Oklahoma is a crossroads of Indigenous cultures, oil-boom swagger, and plains-country hospitality. In Oklahoma City and Tulsa, you’ll trace stories from the 1889 Land Run and the 1995 bombing memorial to the Green Corn Rebellion, the jazz age, and the Black Wall Street renaissance.

Expect vivid contrasts: a world-class First Americans Museum and a cowboy hall of fame; neon-splashed Route 66 stops and a futuristic riverfront adventure park; Art Deco skyscrapers and a new-wave culinary scene. This itinerary keeps travel easy—just 1.5–2 hours between cities—while maximizing museums, neighborhoods, and locally loved food.

Practical notes: You’ll fly into Oklahoma City (OKC) or Tulsa (TUL). Driving is easiest; there’s a turnpike toll between cities. Cuisine highlights include smoked BBQ, Native-inspired dishes, Vietnamese classics in OKC’s Asian District, Caribbean flavors in Tulsa, and a serious coffee culture in both cities.

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City blends frontier history and modern energy. Downtown’s Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is profoundly moving; nearby, Myriad Botanical Gardens and Scissortail Park provide fresh-air interludes. Bricktown’s canal, Brewery Row, and the OKC Streetcar make exploring easy.

• Top sights: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum; First Americans Museum; National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum; Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge; Scissortail Park; Bricktown Canal.
• Neighborhood vibes: Bricktown for entertainment and the ballpark; Plaza District for galleries and indie eats; Paseo Arts District for colorful studios and date-night dining; Automobile Alley for boutiques and breweries.
• What to eat: Farm-to-fork at Cheever’s Cafe, pizza at Empire Slice House, craft cocktails and live music at The Jones Assembly, Native-inspired fare at Thirty Nine (inside First Americans Museum), and Vietnamese staples along Classen Blvd.

Where to stay (OKC): For character and convenience, consider The Skirvin Hilton (historic grandeur), 21c Museum Hotel (gallery-meets-hotel), or Embassy Suites Downtown/Medical Center (suite-style comfort). Browse and book: The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City, 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City, Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Downtown/Medical Center. Or compare more stays on VRBO Oklahoma City and Hotels.com Oklahoma City.

Getting there: Search flights into Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Domestic roundtrips often range $150–$400; rideshare to downtown takes ~20 minutes.

Tulsa

Once the “Oil Capital of the World,” Tulsa glitters with Art Deco architecture, a proud music lineage (from Bob Wills to Leon Russell), and the expansive, imaginative Gathering Place park. It’s also home to Greenwood, a district whose Black Wall Street legacy now anchors some of America’s most important remembrance work.

• Top sights: Gathering Place; Philbrook Museum of Art; Greenwood District and Greenwood Rising; Bob Dylan Center; Woody Guthrie Center; Blue Dome and Tulsa Arts District; Center of the Universe oddity.
• Eat & drink: Caribbean flavors at Sisserou’s, Irish comfort at Kilkenny’s, BBQ at Albert G’s, sushi at Yokozuna, sweets at Antoinette Baking Co, and brews at American Solera or Heirloom Rustic Ales.
• Fun fact: Tulsa’s skyline is one of the nation’s richest collections of Art Deco towers—best appreciated on a guided architecture walk.

Where to stay (Tulsa): Downtown favorites include The Mayo Hotel (historic glam), Ambassador Hotel (boutique), and Hyatt Regency (steps from the Arts District). Compare options on VRBO Tulsa or Hotels.com Tulsa.

Day 1: Arrive in Oklahoma City, Bricktown canals, and a skyline stroll

Afternoon: Arrive at OKC and check into your hotel. Shake off travel with a wander through Bricktown: walk the canal path past the murals, grab a local pint at Bricktown Brewery, and peek at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. If you’re hungry on arrival, Hideaway Pizza’s Bricktown outpost is a crowd-pleaser.

Evening: Head to Scissortail Park for golden-hour views, the Skydance Bridge, and seasonal concerts. Dinner nearby at The Jones Assembly pairs wood-fired plates (short rib cavatelli, okie onion burger) with excellent cocktails and frequent live shows. Nightcap at Bar Arbolada for minimalist interiors and perfectly balanced drinks.

Day 2: Downtown orientation, Memorial & Museums, gardens and streetcar

Morning: Coffee and pastries at Kitchen No. 324 (don’t miss the green eggs and ham biscuit). Join a guided deep-dive into the city’s core, hopping on and off the OKC Streetcar to connect districts, landmarks, and stories.

Guided Streetcar Tour visit the Memorial, Downtown & Bricktown

Afternoon: Spend unhurried time at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The Field of Empty Chairs, Reflecting Pool, and Survivor Tree are powerful; the museum’s storytelling is excellent. Reset with a leafy walk through Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Crystal Bridge Conservatory.

Evening: Dinner with a view at Vast atop the Devon Tower—order the Oklahoma Wagyu and watch the city glow. If you prefer something cozy, Cheever’s Cafe serves beloved red river ribeye and shrimp and grits in a restored 1930s flower shop.

Day 3: First Americans Museum, Cowboy heritage, and Paseo Arts District

Morning: Breakfast at Cafe Kacao (Guatemalan sweet corn pancakes, molletes), then head to the First Americans Museum. Exhibits created with tribal partners foreground living cultures; the “OKLA HOMMA” gallery is a standout. Have lunch on-site at Thirty Nine—bison chili, fry bread, and cedar-smoked trout spotlight Indigenous flavors.

Afternoon: Explore the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum—Remington bronzes, the evocative Prosperity Junction frontier town, and a superb Native American art collection. Coffee afterwards at Elemental Coffee Roasters.

Evening: Drift through the colorful Paseo Arts District’s galleries, then dinner at Frida Southwest (green chile short rib, elote fritters). If you’re up for more, walk to O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel for skyline views.

Day 4: Plaza District and OKC’s Asian District flavors

Morning: Grab breakfast at Aurora in the Plaza District (smoked salmon tartine, house pastries) and browse street art and indie shops. Swing by Factory Obscura’s Mix-Tape for interactive, neon-dream art.

Afternoon: Eat your way through OKC’s storied Asian District on a guided tasting—think steaming pho, bánh mì, boba, and more stroll-friendly bites.

Asian District Food Tour in Oklahoma City

Evening: Casual dinner at Empire Slice House (go for the “Fungus Among Us” or hot honey pep), or The Press for Oklahoma comfort plates with a twist. Cap the night with a hazy IPA at Stonecloud Brewing or a lager at Vanessa House Brewing in Automobile Alley.

Day 5: Travel to Tulsa, Gathering Place, and Brookside/Cherry Street eats

Morning: Depart OKC for Tulsa (approx. 105 miles, 1.5–2 hours via I‑44; allow ~$5–$10 in tolls). Optional Route 66 detour: POPS 66 Soda Ranch and the Round Barn in Arcadia before rejoining the turnpike.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Gathering Place—award-winning riverside parkland of boathouses, imaginative playgrounds, gardens, and paths. Coffee at DoubleShot Coffee Co. for serious single-origin pours.

Evening: Dinner around Brookside or Cherry Street: Kilkenny’s Irish Pub (pot pies, fish & chips), Doc’s Wine & Food (oysters, Gulf shrimp and grits), or Samoji Ramen for cozy bowls. For dessert, Antoinette Baking Co. does beautiful tarts and cookies.

Day 6: Tulsa’s Art Deco core, tunnels, and music history

Morning: Start with a pastry and pour-over at Foolish Things Coffee Company. Then join a guided walk through Tulsa’s oil-boom downtown—terra-cotta facades, zig-zag Moderne details, and the fabled underground passages linking landmark buildings.

Tulsa History Tour with Oil Baron's Tunnel

Afternoon: Visit the Bob Dylan Center (manuscripts, studio treasures) and the Woody Guthrie Center across the street for Dust Bowl ballads and activist history. Quick lunch at Chimera Cafe (breakfast tacos, plant-forward bowls, great cold brew).

Evening: Dine in the Tulsa Arts District: Sisserou’s Caribbean Restaurant (jerk chicken, goat curry) or Yokozuna (ramen and rolls). Cocktails at Valkyrie, then catch a show at Cain’s Ballroom—the historic “Home of Bob Wills.”

Day 7: Greenwood stories, Philbrook gardens, and departure

Morning: Walk the Greenwood District at your own pace, exploring the legacy of Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre with an audio-guided route that brings names and places into focus.

Tulsa’s Black Wall Street 1921 Massacre Self Guided Walking Tour

Brunch at Wanda J’s Next Generation (smothered chicken, candied yams) or a final spin through Mother Road Market for quick bites (Chicken and the Wolf for hot chicken; Andolini’s for classic Tulsa pizza).

Afternoon: If time allows before your flight, stroll Philbrook Museum of Art’s terraced gardens and villa. Depart from Tulsa International Airport (TUL); compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re returning to OKC to fly, budget 2 hours plus tolls.

Alternative or add-on tour ideas (if you like extra activities): Try OKC’s indoor skydiving at iFLY, a Plaza District food walk, or a Tulsa Art Deco architecture deep dive—each adds flavor without complicating travel.

Wherever you start, this Oklahoma itinerary threads together moving memorials, groundbreaking museums, green parks, and neighborhoods packed with good coffee, barbecue, and music. It’s an easy, rewarding road trip you’ll remember for its stories as much as its skyline sunsets.