FreeGathering Place
A 100-acre riverfront park with playgrounds, lawns, gardens, a boathouse and a skate park, free to enter. It is the park other cities now compare themselves to, and the best first morning in Tulsa.
Half day to full dayDetails →
Oklahoma
Tulsa
Tulsa is the oil capital that spent its fortune on being beautiful: an Art Deco skyline of zigzag towers, a 100-acre riverfront park that other cities now try to copy, two serious art museums, a stretch of Route 66 with neon and a smiling concrete whale, and a music story that runs from Bob Wills at Cain's Ballroom to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan in the Arts District.
It is also home to Greenwood, the district once known as Black Wall Street, whose history is told with care at Greenwood Rising. This guide books the city properly, from walking tours and murder mystery dinners to the Mother Road, and matches you to the right hotel, from the historic Mayo to a vintage stay on Route 66.
Don't miss
Gathering Place
A 100-acre riverfront park with playgrounds, lawns, gardens, a boathouse and a skate park, free to enter. It is the park other cities now compare themselves to, and the best first morning in Tulsa.
Philbrook Museum of Art
An Italian Renaissance style villa built by an oil baron, set in 25 acres of formal gardens. The art ranges from Italian masters to Native American work, and the grounds alone are worth the ticket.
Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center
A modern history center at the heart of the historic Greenwood district, telling the story of Black Wall Street, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the community's recovery. Timed tickets are recommended.
Bob Dylan Center
A museum and archive built around Bob Dylan's papers, manuscripts and recordings, in Tulsa's Arts District. Even casual listeners find the creative process exhibits fascinating.
Things to do in Tulsa
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreePhilbrook Museum of Art
An Italian Renaissance style villa built by an oil baron, set in 25 acres of formal gardens. The art ranges from Italian masters to Native American work, and the grounds alone are worth the ticket.
Gilcrease Museum
One of the great collections of art and artifacts of the American West and Native America, founded by Muscogee Creek oilman Thomas Gilcrease. Check the current building and opening arrangements before you plan around it.
Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center
A modern history center at the heart of the historic Greenwood district, telling the story of Black Wall Street, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the community's recovery. Timed tickets are recommended.
FreeGreenwood District Walk and Black Wall Street Memorials
A self guided walk, or a private guided one, through the historic Greenwood district: memorials, murals, Mount Zion Baptist Church and the blocks where Black Wall Street once stood. Best paired with Greenwood Rising.
1 to 1.5 hoursGet tickets →
Bob Dylan Center
A museum and archive built around Bob Dylan's papers, manuscripts and recordings, in Tulsa's Arts District. Even casual listeners find the creative process exhibits fascinating.
Woody Guthrie Center
The museum and archive of Oklahoma folk singer Woody Guthrie, author of This Land Is Your Land, set in the Arts District beside the Bob Dylan Center. Short, moving and easy to combine.
Route 66 in Tulsa: Neon, Bridges and Mother Road Stops
Tulsa sits on a long stretch of the Mother Road. Drive 11th Street for restored neon, vintage motels, a historic bridge and plaza, diners and the road to the Blue Whale.
Half dayDetails →
Blue Whale of Catoosa
A smiling concrete whale beside a pond on Route 66, built as an anniversary gift in the early 1970s. Free, quirky and about twenty minutes from downtown Tulsa.
30 to 60 minutesDetails →
FreeCyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Plaza and Bridge
A riverside plaza and historic bridge honoring Cyrus Avery, the Tulsa man known as the Father of Route 66. A free, photogenic stop with sculpture, interpretive signs and river views.
30 to 45 minutesDetails →
Tulsa Art Deco and Architecture Walking Tour
A guided walk through downtown Tulsa's skyline of Art Deco towers, oil era headquarters and ornate lobbies. One of the best ways to understand how oil money built the city.
Tulsa History Tour with Oil Baron Tunnel
A guided downtown history walk that follows the oil boom, with an underground tunnel linked to an oil baron's empire. Stories of fortunes, rivalries and a city built on crude.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$The Mayo Hotel
Downtown Tulsa
A 1920s oil era landmark in the heart of downtown, restored as Tulsa's grand historic hotel. Old school glamour a short walk from the Arts District and the Art Deco skyline.
Check rates →
$$$Hyatt Regency Tulsa Downtown
Downtown Tulsa
A large, full service downtown hotel with dependable comfort, on site dining and easy access to the Arts District and the arena. A safe choice for first time visitors.
Check rates →
$$The Campbell Hotel on Route 66
Route 66 / 11th Street
A vintage Route 66 hotel on Tulsa's 11th Street, mixing 1920s architecture with a retro, creative feel. The best theme stay for road trippers and neon lovers.
Check rates →Hotel Indigo Tulsa Downtown
Downtown Entertainment Area
A boutique style hotel in downtown Tulsa's entertainment area, known for neighborhood inspired design. Great for nights out near the Arts District.
Check rates →
$$$Tulsa Club Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Downtown Tulsa
A restored 1920s social club building turned stylish hotel, with period details and a downtown location. Historic charm with Hilton reliability.
Check rates →Ambassador Hotel Tulsa, Autograph Collection
South of Downtown
A refined historic hotel from the 1920s in a quieter part of the city, with an upscale feel and elegant dining. A romantic, grown up choice.
Check rates →
$$DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown
Downtown Tulsa
A comfortable, full service downtown hotel with the famous welcome cookie, spacious rooms and easy access to the highway. Solid value for families and groups.
Check rates →
$$$Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa
Catoosa (Route 66)
A large casino resort in nearby Catoosa on Route 66, with music themed decor, dining, entertainment and a pool. Handy for the Blue Whale and a night out.
Check rates →
$$Hampton Inn and Suites Tulsa Downtown
Downtown Tulsa
A reliable mid priced downtown hotel with free breakfast, a pool and an easy walk to the Arts District. Great value for families and budget conscious travelers.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Gathering PlaceStay
The Mayo HotelDowntown Tulsa
Do
Philbrook Museum of ArtStay
Hyatt Regency Tulsa DowntownDowntown Tulsa
Do
Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History CenterStay
The Campbell Hotel on Route 66Route 66 / 11th Street
While you are there
What’s on in Tulsa
150+ concerts, shows and games are on sale in the coming months, from stadium nights to small rooms. Our sister site Purveyor lists them with dates, venues and seats.
Tulsa guides
Tulsa for First-Timers: What to See, Where to Eat and How the City Fits Together
A practical first-visit guide to Tulsa: how downtown, the Arts District, Greenwood, Midtown and Route 66 fit together, what to book and what to skip.
Tulsa in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for Music, History and the Mother Road
A three day Tulsa itinerary covering Gathering Place, the Philbrook, Greenwood, the Arts District, Art Deco downtown and a Route 66 afternoon.
Where to Stay in Tulsa: Neighborhoods, Hotels and Which Base Suits You
Where to stay in Tulsa: downtown, the Arts District, Midtown, Route 66 and Catoosa compared, with hotel picks for each type of trip.
Greenwood and Black Wall Street: Understanding Tulsa's Most Important History
A respectful guide to the Greenwood district and Black Wall Street: the story, Greenwood Rising, memorials, what to expect and how to visit well.
Route 66 in Tulsa: A Road Trip Guide to Neon, Bridges and the Blue Whale
A Route 66 guide for Tulsa: the Cyrus Avery plaza, the Meadow Gold sign, vintage motels, diners and the Blue Whale of Catoosa, with timing and tips.
Best Time to Visit Tulsa: Seasons, Weather and What Is Open
When to visit Tulsa: spring storms and blooms, hot summers, golden autumns and mild winters, with seasonal tips for parks, museums and Route 66.
