The second biggest city in the state of Okalhoma and the 47th biggest city by population in the entire United States, Tulsa is a popular city in which to live and work. Located mostly in Tulsa County, but also extending into Wagoner County, Rogers County, and Osage County, Tulsa is home to over 400,000 people, with close to a million in the surrounding metropolitan area. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.
1.Overview
The city of Tulsa was founded in the early 19th century and was known as the 'Oil Capital of the World' for many years due to its booming oil industry which played a major part in the economic and industrial development of Oklahoma overall. Situated on the Arkansas River and right by the Ozark Mountains, Tulsa may have a history and reputation associated with oil and industry but is also a prime location for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, with lots of beautiful natural sites to be seen and enjoyed in the surrounding area and lots of fun outdoor activities to be enjoyed.
The city of Tulsa is also home to two major art museums and professional ballet and opera companies, making it a prime location for arts and culture appreciators. In short, it's a great location for all kinds of people and is a popular spot with RV enthusiasts due to the presence of many highly rated RV parks and campgrounds in the surrounding area. Read on to find out more about all of the best Tulsa RV parks and choose the right one for your next road trip in Oklahoma.
2.Canyon Creek RV Park
Offering a warm welcome to all guests and really going above and beyond the call of duty to keep everyone happy and ensure that each stay is a pleasant one, Canyon Creek RV Park stands out as one of the finest RV parks in the city of Tulsa, OK, for its amazing levels of service. This RV park is situated in a quiet northwestern corner of the city, offering a little oasis of peace and tranquility, mere minutes from the liveliness and activity of the downtown city streets. Canyon Creek RV Park is perfectly situated for both outdoor enthusiasts and city, being almost equidistant between Downtown Tulsa and some of the city's finest recreation areas like Skiatook Lake.
Offering really great rates, Canyon Creek RV Park also excels as an affordable RV park in the Tulsa area. You can stay for a night at this RV park for the low fee of just $35, with weekly rates of $175 and monthly rates of just $450 also available to help long term guests save some extra cash. The RV sites feature full hook-up services and 40 foot cement slabs, offering 30/50 amp power, cable TV, water, and Wi-Fi. This RV park is pet friendly as well, so you can bring a dog along for some fun on the grassy areas, as long as they remain on a leash at all times for the safety and comfort of other guests.
6618 N 52nd W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74126, Phone: 918-729-2333
3.Warrior RV Park
Suitable for both long and short term stays in the Tulsa area, Warrior RV Park is another of the top rated RV parks in this Oklahoma city. It's located on the southern side of the Arkansas River, only minutes away from Downtown Tulsa and all of the city's main attractions, restaurants, shops, and points of interest, so it's a great base camp for people wishing to explore the city and make the most of their stay in the area. The location of this RV park is actually one of its strongest aspects, as it provides a quiet and clean environment to guarantee plenty of peaceful rest in the evenings, while still being close and convenient to the center of the city.
Warrior RV Park offers full hook-up spaces with free Wi-Fi access all around the park for the convenience and comfort of every guest. This RV park is open all year long and offers some simple but useful amenities as well including propane sales, a laundry with plenty of reliable, coin-operated washers and dryers, a bathhouse with clean toilets and hot showers, and lots of grassy spaces for picnics and games with your friends and family. Rates at this RV park start at just $35 for a day, $175 for a week, and $480 for a month.
5131 S Union Ave, Tulsa, OK 74107, Phone: 918-446-3199
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4.Expo Square RV Park
The Tulsa Expo Center, also known as Expo Square, is one of the most active and lively locations in the whole city. With over 350,000 square feet of space, this is one of the biggest clearspan buildings on the planet and hosts all sorts of events throughout the year, including the Tulsa State Fair. If you happen to be visiting Tulsa for an event or just want to be in the heart of the city, able to access all the main areas and attractions in a matter of minutes, Expo Square RV Park is the one for you. This RV park is right in the center of Tulsa, offering direct access to the Tulsa Expo Center and being situated just a short walk or drive from some fabulous eateries, bars, nightlife locations, live entertainment venues, and shops.
This is a relatively simple and no-frills RV park, with only the most basic of amenities like restrooms and laundry machines, but it offers a really great advantage of being one of the most central RV parks in all of Tulsa. It also provides great rates that are affordable for everyone, with a nightly fee of just $40. The RV parks around the outskirts of Tulsa tend to be slightly cheaper, but the prices at Expo Square RV Park are still very attractive, so if you want to keep your costs down and enjoy all the advantages of this great city, this could be the perfect RV park for you.
3890 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74112, Phone: 918-744-1113
3 Best RV Parks in Tulsa, OK
- Overview, Photo: jedphoto/stock.adobe.com
- Canyon Creek RV Park, Photo: OceanProd/stock.adobe.com
- Warrior RV Park, Photo: maho/stock.adobe.com
- Expo Square RV Park, Photo: Ocskay Mark/stock.adobe.com
- Cover Photo: Andrey Armyagov/stock.adobe.com
Attraction Spotlight: Tulsa Art Deco Museum
The Tulsa Art Deco Museum is a boutique museum set in the marbled lobby of Tulsa's historic Philcade Building on Boston Avenue in the heart of Tulsa’s Deco District that boasts a spectacular collection of items and objets d’art from the city’s golden age of Art Deco. Established to present and preserve Tulsa’s rich Art Deco heritage through inspiring exhibits and educational programs, the Museum’s collection includes functional furniture, home décor pieces, advertising artwork from the era, and glassworks. The Tulsa Art Deco Museum also has a quaint 1920s-themed gift shop that offers a unique range of items reminiscent of Tulsa's sumptuous heritage, and a casual café serving hot drinks and light meals.
The Building
Located at the corner of 5th & Boston in the heart of downtown Tulsa on what was once the original site of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, The Philcade is one of Tulsa’s most beautiful and famous examples of Art Deco architecture. Designed by Architect Leon Senter, who became one of Tulsa’s most notable architects, the building features 13 floors of office space, a two-story shopping arcade, and a luxury penthouse on the 14th floor. Completed in 1937, The Philcade was the first fully air-conditioned office building in Tulsa.
Collections / Exhibits
The Tulsa Art Deco Museum features a series of self-guided window exhibits of Art Deco artifacts, objets d’art, and another piece from the stylish era, as well as interpretive maps of Tulsa’s Deco District. Permanent and ongoing exhibitions include 1980s Deco Echo - William Franklin Private Collection, Frankart by Arthur von Frankenburg - Debby Kelsey Private Collection, Smoking Hot! - Debby Kelsey Private Collection, The Changing Yearbook – William Franklin Private Collection, Tulsa's Lost Art Deco, and Egyptian Art Deco - Debby Kelsey Private Collection.
Local Attractions
Set on the banks of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, Tulsa is renowned for its first-class Art Deco architecture, particularly in the central Deco District. Landmark buildings include the Philcade and Philtower buildings, which reflect the massive construction boom fueled by the oil industry that took place in the city in the 20th-century, and the magnificent Italianate villa-style Philbrook Museum of Art, which was once the home of a local oil magnate.
Other local attractions in the city include the Gilcrease Museum, which houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of artwork of the American West, along with some artifacts from Central and South America. Named for Thomas Gilcrease, an oilman, and avid art collector, the Museum is located on North Gilcrease Museum Road northwest of downtown Tulsa and is one of the top Tulsa attractions.
Located on 15th Street in “The Cherry Street District” of Tulsa, the Tulsa Farmers’ Market is a popular market that offers fresh locally produced items during the warmer months of the year. It first opened in 1998 and was initially called the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market. The market’s goal is only to sell products that are local, seasonal, and sustainable.
511 S Boston Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74103, Phone: 918-417-6544
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Attraction Spotlight: The Cave House
The Cave House in Tulsa, Oklahoma was built in 1924, allegedly as a speakeasy, complete with secret escape tunnels. The eclectic structure is now a private home, and offers tours by appointment. The quirky structure is built into the foot of a hill just west of downtown Tulsa. The original portion of the home resembles a cave-like structure, with hand-shaped rock-like projections above the windows and front door.
At the back of the original structure is where the supposed bar is located, complete with clamshell-shaped stage. The area has since been closed off with a cement wall, the cave having been long ago absorbed into the hillside behind it. A more traditionally-shaped adobe structure was added in the 1940’s and is reached by a steep, winding staircase from the back of the original building. A slide from the upper bedroom leads back into the lower level sitting room. Removable floorboards are found in the upstairs bedroom, allowing access to a secret hiding spot.
The current owner, who does not live in the home, has furnished and decorated the interior with an eclectic mix of found objects, including thousands of sticks, which hang from ceilings, make up a cocoon-like four-poster bed, and stack against the walls. A tree decorated with hanging found keys is said to appease a spirit who lives in the house. Two seats removed from a mini van serve as parlor chairs, an homage to a mechanic who once lived in the home. Additional found objects, many of which were donated, include artifacts from the 1920’s, bones, and pop-culture tchotchke.
History: Joseph Koberling Sr. and James Purzer built the Cave House in 1924 as a chicken restaurant named the Cave Garden. Joseph Koberling was a mason as well as a respected Tulsa architect, who, according to stories, thought if he could build a home, he could fry a chicken. The Cave Garden was a restaurant by day, serving meals outdoors, and as legend has it, became a speakeasy at night, serving alcohol indoors. The famous fried chicken and apple pies brought guests from all over, even truckers passing through town would park across the street and take time from their drive to enjoy the chicken. The drinking and dancing brought another type of guest. Among the famous outlaws who are rumored to have spent time at the speakeasy is the infamous bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd and his gang of outlaws.
In the 1940’s, the Cave was expanded and converted into a home. The building allegedly continued to be a site of bootleg production well into the 1960’s. Residents who live in the hills above the home attest to the presence of a series of tunnels that provided several ‘secret’ entrances and exits. Although unproven, rumors have it that the tunnels, all entrances to which are currently sealed off with cement, hold the remains of victims of the Ku Klux Klan, and that one tunnel in particular leads to the nearby Newblock Park which is alleged to be the site of a mass grave of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riots.
The home has gained cult status in Tulsa, is included in several Tulsa landmark tours, and has been featured on HGTV’s Home Strange Home program, in addition to vast amounts of coverage on the local news. Owner Linda Collins purchased the home on a whim as someone who ‘always wanted to see inside.’
Ongoing Programs and Education: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to See Inside’ Tours are offered by appointment only. Tours are most often scheduled on weekends with the occasional holiday-themed special tour. Visitors who tour the home are treated to an entertaining visit with current owner Linda Collins. Ms. Collins has collected a number of stories over the years, and her tours touch on Tulsa history as well. Although not all the stories are true, Linda tells them all.
Many visitors claim to have seen the ghost of the original owner, James Purzer, in the home. Ella is a one-time occupant whose ghost continues to roam the home. Ella’s family claims she hid a diamond necklace inside the house, which has never been found. The Cave House is one of the stops on the Paranormal Investigation Team of Tulsa’s Haunted Landmark Tour.
What’s Nearby: The cave house is located directly across from Tulsa’s Newblock Park, an 85-acre municipal park with softball fields and picnic tables.
1623 W. Charles Page Blvd. Tulsa, OK 74127, Phone: 918-378-1952
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Attraction Spotlight: Gilcrease Museum
The Gilcrease Museum is recognized as one of the premier facilities that preserves, promotes, and researches American art and history. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Gilcrease Museum is the premier facility for the exploration of art and history in the Tulsa community.
Founded in 1949 by Thomas Gilcrease, a Tulsa oilman, the Gilcrease Museum has risen to being recognized as one of the most renowned facilities with a comprehensive collection of American art. Tom Gilcrease as born in Robiline, Louisiana, and was the first of fourteen children to be born. Soon after Tom was born, his family moved to the Creek Nation, which was located within the Oklahoma Territory.
Growing up, Tom helped his family run their fields and store. Although he received a minimal amount of education, Tom loved to read and explore the world around him. Since his name was plastered on the Creek tribal rolls, Tom was eligible to receive an area of land equal to 160 acres. The income from the 30 wells on his land helped Tom save enough funds to attend the Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
After marrying Belle Harlow and having two children, Tom was infatuated with the idea of owning an oil patch. This led him to create an exploration company in 1922. Three years after he created his exploration company, Tom traveled to Europe. Although this trip gave Tom ideas of how to expand his business, this trip led to Tom pursuing a passion within collecting art. Although he loved European art, Tom decided to collect objects that were closer to his heritage. So, he sought out artifacts and art from Native American culture.
In the late 1930s, Tom moved to San Antonio, Texas. Throughout his time in San Antonio, Tom’s personal art collection grew to be so extensive he formed the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation. This foundation served as a place to preserve and house his collection. It should be noted this display of art is often regarded as the first museum that as solely dedicated to preserving and showcasing Western American art.
Although Tom’s collection continued to expand, members of the San Antonio community never took a strong liking to his collection. So, Tom closed the small display in the late 1940s, and relocated his museum and business back to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Thomas Gilcrease Museum was officially established in 1949.
The Gilcrease Museum’s permanent collection is comprised of two sections: art and anthropology. The extensive art collection features a variety of sculptures, paintings, and other art forms. Art pieces in this collection date back to the first colonial portraits that were done in New England, and range to more modern 20th century pieces of art. The largest concentration within the permanent art collection is within art from Native American artists. There are approximately over 400 years of Native American art showcased within over 13,000 pieces of artwork.
The anthropology portion of the Gilcrease Museum’s permanent collection features a variety of artifacts that resemble over 250,000 specimens, historic events, and cultural significances. The anthropology collection focuses on historic aspects of North, Central, and South America. Artifacts date back to the original prehistoric groups and civilizations.
For more information about the permanent attractions at the Gilcrease Museum, check out the Museum’s online archives.
The Gilcrease Museum hosts various special attractions throughout the year. In order to give you a glimpse into the typical special attractions at the Gilcrease Museum, here are some of the current special attractions on display.
Like many other renowned museums, the Gilcrease Museum values education. Visitors have the option of participating in various educational opportunities at the Gilcrease Museum, such as specialized tours, classes, workshops, and lectures.
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1400 N Gilcrease Museum Rd, Tulsa, OK 74127, Phone: 918-596-2700
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