Life in Northwest Oklahoma
- 7 State Parks
- 5 Colleges & Universities
- 40+ Museums
- 32,369 Acres of Lakes
If you’re seeking wide open spaces, northwest Oklahoma is where they’re hiding. Savor a slower pace of life among some of Mother Nature’s most rugged natural beauty.
Best for: a pioneer spirit seeking peace and quiet
Popular Places to Move
Alva
Population
5,028
Average Home Value
$95,912
Guymon
Population
12,965
Average Home Value
$158,340
Woodward
Population
12,133
Average Home Value
$123,448
Ponca City
Population
24,424
Average Home Value
$119,067
Enid
Population
51,308
Average Home Value
$117,603
How does life in northwest Oklahoma compare?
Top Industries
Activities & Attractions
State Parks
Seven state parks dot northwest Oklahoma, from the rugged hills of Gloss Mountain State Park to the lush forests of Boiling Springs State Park. Spend your days off dune-buggying through Little Sahara State Park, touring one of the world’s largest gypsum caves at Alabaster Caverns State Park, or hiking Oklahoma’s highest peak at Black Mesa State Park. Roman Nose State Park’s golf course is a regional favorite, and kids of all ages love digging for selenite crystals at Great Salt Plains State Park.
History & Museums
Northwest Oklahoma is a history buff’s dream come true, packed with stops like the Cimarron Heritage Center, the Pioneer Woman Museum, and the E.W. Marland Mansion. Dive into the past at Fort Supply and the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum, and get up to speed on Oklahoma’s rich heritage at Standing Bear Park, the Cherokee Strip Museum, and Ponca City’s Conoco Museum.
E. W. Marland Mansion
Ponca City
Conoco Museum
Ponca City
Photo by Laci Schwoegler/Oklahoma Tourism
Standing Bear Park & Museum
Ponca City
Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum
Woodward
Arts & Culture
Northwest Oklahoma features a vibrant arts and culture scene fueled by local talent. Catch a Broadway musical at the Gaslight Theater, a variety show at Woodward Arts Theatre, or one of the Enid Symphony Orchestra’s classical masterpieces. For sports nuts, you’ll soon be a fan of the Enid Outlaws professional basketball team and look forward to the NJCAA Division II World Series, played at Enid’s David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
Poncan Theatre
Ponca City, OK
Gaslight Theater
Guthrie
Photo by Erin Haney
Enid Symphony
Enid
Leonardo's Children's Museum
Enid
Bradt's Menagerie
Alva
Family Fun
Fun for the whole family is around every turn in northwest Oklahoma. At Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, hands-on fun is in demand. Bradt’s Menagerie could be your new family tradition, boasting Oklahoma’s largest hay maze and tons of furry friends to pet. Plus, nearby towns are filled with parks, community centers, and splash pads to keep everyone entertained.
Cooper Wildlife Management Area
Woodward
Lake Carl Ealing
Black Mesa State Park
Photo by Darrin Hill
Outdoor Recreation
Northwest Oklahoma’s golden prairies and rolling hills make it a haven for nature lovers. Outdoorsmen can catch catfish and largemouth bass at Lake Carl Etling or Kaw Lake, and hunt for quail, deer, and wild turkey at Cooper Wildlife Management Area. Watch thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats migrate at the Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area, and don’t miss the stargazing. With some of the clearest night skies in the country, northwest Oklahoma puts on quite a show.
Festivals
Community is king in Oklahoma’s panhandle, so it’s no surprise festivals are a way of life. Get a taste of local flavors at the Laverne Sand Plum Festival, Ringwood Watermelon Festival, and Watonga Cheese Festival. Celebrate Guymon’s Hispanic culture at the Guymon Fiesta, and toast to Okeene’s Bavarian heritage at Okeene Germanfest. Northwest Oklahoma’s agricultural heritage also means rodeos are a must, so Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and the Woodward Elks Rodeo are local staples.
Pioneer Days Rodeo
Guymon
Guymon Fiesta
Guymon
Photo by Arlene Winfrey
Woodward Elks Rodeo
Woodward
Photo by Avid Visual Imagery
Food & Drink
Northwest Oklahoma’s food scene is a real treat, cooking up something for every taste bud. Dive into craft brews and hearty dishes at Enid Brewing Company, get a taste of Ireland at Callahan’s Pub & Grille, savor a fine steak at the Rusty Barrel Supper Club, or sample some of the state’s best ribs at Hunny’s. Mo’s Place in Waukomis, Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant in Ponca City, and Katy’s Pantry in Enid are other local favorites.
Enid Brewing Company
Enid
Rusty Barrel Supper Club
Ponca City
Katy's Pantry
Enid
