A guide to eating and exploring your way through Sulphur, Oklahoma. It’s the perfect destination for a weekend getaway!
Where is Sulphur, Oklahoma?
Located about halfway between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City is the adorable town of Sulphur, OK. It’s the perfect spot for a weekend getaway.
Sulpfur is in south central Oklahoma’s Murray County and is in the heart of the Arbuckle Mountains.
Things to do in Sulphur, OK
No matter if you are looking for a fun day trip or a weekend trip, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to make this a fun town to visit.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Visit the Chickasaw National Recreation Area for a day of hiking more than 30 miles of trails. Viewing the bison or splashing in the creek at Little Niagara Falls is a must-do.
Spanning more than 10,000 acres, this recreation area is great for hiking, cycling, swimming, fishing, and boating. Admission is free. There are also six campgrounds inside the park.
The area was once a US National Park known as Platt National Park. However, in 1976 it changed to a national recreation area but it is still managed by the National Park Service.
Little Niagara
Little Niagara is one of the park’s most popular attractions. Visitors come from all over to swim and tube down the creek. The creek’s spring-fed water stays cool all year round – which makes it the perfect spot to cool off during the summer months.
Chickasaw Cultural Center
Learn all about Native American history through dancing demonstrations, museum exhibits, and walking around a traditional village. The village was our favorite part and was fascinating to see what a historic village would look like.
Located on an 184-acre campus, it features a Living Village with reenactments, interactive exhibits, films, a garden, a history center, and a cafe.
Chickasaw Visitor Center
The visitor center is located in downtown Sulphur across from the entrance to the National Recreation Area. This is a great place to start your adventure. They have free maps of the area, a pressed penny machine, and free hot coffee.
Visitors can also take advantage of the bicycle rentals. Bikes are rented by the hour and are a fun option for touring the park.
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Travertine Nature Center
This is a great place to hike and enjoy a picnic. Kids can pick up a Junior Ranger book. Once they work through the book and explore the area they can earn their Junior Ranger Badge.
Lake of the Arbuckles
Rent a spot at the Buckhorn Campground that borders the lake if you are looking for a great spot to camp. The 36-mile lake is stocked with sunfish, white bass, and catfish. Visitors can get a fishing permit from the Chickasaw Visitor’s Center.
Sulphur Hills Golf Course
Play a round of 9-hole golf at Sulphur Hills Golf Course. The course is beautiful and the perfect way to spend the morning.
Arbuckle Trail Rides
We took a 2-hour trail ride with Arbuckle Trail Rides through the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and the views were breathtaking. Riding is one of our favorite activities to do together and so glad we were able to ride in Sulphur.
Riding through the Arbuckle Mountains was an amazing experience and a wonderful way to enjoy the scenery.
Chickasaw Country made for a wonderful getaway. All the culture, outdoor adventures, and luxurious accommodations make it the best Oklahoma weekend destination!
Bison Pasture Lookout & Trail
The Bison Viewing Area is located on US Route 77. There is a small Parking lot and trail that winds its way around the entire viewing area. It’s an easy trail and has shade trees throughout.
Rusty Nail Winery Tasting Room
I love a good winery! It’s a fun way to wind down, learn all about the wine-making process, and grab a bite to eat on the patio. Rusty Nail is laid back and family-friendly.
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Arbuckle Wilderness
Located in Davis, the Arbuckle Wilderness is a 200-mile drive-thru safari that houses animals from all over the world.
Guests can enjoy sightings of bison, rhinoceros, deer, kangaroos, lemurs, giraffes, antelope and more.
Guest can drive their car or book a ride on the hay bus for the safari. At the end of the safari, be sure to check out the house of reptiles and petting zoo.
Turner Falls
Also located in Davis, is Turner Falls. It’s the state’s largest waterfall and is the ultimate outdoor adventure. They have everything from zippiness, natural swimming areas, cave exploring, hiking, and lodging.
Where to stay in Sulphur, Oklahoma
Artesian Hotel
We spent two nights at the Artesian Hotel, but I wish we could have stayed longer. I mean look at that hotel room! Carson loved the two window seats and of course the indoor/outdoor pool.
The Artesian also has a casino, bathhouse, spa, bar, and amazing restaurant. This luxury hotel features 81 guest rooms, 15,000 square foot casino, Sole’renity Spa, a candy shop (Sweet Swirl), and more.
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What to eat
There are so many great restaurants in Sulphur. We started Friday night at Fat Bully’s Sunset Ridge. Located on the outskirts of town, the restaurant has a large patio (for when it’s not 100) and delicious burgers. I highly recommend the queso for appetizers.
Chickasaw Cultural Center – Try the specialty of the day which is an authentic Indian dish. So good!
Springs at the Artesian – We had breakfast delivered to the room and it was the best omelet I’ve ever had.
We also had dinner on Saturday night. Glad we made reservations because it is s popular spot in town. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection and the little man dug into the buffalo burger.
Sweet Swirlz – Of course, it’s not a vacation unless you stop in for ice cream! Sweet Swirlz is the place to go. They have rows of candy, a yogurt bar, and dip & dots.
Thank you to Chickasaw Country for hosting us on this trip! All opinions are my own.
