10 Best Scenic Spots in Oklahoma
Content
- No. 10 - Oklahoma Highway 10
- #9 - Nostalgic Route 33
- No. 8 - Oklahoma Highway 20
- No. 7 - Route 8 State Parks.
- No. 6 - Quartz Mountain State Park.
- No. 5 - The picturesque lane of the Mountain Gates.
- #4 – Route 66
- No. 3 - Wichita Mountains
- No. 2 - A picturesque pass on a mountain pass.
- No. 1 - Talimena Scenic Drive
The Midwestern state of Oklahoma is known for its prairies, highlands, small mountain ranges, and a mix of cultures. Native American influence there is great, with 24 tribal languages still in use, and there are thriving German, Scottish and Scots-Irish communities living in the immediate vicinity. As it is home to several cultures, it also hosts a wide range of wildlife and native plants. To begin your exploration of this diverse state, consider using one of these proven Oklahoma scenic roads as a starting point before carving your own path through the rest of this spectacular region:
No. 10 - Oklahoma Highway 10
Start Location: Tahlequah, okay
Final location: Muscogee, okay
Length: Mile 34
Best driving season: Vesna summer
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Ideal for a leisurely morning or afternoon drive through verdant forests and rocky cliffs, this route along Highway 10 is to be savored and not rushed. Be sure to stop at the historic site of Fort Gibson, which was once an army outpost in Indian territory and still retains 29 buildings to this day. Once in Greenleaf State Park, enjoy one of the many hiking trails or test your skills at the 18-hole golf course.
#9 - Nostalgic Route 33
Start Location: Guthrie, okay
Final location: Perkins, okay
Length: Mile 26
Best driving season: All
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Travelers on this path can feel like they've been transported back in time on this route through the state's central border country. In Guthrie, be sure to check out Santa Fe Depot, the heart of city life in the 1900s, or pre-trip Stable's Café for western-inspired fare and scrumptious steaks. Once in Perkins, tour Oklahoma Territory Square, an open-air museum with several restored buildings, including an 1800s one-room schoolhouse and a 1901 log cabin.
No. 8 - Oklahoma Highway 20
Start Location: Claremore, okay
Final location: Spavino, good
Length: Mile 40
Best driving season: All
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This winding road past lakes and wide open lands is full of unusual stops and amusements. From the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, dedicated to the Oklahoma native with a large collection of memorabilia, to exploring how the small town of Uh-Oul got its name from chatting with the locals, this trip won't be soon forgotten. For more traditional entertainment, head to the turquoise waters of Spavino Lake in Grand Lake State Park, Oklahoma.
No. 7 - Route 8 State Parks.
Start Location: You flashed, OK
Final location: Hinton, okay
Length: Mile 31
Best driving season: All
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Full of interesting geological features mixed with the rocks and canyons of the region, this route has a lot of visual appeal. In Watong, take time to explore Roman Nose State Park, which contains three natural springs once believed by Native Americans to have healing properties. Toward the end of the trip is Red Rock Canyon State Park, with many hiking trails designed for all skill levels, from beginner to expert.
No. 6 - Quartz Mountain State Park.
Start Location: Altus, OK
Final location: lone wolf, okay
Length: Mile 27
Best driving season: Vesna summer
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The focal point of this route is the 2,040-foot-tall Quartz Mountain, which was once 20,000 feet high before erosion took its toll and is located at the western end of the Wichita mountain range. The mountain with rich quartz deposits shines when the sun falls on it. It overlooks Lake Althaus in the small town of Lügert, where visitors flock to swim, fish and boat.
No. 5 - The picturesque lane of the Mountain Gates.
Start Location: Heavener, okay
Final location: Heavener, okay
Length: Mile 11
Best driving season: All
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Although this trip is quite short, it is not without spectacular views of the Ouachita Mountains as it passes along the Mountain Fork, Black Fork and Glover rivers. In spring, the area is covered in wildflowers that can inspire just about any interior photographer. With elevations reaching 2,600 feet above sea level, there are several places to film and view the landscape for miles on end.
#4 – Route 66
Start Location: Miami, OK
Final location: Eric, okay
Length: Mile 337
Best driving season: All
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Although Route 66 hasn't survived in the way it once did, the part that once ran in Oklahoma lies mostly on Route 44 and is still full of iconic charm and roadside attractions. Motorcycle enthusiasts can visit the Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum in Miami, known for its collection of Evel Knievel memorabilia. This stretch of the state is full of tiny cafes with simple, home-cooked food, and learn more about the history of this journey at the Oklahoma Highway 66 Museum in Clinton.
No. 3 - Wichita Mountains
Start Location: Elgin, okay
Final location: Lost Lake, OK
Length: Mile 28
Best driving season: All
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This route starts in the small town of Elgin, famous for Fort Sill National Cemetery, and passes through a variety of terrain before ending at Lost Lake in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo opportunities abound on grassy prairies, rocky outcrops, crossroads and bodies of water. While there is no shortage of places to stop and enjoy the views or walk along the trail, hikers should stop at Turkey's Prairie Dog Town to watch the black-tailed prairie dogs run around like no one is watching.
No. 2 - A picturesque pass on a mountain pass.
Start Location: Page, OK
Final location: Octavia, okay
Length: Mile 28
Best driving season: Autumn, Spring, Summer
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This mountain road crosses mountain peaks and passes through the 26,445-acre Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area and is especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing. Stop at the Kerr Arboretum to enjoy the scenery, or take a walk along the trail for a closer connection with nature. For those who want to spend a little more time enjoying the beauty of the region, there are several campsites where you can spend the night.
No. 1 - Talimena Scenic Drive
Start Location: good luck, good
Final location: Mena, AR
Length: Mile 52
Best driving season: Vesna summer
View this drive on Google Maps
From Talihina to Arkansas, this trip through the Ouachita Mountains is full of scenic views and recreational opportunities. The road is quite winding and there is no way to refuel in between, so preparation is vital before you hit the road, but the effort is more than worth it. The route passes through lush tracts of evergreens and hardwoods with many species at high altitude, and the Horvatif spring, named after the outlaws who used to camp here, is a good place to stop and walk the trails or enjoy a picnic.
