Major city · United States
StillwaterStillwater, Oklahoma
Two nights is enough: one for OSU campus and downtown, one for a lake or a game. Skip it on a non-game weekend if you want big-city sights.
Stillwater is a college town of about 46,000 people in Frontier Country, built around Oklahoma State University. Its rhythm follows the academic calendar: game weekends fill every hotel and bar, while summer empties the campus and drops room rates. Come for a campus-and-downtown day, a lake afternoon, or a Cowboys football or wrestling weekend, not for a long city break.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Nov (football season)
- avoid Late Jun–Aug (heat, campus quiet), and game weekends if you have not booked
- Airports
- SWO · OKC · TUL
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Stillwater911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Stillwater, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyStillwater is a low-crime college town; the real issues are drink-driving on game nights, 2 AM bar crowds on The Strip…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckSWO Stillwater Regional Airport (Small field with American Airlines service to Dallas/Fort Worth (check current schedule)).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: US-177 (Perkins Road) runs north–south and OK-51 (6th Avenue) east–west.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- BeerDraught beer in a Strip bar$5–8
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshareSurge pricing after games and after midnight.$10–18
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (National Wrestling Hall of Fame)check$7
- Budget bedTent campsite at Lake McMurtry, a night, per roomUS$10
- Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
- High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SWO Stillwater Regional Airport (Small field with American Airlines service to Dallas/Fort Worth (check current schedule)) · OKC Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-35 and OK-51; the usual arrival point) · TUL Tulsa International Airport (About 1 h 30 min by car via the Cimarron Turnpike)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Mar
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Avoid*
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Stillwater: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
5 rd
Feb
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
6 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
7 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
10 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
6 rd
Dec
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: US-177 (Perkins Road) runs north–south and OK-51 (6th Avenue) east–west. Downtown and campus are walkable and bike-shareable. OSU's Community Transit buses run six routes on weekdays from early morning to early evening, then a reduced evening service, at 75¢ a ride (35¢ for children 5–18, seniors 69+ and disabled riders; free with OSU ID). Rideshare covers late nights.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
Drive I-35 south then OK-51 west, about 1 h
Bricktown, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and a full day of city food.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive the Cimarron Turnpike northeast, about 1 h 30 min
Art deco downtown, Gathering Place park and the Woody Guthrie Center.
Guthrie
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive south via I-35 and OK-33, about 1 h 15 min
Victorian brick downtown and the state's first capital; pairs well with Oklahoma City.
Shawnee
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive US-177 south, about 1 h 15 min
Mostly a route stop; worth it only if you are heading south anyway.
Lake McMurtry
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive northwest via Bronco Road, about 15–20 min
Kayak rental, 28 miles of multi-use trails and disc golf; day-use permit per vehicle.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / Main Street
Walk to cafés, Finnegan's and the Sheerar Museum; 10–15 min walk to campus.
Hall of Fame Avenue (campus edge)
Chain hotels closest to the stadium and the wrestling hall; best on game weekends.
West 6th Avenue / Perkins Road
Car-oriented strip with cheaper rooms, restaurants and grocery stores; 5–10 min drive to campus.
Lake McMurtry and Lake Carl Blackwell
Camping and cabins for trail and water days; 10–20 min drive out of town.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–190 excl. bed
- High
- $200+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$140 | US$280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150 | US$600 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$65 | US$65 |
| OSU bus ride2 × US$1 · check | US$2 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$99 |
| Trip total≈ US$272 per person per day, bed included | US$1,086 |
Game weekends can double or triple the mid rate.
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Burger or hot dog at a campus bar | $8–15 |
| Pizza (Hideaway, per person) | $12–20 |
| BBQ plate (brisket) | $15–25 |
| Draught beer in a Strip bar | $5–8 |
| 5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing after games and after midnight. | $10–18 |
| Museum entry (National Wrestling Hall of Fame)check | $7 |
| Lake day-use permit per vehiclecheck | $5–6 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Game weekends: hotels sell out and prices jump — book weeks ahead.
- Summer heat: July and August afternoons often top 35 °C (95 °F); do lake and trail time early.Summer heat: July and August afternoons often top 95 °F (35 °C); do lake and trail time early.
- Bars on The Strip close at 2 AM; arrange a ride before then.
- Tornado season runs spring: check local weather alerts and know your shelter.
- Distances between lakes, campus and downtown are too long to walk; plan a car or bus.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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StillwaterStillwater, Oklahoma
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Stillwater; consulates and embassies are in Oklahoma City, Dallas or Washington, DC (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- OSU bus ride: 75¢, free with OSU ID (check)
- Taxi or rideshare downtown → campus: $8–15
- Drive OKC airport → Stillwater: about 1 h 15 min, roughly 110 km (68 mi) (check)about 1 h 15 min, roughly 68 mi (110 km) (check)
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink at bars.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Stillwater. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Nov (football season) · avoid Late Jun–Aug (heat, campus quiet), and game weekends if you have not booked · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SWO and OKC: last-flight taxi fallback, overnight rung, game-weekend price spike.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Downtown/Main Street, OSU campus, Hall of Fame Avenue, West 6th Avenue.
- Place pages with verified hours (National Wrestling Hall of Fame, OSU Museum of Art, Sheerar Museum, Botanic Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
- Game-weekend and tornado-watch fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Stillwater
- officialStillwater Regional Airport
- officialOSU Transit Services
- officialOklahoma State University
- officialNational Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- officialOSU Museum of Art
- officialSheerar Museum of Stillwater History
- officialLake McMurtry
- officialLake Carl Blackwell
- secondaryWikivoyage: Stillwater (Oklahoma), revision 5240606 (CC BY-SA 4.0)