How to Spend One Day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

On my journey to visit all 50 states, I had to take advantage of a work trip to Dallas to check off state #47: Oklahoma! Oklahoma City is only about a 3 hour drive from Dallas, so it was easy to squeeze in on a weekend. I didn’t really know what to expect, but OKC blew me away! There is so much to do here and it’s a really vibrant, modern city. Here is how to spend one day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma!

Breakfast at Waffle Champion

There is absolutely no better place to start your one day in Oklahoma City than with breakfast at Waffle Champion! When I was researching places to eat in OKC, Waffle Champion popped up on every list. And, to be honest, they won me over with the name alone! The menu is spectacular, with a variety of different types of waffle dishes. I opted for the waffle bites, which were strips of waffle that came with three different dipping sauces: chocolate ganache, bourbon salted caramel, and strawberry. The salted caramel was an easy favorite! Try to get get to Waffle Champion as early as possible, as it does fill up! I arrived at around 7:30 am, and by the time I was done eating all of the tables were full and there was a line out the door. It’s popular for a reason!

Visit Plaza Walls & Greetings from Oklahoma Mural

Before the rest of the world wakes up, make your way over to the Plaza Walls for some photos (or selfies, no judgement here!). Plaza Walls are a public art instillation that start in an alleyway and then open up to a large courtyard. The murals are all made by local artists, and actually change every year. They will open an annual “artist call” where local artists can submit bids to paint a mural the following year. So even if you’ve been to Plaza Walls before, you’ll want to make an effort to return for a completely different experience!

Only a short drive away is the famous Greetings from Oklahoma City mural. Is your Instagram feed even complete without a selfie here? The mural is located on the side of Denton’s Frame Shop and, if you arrive early in the morning before they open, you will have no problem parking in their front lot to jump out and snap a few quick selfies.

Stroll Scissortail Park & the Skydance Bridge

If your one day in Oklahoma City happens to fall any time between May-September, doing your outdoor activities are best in the morning or evening! Scissortail Park is a beautiful urban park that is really worth exploring! There is free parking on both S Hudson and S Robinson Avenues, on the east and west side of the parks. Inside, there is a pond with a walking trail, cool sculptures, a splash pad, and tons of beautiful flowers. It’s a really peaceful way to spend your morning, and also get killer views of the OKC skyline!

The crown jewel though is the Skydance Bridge. This pedestrian-only bridge goes over I-40 and connects the Upper Scissortail Park to the Lower section. It is inspired by the state bird of Oklahoma, the scissor-tailed flycatcher.

Take a Water Taxi through Bricktown

If this is your first visit to Oklahoma City, you’re not going to want to miss a water taxi ride through Bricktown! This 40-minute boat ride takes you through the canals of Bricktown, a recently developed area of the city with a rich history. There are tons of restaurants, shops, and activities located on the canals, and the water taxi is the perfect way to see it all.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth here, and the starting point is on the canal only a few yards away. Boats leave very regularly (every 10-15 minutes), so you can just jump right on the next one! Kick back on the boat and enjoy as your captain takes you through the canals and gives a lot of info and history about Oklahoma City. It is the perfect intro to the city and a great way to see it all in a relaxing way!

Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Of course, no visit to Oklahoma City is complete without paying respects at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This is the site of the horrific attack on April 19, 1995 that left 168 people dead. The grounds are beautifully done, complete with a reflection pool, a memorial for each person who lost their lives (symbolized by a chair in the Field of Empty Chairs), and two monuments indicating the minute before the attack, 9:01 am (when life was normal), and the minute right after the attack, 9:03 am (when the world would never be the same). The Fence and Survivor Tree are two more sites that hold significant importance and are not to be missed. Even if you don’t have time to spend in the museum, visiting the memorial grounds are an absolute must.

Read More: 5 Tips for Visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Afternoon Snack at Hurts Donuts

While I recognize that Hurts Donuts is a chain that spans as far West as Phoenix and as far East as Cincinnati, it is worthy of a stop in OKC (or if you find one in other cities you are visiting!). Hurts Donuts is located here, on a really cute stretch of NW 23rd Street. Their menu is quite extensive and has a lot of really creative donuts! I played it safe and opted for The Homer, which was designed after the classic Simpsons donuts. It was a yeast ring with pink vanilla frosting and sprinkles. I felt like I was getting a cavity while eating it, but absolutely no regrets here.

Visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

After a quick snack, make your way about 10 minutes outside of the city center to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This museum is dedicated to all things about the American West. You’ll see exhibits about country music, rodeo, Native Americans, and Western movies. The museum isn’t huge, and should only take 1-2 hours to explore at a moderate pace. The part that I enjoyed the most was the recreation of a Western town. They created a “Main Street” lined with shops, bars, a post office, a schoolhouse, and more! The recreation was really nicely done and it was by far my favorite exhibit in the museum.

Stroll the Stockyards & Dinner at Cattlemen’s

Keep the cowboy vibes going and next make your way to the famous Stockyards! This district of OKC started operating as a public livestock market back in the early 1900’s and then also transformed into a meat packing plant. It is all still operational today and this corner of the city is real, authentic cowboy. Stroll S Agnew Avenue and Exchange Avenue for shops selling everything from cowboy boots, cowboy hats, authentic western wear, and everything in between.

Right on the corner of the two streets is the famous Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. Stop for dinner and enjoy one of the best steaks at Oklahoma’s oldest continually operated restaurant! So good that even Presidents Reagan and Bush ate there, among many other notable celebs. I opted for a small sirloin and was not disappointed. No reservations are taken so expect a wait if you are visiting at peak hours!

End the Day at Wheeler Park

At the end of your one day in Oklahoma City, make your way over to the Wheeler District. This little corner of the city is a unique pop-up of new build homes, restaurants, and shops. But most famously, is the the small park (located here) that hugs the Oklahoma River! The park is home to the iconic OKC sign and ferris wheel. I personally loved grabbing a grape snow cone from a food truck and then lounging on one of the many hammocks in the park. I lounged, listened to my audio book, and enjoyed the OKC skyline views. The absolute perfect ending to one day in Oklahoma City!

Traveling soon? Check out my Travel Tips page to help you score good deals on flights, packing tips, tools to help you plan, and more!