Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Midwest City, OK

  • Published 2023/03/03

Midwest City in Oklahoma County is the eighth-largest city in Oklahoma, home to around 54,371 locals.

It is also a short distance from the state’s capital, Oklahoma City, which makes it a popular destination for weekend getaways and short-day trips.

Although not as big or filled with places of interest as the capital, Midwest City has activities and sights worth checking out.

If you’d like to learn more about the city, here’s a list of the best things to do in Midwest City, Oklahoma:

Take Your Dog to Fred Quinn Happy Tails Dog Park

Fur parents and animal lovers should not miss the chance to visit Fred Quinn Happy Tails Dog Park, one of the few dog-friendly parks in the city.

The park is located along Reno Avenue near Joe B. Barnes Regional Park and has fenced areas for memorable playtime for your four-legged friends.

Other park facilities include a dry-bed creek, seating areas, small obstacle courses, a water feature for cooling off, and a vast open area where your dogs can run and play.

Treat your furry friend to a fun day at Fred Quinn Happy Tails Dog Park and watch them interact with fellow dogs as you strike up a friendly conversation with fellow animal lovers.

There are separate areas for large dogs and small, senior, or disabled dogs, providing a safe yet fun environment for all kinds of canines.

Have Fun Outdoors at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park

Joe B. Barnes Regional Park is the perfect outdoor place for sports lovers, fitness junkies, and families.

The park is located along Reno Avenue and is also near Fred Quinn Happy Tails Dog Park, Reno Swim & Slide Pool, and John Conrad Regional Golf Course, so there are plenty of things to do in one area.

Park facilities include baseball and softball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, a soccer field, and picnic tables.

With all these amenities, head to Joe B. Barnes Regional Park for a fun-filled day spent outdoors.

You can drop by the nearest supermarket or prepare snacks to bring for a picnic on a warm afternoon.

If you’re not into sports or strenuous physical activities, go for a walk along the trails or stop by the dog park.

Enjoy Vietnamese Dishes at Pho B&B Vietnamese Cuisine

Want to try something new on your visit to Midwest City?

Try Pho B&B Vietnamese Cuisine, a family-owned restaurant along South Air Depot Boulevard.

The restaurant serves fresh and healthy Vietnamese staples like vermicelli bowls, pho, egg rolls, noodle soup, and more.

The flavors of its dishes transport you to the busy streets of Vietnam without having to travel halfway around the world!

At Pho B&B Vietnamese Cuisine, some of the customer-approved dishes include the egg roll, shrimp spring roll, grilled shrimp and chicken vermicelli, and spicy beef noodle soup.

Vegetarian dishes are also available for customers with special dietary needs.

Complete your Vietnamese dining experience and try Vietnamese milk or iced coffee or a tropical fruit shake.

See the Holiday Lights Spectacular

Ring in the festive season and catch the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park.

What started out as a family tradition in 1995 with just 44 light displays became one of the largest animated light shows in the area, boasting over 100 displays.

The Holiday Lights Spectacular stretches 1.5 miles across the park with over a million colorful lights that both kids and kids at heart will appreciate.

Along with the stunning displays, a medley of Christmas songs accompanies this wonderful sight.

Enjoy drive-thru access to the holiday spectacle and get a chance to walk around the lights on select days for a closer look at the displays.

This is a free event, so this is one of the best things to do in Midwest City during Christmas.

Learn the History behind Atkinson Heritage Center

Once a historic home, Atkinson Heritage Center now serves as a venue for reunions, conferences, parties, and other events.

The site was also the family home of W.P. “Bill” Atkinson, the founder and developer of Midwest City, a gubernatorial candidate, newspaper publisher, and activist.

Join a tour around Atkinson Heritage Center and get a glimpse of Atkinson and his family’s daily life through the everyday items and memorabilia displayed in the rooms.

Admission to the heritage center and guided tours are free, making it an ideal activity for travelers on a budget.

If you’re looking for a venue to celebrate small parties, family reunions, corporate gatherings, and other events, consider renting the heritage center.

Have a Fun-Filled Day Indoors at Altitude 1291

If you’re looking for an all-in-one place for entertainment indoors, Altitude 1291 is the best place for families, groups of friends, and workmates.

Housed in a large indoor space, the establishment boasts bowling lanes, bumper cars, laser tag arenas, rock climbing areas, and more.

Whether you’re planning a family day out, a fun bonding activity with your friends, or a team-building activity with your colleagues, Altitude 1291 is the ideal place.

Bring out your competitive side and play bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, and classic arcade games.

Feeling tired in between games?

Replenish with nachos, pizza, chicken fried steak, and other snacks.

Feast on Delicious Seafood and Steak at Pelican’s Restaurant

Since 1980, Pelican’s Restaurant has been serving the residents of Midwest City delicious seafood, steak, and other mouthwatering dishes.

From its steak to prime rib, chicken, pasta dishes, and homemade soup, the restaurant takes pride in using quality ingredients for the best dining experience in town.

At Pelican’s Restaurant, enjoy seafood dishes like catfish, Pelican fried shrimp, and fried oysters, or ask your server for the Catch of the Day for a surprise.

For steak lovers, savor premium choice Black Angus beef steak and prime rib seasoned with their own steak butter.

Satisfy your sweet tooth and enjoy desserts like cheesecake, key lime pie, or a hot fudge brownie sundae

Bike along SCIP Recreational Trail

The SCIP (Soldier Creek Industrial Park) Recreational Trail is a popular trail for bikers and hikers due to its accessibility and terrain.

Despite being an off-road trail, it’s still well-maintained and can suit even beginner bikers.

What also makes SCIP Recreational Trail special is it meets both the International Mountain Biking Association and the U.S. Forest Service Standard Trail Specifications guidelines.

This creates a perfect harmony between sustainability and leisure.

Follow the trails and navigate through the woods, meadows, wildflower habitats, and some areas of Soldier Creek.

Show Off Your Skating Chops at Kiwanis Skatepark

Kiwanis Park is one of the most popular parks in Midwest City, offering various activities for everyone, including beginner and expert skaters.

At Kiwanis Skatepark, learn the ropes of skating or showcase your skills.

Admission to the skatepark is free; it is open to skaters and cyclists of all skill levels.

Use the different elements and features of Kiwanis Skatepark to learn basic moves, create a flow, and perfect complicated skateboarding tricks.

After hanging out at the skatepark, feel free to explore the rest of Kiwanis Park to make the most of your visit.

Play Golf at John Conrad Regional Golf Course

Looking to practice your swings?

Don’t miss John Conrad Regional Golf Course, located near Joe B. Barnes Regional Park.

In 1971, Floyd Farley built and designed the golfing facility, which features tree-lined roughs, stunning water features, and rolling hills.

To further improve its amenities and service, the golf course underwent a renovation that includes a new driving range, fairway surfaces, maintenance equipment, and golf carts.

Check out John Conrad Regional Golf Course and play a few rounds of golf with your friends or the locals.

With its proximity to other parks in Midwest City, you can head to the park to relax after a satisfying game!

Other Things to Do Nearby

Marvel at the Exhibits at Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Exterior of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

From Midwest City, travel 30 minutes south and visit the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman.

Located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, the museum houses millions of exhibits encompassing over 500 million years of natural and cultural history.

Take a tour of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and feel as if you’ve stepped back in time as you check out the exhibits.

Close view of Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History's exterior

Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com

Some of the museum’s notable specimens include the largest Apatosaurus skeleton in the world, a bison skull, a Pentaceratops skeleton with a 3.1-meter-high skull, and the Mississippian culture stone effigy pipes.

The museum also hosts programs for adults, children, and families to pique their curiosity about our ever-changing world.

Dinosaur skeleton displayed in Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Vince Smith from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marvel at the Light Displays at Down’s Family Christmas Light Ministry

Spending the holiday season in Midwest City?

Take a 35-minute road trip to Norman and enjoy the Yuletide spirit as you view the holiday lights at Down’s Family Christmas Light Ministry.

It is an annual light display featuring more than 280,000 LED lights accompanied by classic and modern Christmas songs.

Best of all, you can view the colorful illuminations within the comforts of your car, providing a safe but fun experience for everyone.

Similar to a drive-in movie, you can park your car on the field, tune in to the radio, and watch as the light displays dance to joyful music.

Down’s Family Christmas Light Ministry is a free event, but canned food and monetary donations for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma are highly appreciated.

Shop at Choctaw Creek Farmers Market

On the hunt for fresh and organic produce at affordable prices?

Head to Choctaw Creek Farmers Market, located 17 minutes from Midwest City.

The seasonal community event is located within Choctaw Creek Park and is a great place for families to gather and see what local vendors and growers have to offer.

Shopping at farmers’ markets is also a good option since you can support the local economy while maintaining a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Check out fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, homemade goods, and pastries at Choctaw Creek Farmers Market.

As you hop from one stall to another, grab a bite at the stalls selling ready-to-eat meals like tacos, hotdogs, and more.

Spend the Day at Lake Thunderbird State Park

A speedboat at Lake Thunderbird State Park

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

Lake Thunderbird State Park is a 1,874-acre state park in Norman, a 30-minute drive from Midwest City.

It is the only urban state park in Oklahoma, offering several miles of shoreline, hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, and other facilities for outdoor recreation.

The Calypso Cove Marina and Little River Marina provide anglers with opportunities to fish for largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, white bass, and sockeye.

A short pier at Lake Thunderbird State Park

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

Take a day trip to Lake Thunderbird State Park and surround yourself with nature as you follow the multipurpose trails, have a picnic, and enjoy water activities like swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing.

Make the most of your time at the park and spend the night at the campgrounds, with RV and tent sites.

Enjoy Leisure Time at the George M. Sutton Wilderness Park

Soak up the calm lakeside views at the George M. Sutton Wilderness Park, a 30-minute drive from Midwest City.

Also known as Sutton Wilderness Park, the park offers opportunities for hiking, jogging, and wildlife spotting.

Some of the animals you can find here include Texas horned lizards, white-tailed deer, foxes, and hundreds of bird species.

Travel to George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman and take in the scenic views of the lake as you go on a relaxing stroll on the trails.

Most trails at the park are flat, so those on wheelchairs and beginner hikers can enjoy their time here.

Final Thoughts

Midwest City in Oklahoma has everything you need for an unforgettable day tour or weekend getaway.

Located only a few minutes from Oklahoma City, it has amazing parks, must-try restaurants, and seasonal events that make it an ideal year-round destination.

Let this list of the best things to do in Midwest City, Oklahoma, guide you when planning your itinerary!

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