8 Of The Quietest Oklahoma Towns
Want to truly experience the heart and soul of Oklahoma? Places like Oklahoma City or Tulsa offer exciting urban adventures, but sometimes you just feel like slowing down. These small Oklahoma towns offer solitude amongst the state's gentle mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and rolling plains. With a rich history and friendly locals, visiting these quiet towns is the best way to discover the heart of the Sooner State. From the scenic beauty of Medicine Park nestled in the Wichita Mountains to the quirky Route 66 nostalgia of Arcadia, these towns promise unique escapes full of charm and tranquility.
Medicine Park
In the heart of Oklahoma’s most beautiful scenery, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the timeless hamlet of Medicine Park. It sits along the banks of Medicine Creek, known for its healing properties by the Native American Tribes of the area. When you need to recharge your batteries, there’s no better place than the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, which provides over 59,000 acres of pure Oklahoma prairies in the shadows of the amazing Wichita Mountains. It’s a stretch of untouched wilderness where visitors can catch a rare glimpse of Rocky Mountain elk, bison, and prairie dogs in their natural habitat.
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge may be Medicine Park’s claim to fame, but there are other scenic vistas worth checking out. To the east of Medicine Park is Lake Lawtonka, a 2-square-mile lake with almost 20 miles of picturesque shoreline. Take a boat out on the water and fish for smallmouth bass, or relax along the shores where the land stretches as far as the eye can see.
Pawhuska
Pawhuska is a sleepy little village in northern Oklahoma that beautifully knits its Old West history with its Native American origins. You can check out the Osage Nation Museum, one of the oldest tribal museums in the United States, to learn more about its Native American population. With historical buildings in its quiet downtown area, like the Pawhuska Marketplace and the rolling meadows at the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, it’s a modest city with so much to offer.
Not much has changed at the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve since the days of the early Native American tribes. The limestone formations make the land impossible to develop and allow visitors to experience what Oklahoma looked like hundreds of years ago. You can hike the trails that travel through miles of untouched meadows ripe with native wildlife and over 300 different species of native birds. For a unique thrill, check out the Swinging Bridge, located a few miles south of town. It’s a 120-foot-long narrow suspension bridge that takes you over Bird Creek.
Sulphur
With a population of 5,000, Sulphur is another one of Oklahoma’s most cherished hidden gems. As the gateway to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, it’s a peaceful retreat of calming waterfalls, clear waters, and fantastic hiking trails. In fact, the rich waterways are what gave the city its name. The sulfur-smelling mineral springs are the town's hallmark and what gives the water in the area its crystal-clear appearance. If you want to relax along the water and catch an amazing sunset, Veterans Lake is a great spot for a picnic or take a boat out on its calming waters.
Scenic views and clear waters aren’t the only thing to adore about Sulphur. The charming downtown area is quiet and uncrowded, with charming early 20th-century buildings repurposed into delightful shops. The Rusty Nail Winery, a former hardware store, allows visitors to sip on wine, stroll through the gift shop, and enjoy the view of the tranquil streets of downtown Sulphur.
Davis
In south central Oklahoma, right off US 77, is the sleepy area of Davis. It’s home to one of Oklahoma’s most cherished spaces, Turner Falls Park. Nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains, Turner Falls is one of Oklahoma’s cherished natural wonders. The waterfall, which drops 77 feet into a natural swimming pool, is the tallest waterfall in the entire state. You can hike nearby trails, take a swim in Honey Creek, or take a ride on the Turner Falls Zipline.
One of Turner Falls Park's most unique and unusual attractions is the ruins of the Collings Castle. That’s right, there’s a castle at the park that's open to exploration. It fell into ruins during the Great Depression, and now its ruins allow visitors to climb to the top to earn breathtaking views of Turner Falls and the forested region below. Davis may be a far drive from Oklahoma’s bigger cities, but it’s a trip worth taking if you want to relax and unwind.
Arcadia
With a population just shy of 200 residents, Arcadia is a remote rural community made famous for its location along Route 66. It’s a fun, kitschy tourist attraction with unique attractions and historical sites, making it well worth the drive. As you enter Arcadia from the east, you’ll find the almost eerie Historic Route 66 Gas Station. While it’s primarily a ghost of its formal self in the heyday of Route 66, it’s fun to pull up to where the pumps used to be to snap a picture. As you travel closer to town, you can’t miss OK County 66 - John's Place, a locally owned museum that celebrates everything Route 66.
The most famous Route 66 attraction in Arcadia is Pops 66, a local diner and gas station that captures the nostalgia of the 1950s. Make sure you stop by after the sun goes down to admire the 66-foot-tall pop bottle out front illuminated by LED lights. You can recapture the magic of traveling down Route 66 in the 50s by checking out the Arcadia Round Barn. Built in 1898, it has been a popular tourist destination for a century. If you love offbeat attractions in a quiet city, be sure to add Arcadia to your Oklahoma bucket list!
Pauls Valley
No matter where you are in the state, the drive to the centrally located Pauls Valley is short and sweet. One of the best ways to come to Pauls Valley is via the AMTRAK Heartland Flyer, located right next to the Santa Fe Depot Museum. You can learn more about the area and admire a 1902 steam engine there before starting your Pauls Valley adventure. Pauls Valley has historically been a railway hub and cherishes its heritage to this day.
A great way to enjoy the views of the fertile bottomland of Pauls Valley is by visiting the Lakeview Lavender Farm. You can walk through fragrant fields of lavender and pick your own to take home. If you want to spend the day out of the water, the Pauls Valley City Lake offers swimming, canoeing, and camping opportunities.
Tishomingo
In the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, far removed from the noise of the big cities, is the charming hamlet of Tishomingo. The Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is a perfect retreat for those looking to unwind. It offers scenic hiking trails through fields of wildflowers and wetlands with the Arbuckle Mountains in the background. Or stop by the perfectly manicured Pennington Creek Park, centrally located in town. Here, one can hike, swim, or just enjoy the views of Pennington Creek.
Pennington Creek Park is located near many interesting attractions, like the Chickasaw Council House Museum and the Johnston County Historical Society Museum. These facilities are a great place to learn more about this historic area and the Native Tribes that once lived on the land. From breathtaking views to local historical attractions, Tishomingo is a wonderful place to take in the unique beauty of Oklahoma.
Tahlequah
As the capital of the Cherokee Nation, the heart of the Indigenous People can be felt from every corner of the sleepy village of Tahlequah. Road signs are written in both English and Cherokee, and the Cherokee National History Museum gives visitors a glimpse into the area's early days. The quiet tree-lined streets downtown are home to delightful local shops like Cherokee Nation Gift Shop, where tourists can pop in for souvenirs.
Surrounded by the Ozark Mountains, the landscape of Tahlequah is rich with dense forests that open up to wide open prairies. Welling Ridge Trails is the best way to explore the natural wonder of Tahlequah. It offers challenging mountain biking trails and scenic hiking paths lovingly cared for by the Tahlequah Trails Association.
Small-Town Tranquility in the Sooner State
These small towns demonstrate the heart and soul of Oklahoma. From Medicine Park's breathtaking scenery to Arcadia's quirky attractions, each city is unique. They seamlessly blend their Native American roots with the nostalgia of the Old West while offering new and exciting adventures. With quiet city streets, charming locals, and easy access to some of the best parks in the state, these small communities are some of Oklahoma's best-kept secrets. When you’re ready to experience the unexpected and get lost in the tranquility of Oklahoma, pack your bags and get ready for the best road trip ever!
