DFW to Oklahoma City (and Tulsa): Museums, Bricktown & Route 66

Trip Snapshot

• Distance & drive time: ~210 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth to Oklahoma City (about 3 hours). If adding Tulsa, it’s another ~105 miles (1.5–2 hours) each way from OKC.
• Best time: Spring and fall are lovely (mild weather, outdoor events). Summers are hot and prone to thunderstorms; winters can be chilly with occasional snow or ice.
• Ideal for: Families, history and museum buffs, road trip gamers (Route 66 scavenger hunting), and anyone curious about Oklahoma’s cities.
• Quick route summary: Take I-35W/I-35 north from DFW, cross the Red River into Oklahoma, continue straight into downtown Oklahoma City. If including Tulsa, you can head east on the Turner Turnpike (I-44) from OKC to Tulsa, then loop back down south to DFW.
• Top 3 highlights: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum • Strolling and dining in OKC’s Bricktown district • Quirky Route 66 stops like Arcadia’s Round Barn and POPS soda shop.

Route Overview

Heading north from Dallas/Fort Worth, the drive quickly leaves the metroplex and enters rural ranch lands. Once you hit the Oklahoma border (across the Red River), you’ll notice large casinos like WinStar beckoning drivers from the Texas side. Oklahoma’s I-35 is generally smooth sailing into OKC. One big thing to note: many of Oklahoma’s highways and turnpikes have gone cashless. This means no stopping at toll booths — cameras will log your license plate for billing (PlatePay) or read your PIKEPASS if you have one. It’s wise to check with your rental company about how they handle tolls. Approaching Oklahoma City, you’ll merge onto I-235 for downtown or I-40 if heading east/west. OKC’s skyline is dominated by the tall Devon Tower, which lets you know you’ve arrived. If you detour to Tulsa, the Turner Turnpike (I-44) is also cashless toll, leading you through gently rolling plains into Tulsa’s Art Deco-flavored downtown.

Top Stops & Experiences

• Frank Buck Zoo (Gainesville, TX) — Family-friendly. Just before leaving Texas on I-35, this small zoo in Gainesville is a delightful surprise. It’s perfect for younger kids to stretch their legs. The zoo features giraffes, hippos, and a fun train ride. It’s located in Leonard Park, not far off the exit, and has free parking.
• WinStar World Casino (Thackerville, OK) — Adults-only (PG-13). Right as you cross into Oklahoma, you’ll see this massive complex—one of the largest casinos in the world. The exterior is themed like international cities (Paris, Beijing, etc.). Even if you don’t gamble, you can stop for a variety of food options or a quick look around at the over-the-top decor. There’s ample parking and even an RV park on site.
• Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum — Family-friendly (somber content). In downtown OKC, this site is dedicated to remembering the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. The Outdoor Memorial is open 24/7, featuring the Field of Empty Chairs, reflecting pool, and surviving tree; it’s very moving, especially at night when illuminated. The adjacent museum (admission fee) provides a powerful, sensitive chronicle of the events. Older kids can learn about this piece of history here; small children might not grasp it, but can still walk the outdoor grounds respectfully.
• Bricktown (Oklahoma City) — Family-friendly. A former warehouse district turned entertainment hub, Bricktown has a brick-lined canal running through it with water taxi tours. It’s filled with restaurants (many with patios), a minor league baseball park, a movie theater, and even a bowling alley. Take a stroll along the canal, ride a water taxi for a narrated tour, and enjoy a meal. It’s a safe, bustling area especially on weekends. Parking garages and street parking are available throughout Bricktown.
• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (OKC) — Family-friendly. Located on the northeast side of OKC (off I-44), this enormous museum celebrates the culture and art of the American West. Highlights include cowboy gear exhibits, a replica Old West town that kids can explore, Native American art, and one of the most extensive collections of rodeo artifacts anywhere. “The End of the Trail” statue in the entrance is iconic. Allow 2-3 hours if you love museums. It has free parking and a café inside.
• Arcadia Round Barn (Route 66, Arcadia) — Family-friendly. Take a short drive east of OKC on historic Route 66 (about 30 minutes) to find this unique round barn, built in 1898. It’s an architectural curiosity—inside, the perfectly domed roof is a marvel and houses a small museum/gift shop. Volunteers often share stories of the barn’s restoration. It’s free to visit (donations welcome). There’s a parking lot on site.
• POPS Soda Ranch (Arcadia, OK) — Family-friendly. Just a couple minutes past the Round Barn on Route 66 is POPS, a modern diner and gas station famous for its giant 66-foot-tall soda bottle out front and its stock of over 700 soda flavors inside. Stop for a meal or at least a cold soda—everything from classic cola to odd flavors like ranch dressing or pickle soda (great for dares!). It’s fun for kids to pick out a few funky bottles to try. Plenty of parking, and it’s open late with the soda bottle lit up in neon at night.
• Blue Dome District (Tulsa) — Adult-oriented in evening. If you venture to Tulsa, check out this downtown district named after a blue-domed 1920s gas station building. Today it’s a hotspot for nightlife and dining, especially popular with the younger crowd. There are trendy eateries, bars with live music, and late-night coffee shops. Families can still enjoy walking around in daytime to see murals and possibly catch a food truck event or street festival, but at night it transitions to more of a bar scene. Street parking and parking lots are available throughout downtown Tulsa.

Where to Eat & Stay

Food

• Cattlemen’s Steakhouse (OKC Stockyards City) — A historic steakhouse in OKC’s old Stockyards district, serving up perfectly cooked steaks and calf fries (if you’re adventurous). It’s old-fashioned and casual, and families are welcome (they’ll just think of it as a Western restaurant). It’s a bit off the main highway but a true OKC experience.
• POPS Diner (Arcadia) — Classic diner fare like burgers, chicken tenders, and club sandwiches—nothing spectacular, but reliably good and quick. The main attraction is pairing your meal with unusual soda flavors. Kids love the colored bottles decor. Great stop for lunch on your Route 66 mini detour.
• Bricktown Brewery (multiple locations including Bricktown, OKC) — Despite the name, it’s more than a bar. They have a full menu with pizza, burgers, salads, and some Oklahoma specialties. In Bricktown, it’s a convenient spot that’s kid-friendly by day (lots of TVs, casual atmosphere) and turns into a hoppin’ bar scene later at night.
• Burn Co. Barbecue (Tulsa) — If you swing up to Tulsa, consider an early lunch at this popular BBQ joint (they often sell out by mid-afternoon). They’re known for melt-in-your-mouth smoked meats and creative sides. Very casual, and you might end up sitting at a communal table — a good way to chat with locals.

Lodging

• Oklahoma City: Downtown has several major hotels (Omni, Sheraton, etc.) within walking distance of Bricktown and the Memorial. Staying downtown is convenient for nightlife and museums. If you want cheaper rates, look near the airport or in suburbs like Edmond or Norman, but you’ll drive more.
• Tulsa: Downtown or near the Blue Dome/Greenwood District keeps you in the action (there’s a hip boutique hotel, The Mayo, known for Art Deco charm). For a quieter stay, consider the Cherry Street or Brookside areas which have their own restaurant scenes.
• Halfway option: Some might want to break the drive somewhere around the OK/TX border. The WinStar Casino has a hotel (for adults who want to play), or the town of Ardmore, OK has a range of chain hotels and is roughly halfway.

Detours & Extensions

• Oklahoma Route 66 Museum (Clinton, OK) — add 2–3 hours (west of OKC). About 1.5 hours west of OKC on I-40, this museum in Clinton showcases Route 66 history with classic cars, neon signs, and a walk-through timeline of the road’s golden era. It’s well-done and interactive (kids can sit in a vintage car and play with an old jukebox). If you’re heading back to DFW via a different route, you could loop west then south.
• Scissortail Park (Oklahoma City) — add 1–2 hours. A new 70-acre urban park in downtown OKC (just south of the Oklahoma City Memorial). It features gardens, a lake with pedal boats, a large playground and splash fountains for kids, and often live concerts or events. Great place to let kids run around or to enjoy a skyline picnic. It’s walkable from Bricktown or downtown hotels.
• Tulsa’s Gathering Place — add 2–3 hours if in Tulsa. If you make it to Tulsa, check out this incredible riverfront park. It’s like a fantasyland playground meets community park, with imaginative play structures, gardens, sports courts, and more. It’s free and could easily entertain kids for half a day.

Practical Tips

• Tolls: Oklahoma’s turnpikes (like the one between OKC and Tulsa) have no cash booths anymore. If your car has a toll pass (like Texas’s TollTag, which works in Oklahoma, or the rental’s transponder), you’re covered. If not, they’ll bill your license plate (called PlatePay). Just know that the rental company might add a service fee for that billing. Alternatively, you can prepay or pay online after the fact via the Oklahoma tolling website.
• Weather watch: Spring in Oklahoma is storm season. It’s wise to have a way to receive weather alerts (radio or smartphone) in case of severe thunderstorms or tornado warnings. If severe weather is forecast, consider adjusting driving times to avoid being on the road during a big storm.
• Speed and enforcement: Once you leave Texas, the speed limit in Oklahoma might drop (generally 70 mph on I-35 unless posted otherwise). Oklahoma Highway Patrol does monitor the interstates, so use cruise control and stay near the limit. Also note that if you drive through small towns (particularly on Route 66 segments), slow down promptly when the limit drops as local police often enforce strictly.
• Crossing state lines with kids/pets: Remember that Texas and Oklahoma have different laws about child seats and such (but generally both require car seats for young children). There’s no checkpoint or anything, but it’s a good reminder to always buckle up everyone. If you brought a pet along, Oklahoma rest stops often have pet areas.

Rentals & Logistics

• Best vehicle: A comfortable midsize car or SUV should suffice. Not a lot of tricky driving here—no mountains to climb—so something with good gas mileage for the 400+ mile round trip is helpful. If you’re traveling with kids, a larger SUV or minivan gives room to stretch out and perhaps a built-in entertainment system for the long highway stretches.
• Toll tag: Ask the rental agency if the car comes with a toll transponder that works in Oklahoma (many Texas-issued toll tags are compatible). If not, you might opt into their toll plan or just be ready to pay the mailed bill. It’s usually not very expensive for a one-time trip.
• Navigation: Cell service is strong on I-35, but if you plan to wander Route 66 or rural roads, download offline maps. Having a paper map of Oklahoma isn’t a bad idea for backup, and sometimes those show quirky landmarks that you might otherwise miss.

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