Payne: Lakeside Trails and History to Discover

In Payne, travel ideas range from lakeside trails to museums, gardens, and glimpses of regional history. Which vacation rental suits your stay also depends on whether you want to be active outdoors or spend more time exploring exhibitions and historic sites.

Trails and Nature by the Water

At Boomer Lake Park, a paved trail goes all the way around the lake. The 3.2-mile loop can be walked in either direction. The park also has an 18-hole disc golf course. If you want to fish, you need an Oklahoma fishing license; fish you may catch include bass, crappie, largemouth bass, and catfish. Fish species and regulations may change, so check the current rules.

At Lake McMurtry near Stillwater, four hiking and mountain biking trails run around the lake. The Orange Trail is a 9.1-mile out-and-back route made up of three loops. By comparison, the 3.2-mile loop at Boomer Lake is much shorter; these distances provide a specific guide for planning your route, not for estimating walking times or difficulty levels. You can also rent paddleboards and kayaks at Lake McMurtry. Confirm rental availability before your trip.

The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University covers a 100-acre site with walking paths and native plants. The garden is home to more than 1,000 herbaceous and woody plant species. At Lake Carl Blackwell, the area includes a 3,350-acre lake and an 800-acre recreation area—a very different scale for outdoor excursions.

Museums and Regional History

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum presents the history of wrestling through interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks. On display are sculptures, photographs, banners, plaques, medals, trophies, uniforms, and other memorabilia. The Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education explores a very different subject: it is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of higher education in a single state.

At the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar, exhibits on the history of Stillwater and Payne County span from the 1889 Land Run, which opened the Oklahoma Territory to settlement, through the end of the 20th century. Temporary exhibits change monthly, quarterly, and annually. Several exhibits were updated for the 50th anniversary and fitted with interactive touchscreens.

The Oklahoma Territorial Plaza in Perkins also brings history to life through actual buildings: this six-acre open-air museum on Main Street includes several restored buildings from the Oklahoma Territory era. They include a log cabin built in 1901, a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse, a gas station from the 1950s–1960s, and Frank Eaton’s former home. Access may vary by season; check visiting options before your visit. The Cushing-Drumright area offers another historical perspective: in 1919, it accounted for 17 percent of national oil production.

Admission to the OSU Museum of Art is free. The museum also offers tours and field trip programs; confirm specific arrangements in advance. When choosing your vacation rental, you can focus on the things you most want to do: explore trails and enjoy activities on the water, or visit museums and historic sites.

More Experiences and Practical Information

The Cushing Aquatic Center has two large water slides, two drop slides, a diving board, and four swimming lanes. Since seasonal details may change, check the latest information before visiting. The seasonal Cushing Main Street Farmers Market offers locally grown onions, tomatoes, and radishes; market offerings and vendors may change.

The Oklahoma Skydiving Center in Cushing offers Accelerated Freefall courses for beginners and tandem jumps. Jumps take place from heights of 14,000 and 18,000 feet; the center is located at the 350-acre Cushing Regional Airport. Reservation and participation requirements, as well as seasonal offerings, may change. Check the details in advance if you are planning a jump.

Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO) offers direct flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Flight schedules may change, so it is worth checking current connections. The Stillwater Visitor Information Center is located at 2617 W. 6th Ave. and is connected to the Visit Stillwater office.

Discover Stillwater and Cushing too.

Discover more destinations: Sequoyah County, Caddo County, Pawnee County, Muskogee, Adair County, Le Flore.

For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.