Whether you live in Oklahoma or have a vacation planned, OK summers are known for their heat. Fortunately, you know where to go. All you need is a swimming pool, shining lakeside, or a river to keep you cool and have a fantastic time. Oklahoma is full of wonderful places to swim, whether you prefer a lively water park, a peaceful resort, or a natural swimming hole.
Join us as we dive into 8 spectacular weekend summer getaways in Oklahoma to escape this year’s heat.
Water Parks
Water parks are a fantastic way to escape the summer heat with all-day fun. Each one is its little world of slides, snacks, pools, and lounging opportunities that will ensure everyone on your vacation finds something to love.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Oklahoma City
Everyone knows that Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is the country’s best chain of water parks. There are 14 of them throughout the US and Oklahoma City is one of the lucky locations for a truly grand water park experience. You can splash down epic water slides, play in the aquatic playgrounds, swim against the wave pool, or float down the lazy river. It’s a full day – if not a full week – of fun in your swimsuit solo, with a partner, or the whole family.
Paradise Beach Waterpark in Tulsa, OK
Paradise Beach Waterpark in Tulsa, OK is a homegrown extravaganza that has a cool local flavor that even Hurricane Harbor can’t rival. In addition to amazing water slides and a lazy river, there’s a petting zoo with ostriches, tortoises, and llamas. Have a snack, slide down a pirate ship, or climb a dinosaur. It’s all here, for kids and grown-ups alike.
Shawnee Splash Water Park in Shawnee OK
If you’re in Shawnee, you can’t miss the Shawnee Splash Water Park. This fantastic summer landscape of pools and play areas is sure to keep you cool for a full day of fun. There are splash playgrounds, a diving pool, swimming pools, water slides, and a climbing wall. Also, there are many floating balls to pitch at the basketball goals and shaded decks for lounging between swims.
How About a Resort Pool Paradise?
If you’re looking for a more refined way to escape the heat, you can’t miss Oklahoma’s spectacular waterside resorts and pool landscapes.
Shangri-La Resort
You will find Shangri La Resort located on Monkey Island on the shores of Grand Lake. It is 85 minutes from Tulsa and is an absolute dream. Not only is Shangri La lakeside for natural swimming and boating but it also has four pools, a lazy river, and water slides. The pools include an outdoor resort pool, an indoor pool, a kiddy pool (with a splash pad, water slides, and a wet playground), and a cozy hot tub near the main resort pool.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort is a campground and resort set on the banks of Keystone Lake that is a paradise for RV travelers. The lake has an interactive floating pier playground, rentable kayaks and paddle boats, and a private water park with a splash playground, slides, and pool volleyball. It’s a great place to beat the heat on an RV vacation or you can swing by for a day in the water even if you don’t go RV camping.
Natural Swimming Holes
For those who adore being surrounded by nature and swimming in natural lakes and rivers, Oklahoma has a wealth of gorgeous parks where swimming, sunbathing, and snacks are all in one place.
Bath Lake Swimming Hole at Medicine Park, OK
Bath Lake Swimming Hole is one of the most popular natural places to swim and enjoy the water in Oklahoma. Located in Medicine Creek, which flows through Medicine Park, OK, you will love the shallow and deep swimming areas, boating channels, and the beautiful view of crisscrossing bridges over the natural shores of the creek. There are also shops and lunch areas within walking distance for an all-day adventure.
Blue Hole Park at Salina, OK
Blue Hole Park is aptly named after the water at the foothills of the Ozarks which boasts a beautiful azure blue color. This is a beachside delight with a snack shop and a lot of relaxed floating. Here, you can relax in calm waters with a cooler full of drinks and an opportunity to meet other families who know where to find the most beautiful swimming spots in Oklahoma.
Little Niagara Falls at Sulphur
Little Niagara Falls in the Travertine Island area is an idyllic swimming hole in the Oklahoma forest near Sulphur, OK. Travertine Creek is a wonderfully chilly flow of water on a hot day where swimming, rapids sliding, and fishing are all popular activities. It’s called Little Niagara Falls because there are so many little spots to slide down the slick rocks. Just bring your jean shorts.
Now you should be ready to discover your perfect swimmer’s getaway in Oklahoma this year and beat the heat in gorgeous surroundings.
Featured Image by Bill Henson (Google Maps).