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A family road trip to Tallgrass Prairie Preserve needs to be on every Oklahoma family’s travel bucket list. I recently shared The Best Road Trip Travel Hacks for Kids if you’re considering taking you kids on a road trip soon! Tallgrass Prairie Preserve has been a favorite of mine (and my family) since I was little. It’s one of the best places you can visit in Oklahoma for free. The Pawhuska area is a great place to take a road trip with kids. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve visited, so today I’m going to finally share how to visit Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and what you can do once you’re in the area.
The good news is- it’s incredibly easy to visit, aside from a little bit of a drive. It’s a great little Oklahoma road trip! The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is free to visit (although you can make a donation to support their conservation efforts). Nearby Pawhuska provides a nice stop for food and getting out to stretch your legs – especially if you’re a fan of Pioneer Woman or the best-selling book, Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. The Killers of the Flower Moon movie (directed by Martin Scorcese, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro) is being filmed in Pawhuska as well!
Family Road Trip to Tallgrass Prairie
A family day trip to Tallgrass Prairie is truly a must-experience, especially if you live right here in Oklahoma. There is truly nothing quite like it. When I look out onto the prairie I try to imagine what our state must have been like back when there were teepee Native American settlements, or even before and during the Land Run. It truly makes you stop and appreciate the history and beauty of Oklahoma and the plains.
All ages will love Tallgrass Prairie- add stopping into Pawhuska and it makes the perfect family day trip. If you’re looking for another fun trip to make in the state of Oklahoma, you can check out my post about our cabin stay in Broken Bow!
Tallgrass Prairie Bison Herd
Tallgrass Prairie’s Bison Herd is one of the largest in the country, totaling around 2100 bison. Most days you can easily see them from the road. We’ve even found our car in the middle of some of the smaller herds, as they cross the road to get to another pasture. If you head to Tallgrass Prairie in the late spring, you’ll likely see the adorable new bison calves.
Bison are such beautiful creatures and seeing them in the “wild” on the prairie is like a glimpse back in time. It helps me to imagine what Oklahoma must have looked like before settlements and statehood and our modern cities, and it is beautiful! The bison are such an important part of this prairie preserve, because at one time they were an endangered species.
I think this almost goes without saying, but, you should not at any time get out of your vehicle if there are bison present. They are dangerous, wild animals and can charge when they feel threatened. You can easily roll down your window to get some good photos, or pull up to a lookout area and get out to safely view the bison herd from a distance.
Hiking at Tallgrass Prairie
Hiking at Tallgrass Prairie is fairly easy, and there are several trails to choose from. From what I remember, the longest trail is about 2 miles of mostly flat prairie. You don’t need to be in great condition as most of the trails are well-maintained and not too steep, though there are some hills.
The prairie trails are also a great place for birdwatching- travelok.com says that there are over 210 species of birds around the Tallgrass Prairie. We have seen several beautiful species, like herons and scissor-tail flycatchers. Native species of grasses and flowers are easy to spot too. I love to see all of the beautiful wildflowers that bloom in the springtime and through summer. A scavenger hunt with kids would be a great activity to do while visiting.
Tallgrass Prairie History
Learn Tallgrass Prairie’s history at the visitor center (which is also a gift shop) just past the trailheads. This is also where you can make a donation to the conservation efforts if you choose. You can also stop in to the nearby 1920’s bunk house for the ranch hands that’s no longer in use, but has been preserved as a learning center. (There’s also a restroom here).
Tallgrass Prairie Road Trip Essential – Make a Stop in Pawhuska to Eat
Make a stop in Pawhuska because you’re going to want to grab a bite to eat either before or after your visit to the Tallgrass Prairie. We LOVED eating at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile – such delicious breakfast. I’ve also heard that the lunch and dinner is amazing as well, but we haven’t tried that yet. Another place in downtown Pawhuska (also created/owned by the Pioneer Woman) that we have tried is P-Town Pizza. It has fantastic reviews and we LOVED the pizza we got there.
The Mercantile is also a shop with some of the best and most beautiful kitchen and home decor pieces. If you’ve ever seen Pioneer Woman on the Food Network, you’ll know what to expect. If you have extra time, take a little trip out to tour their ranch and the house where they film her TV show!
Another place in downtown Pawhuska I’ve been wanting to try is P-Town Pizza. This place has fantastic reviews and next time we visit, we are making a stop! The pizza looks amazing.
There are also several little shops to pop in while you’re in Pawhuska. It’s such a cute little town to visit. On the way from downtown Pawhuska to the Tallgrass Prairie, there’s even a nice playground area and park where you can stop to have a picnic or just let your kids run around for a while!
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xo, Cait
