National Parks Near Tulsa
National Parks near Tulsa. There’s so much more to the Sooner State than the Philbrook Museum of Art. In this article, More Than Just Parks takes you to five incredible national park sites that are within a day’s drive of Tulsa.
I’ve been to so many of these amazing places since retiring from teaching in 2018. Did I mention that I taught history? I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind these momentous sites. Then I got to see them firsthand. And now I’m sharing the stories of these incredible places with you. It doesn’t get any better than that!
To be clear, this list includes national park sites (as in sites managed by the National Park Service) as opposed to full-fledged national parks. To learn more about the difference between the various National Park Service designations check out our article that explains everything!
Now let’s go ahead with 5+ reasons why you’ll want to hop in your car and make a day’s drive from Tulsa to one of these truly amazing places.
Table Of Contents
- Why Trust Us About National Parks Near Tulsa?
- Meet The Parks Brothers
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area
- Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Smith National Historic Site
- John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park
- Philbrook Museum Of Art
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
- Map Of National Parks Near Tulsa
Why Trust Us About National Parks Near Tulsa?
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. My sons have spent their entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
As for me, I’m a retired lifelong educator and a proud dad of these two wonderful guys who are hopelessly obsessed with the national parks. I taught history for over a quarter of a century. Now I enjoy researching and writing articles for More Than Just Parks. I’m always on the hunt for topics where nature and history intersect so please feel free to share any ideas that you might have with me.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
Meet The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then please sign up below!
Best National Parks Near Tulsa
1. Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Distance From Tulsa: Two hours & 24 minutes via I-44 & US-377 S.
I retired as a teacher so that I could join my two sons on an incredible adventure bringing America’s national treasures to life.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area is Oklahoma’s oldest national park area. Here’s a little history. In 1902, the U.S. Government purchased 640 acres from the Chickasaw Nation to protect the mineral and freshwater springs.
In 1906, it was renamed Platt National Park at which time additional acreage was added. In 1976, Platt National Park and Arbuckle Recreation Area joined to form the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Recreational Opportunities
Today this beautiful national park is a lovely oasis of water, foliage and wildlife. It all comes together to create the perfect outdoor experience. The park is located in south-central Oklahoma.
If you enjoy a good hike there are more than 30 miles of trails for both novice and experienced hikers to enjoy. Newcomers to the park should begin their experience at the Travertine Nature Center. It’s the park’s main educational center.
It provides interactive learning opportunities, informational exhibits and other Ranger-led programs including guided hikes and educational tours on the flora and fauna found within the park.
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2. Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge | National Parks Near Tulsa
Distance From Tulsa: 52 minutes via US-75 S.
Please Note: Deep Fork is technically not a national park site – managed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife.
Established in 1993 to protect the rapidly disappearing bottomland hardwood forests of eastern Oklahoma, Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge is a truly breathtaking wilderness area.
It’s a 10,000 acre refuge, which offers a crucial resource for waterfowl migrating along the Central Flyway in the spring and fall. This beautiful bottomland hardwood forest features trees which include the black walnut, bur oak, cottonwood, hackberry, pecan, pin oak and river birch.
Wildlife
If you enjoy watching wildlife, four of the state’s species dwell here: alligator snapping turtle, Bell’s vireo, the northern scarlet snake and the river otter.
There are 254 bird species to be found on the refuge for at least part of the year. There are also 51 confirmed mammal species in the Deep Fork River basin. Okmulgee County is a great place to see wildlife as it is home to over 50 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians.
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3. Fort Smith National Historic Site
Distance From Tulsa: One hour & 43 minutes via OK-351 & I-40 E.
A Western Icon Goes for Gold
I’m a diehard film buff. Who can forget that iconic line from one of the greatest western films of all time–True Grit. John Wayne, as U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn, is facing four desperadoes. He’s mounted on his horse with a pistol in one hand and a rifle in the other.
Cogburn says to the leader of this ruthless gang, “I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker’s convenience.”
John Wayne’s performance as a grizzled U.S. Marshall in True Grit earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film further cemented Wayne’s status as a western icon.
part of the film was set at a national park site
The Fort Smith John Wayne was referring to in True Grit is Fort Smith National Historic Site. Visitors can go there and explore 80 years of history.
It’s a great place to learn about how the west was won. And, they did it without John Wayne which is even more impressive.
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How Did Fort Smith Get Its Start
So, how did this fort get its start? At the dawn of the nineteenth century, a group of Cherokees moved into the Arkansas Territory. This happened to be the home of the Osage. You know where this is going, don’t you.
Conflict erupted between these two Native American tribes which prompted the U.S. Government to establish Fort Smith on December 25, 1817.
The fort’s goal was to maintain law and order during America’s westward expansion. It was designed by Major Stephen H. Long and built by Major William Bradford.
The fort was built to last and last it has.
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The “Hanging” Judge
And now we turn to the story of another one of those colorful characters who fill the pages of our history books.
This is the story of a judge whom you would not want to meet in the courtroom for a speeding ticket. Or maybe your horse was double parked?
After the west was won, the U.S. Army moved out of Fort Smith and the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas moved in.
Fort Smith’s famous “hanging judge,” Judge Issac C. Parker, came along with the Federal Court. And, Judge Parker did not earn his famous nickname because he liked doing chin-ups.
He Brought Order & Justice To The Indian Territory
Judge Parker erected a gallows in the south corner. A replica of his famed gallows stands there today. It’s a reminder of Judge Parker’s efforts to bring justice and order to the Indian Territory.
I love doing research and I came across an interesting fact. In 21 years on the federal bench, Judge Parker tried 13,490 cases. In more than 8,500 of these cases, the defendant either pleaded guilty or was convicted at trial.
Judge Parker sentenced 160 people to death and 79 of them were executed.
I have ever had the single aim of justice in view…
‘Do equal and exact justice,’ is my motto, and I have often said to the grand jury, ‘Permit no innocent man to be punished, but let no guilty man escape.'”
-Judge Isaac C. Parker, 1896
Fort Smith Today
Today visitors can see exhibits featuring the history of the military, the Trail of Tears, the Federal Court, and Judge Parker.
Check out the park grounds to see the unearthed foundations of the first Fort Smith, The Trail of Tears Overlook on the Arkansas River, and the Second Fort Smith’s Commissary Building and its reconstructed barracks.
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4. John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park | National Parks Near Tulsa
Distance From Tulsa: 3 minutes via S. Boulder Ave., W Archer St. & N Detroit Ave.
The John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, which features Hope Plaza and the Tower of Reconciliation, memorializes the history of African Americans in Oklahoma, including the lives lost to racial violence, with the goal of transforming years of racial division into a hopeful future of reconciliation and cooperation for Tulsa and the Nation.
The Park is named for distinguished historian, educator, and civil rights advocate Dr. John Hope Franklin who irrevocably transformed our understanding of American history through his scholarship and activism, while advancing the cause of the African American civil rights movement during the twentieth century.
Franklin’s father Buck Colbert (B.C.) Franklin, a prominent lawyer, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and bore witness to what became known as the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. He survived the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and defended other survivors of the massacre, successfully suing the city before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which overturned a Tulsa ordinance that restricted the city’s Black community in its efforts to rebuild after the Tulsa Massacre.
After the rebuilding began, B.C. Franklin’s family, including his wife, Molly (Parker), son John Hope Franklin, and daughter Harriett joined him in Tulsa in 1925. (Source: NPS)
1921 Black Wall Street Memorial
At the turn of the 20th century, African Americans founded and developed the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Built on what had formerly been Indian Territory, the community grew and flourished as a Black economic and cultural mecca—until May 31, 1921.
As African-Americans began to share in what we call the “American Dream,” Booker T. Washington dubbed this community “Black Wall Street.” Unfortunately for them, all of that changed on May 31, 1921.
It was on that date that a white mob began a rampage through some 35 square blocks, decimating the community known proudly as “Black Wall Street.” It would become known as the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Armed rioters, many of whom had been deputized by local police, looted and burned down businesses, homes, schools, churches, a hospital, hotel, public library, newspaper offices and more.
The official death toll resulting from this carnage was 36, but historians put the actual number closer to 300.
The incident stands as one most horrific acts of racial violence, and domestic terrorism, ever committed on American soil.
If you’re interesting in learning more about the tragic events which took place in Tulsa in 1921 then I recommend two books. One is Tulsa, 1921: Reporting a Massacre by Randy Krehbiel. The other is Burning by Tim Madigan.
During the course of eighteen terrible hours on May 31 and June 1, 1921, more than one thousand homes and businesses were destroyed, while credible estimates of deaths range from fifty to three hundred. By the time the violence ended, the city had been placed under martial law, thousands of Tulsans were being held under armed guard, and the state’s second-largest African American community had been burned to the ground.
-Oklahoma Historical Society
things to do
The Park tells the story of African Americans’ role in building Oklahoma and thus begins the long-delayed rendering of the full account of Oklahoma’s history.
It features bronze works by the prominent Denver sculptor Ed Dwight. The primary art elements are:
- Hope Plaza – The Park entry’s 16-foot granite structure contains three larger-than-life bronze sculptures representing actual pictures from the 1921 riot.
- The Tower of Reconciliation – At the center of the Park, the 26 – foot tall memorial tower depicts the history of the African American struggle from Africa to America.
John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park is open for docent led tours. The duration of the tours are a minimum of 45 minutes. These tours include information pertaining to:
- 1921 Massacre
- African American migration
- Native American migration
- Greenwood Historic District
- Black Wall Street (Source: John Hope Franklin Center For Reconciliation)
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5. Philbrook Museum Of Art
Distance From Tulsa: 9 minutes via S Cincinnati Ave.
At More Than Just Parks we’re about more than just parks. It makes sense given our name.
If you’re planning a trip to the Tulsa area then one place we highly recommend is the Philbrook Museum of Art.
Philbrook is no ordinary art museum. It’s set in the historic home of Waite and Genevieve Phillips with expansive formal gardens. The museum, which opened in 1939, is located in a former 1920s villa, “Villa Philbrook”, the home of Oklahoma oil pioneer Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve.
The museum has numerous exhibits from European, American, Asian, Native American and African artists and is surrounded by acres of lush gardens.
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6. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site | National Parks Near Tulsa
Distance From Tulsa: Three hours & 36 minutes via I-44 & I-40 W.
On November 27, 1868, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led his famed 7th US Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack on a Cheyenne village. In his military dispatches, Custer referred to it as the Battle of Washita.
The strike was hailed by the military as a significant victory aimed at reducing Indian raids on frontier settlements as it forced the Cheyenne back to the reservation set aside for them.
For a long time it was seen as a glorious victory for Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer against Chief Black Kettle of the Cheyenne Nation. Instead of winning against Cheyenne soldiers, however, Custer and his troops reportedly massacred more than a hundred people, including Chief Black Kettle and his wife.
From the numbers of women and children who were senselessly slaughtered at the site, it has since been determined to have been not a battle, but a massacre.
The Dust & Fire Trail
Visitors can learn about this time in history at the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Roger Mills County. There is a one and a half mile trail which is self guided with many brochure stops along the way.
There’s also a shorter Dust & Fire Trail. While walking it, you can learn about life on the prairie. Visitors can also explore flora, fauna, a dugout house, and a working windmill.
If you’ve never been there before then I would highly recommend starting your visit at the visitor center. It provides interactive and educational experiences including a 27-minute park film called Destiny at Dawn.
The film describes the engagement which happened on the site and the events leading up to it. There’s also a museum providing views of the Washita River Valley, which includes the Western National Parks Association Bookstore.
Little Big Man
If you’re a film buff, there’s a 1970 western movie titled, “Little Big Man.” It’s based on the 1964 novel by Thomas Berger of the same name. It’s the story of a white man who was raised by members of the Cheyenne nation during the 19th century.
The film is sympathetic in its treatment of Native Americans. The main character of this story incredibly survived both the Washita Massacre and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Of course, remember that it’s fiction.
The film depicts the surprise attack made by Custer’s 7th Calvary on the Native American village at Washita.
Filming locations for Little Big Man included: Virginia City, Billings, Alberta and Calgary Canada, on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Lame Deer, the Montana, Crow Agency, Montana, Nevada City, Montana, the Crow Indian Reservation in Hardin, Little Big Horn River, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Los Angeles, California and Thousand Oaks, California.
National Parks In The Movies
If you want to learn which national parks played cameo roles in some of our most iconic films then check out our fascinating article below. Did you know that Monty Python & The Holy Grail featured a scene filmed in one of America’s best known national parks?
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Map Of National Parks Near Tulsa
List Of National Parks Near Tulsa
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area
- Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Smith National Historic Site
- John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park
- Philbrook Museum Of Art
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then please sign up below!
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