Tulsa City Guide
Image by Caleb Long via wikidata

United States

Tulsa City Guide

Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a mid-sized city with a mix of Art Deco style and a growing remote worker scene. It's by the Arkansas River, offering parks and outdoor fun. The city blends a relaxed Midwestern vibe with enough urban life to keep things interesting.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Food options include Oklahoma BBQ, chicken fried steak, and international cuisines like Mexican and Asian. Vegan and vegetarian choices are growing. Some late-night spots are open in entertainment areas.

Local Dishes:
Oklahoma BBQ, Chicken Fried Steak, Native American-inspired dishes
International Cuisine:
Mexican, Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife centers around the Blue Dome and Tulsa Arts Districts with bars, music venues, and breweries.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
8

Strong coffee scene with lots of specialty shops and local roasters focused on quality and community.

💰
Tipping
Required
18%

Tipping is expected for most services. 15-20% is standard for restaurants, taxis, and personal care.

Top Attractions
The Gathering Place
Park
Large park with trails and playgrounds.
Philbrook Museum of Art
Museum
Art museum with an extensive collection.
Gilcrease Museum
Museum
Museum focusing on American West art and artifacts.
Downtown Art Deco Architecture
Architecture
Walk around to see historic Art Deco buildings.
Oklahoma Aquarium
Attraction
Aquarium located in nearby Jenks.
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve
Attraction
Museum and wildlife preserve near Bartlesville.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are easy to get at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile stores. Prepaid plans require minimal info; postpaid needs valid ID. eSIMs are also becoming common.

Available at:
AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Recommended Apps
Uber/Lyft(Transportation)
Doordash/Grubhub/Uber Eats(Food & Drink)
Google Maps(Navigation)
ParkMobile(Transportation)
Tulsa Transit Go(Transportation)
Eventbrite/Facebook Events(Local Info)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Streets and public spaces are generally clean and well-maintained.

24/7 Services
Good
6

Some 24-hour pharmacies and convenience stores exist but limited 24/7 medical clinics and food options.

Groceries
Reasor's
Sprouts Farmers Market
Whole Foods Market
Walmart
Target

Supermarkets like Reasor's, Sprouts, and Whole Foods are common. Specialty stores offer Asian and Hispanic products. Most stores open 7 AM to 10 PM and work Sundays with shorter hours.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most places take credit and debit cards. Cash is rarely needed for daily spends.

ATMs

ATMs are common at banks, groceries, and convenience stores. Out-of-network fees usually run between $2.50 and $5 per use.

Schools
Local only

Tulsa Public Schools and private schools like Holland Hall and Cascia Hall provide education mainly in English. Admission rules vary by school.

Available Schools:
Tulsa Public Schools
Holland Hall
Cascia Hall Preparatory School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
8
Available Spaces:
36 Degrees North
Multiple locations offering flexible coworking and meeting rooms.
24/7 Access
The Root Coworking
Community-focused coworking space with day passes.
Coworking at The Bridge
Modern space with good facilities, some 24/7 access.
24/7 Access
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Topeca Coffee
Multiple locations with strong Wi-Fi and atmosphere.
Foolish Things Coffee Company
Specialty coffee shop, good for working.
Shades of Brown
Cozy spot with Wi-Fi.
Coffee House on Cherry Street
Popular cafe with reliable internet.
Cirque Coffee Company
Quirky place good for remote work.
Alternatives:
Tulsa City-County Library
Quiet workspaces with free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Lobbies
Comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi; quieter spots for work.
Digital Nomad Community
Good
7

Tulsa has an emerging nomad community with meetups through the Tulsa Remote program and coworking hubs. Apartments are easy to find but no dedicated co-living.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Excellent parks and river trails with good shade and running paths.

Running
Excellent
8

Safe running trails along Arkansas River and Gathering Place. Active running groups and annual races.

Gyms
Available

Multiple gym options including national chains and local fitness centers.

Available Gyms:
Planet Fitness
YMCA
Sky Fitness & Wellbeing
St. John Siegfried Health Club
Various CrossFit boxes
Tennis
Good
6

Many public and private courts, mostly hard surfaces. Booking varies; equipment rental uncommon.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel courts not common in Tulsa.

Yoga
Good
7

Several yoga studios offer a range of classes including hot yoga and meditation. Drop-in and memberships available.

Martial Arts
Good
7

Many dojos offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, Taekwondo, Karate, and Judo with English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Poor
0

No nearby ski resorts.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking and paddleboarding are available on the Arkansas River and local lakes. Rentals and tours offered during warmer months.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing due to being landlocked.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving or snorkeling spots nearby.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Hospitals like Saint Francis and Ascension St. John provide quality care with English-speaking staff. Healthcare is good but can be costly without insurance.

Hospitals:
Saint Francis Health System
Ascension St. John Medical Center
Pharmacies:
CVS
Walgreens
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe to drink and meets all safety standards.

Common Scams
Online phishing, Grandparent scams, Lottery scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
9

Tulsa has many playgrounds, kid-friendly cafes, and attractions like Tulsa Zoo and Children's Museum. Baby supplies are easy to find.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Generally accepting with LGBTQ+ venues, events, and organizations. Some areas outside downtown may be less welcoming.

Pet Friendly
Excellent
8

Many parks, hotels, and some restaurants allow pets. Plenty of vet clinics and dog parks available.

Communities
Tulsa Remote (Remote Work)
Tulsa Foodies Facebook Group (Social)
Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros) (Business)

Quick Facts

Population
413,066
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is reliable most of the time but can go out during severe weather like tornadoes or ice storms.

Mountains
Available

Not tall mountains but the Ozark and Ouachita hills are nearby within a 1.5-2 hour drive.

Languages
English(95%)
Emergency
911
Emergency Services

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
4

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Tornadoes
April, May, June
Tornado season within spring months; can cause severe weather.
Extreme Heat
June, July, August, September
Summers can get very hot and humid with temps over 90°F (32°C).
Flooding
Spring, Summer
Localized flooding possible in low areas during heavy rains.

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