Last Updated on August 19, 2024 by Kristin
Hugging the Arkansas River, Tulsa is known for its art deco architecture, art scene and music venues. While Tulsa has enough to keep visitors busy for days within city limits, this stop on Route 66 is a great place to hit the open road and check out some surrounding destinations. Here are five great road trips from Tulsa.
Fabulous Road Trips from Tulsa
Oklahoma City
106 miles / 1 hr. 33 mins.
As a state capital, Oklahoma City offers cosmopolitan amenities amid its history of being an important site for oil wells. Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, and learn about the city’s cowboy culture at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Browse the galleries at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, visit artist workshops in the Paseo Arts District or take the family to the Science Museum Oklahoma. For nightlife, head to lively Bricktown to dine waterfront by the city’s canals and enjoy live music.
Wichita, Kansas
175 miles / 2 hr. 42 mins.
Wichita has transformed over the decades from an aviation manufacturing center into Kansas’ largest city, and makes for the perfect city getaway to take in cultural attractions and dining. Explore the Ulrich Museum of Art’s collection and sculpture gallery, and browse Wichita’s many murals on Douglas Avenue. The Exploration Place science center and Sedgwick County Zoo are also popular, family-friendly destinations. Wichita is also full of inviting outdoor spaces, like its botanical gardens and Keeper of the Plains statue overlooking where two rivers meet. For shopping and entertainment, head to the historic Old Town district featuring boutiques, restaurants and concert venues.
Branson, Missouri
220 miles / 3 hr. 12 mins.
Sometime called the “live entertainment capital of the world” or to a “family-friendly Las Vegas,” the Missouri town of Branson is a great place to catch a show. The town boasts more than 50 theaters that get all manner of touring acts, but it also offers Silver Dollar City theme park, hundreds of restaurants, and plenty of outdoor fun, thanks to Table Rock Lake and the hiking and biking trails of the Ozark Mountains. >> Recommended hotels in Branson
Dallas, Texas
257 miles / 4 hr. 30 mins.
Just more than four hours south of Tulsa lies the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis, which is home to some of the best shopping, restaurants and museums in the region. The first stop for many tourists downtown is the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which is dedicated to John F. Kennedy. Check out the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and Perot Museum of Nature and Science. After an afternoon of browsing museums, head to the top of the Reunion Tower observation deck before sunset to take in panoramic city views from a gourmet restaurant. >> Recommended hotels from Dallas
St. Louis, Missouri
394 miles / 5 hr. 42 mins.
Less than six hours from Tulsa is another great Midwestern destination to explore. When you think of St Louis, it’s likely that one image comes to mind: the iconic Gateway Arch, created in 1966 to celebrate westward expansion under Thomas Jefferson. Getting a view of the 63-story Arch from your hotel room helps create the ultimate St. Louis experience. Other city hotels offer lovely views of the Mississippi River and Busch Stadium. >> Recommended hotels in St. Louis
Memphis, Tennessee
401 miles / 5 hr. 43 mins.
Drive east to the banks of the Mississippi River, where the Tennessee city of Memphis embraces both its history and its soul. Enrich your own knowledge by walking along the Civil Rights Trail, enjoy the musical heritage on Beale Street and at Graceland, and tuck in to zesty barbecue found all over town. Downtown Memphis is also home to the FedEx Forum, home court for the NBA’s Grizzlies. >> Recommended hotels in Memphis
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