Your guide to summer fun in OKC and Oklahoma — road trips, museums, nature and more

Mile for mile, the Sooner State offers the nation's most diverse terrain, which visitors and residents alike can explore through more than 30 wildly divergent state parks, plus six national park sites, four national scenic byways and countless other breathtaking spots.

Add in the country's longest drivable stretch of Route 66, the 39 Native American nations headquartered here and the many concert venues and movie theaters getting back to their regular busy calendars, and folks can find a plethora of experiences practically every day in Oklahoma.

More: Sylvester Stallone's 'Tulsa King,' now filming in OKC, sets premiere, calls for actors

Here's your guide to summer fun and beyond in Oklahoma. We will keep updating this list so be sure to come back often!

— Brandy McDonnell, Features Writer 

Things to do in OKC

You can see some of the best public art in the country in Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City's public art, ranging from historic to abstract sculptures to rotating murals in the Plaza District, is the best in the country as ranked by readers of USA Today. Oklahoma City, described as "a veritable outdoor gallery," was among a list of cities nationwide nominated by a panel of USA Today editors and expert advisers and then voted on by readers.

More: The Depot in Norman sets Summer Breeze Concert Series lineup

5 historic OKC buildings once hidden but brought back to life: Like cities across the country, Oklahoma City showed little interest in historic preservation in the 1960s. Hundreds of historic structures were torn down as part of the Urban Renewal Pei Plan. But other buildings survived only to have fake facades added to cover up the original historic appearance.

OKC's Zoo Amphitheatre to host Smashing Pumpkins, Black Crowes, AJR and more this summer: The Zoo Amphitheatre's summer lineup also includes Ben Rector, Third Eye Blind and Goo Goo Dolls. Matchbox Twenty is slated to return in 2023.

OKC's deadCenter Film Fest is returning June 9-12, here's what you need to know this year: After two years of primarily celebrating independent film online, the deadCenter Film Festival returns to an in-person format this year for its 22nd edition.

More: Guy Fieri cooking show champ Kevin Lee brings Korean-style fried chicken to Oklahoma City

Things to do in Oklahoma

7 drive-in movie theaters across Oklahoma offering nostalgic fun: For families, film fans or couples looking for a different kind of date night, a trip to the drive-in theater offers a nostalgic experience that's tough to top.

Hit the highway: 10 Oklahoma road trips: Mile for mile, Oklahoma offers the nation's most diverse terrain, plus a plethora of museums, eateries and attractions. There's plenty to see and do across the Sooner State outside of the obvious allures in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. So gas up your vehicle and plot a course on TravelOK.com for one of these 10 Oklahoma road trips.

NFL's Troy Aikman is planning a music fest in his Oklahoma hometown: Blake Shelton is headlining the inaugural "Troy Aikman’s Highway to Henryetta" music fest. Find out who else is playing the event.

More: Carrie Underwood announces Oklahoma Halloween show as part of 'Denim & Rhinestones Tour'

24 creepy but beautiful abandoned places in Oklahoma: Beautiful and creepy aren’t two words one typically puts together when describing something, let alone abandoned places in Oklahoma. But that’s exactly what the following 24 abandoned places are: beautiful and creepy. They’re also full of history, and thanks to the hard work done by the team at Abandoned Oklahoma, we’re able to see these places before it’s too late.

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival turns 25: Here's what you need to know: The festival affectionately known as WoodyFest will celebrate its 25th anniversary July 13-17 at multiple venues across the folk legend's hometown of Okemah.   The festival typically draws about 100 musicians and 3,000 music lovers to the small Okfuskee County town to celebrate the life, music and legacy of its namesake, whom many consider the most famous Oklahoman ever.

Virtual jukebox to fabled tambourine: 12 highlights of Tulsa's new Bob Dylan Center: The 29,000-square-foot Bob Dylan Center, which opened to the public May 10, is the primary public venue for the expansive Bob Dylan Archive collection that includes rare photographs, memorabilia, personal effects and other items spanning the Nobel Laureate's influential 60-year career.  

Virtual jukebox to fabled tambourine: 12 highlights of Tulsa's new Bob Dylan Center

Educational things to do around Oklahoma

5 Oklahoma places to visit to learn about Native American cultures: Many Native American nations headquartered in Oklahoma operate cultural centers, museums and historic sites where people can learn about their culture.

9 must-see highlights in central Oklahoma museums that you can see anytime: Here are nine popular highlights from the permanent collections of some of central Oklahoma's top museums, which means you can see them any time these attractions are open.

10 historic Greenwood landmarks to see in Tulsa: Here are 10 must-see monuments, memorials and parks to visit in and across Tulsa's historic Greenwood District. These landmarks help chronicle the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The new Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center draws crowds: 101 years after Tulsa Race Massacre, the new $18.6 million, 11,000-square-foot landmark is sharing Oklahoma's storied Black history.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Things to do in OKC and Oklahoma this summer