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Destinations / United States

Tulsa

Art Deco, Route 66 and a world-class riverside park

musichistoryarchitecturefamiliesbudget
Plan your trip to TulsaSee the top 10
415,154Population
1.1 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$160-250Typical day

Tulsa is a former oil boom city in northeastern Oklahoma, known for its Art Deco downtown, a stretch of historic Route 66 and an outsized cultural scene. The Gathering Place, a huge park on the Arkansas River, is the top draw for families. Music fans come for the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie centers, and history travelers for the Greenwood District. It is affordable, friendly and easy to explore in a long weekend.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A huge riverside park with elaborate playgrounds, gardens, a boathouse and trails, built with private donations. It is one of the most acclaimed city parks in the US.

    3 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Not confirmed on an official page; check locally for any fees.

    Tip. Weekday mornings are calmest; the big playgrounds get busy on weekends.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. An art museum in a 1920s Italian Renaissance style villa built for an oil family, surrounded by formal and wild gardens. The collection spans European, American and Native American art.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Leave time for the gardens, which are a highlight in spring.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. A history center in the Greenwood District telling the story of Black Wall Street and the 1921 Race Massacre through immersive exhibits. It is moving and essential for understanding Tulsa.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Walk along Greenwood Avenue afterwards to see the plaques marking lost businesses.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. A museum built around Bob Dylan's archive of manuscripts, recordings and photos, with interactive listening stations. It sits in the Tulsa Arts District.

    1.5 to 2 hoursTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Combo tickets with the Woody Guthrie Center are sometimes offered; check the site.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. A museum about the Oklahoma folk singer who wrote This Land Is Your Land, with his notebooks, lyrics and a guitar you can play. It shows how his songs shaped American protest music.

    1 to 1.5 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. It is a short walk from the Bob Dylan Center.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. Downtown's liveliest blocks of galleries, music venues, bars and restaurants in old warehouses. The Cain's Ballroom, a historic Western swing venue, is here.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Not confirmed on an official page; check locally for any fees.

    Tip. Come on the first Friday of the month for the art crawl.
    See on the map

  7. Tulsa has many kilometers of the original Mother Road, marked by neon signs, a giant sculpture of a 1920s car at Cyrus Avery Plaza and vintage motels. Driving 11th Street gives the best feel.

    1 to 2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Not confirmed on an official page; check locally for any fees.

    Tip. Stop at the Meadow Gold sign and Avery Plaza for photos.
    See on the map

  8. A large zoo in Mohawk Park with elephants, a rainforest building and a sea lion habitat. It is popular with families.

    3 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Go early on summer days before the heat.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. A riverside aquarium in Jenks known for its large bull shark tank and walk-through tunnel. It is about 20 minutes south of downtown.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Pair it with antique shopping on Jenks Main Street.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. An oilman's ranch retreat turned museum, with Western art, Native American artifacts and a drive through a preserve with bison and elk. It feels like old Oklahoma.

    Half a dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Drive about 1 hour north; check seasonal opening days before setting out.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Tulsa in three days

Day one downtown, day two for Philbrook, Gathering Place and Route 66, day three for the zoo or the aquarium.

  1. Greenwood Rising1.5 hours
  2. Tulsa Arts District and Blue Dome District2 hours
  3. Bob Dylan Center1.5 to 2 hours
  4. Woody Guthrie Center1 to 1.5 hours
  5. Gathering Place3 hours
  6. Philbrook Museum of Art2 to 3 hours
  7. Route 66 in Tulsa1 to 2 hours
  8. Tulsa Zoo3 hours
  9. Oklahoma Aquarium2 hours
Beyond the city

Day trips

Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore

A museum on the humorist and Oklahoma's most famous son.

28 mi · Car, about 40 minutes each way

Pawhuska

A small Osage Nation town with prairie views nearby.

59 mi · Car, about 1 hour 15 minutes each way

Oklahoma City

The state capital, with the National Memorial and Museum.

106 mi · Car on the Turner Turnpike, about 1 hour 45 minutes each way

Bartlesville (Price Tower and Woolaroc)

Frank Lloyd Wright's only skyscraper and a Western art museum.

47 mi · Drive, about 1h each way

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Mild temperatures suit the outdoor park and walking tours, avoiding peak summer heat.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.3JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

46°F
Typical daily high
Average36°F
Rain1.8 in
About6 rainy days
Sun strength2.5 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Year

Tulsa State Fair

Autumn, check the official site for dates

A large fair at Expo Square with rides, livestock and fair food.

May

Mayfest

Usually May

Downtown arts and music festival; verify dates.

Jun

Tulsa Tough

Usually June

Cycling festival; verify dates.

May

Greenwood commemorations

May 31 to June 1

Remembrance events for the 1921 Race Massacre.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

There is no US government advisory for domestic travel, so this follows the UK FCDO USA advice, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; the downtown districts are fine with normal precautions, and severe spring storms and tornado warnings are a weather risk to watch.

3/5
Walkability

Downtown districts are walkable, but Gathering Place, Philbrook and the zoo need a car.

2/5
Public transport

Tulsa Transit buses and the Aero rapid line on Peoria Avenue help, but most visitors drive.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
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1. Downtown and Tulsa Arts District

$$WalkabilityCompact grid with lots to see.

Best for: first-timers, music

Walk to the Dylan and Guthrie centers, Greenwood and restaurants.

See on the map

2. Cherry Street and Brookside

$$WalkabilityWalkable main streets, car needed beyond.

Best for: couples, food

Leafy neighborhoods with restaurants near Philbrook and Gathering Place.

See on the map

3. Midtown and Utica Square

$$WalkabilityPleasant but spread out.

Best for: shopping, couples

Quiet area near Philbrook and upscale shopping.

See on the map

4. South Tulsa and Jenks

$WalkabilityCar-based.

Best for: families, budget

Chain hotels near the aquarium and highways.

See on the map

5. Pearl District and Blue Dome

$WalkabilityCompact and walkable.

Best for: nightlife, budget

Eclectic bars and restaurants near downtown.

See on the map

6. Utica Square area

$$$WalkabilityWalkable inside the square.

Best for: shopping, luxury

Upscale shopping and dining near Philbrook.

See on the map

Getting there and around

Main airportTulsa International Airport (TUL), 9 mi from the center
To the centerRental car, taxi or rideshare is the practical way downtown, about 15 minutes.
Around townA car is easiest. Downtown districts like the Arts District, Blue Dome and Greenwood can be done on foot, and bike share is available.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Barbecue

Oklahoma style mixes smoked brisket, ribs and hot links.

Chicken fried steak

Breaded fried steak with cream gravy.

Onion burger

A regional burger with thin onions smashed into the patty.

Fried okra

A Southern side dish.

Steakhouse dinners

Local steakhouses like PRHYME are listed by the tourism board.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15 to 20 percent for taxis and rideshares.
PaymentsCards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small vendors, parking meters and tips.
EtiquetteDress is casual and people are friendly; greet staff and expect small talk. Be respectful at Greenwood and other sites tied to the 1921 massacre.
  • Gilcrease Museum is closed for a rebuild and plans to reopen in March 2027.
  • Spring brings severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings; follow local alerts and sirens.
  • Summers are hot and humid, so plan outdoor sights for the morning.
  • Many museums close one or two days a week, often Monday; check before you go.
  • Look for Art Deco details on downtown buildings like the Philcade and Boston Avenue Methodist Church.
  • Spring storms can bring tornado warnings, so watch local alerts.
  • Check hours of the Bob Dylan Center and other museums before you go.
  • Route 66 sights are spread out and need a car.

A short history

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation settled the Tulsa area in the 1830s after forced removal from the Southeast, and Tulsa sits partly within Muscogee, Cherokee and Osage lands. The discovery of oil nearby in the early 1900s made it the Oil Capital of the World, and the wealth paid for its Art Deco towers. In 1921 a white mob destroyed the prosperous Black district of Greenwood, killing many residents, in what is now called the Tulsa Race Massacre. Route 66, promoted by Tulsa businessman Cyrus Avery, ran straight through the city from 1926.

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Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Tulsa