitness center, and plenty of casual space for meeting other travelers.
• Near the Myriad Botanical Gardens, in the Business District, the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel is well positioned for sightseeing.

Budget Hotels:

• True budget hotels are found a short distance from the city center. A 15-minute drive outside the downtown area, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, near the airport, is a great choice, with comfortable rooms and reasonable prices.
• Near the junction of I-35 and I-44, the Sleep Inn & Suites Oklahoma City North offers good value and is only about 15 minutes from downtown.
• South of the city center, off I-240, the Hampton Inn and Suites Oklahoma City-South features comfortable, spacious suites.

Map of Things to Do in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, OK - Climate Chart

More Must-See Destinations near Oklahoma City

Oklahoma is the heartland of America, with charming small towns, as well as big-city bustle. About a 90-minute drive away from Oklahoma City, Tulsa lies on a legendary portion of Route 66. This iconic American driving route also runs through small towns and cities in Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. For more big-city excitement, Dallas lies about three hours south of Oklahoma City, and Wichita in Kansas is only 160 miles to the north, with a multitude of museums, shops, festivals, and fabulous restaurants.