A Kansas City Road Trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s “The Gathering Place”
A road trip to The Gathering Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, makes for a great weekend from Kansas City! Recently named the “Nation's Best City Park for 2024,” The Gathering Place lives up to its award with its expansive, incredible playgrounds and parks. My family and I had a fabulous long weekend road trip from Kansas City to this park system, and I’m excited to share our adventure with you, along with some tips to enhance your visit.
From Kansas City to Tulsa, OK
We embarked on a long weekend trip to The Gathering Place over Memorial Day weekend. Located about four hours from Kansas City, it’s an ideal destination for a weekend escape. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a packed lunch at The Patio, a fantastic spot for a picnic. There are plenty of picnic tables and shade tents at The Patio and it’s near the Williams Lodge parking lot, where we parked each day. A small play area next to the picnic tables kept the kids entertained while we set up our lunch. It also gave us adults a spot to sip a cold Coke Zero after our long drive while the kids played in the sand!
Exploring Fairy Land Forest
After lunch, we explored the enchanting Fairy Land Forest. This area features multiple playgrounds shaded by tents or lush trees. My kids loved the sand play area with three playhouses and ample seating for parents. Volcanoville, a play area designed for toddlers, was also a hit, even though my kids are a bit older. I appreciated the fenced-in safety of this section. We enjoyed playing hide-and-seek in Volcanoville!
Another play area in Fairyland Forest has a wooden boardwalk, flower-shaped climbing structures, a wooden bear, a banana slide, and a pear chair, perfect for children aged six and under.
Right outside of Fairy Land Forest is the Reading Tree with a castle play set. This is where special events like story time is held and you can learn more about these events on the Gathering Place app or website.
Fairy Land Forest was a great spot for the 6 and under crowd and was less busy than the larger playgrounds.
Chapman Adventure Playground
The Chapman Adventure Playground is simply incredible! It boasts an amazing rope bridge system connecting castle towers, an elephant slide, a swan playset, and various other fun elements. Although Charlie’s Water Mountain was closed during our visit, it looked like an excellent spot to cool off on hot summer days.
The treetop rope net playset, Sky Walk Forest, was a favorite for my kids. Despite being tricky for little ones, it’s a thrilling adventure for older kids familiar with similar playgrounds. The large rope climber and slides provided plenty of excitement. My husband, two kids and I all found ourselves exploring this treetop adventure.
At Chapman Adventure Playground, you will also find the Spiral Connector & Tower and a pirate ship. This area has a ton of sand to play in as well as a water feature on the tower. Kids can climb inside and up the ladders to trigger the water to pour down below. This was a tight squeeze for the adults but such a cool feature! It does connect to the rest of the swinging bridges, so it would be easy for a child to wander off to another area. If you have multiple kids, definitely divide and conquer at this large playground!
Splash Pad and Water Fun
On hot summer days, the splash pad near Williams Lodge is a must-visit. This water sprays high into the air, offering a refreshing break after a day of play. If your kids love sand, Willow Beach across Peggy’s Pond is perfect for extended beach sand play. Swimming is not allowed in Peggy’s Pond.
Across the large bridge, you’ll find the boathouse where you can rent free kayaks or pedal boats! Boaters must be at least age 5 to join and reservations can be made at the boathouse. There are limited hours for boating on the pond, so check online for the most updated hours.
Swing Hill and Slide Vale
A walk up the hill leads to Murphy Family Swing Hill and the Laredo Slide Vale, which are slightly hidden but worth the stop. Swing Hill only has a few sets of swings (toddler and kid-size) but it was out of the way from the large crowds. If you follow the sidewalk back North, you will find Slide Vale. These long metal slides were a lot of fun! There are shade tents to help keep the slides cool. Both of these parks were away from the main playgrounds so they felt like a nice break from the busy section of The Gathering Place.
South End Attractions
At the south end of The Gathering Place, you’ll discover a skate park with a BMX track, additional swings, and sports courts. If you pack bikes, scooters, or skateboards this would be a great area to burn off some energy. It’s quite a long walk from the main playgrounds so we didn’t make a stop during this trip but now we know for next time!
The Discovery Lab, also on the south end, is a children’s science museum filled with interactive stations. My kids especially loved the “Ballapalooza” area and ongoing experiments. The water station, tape tunnel, and climbing play structures were highlights. We visited on our last day, which was a perfect way to end our trip. The Discovery Lab would be great as a backup for a rainy day.
Practical Tips for Your Visit to The Gathering Place:
Restrooms: There are clean and family-friendly restrooms throughout the park with changing stations.
Williams Lodge: A great place to cool off, eat a picnic, or grab an ice cream treat. The Guest Services Desk is located here and a large restroom in the basement. The main parking lot is located here.
App: Download The Gathering Place app for a digital map and park info at your fingertips. This helped us a ton!
Wristbands: Pick up a wristband for your child at the welcome center to wear in case they get lost. Take a photo of your child when you arrive and dress them in bright clothing.
Additional Adult: If you have little ones, an extra adult can help keep track of everyone in this large park.
Food and Drinks: Bring your own food and drinks. Water bottle stations are available, and you can add ice water to your bottles at The Patio restaurant. We found the food on-site to be pricey.
What to Bring: Sunscreen, towels, swimsuits, sunglasses, hats, a change of clothes, snacks, water bottles, hand sanitizer or wipes, and possibly a wagon for transporting your things.
Accessibility: Walkways are wheelchair accessible. Some playgrounds are more accessible than others. Check online for accessibility information.
Splash Pad Season: Water features in the park are available from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
The Gathering Place is an incredible road trip destination, especially from Kansas City. The park is free, parking is free, and you can pack your own food, making it a super affordable road trip. My family visited the park for two days, with hotel swimming in the evening, and then visited The Discovery Lab on our last day before heading back to Kansas City. We stayed at a nearby hotel, which was perfect for our needs. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, The Gathering Place has something for everyone.
Looking for another easy road trip from Kansas City? Check out these blogs: Visit Wichita | A Perfect Family Getaway from Kansas City or Best Things to Do in Springfield, MO (from Amy at Everyday Outdoor Family)
The Gathering Place - 2650 S John Williams Way E Tulsa, OK 74114
6/4/24 - Gabrielle Isom
