Colloquially referred to as “OKC,” Oklahoma City is the largest and capital city of Oklahoma. This Great Plains city hugging the banks of the North Canadian (Oklahoma) River grew up around the “Land Rush” of 1889, attracting some 10,000 homesteaders in just a year. Today, its economy is mostly centered around livestock, oil, and its Air Force Base and Aeronautical Center. The options for running in Oklahoma City are terrific, between the 80 miles of multi-use trails, splendid parks, lakes, and scenic residential neighborhoods.
The best places to run in Oklahoma City center on the Oklahoma River Trail and trails around Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser. Downtown, the Bricktown area has 2 miles of canal-side paths. Great neighborhoods for running include Nichols Hills, and Heritage Hills/Mesta Park. We’ve also included additional recommended recreation trails for running, numerous parks and gardens, and some favorite spots in the city of Edmond.
Oklahoma City is a great destination for running, with miles of recreation trails, spacious parks, and scenic residential neighborhoods to choose from. While the terrain is mostly flat, runners can make up for the lack of elevation with extra distance. The trail network of Oklahoma City is so well connected that almost every route in this guide can be combined — making for innumerable new and exciting runs! Check out the OKC Parks and Recreation Department’s map of Oklahoma City Trails for a good overview.
Oklahoma City is at the convergence of several major highways, so traveling around the city by car is popular and relatively quick. For short distance travel, tourists and residents alike can benefit from the new Oklahoma City Streetcar, which connects the popular downtown neighborhoods of Midtown, Downtown, Bricktown, and Automobile Alley. For longer distance destinations, taxis, EMBARK buses, and the Spokies bike share program are all good travel options to get to your ideal running route.
