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Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Oklahoma City Airport
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Things to Do in Oklahoma City in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Oklahoma City
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
122°F (50°C)
High Temp
85°F (29°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sudden ice storms can close roads and attractions - monitor local weather closely. Refresh often. Drive slow. Stay flexible.
⚠ Wind chill can make 40°F feel like 25°F - dress in layers
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December hands Oklahoma City its clearest skies of the year. Prairie horizons run 50 km (31 miles) without summer haze, and the 122°F (50°C) heat becomes tolerable for sunset photography at Lake Hefner.
- + Hotel rates fall 35-40% after Thanksgiving once business travelers vanish. Downtown Oklahoma City hotels sell at shoulder-season prices, and the Bricktown Canal stays free of conference crowds.
- + The Myriad Botanical Gardens' Crystal Bridge holds steady at 21°C (70°F) while outside air lingers around 29°C (84°F). Locals treat the glass structure as their winter greenhouse escape minus the plane ticket.
- + Red Earth Tree Lighting pulls maybe 3,000 people, a fraction of the 15,000 who cram the Plaza District in October. You can see the 15 m (49 ft) tree without elbowing through crowds.
Considerations
- − Seventy percent humidity sounds harmless until you're walking between Oklahoma City restaurants on December afternoons when the temperature reaches 35°C (95°F). Sweat pools in places you never knew could sweat.
- − The wind. December winds regularly hit 25-30 km/h (15-18 mph) across the plains, turning open-air activities like the Wheeler Ferris Wheel into a cold-hot-cold cycle that locals simply avoid.
- − Most outdoor festivals shut down completely. The Paseo Arts Festival, dead. Food truck gatherings at Scissortail Park, gone. You trade perfect weather for a thinner event calendar.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Oklahoma City Museum Crawls
December's indoor season turns this into prime time for Oklahoma City's museum circuit. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art keeps doors open until 9 PM on Fridays, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum stays quiet compared to summer tourist chaos. The First Americans Museum's glass façade catches the low winter sun, turning the entire building into a light installation that locals photograph for Instagram but never mention to visitors.
Booking Tip: Book museum admission the same day. December crowds stay light enough that pre-booking wastes flexibility. Check their websites the night before for any holiday closures.
Bricktown Canal Ice Rink Sessions
Yes, it's 30°C (86°F) outside, and yes, a synthetic ice rink operates in Bricktown through December. The cognitive dissonance of skating in shorts while sipping hot cocoa is peak Oklahoma City weirdness. The 25 m (82 ft) rink sits between Bass Pro Shops and the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, with outdoor heaters that locals huddle around while tourists question their decisions.
Booking Tip: Sessions run every 90 minutes starting at 11 AM. Reserve 24 hours ahead online during weekends when OU students descend on Bricktown for date nights.
Route 66 Retro Drive Tours
December's 10 days of rain usually fall overnight, leaving the 24 km (15 miles) stretch of Historic Route 66 through Oklahoma City dry for classic car tours. The neon signs at the Gold Dome and the Milk Bottle Building photograph better in December's clear air than any other month, and the 1950s diners along Classen Boulevard serve their thickest malts when the weather cooperates.
Booking Tip: Self-drive tours beat organized groups. Rent a vintage car by the hour from downtown lots, or cruise your rental with a downloaded map of Route 66 landmarks.
Oklahoma City Underground Tunnel Tours
The 3 km (1.9 miles) of tunnels connecting downtown Oklahoma City buildings become the social spine of the business district in December. Locals use them to dodge wind tunnels between buildings while tourists discover art installations, food courts, and the strange 1970s architecture of Oklahoma City's original skyscraper system. The tunnels link 20+ buildings and hide Oklahoma City's best-kept secret: the underground entrance to the Skirvin Hotel's original speakeasy.
Booking Tip: Free self-guided tours use QR codes posted at tunnel entrances. The system shuts at 6 PM on weekdays, 2 PM on weekends when office workers disappear.
Lake Hefner Sailing Charters
December's steady 15-20 knot winds turn Lake Hefner into the temporary sailing capital of the plains. The 10 km (6.2 mile) shoreline draws windsurfers from Texas who can't believe Oklahoma has this much open water. The sailing club runs sunset charters that catch the last light hitting the lighthouse restaurant, creating Instagram shots that make people ask 'Wait, Oklahoma has sailing?'
Booking Tip: Book morning charters for steadier winds. Afternoon sessions grow choppy when prairie thermals kick up. Most operators require 48-hour advance booking through December.
Stockyards City Livestock History Walks
December's cool mornings at 18°C (64°F) suit walking the 8-block Stockyards district where Oklahoma City's cattle-trading past feels locked in 1910. Wooden sidewalks still creak under your boots, and the smell of leather from Langston's Western Wear hasn't changed since 1919. The daily cattle auction starts at 8 AM sharp, with real cowboys in actual Wranglers that tourists mistake for actors.
Booking Tip: Arrive by 7:30 AM for coffee at Cattlemen's Cafe (operating since 1910) before the auction. No booking needed for self-guided walks. But guided tours fill during December school breaks.
Explore More Activities in Oklahoma City
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Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Oklahoma City.
See All Oklahoma City Tours on ViatorWhere to Stay in Oklahoma City in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
New Year's Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Oklahoma City Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The trick to Oklahoma City restaurants in December is timing. Locals eat lunch at 11 AM and dinner at 5 PM to dodge the heat, leaving prime tables free during tourist hours.
Parking meters in Bricktown quit at 6 PM in December. Most visitors miss this and overpay while locals park free for dinner.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial stays open until midnight in December, lit by lights locals call 'the most beautiful thing in Oklahoma'. Show up at 10 PM when the crowds vanish.
Hotel pools at downtown Oklahoma City hotels stay open year-round. They hit their stride at 4 PM in December when the day's heat peaks and locals have left.
Avoid These Mistakes
Trying to walk the entire Bricktown Canal in December afternoon heat is a rookie move. Locals drive between stops or hop the water taxi, saving energy for air-conditioned brewery tours.
Booking outdoor activities between 2-4 PM is asking for trouble. Oklahoma City hits peak humidity and temperature then. Museums and underground tunnels were built for this moment.
Dismissing wind forecasts will ruin your meal. December's prairie winds make outdoor seating at Oklahoma City restaurants unbearable even when the temperature looks fine.
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Book Experiences in Oklahoma City
Top-rated things to do in Oklahoma City this December
