If you’re looking for a family getaway that keeps everyone happy (yes, even the tweens), let me introduce you to OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark! We recently stayed here and let’s just say… Harper and Norah were ready to move in permanently by day two. Read on for our full family travel guide to OKANA Resort and Waterpark in Oklahoma City.
We visited during spring break, but this place is built for year-round fun, with a major glow-up in the summer thanks to its outdoor beach and waterpark area. And even without that outdoor space open yet? We had three full days of nonstop fun.
Disclosure: This family travel guide to OKANA Resort is a sponsored collaboration between OKANA and Planted in Arkansas/Arkansas Girls. We were provided hosted arrangements in exchange for an honest resort review.
Family Travel Guide to Okana: A Colorful Peek
OKANA Resort and Waterpark has this bright, colorful, vacation-energy vibe that instantly makes you feel like you’re somewhere special – even though it’s an easy drive for so many of us in Arkansas and surrounding states. (It takes us around 5 hours to drive from Little Rock area to OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City.)
If you know me, you know I am a color lover and a culture lover! In fact, the explosion of color is what first caught my eye a year or so back when I first started seeing social media posts about OKANA. I knew it looked like my kind of place! But once I dug deeper and realized that OKANA is owned and operated by The Chickasaw Nation and is full of culture and history, I was completely in love with the idea of a visit.
And while we were there in spring, we could already tell the outdoor area is going to be the star of the show come summer. From our balcony view, we could see the work crew busy each day preparing the outdoor space which should be open by middle of May this year.
Let’s Talk About That Summer Beach Area
Even though it wasn’t open yet during our stay, I have to tell you about the outdoor oasis because it’s a big reason people book here.
From mid-May through Labor Day, the resort will open up:
- A man-made beach area and lagoon
- Outdoor pools
- Outdoor waterpark slides
- Private outdoor cabanas
I already told The Hubs we need to go back in summer to enjoy the full shebang.
(Since I was unable to take my own photos of the full outdoor set up, OKANA’s communications staff kindly shared some media images of the outdoor space which I am adding to this post. All other images are my own from our trip.)
Family Travel Guide to OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark – Water Slide Heaven
Now let’s talk about what we did experience—and it did not disappoint.
Harper (13) and Norah (11) were absolutely in their element. Look for our separate post on our other site with more details on the OKANA Resort review from a tween perspective!
For three straight days, they rotated through:
- Water slides (over and over and over again)
- Wave pool
- Lazy river
- Splash areas
Even our dad couldn’t keep himself out of the fun!
It’s the kind of place where you can actually kick back for a bit with your book while the older kids run off and have fun—which is a win in my mind. There is even an adults-only hot tub if you want to soak for a bit.
OKANA Cabana Rentals
In fact, we spent one of our days relaxing in an amazing indoor cabana. The cabanas offer privacy and come with their own cabana servers for drinks and food. The cabana features a ceiling fan, a microwave, and a TV. The curtains can close for full privacy or you can leave some open as you wish. It was such a nice lounging spot for us! You do need to check pricing and reserve in advance if you wish to have a cabana.
The Arcade
The girls might have spent more time in the arcade than planned… but it paid off.
Both girls walked away with giant unicorn stuffies like they had just won the county fair, and I’m pretty sure those are now core memories. That Norah is a claw machine queen! She won enough points to earn a unicorn for both herself and her sister.
Family Travel Guide to OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City: Food
The food pricing at OKANA is what I would say it pretty typical of resort/higher-end hotels. But it was all really good!
Here’s what we tried:
Pie Lab
Our half and half pizza had supreme on one side and plain cheese on the other for the picky girls. It was really good – better than I expected, honestly.
As for drinks around the waterpark, you can purchase a reusable cup for unlimited refills of soda and tea. Each OKANA cup is $15. Each subsequent day, you pay $7 to re-use the cup. The drink machines are activated via QR codes on the cups. It is a similar process to what we have seen at various amusement parks in the past.
Chido Tacos X Tequila
This place had the sweetest workers. My phone got messed up on the trip, and our helpful server brought me the number to a local phone repair shop she was familiar with in town. This was so helpful since we had absolutely no idea where to take it for some quick help.
The food portions were huge. My carne asada nachos were outstanding! I rarely can say no to a plate of nachos on a menu!
Smokehouse Social
Smokehouse Social has a sports bar vibe with a room for interactive simulators – like archery, bowling, alien battle, and such. It would be fun to rent these simulators for a group!
As for the food, we ordered:
- Brisket chili nachos
- 2-meat platter
- Baked mac and cheese
- Brisket queso
- Bowl of brisket chili
And we had plenty of leftovers at each restaurant. This definitely helped us save money. We typically ate at the restaurants for dinner time and then took leftovers back to the room fridge (which is larger than the standard hotel fridge) and heated them up for lunch on the next day – using the communal fourth floor microwave. Then, we ate our leftovers at a table in the sitting area outside of the waterpark entrance. Perfect!
Curveball Kitchen
One popular OKANA restaurant that many people during our trip seemed to be hitting up is a baseball-themed restaurant called Curveball Kitchen. It features upscale ballpark food with baseball simulators and other interactive games. My girls aren’t huge sports enthusiasts so we didn’t make it by Curveball this time. However, I know so many friends and family with baseball-loving kids and adults that would probably love that place! It looks fun!
More Options
Even beyond what we tried, there are plenty of choices:
- Quick bites and grab-and-go spots (like
- Poolside and casual dining options
- Bars and lounges for the adults – including a swim up bar for adults only in the summer
So you can mix it up depending on your mood (or how wet and tired everyone is after the waterpark).
Family Travel Guide to OKANA Resort in OKC: Our Room: The Oká Suite
We stayed in the Oká Suite at OKANA, and if you’re traveling with kids, this layout is chef’s kiss.
It includes:
- A separate bunk room
- A living space
- A bedroom with two queen beds
- A balcony overlooking the beach area
Everyone had their own space, which made downtime just as enjoyable as the busy parts of the day. What I loved most about the bunk room is that is provides privacy with a door so we could all take turns getting dressed in there. The bathroom also features a door that closes off the shower and toilet area from the vanity area which is helpful for getting ready. Sometimes, in certain hotel rooms, it is tricky to get dressed with dad, mom, and girls all in one room.
What We Loved Most about OKANA Resort and Waterpark in Oklahoma City
- Something for every age
- Indoor waterpark means fun no matter the season
- Summer outdoor area makes it feel like a true resort getaway
- Great food options
- Family-friendly room layouts
- Organized activities around the resort – like an afternoon crafts activity for kids
Family Travel Guide to OKANA Resort – Tips for Your Stay
- Book the Oká Suite if you want space (especially with older kids).
- Plan at least 2–3 days to fully enjoy everything.
- Bring flip flops and cover-ups for easy transitions from waterpark to meal times.
- For those staying at the resort, you do not need to pack towels for the waterpark. Those are provided when you enter. However, you can visit the waterparks only with a day pass if you choose. If you are a day pass user, you must bring your own towels.
- Speaking of the OKANA waterpark, be sure to arrive early! The place fills up fast which means the open seating fills up fast too!
- Consider a trip in summer if you want the full outdoor experience and indoor waterpark combo.
- Consider a trip in fall, winter, or spring if you want a getaway with an indoor waterpark to keep kids entertained in uncertain weather conditions.
We hope you enjoyed our family travel guide to OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark in OKC! OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark is one of those places that makes family travel feel easy. We seriously never had to leave the property. There is even a free art gallery – called Exhibit C Gallery – operated by The Chickasaw Nation – right on the property as well. We really enjoyed checking out the tribal art. According to the gallery employees we spoke to, the gallery features art from any federally-recognized tribes.
From my Dad’s side, according to our family records, I am 1/8th Choctaw. Yet, I’ve never spent much time around much Choctaw culture. I was mesmerized by the art by the Choctaw artists at this gallery!
Although we didn’t have time on this visit, there is The First Americans Museum next to OKANA which holds the history of 39 First American Nations and also boasts an event center for weddings and such.
We came for spring break and had an amazing time, but I can already tell the summer experience is on another level. Between the indoor waterpark, the upcoming beach area, and all the food and entertainment options, it’s the kind of place we need to revisit in summer! And a winter weekend getaway would also be a good time so kids can have all the fun they want despite the weather.
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