There are 12 free things to do in Oklahoma City, ranging from a 70-acre urban park and a world-ranked splash pad to Native American art exhibits and a 24-hour outdoor memorial. None of the activities listed here require a ticket, reservation, or entry fee.
For related reading, see Haunted Houses in Oklahoma City and Seasonal Events Guide: Full Annual Calendar by Month.
What Are the Best Free Activities in Oklahoma City?
The 12 best free activities in Oklahoma City are:
- Walk Scissortail Park
- Cross the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge
- Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial outdoor grounds
- See the Centennial Land Run Monument in Bricktown
- Explore Myriad Botanical Gardens outdoor grounds
- Tour the Red Earth Art Center
- Walk through Union Station
- Relax at Highley Park
- Hike Martin Park Nature Center
- Tour the Oklahoma State Capitol
- Stroll the Plaza Arts District
- Attend Fourth Friday events in the West Village or Plaza District
Each activity below includes location, hours, and what is and is not free.
What Can You Do for Free at Scissortail Park?
Scissortail Park is a 70-acre urban park in downtown Oklahoma City with free admission, open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is located at 300 SW 7th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73109. The park extends from the core of downtown south to the shore of the Oklahoma River. The Skydance Bridge connects its Upper and Lower Park sections.
The 70-acre park features ornamental gardens and woodlands, a 3.7-acre lake, a children's playground and interactive sprayground, a seasonal roller rink, and a dog park. Free activities at Scissortail Park include:
- Walking and jogging along paved trails through ornamental gardens and woodlands
- Using the free splash pad (Scissortail Sprayground)
- Attending the weekly farmers market on Saturday mornings
- Joining the free Walking Club every Thursday and Sunday
- Watching outdoor concerts and art exhibits during warmer months
- Using the dog park and picnic groves
The Farmers Market at Scissortail Park is located at the corner of Oklahoma City Boulevard and hosts local vendors every Saturday morning.
Note: Pedal boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards on the 3.7-acre lake are available for rent at a cost. The roller rink and some seasonal events have separate fees.
Is the Scissortail Sprayground Free?
The Scissortail Sprayground is free to use. Voted the number one splash pad in America by USA Today, the Scissortail Sprayground is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It features a network of jets and fountains. It is located in the Upper Park section.
Does Scissortail Park Have Free Golf Cart Tours?
Scissortail Park offers free golf cart tours for guests with limited mobility. The Silver Flyer Tours accommodate up to 4 guests with 20-minute tours available on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Reservations are required and can be made online or by calling 405-445-5786.
Is the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge Free to Visit?
The Skydance Pedestrian Bridge is free to visit and walk across. The Skydance Bridge connects the Upper Park and Lower Park sections of Scissortail Park, spanning I-40. It is accessible directly from Scissortail Park. The bridge is open during park hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The bridge is located in the middle of Scissortail Park and is accessible as part of the same no-cost visit to the park.
What Can You Do for Free at the Oklahoma City National Memorial?
There is no fee to visit the outdoor memorial at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The outdoor Symbolic Memorial is open 24 hours a day. The museum inside has a separate $15 admission fee and is not free.
The free outdoor Symbolic Memorial includes:
- The Field of Empty Chairs: 168 empty chairs representing each of the 168 lives lost on April 19, 1995
- The Gates of Time: 2 bronze gates marking 9:01 and 9:03, the moments before and after the blast
- The Reflecting Pool: a 318-foot shallow pool running between the Gates of Time
- The Survivor Tree: an American Elm that withstood the bombing and continues to grow
- The Children's Area: tiles sent by children around the world, adjacent to the museum entrance
The memorial is located in downtown Oklahoma City and is walkable from Myriad Botanical Gardens, Scissortail Park, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Is the Centennial Land Run Monument Free?
The Centennial Land Run Monument is open daily with free admission. The entrance is at 200 Centennial Ave, just off Reno Ave, between Bass Pro Shops and Residence Inn Hotel.
The monument commemorates the opening of the Unassigned Land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889. When completed in 2015, the sculpture became one of the world's largest bronze sculptures, featuring 45 heroic figures of land run participants frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads. The monument is located at the south end of the Bricktown Canal and is a city park open to the public year-round.
The Bricktown Canal area surrounding the monument is free to walk along. Bricktown Water Taxi rides are a separate paid activity.
Are the Myriad Botanical Gardens Free?
Myriad Botanical Gardens provides 15 acres of ornamental gardens and grounds in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. Admission to the outdoor gardens is free, and they are open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Free features at Myriad Botanical Gardens include:
- Ornamental gardens, shade gardens, and tree collections
- A lake with terraced gardens
- A children's garden with a playground and adaptive equipment
- Splash fountains for children
- Walking and jogging paths
- An off-leash dog park
- Seasonal outdoor concerts, movies, and fitness programs
The Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory is 224 feet long and 70 feet in diameter, covered by 3,028 sections of translucent, double-layered acrylic panels. It houses hundreds of tropical and desert plants. Admission to the Crystal Bridge Conservatory starts at $10.50 for adults and is not free. The outdoor gardens are always free regardless of whether the Conservatory is visited.
Is the Red Earth Art Center Free?
The Red Earth Art Center showcases rotating exhibits and is open free to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located in the ground floor lobby of the BancFirst Tower in downtown Oklahoma City.
The Art Center houses both temporary exhibits and a permanent collection of Native American art, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, and traditional regalia. This provides a year-round opportunity for visitors to explore and appreciate the rich artistic traditions of Native American communities.
Red Earth, Inc. has been recognized for over 40 years as a multi-cultural resource in Oklahoma for advancing the understanding and continuation of traditional and contemporary Native culture and art. The annual Red Earth Festival each June in Oklahoma City is a separate event.
Is Union Station Oklahoma City Free to Visit?
Union Station in downtown Oklahoma City is free to visit. The historic Santa Fe Depot building is open to the public and accessible at no cost. It is located at 300 SW 7th Street in the southern edge of downtown, adjacent to Scissortail Park. The building is a Romanesque Revival structure and is used as an event venue and public space. Visitors can view the architecture and public areas at no cost.
What Is Highley Park?
Highley Park is a free public park in Oklahoma City. It is a neighborhood green space accessible at no cost and is open daily. The park is located in the northwest area of Oklahoma City and provides open green space, walking paths, and recreational areas. There is no admission fee.
Is Martin Park Nature Center Free?
Martin Park Nature Center features a variety of winding nature trails, a beautiful creek that runs throughout the park, a bird-observation wall, and an on-site nature museum. Admission is free. The park is located at 5000 W Memorial Road, Oklahoma City. It is set within central Oklahoma woodlands and provides a quieter alternative to the downtown parks.
Is the Oklahoma State Capitol Free to Tour?
The Oklahoma State Capitol offers free guided and self-guided tours. The building is located at 2300 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Guided tours cover the architecture, artwork, and history of state government. The grounds include an oil derrick, a rare feature of a state capitol. No admission fee applies to either tour format.
What Free Events Happen Regularly in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City has 4 recurring free public events. These are the Scissortail Park Farmers Market, the Fourth Friday events in the Plaza District and West Village District, the Scissortail Park Night Markets (returning in 2026), and the Walking Club at Scissortail Park.
The 26th Annual Plaza District Festival is a recurring September event that draws crowds from across Oklahoma City, featuring performing artists, visual artists, and live musicians from noon to 10 p.m., free and open to the public.
The West Village District hosts a Fourth Friday event on the fourth Friday of every month that features different vendors and live entertainment, as well as specials from local businesses.
The Asian Night Market Festival in October, hosted by the Asian District, is another free annual event featuring food, performances, and cultural activities.
What Is the Best Free One-Day Itinerary in Oklahoma City?
A full free day in Oklahoma City covers 6 stops walkable from downtown:
- Start at Myriad Botanical Gardens (6 a.m. to 11 p.m., 301 W Reno Ave) for morning gardens and splash fountains.
- Walk to the Oklahoma City National Memorial outdoor grounds (open 24 hours, free) for the Field of Empty Chairs and Survivor Tree.
- Head to the Centennial Land Run Monument in Bricktown (200 Centennial Ave, free, open daily) to see the 45-figure bronze sculpture.
- Visit the Red Earth Art Center (BancFirst Tower, free Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for rotating Native American art exhibits.
- Walk to Scissortail Park (300 SW 7th St, open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) for the Sprayground, dog park, and ornamental gardens.
- Cross the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge from the Upper Park to the Lower Park before the park closes.
All 6 stops are free. Total distance on foot between all stops is approximately 2 miles from the Myriad Gardens to Scissortail Park.
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