Tulsa

Tulsa offers a range of highlights to consider when planning your trip: cultural history, garden design, trails along the Arkansas River, outdoor activities, and Route 66. The places and activities below can help you decide whether to set aside time for exhibits, trails, or hands-on experiences.

Parks, Trails, and Walking Access

Gathering Place is Tulsa’s riverfront park. It offers attractions and programs for all ages, with no admission fee. Two access points are relevant for planning a walking visit: pedestrians can reach Gathering Place via the River Parks trails, while the Midland Valley Trail provides access to the east entrance. This lets you choose between getting there via the River Parks trails and entering from the east.

River Parks has 26 miles of paved trails along the Arkansas River in Tulsa. The eastern section of the River Parks trails extends for nine miles from 11th Street near downtown Tulsa south to 101st Street. The two distance figures refer to different stretches: the 26 miles cover the paved trails along the river, while the nine miles cover the eastern section between the stated endpoints.

Turkey Mountain has 45 miles of unpaved trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. The Rock Yard Bike Park is also designed for mountain biking: it includes three acres of hillside terrain with dirt jumps built specifically for mountain bikes. Tulsa offers several distinct outdoor options: paved trails, unpaved trails for multiple activities, and a purpose-built area with jumps.

Hands-On Nature Experiences

At the Tulsa Zoo, guests can visit the Oklahoma Central Credit Union Nature Exchange. They trade natural objects they have found outdoors for items from the collection. This makes collecting and comparing nature finds a specific activity to take part in. Another way to experience the zoo is to ride the Safari Train through the zoo.

Cultural History, Gardens, and Art

Greenwood Rising tells the story of Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District through a comprehensive, immersive museum experience. Visitors can learn about the district’s founders and discover more about Greenwood’s early development and economic rise. The “Arc of Oppression” gallery focuses on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This allows visitors to distinguish between the broader history of the district and the gallery’s specific focus.

Philbrook Gardens cover 25 acres. The garden design at Villa Philbrook combines Italian, English, and French garden traditions with plants native to the region. The design thus brings together different European garden influences and regional plants. The Westby Sculpture Walk features three-dimensional works by artists from around the world, offering another art-focused experience in Tulsa.

At the Woody Guthrie Center, you can choose between original material and a writing activity of your own: the center preserves the original handwritten lyrics to “This Land is Your Land.” At the Lyric Writing Station, visitors write their own song verses and can submit them to the database. A visit combines the chance to engage with a preserved song lyric and the opportunity to write a verse yourself.

Route 66 and the City’s Parks

The Tulsa section of Route 66 is 28 miles long. Its attractions include neon signs, souvenir shops, dining options, and photo stops. This can be planned differently from a visit to a single museum or park: the route spans a longer stretch, while the places mentioned each appeal to particular interests in culture, gardens, or recreation.

The overall size of the park system offers another way to understand Tulsa’s green spaces: it includes 135 parks across more than 6,500 acres. Together with the specific details about the River Parks trails and the unpaved trails on Turkey Mountain, this lets you distinguish between an overview of the city’s park system and particular outdoor activities.

Discover more destinations: Owasso, Sand Springs, Glenpool, Jenks, Broken Arrow.

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