With neon signs, classic cars, urban hiking trails and plenty of roadside oddities, Tulsa serves up memorable, free experiences just in time for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
- Tulsa, the Capital of Route 66, will celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th birthday with events like an attempt to set a Guinness World Record with the biggest classic car parade.
- From The Gathering Place to Turkey Mountain, Tulsa’s outdoor spaces blend wow-factor design with totally free fun.
- Art Deco buildings, neon signs and offbeat attractions make Tulsa a cultural stop worth slowing down for.
Tulsa is a little bit cool, a little bit quirky and, in 2026, it will lean fully into its Route 66 roots. As the Mother Road celebrates its centennial, the city is revving up with a classic car parade, glowing neon lights and events that honor America’s iconic highway. The best part? Many of the city’s best experiences won’t cost you a dime. From posing with roadside legends and wandering Art Deco streets to hiking urban wilderness trails and people-watching along Route 66, Tulsa proves that sometimes the best road trips are fueled by curiosity, not cash.
Here are the 15 best FREE things to do in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
1. Get Your Kicks on Route 66
The longest stretch of historic Route 66 runs through Oklahoma (400+ miles) and right through Tulsa. Road trip devotees should consider making a pilgrimage to check out iconic roadside motels, neon signs and attractions. They’re free to photograph. Wear cat’s eye glasses and a circle skirt to go full vintage.
Known as the Capital of Route 66, Tulsa will celebrate the Mother Road’s centennial throughout 2026. The city’s largest event is going to be a whopper. The Route 66 Capital Cruise: Classic Car Centennial Parade, scheduled for May 30, will be an official Guinness World Record attempt to stage the largest classic car parade ever. Organizers of the 5 1/2-mile parade hope to draw 3,000 cars and 100,000 spectators.
Perhaps the most beloved Route 66 attraction in Oklahoma is just outside of Tulsa in Catoosa. The Blue Whale was once a popular swimming hole for local kids. Now, it’s a silent reminder of summers past.
2. Check Out the Gathering Place
Consistently voted one of America’s Best City Parks by USA Today since it opened in 2018, Tulsa’s Gathering Place is a unique recreational complex for all ages. Sited along the Arkansas River, the Gathering Place was built with $465 million in corporate and individual donations, has climbing castles and giant herons, a boathouse with rentals and, at the summit, Swing Hill, where you can see the entire park, the river and the downtown skyline. If quiet’s more your thing, there are outdoor waterfront seating areas or funky indoor lounges for reading, playing board games or napping.
The Gathering Place is developing a year-long calendar of Route 66 events to include a festival, themed fitness classes and exhibit in the ONEOK Boathouse.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The Gathering Place is popular, so I recommend going at either end of the day; hours are 7 am – 9 pm, 7 days a week.
3. Pose with the Golden Driller
What stands 76-feet tall, weighs 45,000 pounds and wears a 393-DDD shoe? Tulsa’s Golden Driller, an iconic symbol of Oklahoma’s oil drilling industry. The driller’s right hand rests on a replica of an oil derrick and his belt buckle is emblazoned with the city name.
After making appearances at petroleum industry expos in the 1950s, the Golden Driller was permanently anchored in 1966, adopted as a state landmark in 1979 and re-gilded in 2011. Parking for the Golden Driller is in Expo Square, off of East 21st Street.
Route 66 fans looking for a poseable moment will want to head to Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza to see the Route 66 pedestrian bridge and the massive East Meets West bronze statue, a symbolic representation of the historic midpoint of the Mother Road. The Plaza’s namesake, Cyrus Avery, is known as the Father of Route 66 for his efforts in creating and promoting the federal highway.
4. Take the First Friday Art Crawl
Tulsa’s downtown has several designated neighborhoods. The Arts District is one of them and hosts a popular Art Crawl on the first Friday of every month. Find the latest info here.
Music in Tulsa’s Arts District
Tulsa’s top two music attractions aren’t free but they’re must-visits while you’re in town. The Woody Guthrie Center celebrates the life and achievements of Oklahoma-born Woody Guthrie, including his master work, “This Land is Your Land.” Admission is $12 for adults and FREE for 17 and under. Don’t miss the Dust Bowl virtual reality experience, included with admission. The Woody Guthrie Center is open until 9 p.m. on First Fridays.
With the 2022 opening of the Bob Dylan Center, Tulsa is on its way to becoming a major destination for music fans. Admission to the Center is free for kids under 17. Adult admission is $15.
5. Smell the Roses at Woodward Park and Gardens
Surrounded by historic neighborhoods, Woodward Park and Gardens is a manicured public space with more than 40 acres, anchored by the Upper and Lower Rock Gardens and the Tulsa Rose Garden.
Families visiting Tulsa with children should check out the programs offered at the Linnaeus Teaching Garden inside the park.
6. Hike Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area
A unique feature of Tulsa’s downtown is the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area. Maintained by the city’s River Parks Authority, the space offers visitors miles of dirt trails and climbing boulders for children. The park welcomes leashed dogs and horses.
The red trail is an easy 0.8-mile loop for families with small children, and a paved trail runs alongside the Arkansas River. The main parking lot is located at 67th and South Elwood.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The Tulsa Wave Park is a 2024 recreation addition to the Tulsa River Parks Authority. “At your own risk” water activities, including surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and tubing are available in seven play zones accessed from two points along Zink Lake and the Arkansas River.
7. Take a FREE Fitness Class on Guthrie Green
In the heart of Tulsa’s Arts District, you’ll find Guthrie Green, a wide open expanse of lawn with a stage and seating areas. Free concerts and movies on Guthrie Green are popular but the real value is found in the free fitness classes, offered through a partnership with the Tulsa YMCA during the warmer months of the year.
Looking for a weekday lunch option? Food trucks assemble on Guthrie Green every Wednesday from 11 am to 2 pm, from April to June.
8. Walk the Art Deco District
Like Miami’s South Beach, Tulsa boasts a significant number of Art Deco buildings you can view on a FREE walking tour.
Clustered in the city’s Central Business District, 50 sites are included in a printable map that details information about their historical and architectural significance.
Want to learn more? Tour the FREE DECOPOLIS Art Deco Mini Museum to see representative artifacts from Tulsa and around the world.
9. Visit the Center of the Universe
If you and your kids enjoy quirky attractions, head to 1 S. Boston Ave. in downtown Tulsa. A bridge was removed in the 1980s and replaced with a pedestrian pathway.
The construction created an unintentional acoustical phenomenon. When you stand in the decorative circle and speak, your voice echoes back as if it’s amplified. One of the weird, fun and free things to do in Tulsa!
10. Wander the Blue Dome District
When I think of blue domes, I remember Santorini in Greece. Tulsa’s got one too – the Blue Dome Building, built in 1924 and the heart of a lively entertainment district.
Head to 2nd and Elgin for evening fun and games. The neighborhood also hosts festivals throughout the year and the latest event info is available on the Blue Dome District website.
11. Tour the Art at The Philbrook
The Philbrook Museum of Art is the restored home of oilman Waite Phillips and houses a collection of more than 8500 works of art. The 23-acre grounds are also worth a visit.
Admission is always free for members, active duty military and university students.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Art fans will have reason to celebrate in 2026 when the city’s Gilcrease Museum begins a phased reopening in the fall after a multi-year renovation. The collection of 350,000 items represents indigenous North American art, history and culture from 12,000 BCE to the 21st century.
12. Drive By the Cave House
If you’re an HGTV fan, you’ll want to take a drive through the historic Riverview neighborhood. You’ll see a variety of beautiful homes, ranging in style from Tudor to Mediterranean to Craftsman.
Then, go to the other extreme, and drive by the Cave House. Located at 1623 Charles Page Boulevard, the home was once a chicken restaurant and, possibly, a speakeasy. It looks like it was plucked from “The Flintstones” and deposited in Tulsa.
13. Say “Hello!” to Buck Atom, Space Cowboy
Window shopping is one of my favorite, free travel activities. In addition to art galleries, Tulsa has a couple of fun souvenir shops worth a visit.
Ida Red General Store is popular, with two locations, but I preferred tiny and quirky Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios. Opened in 2018, the former Route 66 gas station carries a line of Tulsa gifts emblazoned with the shop’s namesake, who stands a full 21-feet tall outside the shop.
14. Check Out the Neon Lights
The neon lights are bright in Tulsa. Many vintage signs are still intact and provide a nostalgic feel to the city’s stretch of Route 66.
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission has matching funds available for local business owners who want to rehab their signs. Local favorites include the Desert Hills Motel, Brownie’s Hamburgers and Meadow Gold.
15. Snap the Tulsa Art Alley
Looking for an Instagrammable moment in Tulsa? Teens will have fun in the alley that connects 5th and 6th Streets between Maine Street and Boulder Avenue.
It’s full of bright, beautiful murals ready for your close-up.
Retro Eats
Before hungry turns to hangry, visit one of these classic Tulsa eateries to fuel your Route 66 Tulsa road trip.
- Serving motorists since 1908, Ike’s Chili is Oklahoma’s oldest restaurant, predating statehood. Order it straight up or with spaghetti. Add beans for a “three-way.”
- Locals love Mother Road Market and you will too. The lively food hall is a nonprofit developed by the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, created so small business ventures can test concepts before committing to large-scale commercial development.
- TulsaRama!, a vintage ice cream parlor on Route 66, is the latest project from the DECOPOLIS team. Expect scoops of joy in a fun, retro setting.
