How to Survive Summers in Tulsa (Pools, Swimming Holes, and Staying Cool)
Summertime and the living is easy…if you stay indoors.
It’s no secret that Tulsa summers are famously unbearable, but that was a secret to me when I first moved here. One spring afternoon in 2021, a friend casually said, “I think I’m gonna spend the summer elsewhere.”
Elsewhere?
I was confused. We’d just come out of the brutal cold snap of 2021. The one that knocked out Texas’s power grid and dumped an absurd amount of snow on Tulsa that we weren’t ready for. I figured summer would be, well, normal.
I figured wrong.
I love being outdoors, but Oklahoma summers do not love us being outdoors. Over time, I’ve learned (mostly through trial and error) how to make the most of them. Some lessons came harder than others, like the time I went camping at Lake Tenkiller in July. Worst sleep of my life, and a mistake I’m never making again.
Still, it is possible to enjoy summer in Tulsa, even to go outside and love it. Below are some of my favorite ways to do just that. Most (but not all) of them involve water.
Get Outside Early in the Morning
I try to get outside in the morning before it becomes deathly, soupy hot. Sometimes I go for a walk around my tree-lined and heavily shaded neighborhood. Other times I join Runnit for a morning jog or go kayaking.
Runnit Tulsa at 7:15a.m. on Riverside on Saturdays is a great way to get fresh air, exercise, and socialize early in the morning before it gets too hot. Welcome to all, whether you want to run, jog, or walk briskly. Great community of people too.
The Gathering Place has free kayaking on Peggy’s Pond on weekend mornings and early afternoons. I try to get there right at 9am on days when it’s only going to be in the eighties. It’s peaceful and you can get a close look at the wildlife: turtles, koi, birds and more. I went on a July morning, and an algae covered turtle followed my red kayak around for a bit. Call or go in person to confirm hours of operation. The website says 8am on weekends, but when I went this summer, it wasn’t open until 9am.
Enjoy Oklahoma’s Swimming Holes
Blue Hole Park in Salina, OK. I went for an afternoon swim on a weekday and there was plenty of room. The weekends probably get more crowded. There was a little pond off the to side with colorful fish, turtles, and dragonflies with very elaborate wings. $15 entry fee to drive in and swim.
Little Blue Park in Disney, OK is another good spot I’ve been to. Wait until it’s crazy hot out because the water is ice cold.
I know there are more swimming holes and creeks to swim in, but these are the ones I’ve been to and can recommend.
Go Floating
Weather permitting, head to Tahlequah, the Illinois River, or (if you’re up for a drive) the Buffalo River in Arkansas to go kayaking, canoeing, floating, and swimming. If you burn easily, consider a long-sleeved swim top and a hat. Given all the e-coli levels in nearby lakes and rivers, 2025 doesn’t look like the best year for these activities. Do your research on health and safety before booking a trip.
Rent a Boat
Rent a boat at Cross Timbers Marina Reservation and spend a day on the water for someone’s birthday, a holiday, or a regular Saturday you want to make more fun.
Pools, Pools, Pools
Who doesn’t love a good pool party? Maybe you have a friend who lives at The Edge, Noma, the Tribune, Park 1010, or University Club. Maybe you are that friend. For the rest of us, here’s a variety of ways to enjoy pools around town:
Public Pools
Pool passes are $15 for 10 visits. See more information on the City of Tulsa’s website here.
Chamberlain Park Pool at 4940 N. Frankfort Avenue | $3 per person | Open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Closed Fridays and Saturdays
Lacy Park Pool at 2142 N. Madison Pl. | $3 per person | Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Closed Sundays
McClure Park Pool at 7440 E. 7th St. | $3 per person | Open Noon - 6 p.m. | Closed Mondays
Reed Park Pool at 4233 S. Yukon Ave. | $3 per person | Open Noon - 6 p.m. | Closed Tuesdays
Whiteside Park Pool at 4013 S. Pittsburg Ave. | $3 per person| Open Noon - 6 p.m. | Closed Tuesdays
Membership-Only Pools
5300 Club Pool in Lortondale. Any Tulsa residents may purchase a membership.
Forest Creek Pool in South Tulsa.
Sungate Pool near 51st and Sheridan. You’ll have to wait for 2026 memberships to go live, because they’re already sold out for 2025.
Gyms like Vasa, Health Zone, and Genesis have pools, but, as it should go without saying, they are designed for exercise, not hanging out.
Other Private Pools
Grab a day pass for the rooftop pool at The Brut hotel in SoBo. Book in advance because spots are limited and they sell out.
Rent a pool through Swimply for an afternoon party. It’s more affordable than I thought it would be, especially when you have a group of friends chip in.
Scour Eventbrite and Facebook like a Maniac for Pool Parties
Someone hosted a public pool party at POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat this summer, and I attended a Tulsa Creative Engine pool party at Lortondale’s 5300 Club Pool back in 2023. Keep an eye out! There’s always something going on.
Slide Down the Sip ‘N Slide
Okay, a giant slip ‘n slide on a downtown bridge always seemed unhinged to me. Like a good way to lose a tooth. And it’s outside in August? No thanks. Then I went in 2023 and went down the slide so many times that I lost count. Planning to go back.
Enjoy Indoor Activities in Well-Air Conditioned Spaces
Play pickleball at the indoor courts at Courts & Commons.
Host a movie marathon with your friends. A couple summers ago, a group of us did a back-to-back screening of The Room and The Disaster Artist in the private theater at University Club. 10/10 recommend.
Enjoy the Lodge at the Gathering Place. Bring your chess sets, books, homework, lunch, and friends.
Take a sound bath at the Philbrook, and then explore the museum, find a shaded spot to enjoy the grounds, or pop into the cafe without paying an additional entry fee for the museum.
Stop by one of the city’s free cooling stations.
Give Gardening a Chance
Plant veggies and tomatoes in the spring; harvest them in the summer. Gardening is a joy because you get to enjoy the literal fruits of your labor. It makes braving the summer heat worth it when you may come back inside with a handful of cherry tomatoes and a couple zucchini.
Go Elsewhere!
Yeah, sorry…I’m with my friend on this one. He’s going to spend much of the 2025 summer in an immersive language program. Other friends found cheap places in Mexico for August. I’m taking a 10-day road trip somewhere, probably Colorado where I can go swimming and hiking near some beautiful mountains, and far away from the oppressive and humid Oklahoma heat.
Even a weekend trip to Dallas, OKC, or Bentonville can switch things up. If you can afford a summer vacation, hop on a plane and take it.
Stay Hydrated
I bought a new stainless steel reusable water bottle for myself, and started keeping water bottles in my car to hand out to people who need them.
Mutual Aid & Community Support
We’re living through a scary time when people are being targeted through cruel policies, and many will soon feel the loss of healthcare and other life-sustaining benefits that our taxes were (and should still be) paying for. So, find joy in the summer and take care of your neighbors too, friends!
Donate to or volunteer with Food Not Bombs, which provides vegetarian and sometimes vegan meals to anyone who needs them.
Donate to El Centro, which provides legal support to migrants. I found out about them through All Souls Church.