Summer is the perfect time to pack up the car and hit the road for day trips. That being said, not just any day trip will do. There is nothing wore then skipping town for a spontaneous adventure, only to get to your destination and find out 100 other people had the same “spontaneous” idea. Here are some perfect day trips for Tulsa locals to enjoy and get away from the crowds.
Summer Day Tripping In Tulsa – A Local’s Guide
Turner Falls Park
Distance From Tulsa: 159 miles (2hr 45min drive)
Why You Should Visit: Located in Davis, Oklahoma Turner Falls Park is an awesome place for an outdoor adventure and some awesome cooling off potential next to the 77 foot tall waterfall! You can do some hiking, swimming, explore the cave, and there is places to rent tents and cabins if you decide to make it an overnight trip! This is a great summer getaway and when it comes to day tripping in Tulsa you can’t beat it!
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Distance From Tulsa: 162 miles (2hr 29min drive)
Why You Should Visit: Red Rock Canyon State Park is off the beaten path when it comes to day tripping in Tulsa. This is a secluded and peaceful park that is full of amazing sights and hiking opportunities. The red rock walls are breathtaking and pictures just can’t do them justice. They deserve to be seen up close and in person! If you need a little more adventure than that you can rappel down the canyon walls. For those who just want to explore there are artifacts and pieces of history left behind like wagon wheels and of course there is fishing at the pond!
Enfaula Lake
Distance From Tulsa: 84 miles (1hr 28min drive)
Why You Should Visit: A visit to Enfaula Lake is awesome during the summer. It’s a great choice for family fun, a romantic getaway, or even a fishing weekend with the guys! There’s opportunities for hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, boating, and even swimming! It’s the largest lake in Oklahoma and has more than 600 miles of shoreline which makes it a water lovers paradise. There are a variety of popular fish species in the lake and it’s a great location for fishing and water sports. There are cabins nearby for rentals if you decide that a weekend trip would be more fun to Enfaula lake. The great thing is that Enfaula Lake is close by! You can be there in less than 2 hours and spend the day kicked back and relaxing. With all that shoreline you won’t have to be crowded out by other visitors.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Distance From Tulsa: 146 miles (2hr 25min drive)
Why You Should Visit: At the Chickasaw National Recreation Area there is more than 9,000 acres to explore and nearly 2,000 of those are covered in water. This is a gorgeous place to visit and there are views that you won’t want to miss out on! It’s free to enter and when it comes to road tripping in Tulsa this is a fun option that is sure to entertain. There is great hiking at Chickasaw so you’ll want to pack your hiking gear and hit the trails!