Things to Do in Oklahoma City in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Oklahoma City
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak winter weather means comfortable mornings and evenings for outdoor activities - temperatures from 7am-10am hover around 4-10°C (40-50°F), perfect for running the Oklahoma River trails or exploring the Myriad Botanical Gardens before the midday heat
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend brings excellent hotel deals in the downtown corridor - you'll typically find 20-30% off standard rates at properties near Bricktown, since business travel drops and locals aren't traveling yet
- Restaurant Week OKC usually runs mid-to-late January, offering prix-fixe menus at $25-45 per person at spots that normally run $60+ for dinner - the participating restaurants change yearly but it's legitimately the best time to try higher-end dining without the usual price tag
- NBA Thunder games hit their stride in January with the season fully underway - Paycom Center atmosphere peaks during these winter months, tickets run $35-150 depending on opponent, and the arena is actually designed well for Oklahoma's unpredictable January weather with covered walkways from nearby parking
Considerations
- The weather data showing 49°C (120°F) highs is clearly erroneous - January in Oklahoma City actually brings cold, unpredictable conditions with real highs around 7°C (45°F) and lows near -3°C (27°F), plus genuine risk of ice storms that can shut down the city for 2-3 days with little warning
- Gray skies dominate most January days here, which affects the outdoor attractions significantly - the Scissortail Park and Myriad Gardens are beautiful but look pretty bleak without foliage, and sunset happens around 5:45pm so your daylight hours for sightseeing are limited to roughly 7:30am-6pm
- Ice and winter storms can disrupt travel plans with surprising severity - Will Rogers World Airport occasionally closes for de-icing, rental cars without 4WD struggle on untreated roads, and locals tend to panic-buy groceries at the first forecast of freezing precipitation, which tells you something about how seriously to take winter weather advisories here
Best Activities in January
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum exploration
January is actually ideal for Oklahoma City's museum circuit because you'll want indoor activities during the coldest stretches and afternoon hours when temperatures drop. The Cowboy Museum is genuinely world-class, not just regional tourism filler - the collection spans 200,000 square feet with legitimate Western art including Remington and Russell originals. The Prosperity Junction exhibit recreates an entire 1900s cattle town indoors. Budget 3-4 hours minimum. The building stays consistently climate-controlled around 21°C (70°F), which feels particularly good when it's sleeting outside.
Bricktown Canal walking and entertainment district
The canal district works well in January if you time it right - go during the 11am-3pm window when temperatures peak and sun is strongest, typically reaching 7-10°C (45-50°F) on decent days. The 1.6 km (1 mile) canal loop takes about 25 minutes at a casual pace, lined with restaurants and bars in converted warehouses. Water taxis don't run in January due to freezing risk, but honestly the walking route is more interesting anyway. The surrounding Bricktown area has legitimate history as a former warehouse district from the 1890s, though it's been heavily renovated into entertainment venues. Evening visits work if you're just bar-hopping since everything connects via short outdoor stretches between heated interiors.
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
January's somber weather actually suits the memorial's tone - this isn't a casual tourist stop but rather a genuinely moving experience covering the 1995 bombing. The outdoor memorial field with 168 empty chairs can be visited 24/7 for free, though January means you'll want a heavy coat for the 20-30 minutes most people spend there. The indoor museum provides essential context and stays heated, requiring 60-90 minutes to experience properly. The combination of indoor museum warmth and brief outdoor memorial time works well for January's cold. Crowds are minimal in winter, giving you space for reflection that summer tour groups don't allow.
Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Conservatory
The Crystal Bridge tropical conservatory is genuinely perfect for January - it's a 13-story cylindrical greenhouse maintaining 24°C (75°F) year-round with 70% humidity, creating a tropical escape when it's freezing outside. The contrast of walking from 0°C (32°F) parking lot into palm trees and waterfalls is actually pretty satisfying. The surrounding 6.8-hectare (17-acre) outdoor gardens look sparse in January without foliage, but the conservatory alone justifies the visit. The structure itself is architecturally interesting, built in 1988 with 3,028 square meters (32,600 square feet) of glass. Budget 45-60 minutes inside the conservatory, less if you skip the dormant outdoor sections.
Plaza District art galleries and vintage shopping
The Plaza District offers concentrated indoor browsing perfect for January afternoons - it's a 6-block area along NW 16th Street with 15-20 independent galleries, vintage shops, and cafes all within 400 meters (0.25 miles) of each other. Most businesses are in renovated 1950s storefronts with street parking directly in front, meaning minimal outdoor exposure between stops. The area has genuine local character rather than tourist polish - you'll see working artists' studios, actual vintage clothing priced for locals not collectors, and coffee shops where people actually work on laptops. Gallery hop on First Friday evenings year-round, though January means smaller crowds and more attention from gallery owners. Budget 2-3 hours to properly browse 6-8 shops.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark tour and Stockyards City western outfitters
January is off-season for baseball, which means you can sometimes book behind-the-scenes ballpark tours showing areas normally closed during games - dugouts, press box, field level. Tours run sporadically in winter, typically requiring 10+ person groups, but worth checking availability. Pair this with Stockyards City, the historic livestock market district 6.4 km (4 miles) southwest, where working western wear stores sell actual ranch gear not costume pieces. Langston's and Shorty's are institutions with boots $150-400, hats $80-300, and staff who know the difference between show gear and work gear. The Stockyards area still hosts weekly cattle auctions Mondays and Tuesdays if you want to see the real livestock trade that built Oklahoma City. Budget 90 minutes for ballpark tour, 60-90 minutes for Stockyards browsing.
January Events & Festivals
Restaurant Week OKC
Mid-to-late January brings this annual dining promotion with 40-60 participating restaurants offering multi-course prix-fixe menus at fixed price points, typically $25, $35, or $45 per person depending on restaurant tier. This is legitimately valuable, not just a token discount - you'll get three courses at places that normally charge $60-80 for equivalent meals. Past participants have included Vast, The Jones Assembly, and Mahogany, though the lineup changes yearly. Reservations fill up fast for prime Friday-Saturday dinner slots, but weeknight availability stays decent throughout the promotion period.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and programming
The MLK holiday weekend brings various community events, with the main annual MLK Day Parade typically running through downtown on the holiday Monday morning around 10am. The parade route covers approximately 2.4 km (1.5 miles) from the State Capitol building through downtown. Various churches, community centers, and the Oklahoma History Center host related programming throughout the three-day weekend, though specific events vary year to year. Expect downtown traffic delays and parking challenges on parade day, particularly 9am-1pm near the Capitol area.