Take These 8 Country Roads In Oklahoma For An Unforgettable Scenic Drive
Whether you are looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, exploring Oklahoma is truly amazing. Take a drive across the state on these country roads, and enjoy the diverse landscape that makes our state beautiful. Here are our favorite picks for the best scenic drives in Oklahoma – what are you waiting for? Get outside and go!
Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway travels through southwest Oklahoma's historic towns of Medicine Park, Meers, Mountain View, and Apache, and onto the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Route 66 Byway travels through 400 miles of Oklahoma's diverse communities and countryside ending in Quapaw in the north and near Texola in the south. It doesn't get much more historic than this! It seems to be that everyone loves this one, and for good reason.
The 88-mile byway follows Highway 10 north of Interstate 40 to U.S. Highway 412, winding through Sequoyah, Cherokee, Adair, and Delaware counties. Highlights of the drive include Lake Tenkiller and the Illinois River, carved out by blue-grey flint stone, encased by towering bluffs, and lined by some of the most picturesque foliage in Oklahoma. In terms of scenic road trips in Oklahoma, this one is among the top ten - easily!
Here's what you're going to want to do: you'll drive west towards Meers, Oklahoma, on Northwest Meers-Porter Hill Road for breathtaking scenery that can't be beat. This drive is pure Oklahoma, and pure bliss, too!
The Mountain Gateway Scenic Drive in southeast Oklahoma follows U.S. Highway 59/270 for 22 miles between Heavener, Oklahoma, and the Arkansas state line. This state highway is a two-lane paved road with some steep grades and sharp curves. Drive through the forested valleys of the Ouachita Mountains, one of America's oldest land masses, and take in some of the most beautiful sights you could ever see. There's probably a reason that one town is called "Heavener".
The Mountain Pass Scenic Drive is located in southeast Oklahoma. It follows US Highway 259 for 23 miles between Page, Oklahoma, and Octavia, Oklahoma. The byway goes through the Ouachita Mountains, and also cuts through the 26,445 acre Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area. Several scenic turnouts are located along the route providing beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding valleys wilderness areas. You'll definitely want to bring a good camera for this one, especially if you're a lover of dense, green foliage.
7. Highway 325 from Boise City to Kenton in the Oklahoma Panhandle
The rugged beauty of the western landscape in the Oklahoma Panhandle is well worth the drive. Head northwest and enjoy the drive up state Highway 325 from Boise City to Kenton. During this 38-mile drive, you'll enjoy views of Black Mesa, the highest point in the state, and plenty of beautiful plains as far as the eye can see.
The Talimena Scenic Byway winds 54 miles along the crest of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest. Without stops at the many vistas and attractions along the way, the route takes about one hour and 10 minutes to drive. A leisurely drive can take all day (and honestly, that's what we recommend for this one). It is the most popular scenic drive in the state of Oklahoma, and you'll definitely see why.
So, what do you think? What’s your pick for the best scenic drives in Oklahoma? Tell us all about them in the comments!
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Address: Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma 73507, USA
Address: U.S. Route 66, U.S. Rte 66, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Address: Cherokee Hills Circle, Cherokee Hills Cir, Bartlesville, OK 74006, USA
Address: Meers Porter Hill Road, Meers Porter Hill Rd, Oklahoma, USA
Address: U.S. 59, US-59, Sallisaw, OK, USA
Address: North US Highway 259, N US Hwy 259, Broken Bow, OK, USA
Address: Oklahoma 325, OK-325, Boise City, OK, USA
Address: Talimena Scenic Drive, Talimena Scenic Dr, Oklahoma, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in Oklahoma
July 06, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some of the most beautiful country roads in Oklahoma?
People often underestimate the amazingness of Oklahoma – especially folks who’ve never visited before. If only they knew just how enchanting this state is! Any road that takes you through the Ouachita Mountains is guaranteed to be a stunner, and you read that right: there are mountains in Oklahoma! The Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway is another breathtaking drive through underappreciate wilderness, and we also really love following alongside the Illinois River on any country road we can find.
What are the best, most beautiful drives in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is smack-dab in the middle of the United States, and that means lots of tourists coming in and out all day, every day. One of the best drives in Oklahoma is popular among tourists, as it’s all a stretch of the famous old Route 66. We’re also big fans of the Talimena National Scenic Byway, which is so beautiful that, well, it got a name! A drive through the amazing Tallgrass Prairie is also always a great time.
Are there any scenic road trips in Oklahoma that I can take?
In a word: plenty! Being in such a beautiful state is awesome for those of us who like to soak it all in. We recommend something like this amazing Oklahoma waterfall road trip, during which you’ll see up to five incredible cascades. You also can’t beat an incredible Oklahoma natural wonders road trip. There are plenty more options than just “nature” trips, of course, like our haunted places road trip, or one of our ghost town road trips only for the brave. If you’d like a shortlist of some of our favorite Oklahoma road trips, check this article out.
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Ashley has lived in Oklahoma for 25 years and is the Oklahoma staff writer for onlyinyourstate.com. When she isn't exploring Oklahoma, she enjoys visiting the beaches of California.
