Oklahoma City is nothing if not surprising. From the endless lakes, fishing, and other outdoor recreation to its impressive variety of museums, music, shopping, and fine dining, Oklahoma City is more than OK. Little surprise, then, that the state capital offers a little bit of everything – once you know where to look.
OKC embraces its past proudly while celebrating everything the 21st century has to offer. It’s organic but intentional, mid-sized but metropolitan, and full of places to explore and stuff to do.
Whether you’re a local looking to stretch your horizons, a visitor from the surrounding area, or simply passing through, there’s an impressive variety of things to do in Oklahoma City. You can entertain the family on a budget, live large with friends or loved ones, or craft a special experience with that certain someone – and we’ll help you get started.
Fun Things to Do in Oklahoma City: Best of the Midwest
If you’re a sports fan, OKC gives you plenty of options. Check out the Oklahoma City Thunder – one of the NBA’s best and most exciting teams – at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Watch professional soccer with the OKC Energy at historic Taft Stadium, where some of the top players in the country compete for the USL championship.
Or, bask in an authentic ballpark experience with some OKC Dodgers baseball at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. (Locals say they go for the burgers but stay for the games!)
Oklahoma City is also the home of softball in America. The Women’s College World Series for Softball is held every summer at OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame. The best players in the country compete for top honors while fans from dozens of different states cheer them on. The Softball Hall of Fame & Museum, of course, is open year-round.
If your tastes lean more towards art and culture, Oklahoma City has a surprising array of options – from the Jones Museum of Art at OU to the Banjo Hall of Fame or Museum of Women Pilots. There are traditional museums and experiences as well – not to mention plenty of shopping, dining, and simply enjoying the scenery.
However you define it, there are plenty of fun things to do in Oklahoma City. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Midwest.
Family Fun: Things to Do in Oklahoma City with Kids
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Myriad Botanical Gardens offer over 100 acres of family-friendly experiences and houses nearly 2,000 animals. It’s open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, and it’s more zoo than first-timers usually expect. Bring your toddlers, bring your teenager, bring grandma and Uncle Lou – everyone loves a good zoo.
Science Museum Oklahoma is home to over 390,000 square feet of hands-on science experiences, art, and history. From the Kirkpatrick Planetarium to their famous “Science Live” shows, Science Museum Oklahoma is a must on any list of things to do in Oklahoma City with kids. Don’t be surprised if you learn a few things along the way and enjoy just as much as they do.
Frontier City is Oklahoma’s biggest and best amusement park. As part of the Six Flags family, it’s designed to offer something for everyone from the adventurous teenager to the middle-aged couple with toddlers. Your little ones can burn some of that endless energy climbing, swinging, exploring, and sliding, while your teens can choose between a full day’s worth of thrill rides, fun rides, water features, and more. Mom and Dad can enjoy the many included shows or simply sip a cool drink in the shade. When you’re ready to go, the parking lot exits right onto the highway to home, hotel, or next destination.
Hurricane Harbor is Oklahoma’s premier water park, with over a dozen rides and features designed for everyone in the family. From the high-speed “free-fall” of the Acapulco Cliff Dive to the crazy fun of Barefootin’ Bay, the drops and slides of Kellhaul Falls to the lazy enjoyment of Castaway Creek, Mom and Dad can join the kids in watery fun or enjoy a breather watching from shaded lounge chairs as the rest of the group splashes, slides, and swims the afternoon away.
OKC Adult Things to Do: Enjoy the Arts
The Oklahoma Museum of Art is a bit more traditional than, say, local museums built around firefighters, skeletons, or pigeons. Its collection includes paintings, prints, photos, and sculptures from across the world, but OKCMA’s strength is their European and American collection from the 19th and 20th centuries. You'll see works from a dozen renowned artists and some amazing pieces from less familiar names as well. The museum also features one of the famous Chihuly art glass sculptures which will take your breath away.
If your idea of art involves more cocktails and less thinking, Oklahoma City has plenty of nightclubs, sports bars, and late night entertainment, both in Bricktown and across the larger area. Whether socializing with friends or looking for “adult” entertainment, you won’t have to look very hard to find something that matches your goals and your style.
Of course, if you’re an adult, anything you choose to do during your visit qualifies as adult things to do in Oklahoma City – shopping, playing, fishing, or lounging about. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone.
On a Budget? Free and Cheap Things to Do in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has more than 80 miles of multi-use trails. Grab your best running or walking shoes, your bicycle, or your skateboard and see almost every point in the city at your own pace, all while doing your heart and mind some good. Plus, it’s not just inexpensive – it’s free!
Oklahoma also has a wealth of lakes perfect for boating or fishing, and ample campground space in the Oklahoma City area and beyond. If you like to be outdoors but prefer to stay a bit more active, check out the area’s professional quality disc golf courses as well.
Want to go a bit outside the norm and have something attention-grabbing to post on social media or tell your friends about when you get home? How about a visit to the American Pigeon Museum & Library in OKC? It’s always free and includes exhibits exploring the history of pigeons in wartime, pigeons used for racing, and more. In case you’re wondering, of course they have actual pigeons there as well!
If you like your fun a little less flappy, consider the Museum of Osteology, better known around town simply as “The Skeleton Museum.”
It’s family-friendly and fun, and if you’re not careful you may just learn something. Over 300 skeletons from all parts of the world, including an amazing 40-foot humpback whale. Admission is reasonable; bragging about your visit is free.
Many of Oklahoma City’s historical and educational offerings offer inexpensive alternatives to your standard entertainment options. Stretch your minds without stretching your wallets – and walk away with more than a souvenir.
Meet Bricktown: Things to Do in Downtown Oklahoma City
If you’re new to the area and looking for creative local restaurants, fine dining, unique shopping opportunities, and more, head downtown. If you’re visiting from out-of-state, just tell your driver or your GPS to take you to “Bricktown.” High-end cuisine or affordable family dining with flare, Bricktown is the pride of OKC and must top any list of things to do in downtown Oklahoma City.
Not in the mood to walk? Take a carriage and see the city in comfort and style. One of the most relaxing things to do in Oklahoma City is to experience one of downtown’s carriage rides. Whether it’s a special occasion or you simply want to make the night special, look for the beautiful horses and tall hats.
If you’re in town over the summer, check out the Dead Center Film Festival – named one of the “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals” by MovieMaker magazine. From shorts by first-time filmmakers to unveiled works from the best writers and directors in the business, Dead Center takes over Oklahoma City every June and has something for everyone.
Things to Do in Oklahoma City at Night
One of the nicest things about OKC is that the city is largely the same after dark as it is during the day. While few entertainment options go past 2 a.m., many of the same dining, dancing, or playing options you have while the sun is out are going strong until well into the night.
Oklahoma City has plenty of movie theaters, bowling alleys, and other standard American fare to keep night owls engaged and entertained. If your tastes lean more towards the wining and dining, you’ll find plenty of options keeping hours much like your own as well.
Looking for Love? Romantic Things to Do in OKC
If you’re not from the area, you may not think of Oklahoma City as a great place to take a cruise. Oklahoma River Cruises, however, can be the perfect afternoon adventure or a wonderful after-dark couple’s experience. Enjoy your favorite adult beverage as you and your partner take in the sites while gliding along the water. Afternoon trips include local history and colorful anecdotes about the city. Evening cruises are tailored for couples to enjoy, with less focus on the city’s past and more on… the moment.
The Oklahoma City Ballet brings classic ballet with modern accessibility to the Midwest. While OKC Ballet is far more than a performance company, there’s nothing quite like a couple’s evening at the ballet to create that magical atmosphere as you share the experience together.
And of course, never overlook the power of a specialty chocolate shop or local bakery, followed by a leisurely walk in one of the many parks or a carriage ride through downtown at night. Sometimes the most romantic things to do together are the simplest – and OKC has plenty of options.
Bad Weather, No Worries: Indoor Things to Do in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma History Center offers 215,000 square feet of displays, restorations, recreations, and media. Not from Oklahoma? No worries. The story of Oklahoma is the story of frontier pioneers, Native cultures, aviation, exploration, commerce, oil booms, entertainment, and more. Whatever else you can say about Oklahoma, it’s never been quite like any other state.
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has one of the nation’s most celebrated collections of Western art and artifacts. You’ll find originals by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell as well as falling in love with works from artists you’ve probably never heard of – but are unlikely to ever forget. Experience the American West for the first time – again.
The 45th Infantry Thunderbird Museum is housed in a former armory built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. Over the years, it’s housed military vehicles and multiple National Guard units before becoming a museum. See more than 60 military vehicles, tanks, aircraft and big guns, an extensive collection of vintage weapons, and Bill Mauldin’s personal collection of his World War II cartoons.
Unique Things to Do In Oklahoma City
One of the most innovative sites to experience in Oklahoma City is Factory Obscura, a unique, artist-driven "immersive experience" designed to make you think, feel, question, and – most of all – enjoy.
Combining art, sound, interaction, and personalization, no two visits are likely to be the same. Plan a visit with the family for laughs and wonder or schedule an evening with someone special to share an experience as unique as it is amazing.
There are plenty of places in Oklahoma City to have fun and cut loose, but it’s also home to one of the most somber memorials in the country as well. The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is built on the site of the Oklahoma City Bombing of April 19, 1995.
The grounds are beautiful and stirring to contemplate and absolutely free to wander at your leisure. The inside portion of the memorial is intentionally kept affordable in order to remain accessible for families, students, or anyone else willing to reflect and learn on the deadliest terror attack in American history before 9/11.
Whatever your background or beliefs, you will leave changed.
Getting Started
You’re unlikely to run out of stuff to do in and around Oklahoma City. Whether you’re looking for top notch golfing or cheap eating, creative entertainment or a day at the mall, the City has something for everyone. The more you get to know it, the more you realize there is yet to discover.