Drivable Destinations: Fall and Holiday Fun from A to Z
If you’re looking for a unique family road trip this fall or holiday season, check out this list of drivable destinations!
Amazeum
(Bentonville, AR) The Scott Family Amazeum has it all: science experiments, indoor and outdoor climbing areas, a water exploration station and many other exhibits where kids can let their imagination and curiosity flourish. amazeum.org
Bartlesville
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville is always worth a visit, although it literally lights up for the holidays! Drive through Woolaroc’s Wonderland of Lights every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, Nov. 28-Dec. 21, to see the gorgeous grounds enhanced by colorful Christmas lights. woolaroc.org
While you’re in the area, Bartlesville’s Christmas in the Ville kicks off on Nov. 29, 5:30-9 p.m. This event ushers in a month of ice skating, movies in the park, pictures with Santa, tiny tot train rides, seasonal concessions and more. bartlesvillechristmas.com
Crystal Bridges
(Bentonville, AR) Known for its Chihuly- and sculpture-filled grounds as much as its incredible collection of American art, Crystal Bridges is a great family destination, even if your kids are more outdoor adventurers than art afficionados. This season, Crystal Bridges’ “Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture” exhibition invites guests to “ experience how today’s artists and designers respond to the drive, passion, culture, and systems surrounding games—and who gets to play them.” On view through Jan. 26, 2026
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
(Dallas, TX) The theme of this year’s Autumn at the Arboretum festival is ¡Mundo México! Celebrate “living Mexican culture” through elaborate pumpkin displays, gourd artistry and vibrant sculptures by Oaxacan artists Jacobo and María Ángeles. (dallasarboretum.org/autumn-at-the-arboretum)
Endangered Ark Foundation
(Hugo, OK) More people think of reindeer than elephants when it comes to the winter holidays, but why not switch it up this year? Endangered Ark Foundation is hosting its 4th Annual Holiday in the Ark celebration on select days, Nov. 29-Dec. 22. Not only can you get your photo with Santa and his helpers, you can get a photo with EAF elephants – while also enjoying holiday crafts, holiday-themed lands, treats and more. holidayintheark.com
On weekends from Sept. 26-Nov. 2, visit the Hugo Pumpkin Festival, which, according to its website, is the only pumpkin festival featuring elephants! This unique experience also includes your classic pumpkin patch activities like pumpkin painting, a hayride, inflatables and more. hugopumpkinfestival.com
Winter Solstice Celebration. Photo courtesy First Americans Museum
First Americans Museum
(OKC) Learn about the histories of Oklahoma’s 39 First American Nations through high-quality, interactive exhibitions. Outdoor areas – the 21st Century Mound Builders Experience and Chef Loretta’s teaching garden – can be explored during museum hours at no cost. New this year: FAM’s FAMily Discovery Center opened in September 2025. This interactive space introduces visitors to Oklahoma flora and fauna through a larger-than-life storybook setting.
Upcoming events include the Indigenous People’s Day celebration on Oct. 13, featuring cultural performances, stickball games, educational demonstrations and more. Visit the FAM website for details about their annual Winter Holiday Market, the Winter Solstice Celebration and other opportunities. famok.org
Gaylord Texan ICE!
(Dallas, TX) If you love the hilarious holiday movie “Elf”, then you won’t want to miss this year’s Gaylord Texan ICE! exhibition. Explore 10 immersive scenes from the film, all hand-carved from 6,000 blocks of ice. christmasatgaylordtexan.marriott.com/ice
Heartland Flyer
(OKC to Fort Worth) Choo-choo-choose to travel in style aboard the Amtrak Heartland Flyer, which travels daily between OKC and Fort Worth! Book a hotel and spend a day exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District – which adds an ice skating rink during the holiday season – before heading home. amtrak.com/heartland-flyer-train
Illuminations at Botanica
(Wichita, KS) Wichita’s Botanica is “the brightest place in Kansas” during its annual Illuminations event. Kids will particularly love the Candyland walk-through and storybook gingerbread house.
If you have a chance to visit Wichita in October, Botanica’s BOOtanica (Oct.10-11, 17-18, 24-25) features “seasonal fun, spooky surprises and family-friendly entertainment throughout the gardens.” botanica.org
Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum
(Seminole, OK) Since opening in 1993, Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum has attracted over 1 million visitors from around the world, thanks to its exhibitions focused on fueling imaginative play. jasminemoran.com
KidZania
(Dallas, TX) What would it be like if kids ran the world? Find out at KidZania, a miniature city where kids can be anything from a banker to a dentist, a stylist or influencer. dallas.kidzania.com
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
(Dallas or Kansas City) Enjoy LEGO-themed rides, meet LEGO characters – and of course, spend time building a brick-tacular masterpiece. legolanddiscoverycenter.com
Myriad Botanical Gardens
(OKC) Myriad Botanical Gardens transforms for both fall and winter. From Oct. 3-26 (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) visit The Museum of Pumpkinville, where more than 50,000 pumpkins are artfully arranged to replicate famous paintings, natural history exhibitions and more.
From Nov. 14-Feb. 1, lace up your skates at the Devon Ice Rink. Snap a photo by the 25-foot-tall Christmas tree, and ooh and aah over light displays. myriadgardens.org
National Cowboy Museum
(OKC) National Cowboy Museum will host several special events for kids this season, including HalloWest on Oct. 23, Kids Take Over the Cowboy: Holidays at the Museum on Dec. 6, and Deck the Hall Featuring the Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys on Dec. 7. Deck the Hall features a visit with Santa, meal and an entertaining evening of Western music. nationalcowboymuseum.org
Old Cowtown Museum
(Wichita, KS) Speaking of the American West, Wichita’s Old Cowtown Museum is an immersive replica of a late-1800s “cowtown.” Step inside a one-room schoolhouse, Victorian residences and period businesses. Visit over Fall Break (Oct. 18-19) for Hay, Hooves and Halloween, a family-friendly trick-or-treat experience. Or experience the magic of an old-fashioned holiday at their Victorian Christmas evenings (Dec. 5-6, 12-13). oldcowtown.org
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Railway Museum
P – THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
(OKC) According to USA Today, American families have been putting trains under their Christmas trees since the early 1900s. And of course, The Polar Express book and film further solidified the connection between trains and Christmas. For an extraordinary holiday experience, book your ticket aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, departing from the Oklahoma Railway Museum on select dates, Nov. 16-Dec. 28. okcthepolarexpressride.com
Oklahoma Railway Museum will also host a Halloween Train on Oct. 25-26, and the OKC Train Show at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Nov. 15-16. Get more details at oklahomarailwaymuseum.org
Quirky Roadside Attractions
When charting your route between Tulsa and your final destination, make the drive more interesting by passing some quirky roadside attractions. These could include the Arcadia Round Barn and Pops 66 (on the way to OKC), or the Precious Moments Chapel or Waylan’s KuKu Burger (between Tulsa and Kansas City), for example.
Perez and Martina written by Pura Belpré and illustrated by Carlos Sanchez. Photo courtesy The Rabbit hOle
R – The Rabbit hOle
(Kansas City) What were your favorite books of childhood? Chances are, they’re featured in The Rabbit hOle, a “radical literary wonderland” where visitors can become immersed in scenes from works like Goodnight Moon, My Father’s Dragon, Blueberries for Sal and others. rabbitholekc.org
Silver Dollar City
(Branson, MO) Visit Silver Dollar City in October, and then again in November or December, and you’ll have a completely different experience each time. Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival, Sept. 12-Oct. 26, features massive pumpkin sculptures, visiting craftsmen, fall menus and more. From Nov. 1-Dec. 30, visitors will be delighted by 6.5-million lights, live holiday shows, an eight-story Christmas tree and more at Silver Dollar City’s “An Old Time Christmas” celebration. silverdollarcity.com
Talimena National Scenic Byway
(Eastern Oklahoma) If you consider autumn to be the best time of the year, then a drive along the Talimena National Scenic Byway may quickly become a core memory. Talimena is known for its incredible autumnal foliage, and the drive features designated viewpoints where visitors can park and bask in the beauty of the changing leaves. travelok.com
Union Station
(Kansas City) Starting Nov. 8, visit Union Station’s exhibition “Titanic: An Immersive Voyage” to get a new perspective on this fascinating yet tragic event. unionstation.org
Vinita Oktoberfest
(Vinita, OK) At just about one hour from Tulsa, Vinita makes for an easy day trip. On October 11, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Holy Ghost Catholic Church will host the annual Vinita Oktoberfest. Activities range from a Route 66 car show, dancing demonstrations, a petting zoo and pony rides, authentic cultural food from around the world, music and more. facebook.com/vinitaoktoberfest
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
(Springfield, MO) You may have to pick your jaw up off the floor when you enter the Wonders of Wildlife aquarium. Each habitat area is set up to make it feel like you are strolling through a genuine aquatic ecosystem. But for a truly immersive experience, you can book an actual shark dive! wondersofwildlife.org
X – Exploration Place
(Wichita, KS) If your travels take you to Wichita, Exploration Place may be the perfect pit stop for some active, indoor play. Permanent exhibits include “Design Build Fly,” which lets littles explore air travel and aircraft design. A special fall/winter exhibit, “Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic,” gives visitors a new look at dinos who made their homes in “some of the harshest climates imaginable.”
Visit Oct. 3-5 to see an incredible drone show set to John Williams music. BooFest (candy and science!) takes place Oct. 17-18, 24-25. And tickets to Gingerbread Village (Dec. 6-7) include your very own gingerbread house kit!
Yukon’s Christmas in the Park
(Yukon, OK) A quick 25 minutes west of Oklahoma City, Yukon’s Christmas in the Park is “a magical wonderland of visual entertainment” featuring a three-mile drive-through light display. But you don’t have to just drive through; park and walk to enjoy selfie stations, character experiences and ice skating, among other attractions. yukonchristmas.com
Photo courtesy Sedgwick County Zoo
Zoos
(Oklahoma City and Wichita) Both the Oklahoma City Zoo and Sedgwick County Zoo will have animal-inspired light displays this season. Wild Lights at Sedgwick County Zoo features vibrant Asian lantern sculptures and will run from Oct. 15-21. scz.org/event/wild-lights
Oklahoma City Zoo’s Safari Lights, Nov. 15-Jan. 4, also presents animal light sculptures, which can be experienced as a drive-through or walk-through exhibition. okczoo.org
This article was originally published in TulsaKids’ Oct. 2024 issue. It has since been updated
