Oklahoma is a state that doesn’t get enough credit, well, just about anywhere; first and foremost, what some would merely wave off as “flyover country” is actually a gorgeous, rich place full of history, natural wonders, and more. Oh, and did we mention we get all four seasons? Yep – we sure do. Autumn is quickly approaching and we bet you’re already on the lookout for amazing things to do in Oklahoma in the fall – and that’s where we come in. Check out this ultimate, epic list of the best Oklahoma fall activities for the entire family. Fall in love with the Sooner State this season – let's explore!

Oklahoma Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Oklahoma For Fall Foliage

One of the most well-documented and well-loved parts of autumn is, of course, the amazing foliage. Lucky for us Okies, our state comes alive with brilliant color right around every October. By late September, the leaves have begun their transition – and by the end of October, it’s just about over. It’s a fleeting time, but goodness, it’s beautiful – so here are a few of the best places to go in Oklahoma for fall foliage.

Location: Watonga, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: This amazing Oklahoma state park is filled top-to-bottom with some of the world’s most beautiful forestry, and in the fall, it comes ablaze in golds, oranges and reds.

Need To Know: Oklahoma state parks do not charge an entry fee – and Roman Nose State Park doesn’t charge parking fees. Score!

If you’re craving an autumnal adventure, the amazing state park in Oklahoma known as Roman Note State Park is ready and waiting. With endless camping, hiking, and recreation opportunities, this amazing little slice of paradise is at its best in the fall. It’s BEYOND beautiful – it's painterly, like something out of a movie more than the lil’ ol’ Sooner State. Camping is especially wonderful – after all, you get to wake up to some of Oklahoma’s best fall colors.

Location: Ouachita State Forest

Wow Factor: This lengthy but utterly incredible hike shows off some of the best fall colors the entire Sooner State has to offer – and from such photogenic views!

Need To Know: Park at the Picnic/Swimming Area at Cedar Lake State Park. From there, look for the white blazes – they're tough to miss! There is a small day use fee of $5 per vehicle or $2 for folks arriving on foot, so plan accordingly.

If you’re looking for the perfect autumn hike in Oklahoma, look no further – you found it. This awesome hike is nestled deep in Ouachita State Forest in and around Cedar Lake, and despite its length, it’s ever so worth it. It’s an 11-mile loop, but don’t let that deter you – this amazing hike is worth every single step! It’s considered a challenging route, though, with some rocks that need clambering over – so leave the small ones at home for this one.

Location: Davis, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: What’s better than a 77-foot-tall waterfall in Oklahoma? A 77-fool-tall waterfall in Oklahoma surrounded by a blaze of incredible autumn color, that’s what.

Need To Know: Daily admission tickets are needed per person; up until September 30th, adults are $16-$20 and children under 13 are $9-$16. After September 30th and all through autumn and winter, adults are $9-$12 and kids under 13 are $6-$9. These prices can vary depending on a variety of factors, so check ahead of time before you go.

Turner Falls is easily one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful waterfalls – and its most famous! This incredible, 77-foot-tall behemoth of a cascade is probably the Sooner State’s most iconic natural wonder, and when it’s surrounded by fall color, it somehow achieves the impossible: it gets even better. Visiting Turner Falls is a spectacle year-round, but in the fall, it becomes almost surreal – like something from a movie rather than the American plains.

Best Autumn Towns In Oklahoma

You’ve heard of, say, cute little winter towns, but what about autumn towns? Leaves-a-changing, crisp, cool air, festivals, events, community – sounds wonderful to us. Great news: there are plenty of small towns in Oklahoma that love to go all-out for the season, and those places definitely deserve a shout-out. Here are a couple of the best places in Oklahoma to visit in the fall – which ones are your favorites? Let us know!

Location: LeFlore County, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Nestled in the Kiamichi Valley between the Kiamichi and Winding Stair Mountains, this awe-inspiring little town is so much more than just beautiful – there's always something autumnal going on ‘round here, too.

Need To Know: Drive the Talimena National Scenic Byway while you’re here, and time your visit to coincide with the epic Talihina Fall Foliage Festival for the best fall adventure ever.

When it comes to amazing autumn towns in Oklahoma, you can’t get much more amazing than Talihina, which is easily one of THE most scenic small towns in Oklahoma. Located in close proximity to one of the best scenic drives in the nation and surrounded by beautiful forest that comes to brilliant life in the fall, you can’t go wrong with a weekend spent here – and if you time your adventure to take place during any of the awesome fall festivals in Oklahoma, you’ll get even better mileage out of your trip!

Location: Comanche County, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Nestled in the mountains, this gorgeous foresty town comes to life like none other when fall colors are at their finest. What’s better than a small town in Oklahoma? A small town in Oklahoma surrounded in golds, reds and oranges.

Need To Know: Medicine Park is nicknamed “America’s Cobblestone Community” and has a few notable autumn festivals worth attending, such as the annual Artwalk and Flute Festival.

If you're like us and always on the lookout for seasonal delights like the best autumn towns in Oklahoma, Medicine Park deserves a place on your to-see list. Surrounded by woods and looking absolutely astonishing in autumn, this gorgeous little town features “Cobblestone Row”, which is downtown and features a number of unique shops and eateries you’ll only ever find here.

Location: Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Most small towns in Oklahoma have just one or two autumn-themed attractions. This entire TOWN gets in on the fun – and it’s shrouded top to bottom in brilliant color!

Need To Know: Time your visit to be during The Castle of Muskogee Halloween Festival, which is one of the most popular autumn festivals in the entire state!

If you were to ask an Okie about the best Halloween town in Oklahoma, chances are the first place that’ll come to mind is Muskogee, a town that takes autumn VERY seriously (in the funnest way possible). Get in costume and join the entire town in celebrating all things Spooky Season, with train rides, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns, and more.

Best Pumpkin Patches In Oklahoma

What list of autumnal shenanigans would be complete without mentioning the best pumpkin patches in Oklahoma? None. And trust us – considering the sheer number of options, it's tough to decide which ones to go with. We Okies take our autumn seriously because we’ve all just gotta get out and do things the second the first leaf in the state turns yellow. It’s a family-friendly tradition that goes way back – so let’s explore a couple of the best:

Location: Arcadia, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Often considered by Sooners to be the best pumpkin patch in Oklahoma, this awesome family-run working farm offers up hundreds of pumpkins, sunflowers, corn mazes and more – it's autumn galore!

Need To Know: Day passes and season passes are available – visit the official website to purchase ahead of time (and for the most up-to-date pricing).

With fire pits, a petting zoo, and one of the best pumpkin patches in Oklahoma, you really can’t ever go wrong with an afternoon trip to Parkhurst Ranch, where you’ll find the legendary Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch waiting for you and the kids to show up for the best autumn day ever. The kids can ride a pony, pick a pumpkin and roast hot dogs over an evening bonfire, or you can wander the corn maze with your special someone for the perfect fall date night.

Location: Hydro, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: This old family-run farm is more than 100 years old and knows its stuff about making every autumn the best autumn ever. It’s also affordable!

Need To Know: General admission is $12 and includes the corn maze, a petting zoo, the pumpkin patch, the farmyard, and unlimited train rides. Score! The farm is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

P-Bar Farms is actually known for having the best corn maze in Oklahoma, but its lovely pumpkin patch is also worth writing home about. Going all the way back to 1907, this amazing family farm has been serving up autumn awesomeness for decades now, and it’s excellent at what it does. If you’re on the brave side, you might want to check out P-Bar Farms After Dark, which is a spooky haunted version of the otherwise idyllic corn maze! It’s so much fun it’s... scary.

Location: Welch, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: This epic farm is easily one of the most popular in the Sooner State. With tons of acreage to cover and a state-of-the-art corn maze, you cannot possibly go wrong by making this one a family tradition year after year.

Need To Know: A single day pass is $18.95 online and $21.95 at the gate. On Fridays, everyone’s $18.95! The season typically runs from the end of September to the end of October.

Annabelle’s Fun Farm has been called one of the best pumpkin patches in the US by more than one outlet, and we’re inclined to agree. With 30 amazing acres of all the traditional fall delights plus some unique stuff all its own, this fantastical escape from the real world is perfect for a family day out. A guest favorite is the homemade sodas, so be sure to try ‘em all – they're as fresh as can be. This is one of those awesome places the kids will never want to leave.

Best Fall Festivals In Oklahoma

Not only would no list of things to do in Oklahoma in the fall be complete without talking about pumpkin patches – it also wouldn’t be right to leave out the good ol’ fall festivals, either. Small towns are the best at this, we think, but don’t let that fool you – even Indianapolis can get in on the awesomeness of autumn from time to time. Whether in the big city or out in the sticks, you’re sure to find some truly wonderful fall festivals in Oklahoma worth traveling for.

Location: LeFlore County Fairgrounds, Poteau, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Few things are as magical as a sky filled with hot air balloons. These festivals aren’t just for New Mexico anymore!

Need To Know: This year’s festivities take place on Friday, October 18th and Saturday, October 19th. On Friday, activities go from noon until 11 p.m., and on Saturday, activities go from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.; admission is $5, and parking is $5.

This legendary hot air balloon festival in Oklahoma takes place each and every fall, and it makes for an awesome family tradition. Repeatedly named in the top five best things to do in Oklahoma in the fall by several sources, this amazing festival celebrates autumn in the most unique of ways: with hot air balloons, of course! Learn all about the surprisingly complex science of ballooning and get up-close and personal with your favorites.

Location: Memorial Park, Cushing, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: This family-friendly fall festival has been delighting Okies since 1988. You can expect all sorts of fun, rides, and attractions – and best of all, it’s FREE!

Need To Know: This fun, free fest is held on the last Saturday of September each and every year. It runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With countless local vendors and shopkeepers as well as all sorts of fun rides and other shenanigans to get into, the Cushing Festival in the Park is an experience to be had. With roaming magicians, stage entertainment, crafts, music, food, and lots of other fun, you can’t go wrong. There’s a strong sense of community here, and you’ll feel every bit as part of the family as everyone else. Oh, and did we mention there’s a chili cook-off? Because there’s a chili cook-off.

Location: Pryor, Oklahoma

Wow Factor: Going strong for 44 years, this epic festival is truly everything that’s right with the world right about now, with chili, cooler temperatures, and shorter days. Experience the best chili of your life at the best fall festival you’ve ever attended.

Need To Know: This year’s tasty festivities take place on September 6th and September 7th. Admission is free – bring your appetite!

Every autumn, the town of Pryor hosts its delicious annual Bluegrass and Chili Festival, which, yes – it's as awesome as it sounds. The Mid-America Regional Chili Cook-Off is the big star of the show, and you can sample all sorts of amazing chili concoctions from some of Oklahoma’s greatest chili-makers. Bluegrass makes for the perfect background soundtrack, too, and this delectable festival might just be one of our state’s best-sounding events. What’s more American than bluegrass and chili? Very little, that’s what.

Free & Cheap Oklahoma Fall Activities

Sometimes, money gets tight and we find ourselves on a budget – but worry not, friends! There are plenty of free and low-cost things to do in Oklahoma in the fall. Who says you can’t have fun without spending money? We sure don’t. Here are a few of the best things to do in Oklahoma this fall for free – which ones are your favorites? Let us know!

13. Go Leaf-Peeping

Location: Statewide

Wow Factor: Oklahoma never gets credit for its trees – but it should, especially in the fall, when entire forests are ablaze with color.

What better way to check out the amazing fall color that Oklahoma is so blessed to have than by doing an awesome Oklahoma fall colors road trip? We think none. From stunning Lake Tenkiller to our jaw-dropping state parks and forests, you can’t possibly go wrong. Highway 63 is another wonderfully idyllic option. Oh, and if you’ve never done the ol’ Talimena Scenic Byway by now, autumn is THE perfect time to check it out. It’s something amazing when it’s all awash in crimsons, golds and oranges.

14. Spend A Day At The Lake

Location: Statewide

Wow Factor: Few things are more beautiful than a lake in Oklahoma... except for that same lake in Oklahoma when surrounded by gorgeous, brilliant colors. With more than 200 incredible lakes to pick from, you’ll never run out of sights to see before all the foliage is gone.

Did you know that there are well over 200 lakes in Oklahoma? It’s true – and in the fall, they’re especially wondrous. There are few things quite as breathtaking as somewhere like Broken Bow Lake surrounded by fall color; Lake Hefner is another must-do at this time of year. With very affordable parking costs (if any at all), these kinds of places are perfect for an autumn day on a budget. Plus, who doesn’t love being blown away by the beauty of the Sooner State? We sure do.

15. Hiking, hiking, hiking!

Location: Statewide

Wow Factor: What better way to explore autumn colors than by being fully immersed in them? No matter which trail you choose, you’re in for a treat.

What’s the one thing that can make all the best hikes in Oklahoma even better? Easy – doing these hikes in the fall, surrounded by color and crisp air while the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Most of our trails are free, with no entry fees required – in some cases, only parking fees will apply. Given our amazing state parks being how they are, we think this might be one of THE best ways to enjoy autumn in Oklahoma.

There you have it – 15 amazing ideas for all the best things to do in Oklahoma this fall. Of course, this list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg – the true extent of the Sooner State’s amazing autumn options is so much greater than we can include in a single article. So get out, explore, and be amazed – you never know what you’ll discover while you’re out and about. Oklahoma is amazing – and it’s time you fell in love with it all over again. What better time to do so than in the fall?