By Matt Kirouac and Julie Partin
Ever since Route 66 wove its way across the country nearly 100 years ago, Oklahoma City has been a seminal road trip city, renowned for its roadside attractions and destination-worthy detours. A few major interstates and one century later, our fair city has never been more primed for a drive. Conveniently located at one of America’s primary crossroads, bisected by Interstates 35 and 40, Oklahomans have access to a world of road trip destinations perfect for a weekend getaway. Within a few hours, you can soak in the history — and thermal hot springs — of Arkansas, or tee off in the Ozarks. You can float in a Texas-sized lazy river, or visit the world’s first barbecue museum. Each of these road trips is under six hours from OKC, and offers a wealth of activities and hotels fit for groups and families. With the summer travel season upon us, these are six great destinations worth the drive.
Shangri-La Resort, Oklahoma | 2.75 hours from OKC
There is no shortage of fantastic lakes in Oklahoma. For a perfect year-round one-stop vacation, Shangri-La Resort makes the good life easy. This little bubble of fun is nestled on the picturesque shores of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees on Monkey Island, Oklahoma. At only 119 rooms, it feels manageable and has family vibes. >> Read More
WorldSprings in Dallas | 3 hours from OKC
In case you can’t make it to The Dead Sea, north Texas might be the next best thing. WorldSprings is a colossal new mineral springs destination, located at Grandscape in The Colony, marking the first of its kind in the state, and the largest outdoor mineral springs facility in the country. It boasts more than 40 soaking pools, Finnish barrel saunas and a spa spread across nine acres. Roughly 20 minutes north of Dallas, and conveniently accessible off I-35, WorldSprings is where wellness meets recreation and luxury, by bringing pools inspired by the world’s most famous springs — including The Dead Sea and Iceland’s Blue Lagoon — to the DFW area. >> Read More
Eureka Springs, Arkansas | 4.5 hours from OKC
Ever since its founding in 1879, Eureka Springs has been an oasis in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas. So named for its abundance of natural springs, said to possess natural healing elements, people have been flocking here ever since — for its springs, and so much more.
For a small community of under 3,000, Eureka Springs has the shopping, scenery, hotels, art and restaurants of a much larger city, all nestled in a pastoral patchwork of winding roads, rainbow-painted staircases and rolling hills. >> Read More
Big Cedar Lodge, The Ozarks | 5 hours from OKC
Out in the forested wilds of the Ozarks, time stands still. Away from the noise and the traffic, southern Missouri is an all-natural wonderland of rest, relaxation and recreation — all of which abound at Big Cedar Lodge.
Flanked by shimmering lakes, rocky plateaus and rolling, tree-lined mountains, the sprawling lodge is both a destination in itself, and a gateway to adventure. >> Read More
Kansas City, Missouri | 5 hours from OKC
A mecca of culture and a melting pot of art forms and pastimes, Kansas City has seen its fair share of ATTENTION lately, thanks in no small part to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
But in addition to celebrity sightings and NFL games, Missouri’s most populous city has a smorgasbord of metropolitan amenities befitting a group-friendly road trip. >> Read More
Hilton Anatole, Dallas | 3.5 hours from OKC
Sometimes you want a vacation where you don’t have to think too much or spend time in the car going from place to place. This is the type of getaway where the Hilton Anatole shines; you can park your car on a Friday night and have no need to go back to it until Sunday afternooN.
This family- and pet-friendly resort is in the heart of downtown Dallas, but feels like a small slice of paradise. It is easy to forget you are even stateside with the Asian-inspired décor, one of the largest and most beautiful private art collections in America and the seven-acre private Sculpture Park. >> Read More
Hot Springs, Arkansas | 5.5 Hours from OKC
Nestled in the pastoral Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas, Hot Springs is a town teeming with history — including the potable kind.
Home to Hot Springs National Park, the historic district features a perfectly preserved lineup of Renaissance Revival bathhouses along Bathhouse Row, including two where travelers can still soak in traditional tubs and thermal pools. The mineral-rich water, which initially trickled 8,000 feet underground as rainwater some 4,000 years ago, is heated to 143°F by the Earth’s core before bubbling back up at the surface. >> Read More
