8 Best Small Towns In Oklahoma For A Crowd-Free Summer

When the summer season finally arrives, people want to explore and discover something new, bringing them to destinations like these small towns in Oklahoma. Guthrie offers a ghost tour through its iconic historic district. Medicine Park is uniquely located among some of Oklahoma's most beautiful natural landmarks. Visitors looking for some breathing room and spaces to themselves will find plenty of it in these eight Oklahoma towns. Each one trades the larger Oklahoma cities for a quieter summer pace.

Guthrie

Thanks to ongoing restoration efforts, Guthrie houses the largest contiguous Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places, and the Guthrie Ghost Walk 90-minute walking tour is the best way to experience it. After a day of wandering past so many structures of history, the Wanderfolk Distillery is a great place to try a new drink or diversify your palate, located right in the heart of Guthrie's downtown. Though many of its brands can be found in bars and restaurants across Guthrie, newcomers should schedule a distillery tour and tasting to get the full Wanderfolk experience.

Those looking for an even greater escape from crowds during the summer will find their mini oasis at either Guthrie Lake or Liberty Lake. Liberty Lake includes 20 campsites and is a great destination for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, biking, and more during the summer season.

Hugo

If travelers plan their visits to Hugo accordingly, the only crowds they'll endure are ones that walk on four legs. Thanks to several animal and habitat preservation efforts, Hugo is home to many animals, common and rare. The Endangered Ark Foundation contains the second-largest herd of Asian elephants in America, with interactive educational elephant care and opportunities to take an "Elephie Selfie."

Hugo Lake Park, along Hugo Lake on the Kiamichi River, is a natural getaway from town. Visitors can stay overnight in one of 16 resort cabins, where they'll have access to boating and hiking in the park or swimming and fishing in coves. The Buffalo Trails Cabins & Petting Zoo is another great place to stay overnight in Hugo, far from larger crowds, surrounded by 109 acres of nature and the farm animals that also live on the property, greeting you each morning.

Tishomingo

As the Chickasaw Nation's historic capital and the heart of Blue River country, Tishomingo is one of the best destinations in Oklahoma for travelers looking to leave city life behind for a while, explore natural wonders, and learn about the history of the region. Established in 1946, the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge contains 16,464 acres of explorable nature where visitors can hike its tapestry of trails and discover natural habitats within.

The Chickasaw Council House Museum is the must-see location for newcomers interested in learning more about the Chickasaw Nation. The museum boasts one of the largest collections of Chickasaw art and artifacts, with a gift shop and genealogy research center located on the property as well. The Johnston County War Memorial is another place where visitors can find silence and reflection, touring the series of granite markers that honor soldiers from the county.

El Reno

History buffs should absolutely not pass on El Reno. This small Oklahoma town is brimming with relics of the past and interesting ways to learn about the history of the region. The Historic Fort Reno Visitor Center and Museum is a fantastic place to start. As a historic military post that began in 1874, the fort includes historic pieces including artifacts, photographs, German POW letters, and much more.

El Reno houses plenty of historic buildings, and the best way to see as many of those sites as possible is undoubtedly aboard the Heritage Express Trolley. This narrated ride on a restored 1924 Brill Streetcar starts at the Canadian County Historical Museum and travels through El Reno's downtown, secluded from the town crowds, especially if visitors book private tours.

Perry

Perry is an old town in Oklahoma, established in 1893, but with age comes history, and Perry honors its roots and the residents who built it into what it is today. The Cherokee Strip Museum & Rose Hill School, to this day, preserves and interprets the history of the Cherokee Outlet area of Oklahoma, with interactive exhibits on pioneer life and recreations of general stores, kitchens, shops, and doctors' offices.

Many famous wrestlers have come from Perry, so it's only natural that the town has its own Perry Wrestling Monument Park, with statues of legendary Oklahoma wrestlers, each created by local sculptor Jim Franklin. Granite slabs throughout the park also honor championship teams and athletes. Those looking for an even greater escape in the summer months will find it at Perry Lake, the ideal, remote destination in Perry for camping, boating, fishing, and more.

Claremore

No trip to Claremore would be complete without visiting two destinations honoring two of the most famous individuals from Oklahoma. Lynn Riggs wrote Green Grow the Lilacs, the play that inspired the musical Oklahoma!, and his memorial now sits in the Claremore Museum of History. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum includes art and artifacts that honor "Oklahoma's favorite son" and his performing career.

These museums are informative and historical, offering an escape from packed venues, allowing guests to move through the exhibits at their own pace, without bumping shoulders with others. The JM Davis Arms & Historical Museum has relics of its own, with the smallest commercially produced handgun in the world and a replica of an 1840s gunsmith shop.

Bartlesville

Despite boasting attractions focusing on culture and art, visitors will often come to Bartlesville to explore the vast outdoors. Bartlesville and its surrounding region house plenty of wildlife and habitats that make every trip worth it. The Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve is a must-see destination, with 3,700 acres, established in 1925. With a rotation of exhibits and animals on the property, the museum and preserve are now on the National Register of Historic Places and are a North American Reciprocal Museum.

The Pathfinder Parkway is 12 miles of paved trails for walking, jogging, and biking, connected to Johnstone Park, Robinwood Park, and many more. The path also connects to Jo Allyn Lowe Park, a 31-acre park housing an arboretum, the G.L. Potteiger cabin, and more for travelers looking for quiet excursions surrounded by nothing other than trees and the animals who live in them.

Medicine Park

Medicine Park is a small Oklahoma town dedicated to the region's history and heritage. Tourists can find plenty of activities in Medicine Park's core, such as visiting the Medicine Park Aquarium & Natural Sciences Center and viewing an eco-tourism attraction that boasts over 90 native and non-native fish, reptile, mammal, and bird species. There are also plenty of places to visit along Medicine Creek, which runs directly through Medicine Park, such as the Music Hall or local favorite Riverside Cafe right on the water's edge.

However, if tourists want even more space away from the crowds, Medicine Park is located in one of the most distinctive regions in Oklahoma, just minutes from the Wichita Mountains and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The refuge offers over 59,000 acres with hiking, biking, and rock climbing opportunities, as well as the chance to see wildlife like bison, elk, and Texas Longhorn cattle.

Crowd-Free Oklahoma Summers

These small Oklahoma towns allow guests to move at their own pace and explore what they want to, without walking shoulder-to-shoulder in larger crowds. Tishomingo is the home and center of Chickasaw Nation history and heritage in Oklahoma. Hugo offers natural getaways where your only neighbors might be farm animals or the second-largest herd of Asian elephants in the country. Thanks to historic districts and vast natural regions, Oklahoma's small towns are the best destinations for entertaining, informative, crowd-free summers.