Book Flights to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa -- the Oil Capital of the World, home to one of the finest Art Deco skylines in the US, the Philbrook and Gilcrease museums, and the historic Greenwood District -- is served by Tulsa International Airport (TUL). American, Southwest, Delta, and United all operate TUL.
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Why Visit Tulsa, Oklahoma?
Art Deco oil boom architecture, world-class museums, Route 66, and Greenwood history
Philbrook Museum of Art -- Oklahoma's Finest Art Museum in a 1927 Italian Villa
Villa Philbrook, 23 Acres of Gardens, and a Collection Built on Oil WealthThe Philbrook Museum of Art (2727 South Rockford Road, Tulsa -- free first Fridays, nominal admission other days) -- housed in the 1927 Italian Renaissance Revival villa built for oil magnate Waite Phillips (72 rooms, 23 acres of formal gardens, fountains, and terraces) -- is consistently ranked among the top art museums in the South-Central US. The Phillips family donated the villa to the city of Tulsa in 1939 as a public art museum; a modern wing (1990) expanded gallery space to approximately 16,000 square feet. The collection includes Italian Renaissance paintings, Native American art (one of the strongest collections of Oklahoma tribal art), African art, American paintings and sculpture, and decorative arts. The gardens -- restored to their 1930s splendor, featuring reflecting pools, a rose garden, and a winter garden greenhouse -- are as significant as the collection.
Waite Phillips and the Philtower -- How One Oilman Gave Tulsa Two of Its Most Important Cultural Institutions
Waite Phillips (1883-1964) -- younger brother of Frank Phillips (founder of Phillips Petroleum) -- built a fortune in Tulsa through oil production and real estate, including the Philtower (an 18-story Italian Renaissance skyscraper, 1927, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and Villa Philbrook. Phillips donated both properties to the public: Villa Philbrook to the city of Tulsa (as the Philbrook Museum); and his Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico (127,000 acres in the Cimarron Mountains, the largest Boy Scout ranch in the world) to the Boy Scouts of America in 1941. The two donations represent approximately $200 million in modern value -- one of the most significant private philanthropic gifts to a mid-sized American city in the 20th century.
Tulsa's Art Deco Architecture -- The World's Finest Collection of Oil-Boom Art Deco Buildings
Boston Avenue Methodist Church, the Philtower, Tulsa Union Depot -- 30+ Art Deco Masterpieces in One CityTulsa's downtown contains one of the finest collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States -- a legacy of the 1920s-1930s oil boom that flooded the city with wealth during the peak years of American Art Deco design. Key buildings: the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church (1929, designed by Adah Robinson and Bruce Goff -- considered by many architectural historians the finest example of Art Deco church architecture in the US), the Philtower (1927, 18-story Italian-Art Deco fusion), the Tulsa Union Depot (1931, Zigzag Moderne with exotic terracotta ornamentation), the Mayo Hotel (1925, Beaux-Arts transitioning to Deco -- fully restored and still operating), and the Exchange National Bank (now Chase Bank, 1917-1924). The Art Deco Society of Tulsa offers guided walking tours.
The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and the Greenwood District -- America's Wealthiest Black Community Destroyed
On May 31-June 1, 1921, a white mob attacked Tulsa's Greenwood District -- known as 'Black Wall Street' for the concentration of Black-owned businesses, law offices, hotels, and theaters -- killing an estimated 100-300 Black residents (official records were destroyed), burning 35 city blocks, and destroying approximately 1,265 homes and businesses. The Greenwood District had been one of the wealthiest African American communities in the United States: its 35-block area contained over 300 Black-owned businesses including a hospital, law offices, hotels, theaters, and grocery stores. The massacre is considered the deadliest incident of racial violence in American history; it was largely suppressed from public history for decades. The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission (2021) and the Greenwood Rising History Center (2021) have established a permanent memorial and education center at the massacre site.
Gilcrease Museum -- The World's Largest Collection of American Western Art
Thomas Gilcrease, 350,000 Objects, and the Museum That Defines How America Remembers the WestThe Gilcrease Museum (1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa -- free admission) -- founded by oil magnate and Creek Nation citizen Thomas Gilcrease, opened 1949 -- houses the world's largest collection of American West art and artifacts: 350,000 objects including paintings by Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, and George Catlin; Native American art and artifacts spanning 12,000 years; historical documents including the only known copy of the Articles of Confederation signed by all 48 delegates; and a 460-acre campus of natural landscape and terraced gardens. Thomas Gilcrease -- born 1890 on the Creek Allotment (his mother was Creek Nation, entitling him to a land allotment in what became Creek County, Oklahoma, which sat atop massive oil reserves discovered in 1905) -- spent his oil fortune accumulating American art and artifacts for 40 years before donating the collection to the city of Tulsa in 1958.
The Creek Nation, Oil, and Thomas Gilcrease -- How Native American Land Allotments Made Some of Oklahoma's Most Important Fortunes
The Dawes Act (1887) and subsequent Creek Nation allotment agreements (1898-1906) divided the Creek Nation's communal lands into individual parcels -- 160 acres per citizen, with 'surplus' land sold to settlers. Thomas Gilcrease's Creek allotment in Creek County sat directly above the Glenn Pool oil field, discovered in 1905 -- one of the most productive oil fields in Oklahoma history. Gilcrease's oil royalties from the Glenn Pool field funded the art acquisition program that created the Gilcrease Museum. The Glenn Pool oil discovery (November 22, 1905) transformed Tulsa from a small railroad town (population 7,000) into the 'Oil Capital of the World' within five years, funding the building boom that produced Tulsa's extraordinary Art Deco skyline.
Route 66 Through Tulsa -- The Mother Road's Oklahoma Heartland
The Blue Whale of Catoosa, Cyrus Avery, and the Historic Will Rogers Highway Through TulsaRoute 66 -- the historic highway from Chicago to Los Angeles (2,448 miles, designated 1926, decommissioned 1985) -- passes directly through Tulsa, which has one of the longest contiguous stretches of original Route 66 pavement of any major US city. Tulsa's Route 66 connection is personal: Cyrus Avery, the Tulsa businessman and Oklahoma Highway Commissioner known as the 'Father of Route 66,' lobbied for the highway's alignment through Tulsa, giving the city a permanent place in the Route 66 mythology. Key Tulsa-area Route 66 sites: the Blue Whale of Catoosa (10 miles east -- a 1970s folk art whale sculpture on a small pond, one of the most photographed Route 66 oddities), the historic Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza on the Arkansas River (a bronze sculpture of a 1920s automobile crossing a wagon), and the stretch of 11th Street through midtown Tulsa with restored 1950s motels and neon signs.
Cyrus Avery and the Numbering of Route 66 -- The 1926 Battle Over Whether the Highway Got an Even Number
The U.S. Highway numbering system (adopted 1925) assigned odd numbers to north-south routes and even numbers to east-west routes. The new Chicago-Los Angeles highway initially proposed as 'US-60' encountered opposition from Kentucky (which wanted the 60 designation for its own highway). Cyrus Avery lobbied for a compromise: renumbering the Chicago-Los Angeles highway as '66' -- a number without a strong existing claim. The double-six sequence became culturally iconic: the Bobby Troup song ('(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66'), the 1960s television series, and John Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath' (which called it 'the Mother Road' -- the highway over which the Joad family drove from Oklahoma to California during the Dust Bowl) all amplified Route 66's cultural resonance far beyond its traffic significance.
How to Find Cheap Flights to Tulsa
DFW Is the Primary Hub for TUL -- The 1-Hour American Airlines Connection Is the Standard
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) is Tulsa's primary hub connection for the American Airlines national network. Most Tulsa travelers connecting through American do so via DFW -- a 1-hour hop that puts Tulsa within one connection of virtually any American destination. For travelers choosing between flying vs. driving to Tulsa: Dallas is 250 miles south (4 hours on I-44); consider which approach fits your itinerary.
Southwest Dominates TUL Leisure Routes -- Check Southwest.com for Lowest Fares
Southwest Airlines operates the majority of Tulsa's leisure market routes (Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Nashville) at the lowest available fares. Southwest's TUL fares don't appear on Google Flights or Kayak -- always check Southwest.com for the most complete TUL fare comparison before booking.
Tulsa's Oil and Gas Business Travel Creates Business-Class Demand -- Book Early for Executive Suites
Tulsa's energy industry (ONEOK, Williams Companies, BOK Financial, Citgo refinery) drives substantial business travel. Business-class seats on DFW-TUL and ATL-TUL routes fill quickly for Monday morning and Thursday/Friday evening flights during earnings and quarterly reporting seasons.
Tulsa State Fair (Late September) and Mayfest (May) Drive Peak Demand
The Tulsa State Fair (late September-early October, one of the top-attended state fairs in the US -- 1.1 million visitors) and Mayfest (third weekend in May, Tulsa's largest outdoor arts festival, 350,000 attendees) drive the highest accommodation demand of the year. Book those specific weekends 4-6 weeks ahead.
Airlines Flying to Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
American Airlines
Tulsa's Primary Network Carrier -- DFW Hub and National Connections at TULAmerican Airlines is the primary network carrier at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), with its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) hub providing the main gateway for Tulsa travelers to the national and international network. American also connects TUL to Charlotte (CLT) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD). The DFW-TUL route is a short hop (1 hour) that serves as Tulsa's most important hub connection for American's domestic and international routes.
Key Routes
DFW to TUL (1h nonstop; CLT to TUL (2h 15m nonstop; ORD to TUL (1h 45m nonstop
Southwest Airlines
Low-Cost National Network -- Denver, Las Vegas, and Leisure Markets from TulsaSouthwest Airlines connects Tulsa to key leisure markets including Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Chicago Midway (MDW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Houston Hobby (HOU), Nashville (BNA), and Phoenix (PHX). Southwest's TUL fares are consistently the lowest available on its operated routes. Southwest does not appear on aggregators -- check Southwest.com directly for TUL leisure market fares.
Key Routes
DAL to TUL (45m nonstop; MDW to TUL (1h 45m nonstop; DEN to TUL (1h 30m nonstop; LAS to TUL (2h 30m nonstop; MCO to TUL (2h 15m nonstop
Delta Air Lines
Atlanta Hub -- Southeast Access and International Connections from TulsaDelta Air Lines connects Tulsa to its Atlanta (ATL) hub, providing Southeast and global network access for TUL travelers. Delta's ATL-TUL route is the primary connection for Tulsa-area travelers heading to the Southeast, Caribbean, and international destinations via Atlanta's massive hub. Delta also provides Minneapolis (MSP) connections for Northern Midwest access.
Key Routes
ATL to TUL (2h nonstop; MSP to TUL (2h nonstop
United Airlines
Denver and Houston Hub Connections -- Mountain West and South Access from TULUnited Airlines connects Tulsa to its Denver (DEN) and Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) hubs, providing Mountain West and South American network access for TUL travelers. United's IAH-TUL route serves Tulsa's oil and gas industry travelers with connections to United's Latin American and Caribbean network at Houston.
Key Routes
DEN to TUL (1h 30m nonstop; IAH to TUL (1h 15m nonstop
Things to Do in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Essential Info for Your Tulsa Trip
State
Oklahoma (OK)
Airport Code
TUL — Tulsa International Airport
Currency
USD — US Dollar
Time Zone
CST (UTC-6) / CDT (UTC-5) in summer
Airport to Downtown
6 miles NE. Rideshare: $20-25, 15-20 min. No direct light rail.
Oklahoma City Distance
100 miles west on I-44, 1.5-2h. Compare fares at both TUL and OKC before booking.
Route 66
Historic alignment runs through Tulsa on 11th Street. Blue Whale of Catoosa: 10 miles east on US-66.
Emergency Number
911
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Flights to Tulsa
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Tulsa, Oklahoma (TUL)
What airport serves Tulsa, Oklahoma?
Tulsa International Airport (IATA: TUL) serves Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma. The airport is located 6 miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Tulsa -- approximately 15-20 minutes by car or rideshare ($20-25 to downtown). TUL is served by American Airlines (DFW, CLT, ORD), Southwest Airlines (DAL, DEN, LAS, MDW), Delta Air Lines (ATL, MSP), and United Airlines (DEN, IAH).
What is Tulsa known for?
Tulsa is known as: (1) the 'Oil Capital of the World' (1920s-1930s oil boom that created its Art Deco skyline); (2) one of the world's finest collections of Art Deco architecture (Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Philtower, Union Depot); (3) the Philbrook Museum of Art (Italian villa, world-class collection); (4) the Gilcrease Museum (world's largest American West art collection, free admission); (5) the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and Greenwood 'Black Wall Street' district; (6) Route 66 heritage; and (7) the Tulsa State Fair.
How far is Tulsa from Oklahoma City?
Tulsa is approximately 100 miles (161 km) east of Oklahoma City on the Turner Turnpike (I-44) -- about 1.5-2 hours by car. Both cities have commercial airports (TUL and OKC); travelers should compare fares at both before booking, especially for routes where one city may have better service than the other. Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is served by similar carriers with sometimes different route options.
What is the best time to visit Tulsa?
Best weather: April-June and September-October (65-85°F/18-29°C, moderate humidity). Peak events: Mayfest (third weekend in May, 350,000 people), Tulsa State Fair (late September-early October, 1.1 million people), and Oktoberfest at the River Parks (October). Summer (July-August) is hot (95-105°F/35-40°C) and humid. January-February is cheapest and coldest. Route 66 touring is best in spring and fall when temperatures are most comfortable for roadside stops.
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