Head north out of Texas into Oklahoma’s big-sky plains for a 4-day, ~900–1,050-mile motorcycle road trip made for November: cool air, golden light, and open roads. You’ll thread the granite peaks and bison herds of Wichita Mountains, roll the Mother Road past classic Route 66 stops, and park for art, music, and steaks in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Each riding day is broken into logical two-hour segments with interesting reasons to stop, stretch, and look around.

Oklahoma’s history is written in its roads—U.S. Route 66, cattle trails, and oil-boom main streets. In OKC, stockyards grit meets a surging arts scene; in Tulsa, art deco towers glow over a city that swings between barbecue joints and world-class parks. You’ll visit living-history districts, iconic neon landmarks, and modern museums celebrating both First American cultures and American music.

November riding here is usually crisp and clear (highs 55–68°F, lows 35–45°F). Plan layers, windproof gloves, and a heated vest if you have it. Veterans Day parades can bring brief closures—check schedules in OKC and Tulsa if you love community events. As a weather backup (or if you decide to fly and rent), browse trips on Kiwi.com or Trip.com and keep this itinerary intact with four wheels.

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City blends frontier heritage with modern verve. Bricktown’s canal-side warehouses hum with breweries and music, while Stockyards City preserves the cattle trade with sizzling ribeyes and boot shops. Museums like the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and First Americans Museum ground you in the story of the Great Plains.

• Don’t miss Scissortail Park at sunset, the Skydance Bridge lit up over I-40, and the thriving Plaza and Paseo arts districts.
• Top stops: Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape (immersive art), Riversport OKC whitewater complex (great views, even if you’re not paddling), and Lake Hefner’s lighthouse for wind-whipped sunset photos.
• Food and drink: Florence’s Restaurant (James Beard classic Southern), Cheever’s Cafe (Southwest-leaning bistro), Cattlemen’s Steakhouse (since 1910), Elemental Coffee and Eote Coffee for roaster-fresh cups.

Where to stay: Browse central stays in Bricktown, Midtown, or near Scissortail Park on VRBO or Hotels.com.

Getting there by air (backup plan): Typical DFW–OKC flights take ~1 hour and run ~$120–$250 round-trip in November. Search flexible dates on Kiwi.com or Trip.com.

Tulsa

Tulsa is Route 66 soul with an art deco crown. Oil-boom architecture frames a lively downtown, the Gathering Place is one of America’s finest urban parks, and music heritage lives on from the Woody Guthrie Center to Cain’s Ballroom.

• Top sights: Gathering Place (free, world-class), Philbrook Museum of Art (Italianate villa and gardens, daytime), and Blue Dome District for dining and nightlife.
• Food and drink: Kilkenny’s Irish Restaurant & Pub (heartwarming classics), Nola’s Creole & Cocktails (speakeasy vibe), McNellie’s (beloved pub), and DoubleShot Coffee Company or Notion Espresso for your morning fix.
• Fun fact: Tulsa hosted the world’s largest free municipal celebration when Route 66 opened through town—long before Instagram made neon famous.

Where to stay: Plant yourselves near the Arts District or Blue Dome for walkable evenings—see VRBO or Hotels.com.

Day 1 (Fri, Nov 8): Wichita Falls → Wichita Mountains → Oklahoma City (~185–220 riding miles)

Morning: Depart Wichita Falls by 8:00 a.m. Aim for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center via US-277/US-281 (about 1 hr 45 min, ~95 miles). Stretch amid granite peaks and watch for bison and longhorns along Wildlife Loop—ideal photo ops and a gentle warm-up ride.

Afternoon: Lunch at Meers Store & Restaurant (famous longhorn burgers; expect a wait, but it’s part of the ritual). Ride up Mount Scott for sweeping views (quick, twisty ascent—watch crosswinds). Continue to Oklahoma City via I-44 (about 1 hr 30 min, ~90 miles). Check into your hotel near Bricktown or Midtown.

Evening: Shake off road miles with a walk along the Bricktown Canal. Dinner picks: Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Stockyards City (historic, no-frills excellence), Cheever’s Cafe (prime ribeye and shrimp & grits), or The Jones Assembly (lively spot with wood-fired mains). Nightcap stroll across Scissortail Park and the lit Skydance Bridge.

Day 2 (Sat, Nov 9): Oklahoma City loop + Route 66 warm-up (~110–160 miles)

Morning: Coffee at Elemental Coffee (house-roasted), then the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (2 hours; Chisholm Trail lore, Remington bronzes). Late-morning ride to Guthrie (40–45 minutes). Explore its preserved Victorian downtown and railroad history. Espresso at Hoboken Coffee Roasters in a converted garage.

Afternoon: Drop south-east to Arcadia on old Route 66 (35 minutes). Tour the Arcadia Round Barn (quirky acoustics upstairs), then hit POPS 66 for a technicolor soda wall—great stop for a cold sarsaparilla and a fuel/stretch break. If you want extra miles, continue 30 minutes to the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum in Warwick (check seasonal hours; it’s a gem for two-wheel history), then loop back to OKC via I-44.

Evening: In the Plaza District, dine at The Press (Oklahoma comfort plates) or Aurora for a cozy bistro vibe. Optional: Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape for interactive, neon-dream art. If you love live country, look for shows at the Rodeo Opry or investigate Stockyards honky-tonks.

Day 3 (Sun, Nov 10): Oklahoma City → Tulsa via classic Route 66 (~150–180 miles)

Morning: Breakfast sandwich and latte at Eote Coffee’s downtown roastery. Depart OKC by 9:00 a.m. Eastbound on Route 66: first stop Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum (Warwick; ~55 minutes). Next, Chandler’s historic Main Street and murals (15 minutes farther). Continue to the Rock Cafe in Stroud (30 minutes)—a famous 1939 Route 66 diner rebuilt after a fire; order the Jägerschnitzel or an old-school patty melt.

Afternoon: Roll through Bristow and Sapulpa to the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum (giant gas pump out front, great photos; 20–25 minutes from Stroud). Optional quick detour to the Tee Pee Drive-In for a classic picture. Arrive Tulsa mid-afternoon, check in near the Arts or Blue Dome districts. Walk the Gathering Place before sunset—one of the nation’s finest riverfront parks.

Evening: Dinner at Kilkenny’s Irish Restaurant & Pub (Guinness stew and sticky toffee pudding), Nola’s Creole & Cocktails (duck & andouille gumbo in a Prohibition-era setting), or El Guapo’s Cantina (rooftop views when it’s mild). Catch a show at Cain’s Ballroom (historic dance hall that still rocks) or sip craft beer in the Blue Dome District.

Day 4 (Mon, Nov 11 – Veterans Day): Tulsa → Wichita Falls (two routes)

Option A: The classic Route 66 ride home (~300–340 miles)

Morning coffee at DoubleShot Coffee Company. Quick photo at the Blue Whale of Catoosa (15 minutes from downtown). Continue west to OKC (about 1 hr 45 min), pause at POPS/Arcadia for a leg stretch, then southwest to Lawton for a late lunch (Wayne’s Drive-In burgers are a local favorite), and on to Wichita Falls by early evening (aim to be off rural roads near dusk for deer safety).

Option B: Add Dallas for a history-rich detour and a Viator experience (~410–460 miles)

Depart Tulsa by 8:00 a.m. Two-hour run to Atoka (gas, snack), another hour to Durant—consider a stop at the Choctaw Cultural Center for a cultural deep-dive—then on to Dallas for an early-afternoon tour:

Featured Viator activity (optional): JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House (approx. 3.5 hours). You’ll trace the 11/22/1963 motorcade, Dealey Plaza, the Sixth Floor Museum, and the Oswald Rooming House for a detailed, moving look at American history. Book here: JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House

Lunch/dinner nearby: Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum (slow-smoked brisket and ribs), Terry Black’s (queue moves quickly), or Lockhart Smokehouse in the Bishop Arts vibe. After the tour, it’s ~2 hr 15 min back to Wichita Falls. If you’d rather overnight and roll home Tuesday morning, search stays on VRBO Dallas or Hotels.com Dallas.

Daily dining cheat sheet

• Oklahoma City coffee/breakfast: Elemental Coffee (house roasts), Eote Coffee (industrial-cool roastery), Stitch Cafe (hearty breakfasts). Lunch: The Mule (sandwiches in Plaza District), The Press (Okie comfort). Dinner: Cattlemen’s Steakhouse; Cheever’s Cafe; The Jones Assembly.
• Route 66 staples: Meers Store & Restaurant (longhorn burgers); Rock Cafe (Stroud; 1939 diner); POPS 66 (700+ sodas); Arcadia Round Barn (history + photo ops).
• Tulsa coffee/breakfast: DoubleShot Coffee Company; Notion Espresso; Foolish Things Coffee. Lunch: Mother Road Market (many local vendors under one roof); Baxter’s Interurban Grill (classic American). Dinner: Kilkenny’s Irish Pub; Nola’s Creole & Cocktails; McNellie’s Public House.

Mileage and pacing overview

• Day 1: Wichita Falls → Wichita Mountains → OKC: ~185–220 miles (two-hour stop rhythm: Refuge Visitor Center → Meers/Mt Scott → OKC).
• Day 2: OKC loop to Guthrie/Arcadia/Warwick and back: ~110–160 miles (Elemental → Guthrie → Arcadia Round Barn/POPS → optional Seaba Station → OKC).
• Day 3: OKC → Tulsa via Route 66 with museums: ~150–180 miles (Warwick → Chandler → Stroud → Sapulpa → Tulsa).
• Day 4: Direct return: ~300–340 miles; Dallas detour option: ~410–460 miles. Add short morning loops (e.g., Tulsa’s Keystone Lake) if you’d like to finish near 1,000 total miles.

Practical riding notes for November

• Daylight is ~10.5 hours; plan to be off rural roads near dusk for wildlife. Layer up; heated gloves/vests are a big comfort upgrade.
• Prevailing winds often run north–south; expect crosswinds on Mt Scott and I-44. Fuel up often—many stops here double as small-town history lessons.
• Check hours for Seaba Station and Heart of Route 66; Sundays usually open, Mondays variable. Veterans Day parades can briefly reroute downtown streets.

Backup travel options: If weather turns and you decide to fly and rent a car in OKC or Tulsa, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com, then keep this stop-by-stop plan.

With wildlife lookouts, Route 66 neon, and music-filled evenings, this Veterans Day weekend delivers the cool-weather road trip you asked for, north of Texas and rich in character. You’ll get satisfying miles, memorable meals, and just enough city energy—then a peaceful ride home with stories for the next rally.