So you’ve decided to stop and stay for a while in the Sooner State? Great — Oklahoma isn’t just a stop on a cross-country trip. In fact, Oklahoma is the birthplace of the famous Route 66 and contains the second-longest stretch of any state it passes through.
Throughout the state, you’ll find rich cultural institutions, mouthwatering barbecue, unique gemstones, and more. Don’t forget to pick up some things to bring home with you, whether mementos for yourself or gifts for your loved ones.
But what are the best souvenirs from Oklahoma to bring home with you? Here’s a look at 15 of them.
Table of Contents
1. Rose rocks
Across the center of Oklahoma, spiraling, petaled stones grow from the ground. Known as rose rocks, these geological marvels are found only in Oklahoma and some locations in the Sahara and Arabian deserts.
As the official state rock, rose rocks (also known as desert roses, barite roses, and Gypsum roses, among other names) are the perfect Oklahoma souvenir to bring home with you. Why not carry a little slice of Oklahoma soil to remind you of the Sooner State?
2. Barbecue sauce…
As I talked about in an article about things Tulsa is known and famous for, Oklahoma is barbecue country. It is unique among the barbecue traditions of the South and Southwest, as it makes no preference for pork or beef barbecue.
And the flavors it draws from Tex-Mex, Indigenous, and Mexican cuisines are next level. That’s why a perfect Oklahoma souvenir is a bottle (or two or three or more) of barbecue sauce from one of the many producers across the state.
You can’t go wrong, but some Okie favorites include Head Country B-B-Q and Oklahoma Joe’s.
3. …and spice rubs!
Anyone working a grill, whether a barbecue beginner or expert, needs some good spice rubs to complement or stand in for their barbecue sauces (and vice versa). Just like with the barbecue sauces, spice rubs from local barbecue joints are a great Oklahoma gift.
4. Oklahoma cutting board
For all the chefs out there, a cutting board in the shape of Oklahoma makes the perfect gift, either to give or receive. I mean, have you seen the shape of Oklahoma? With the long, narrow panhandle and otherwise almost-square shape, Oklahoma already looks like a cutting board on a map.
5. Hourglass selenite crystals
So you’ve got Oklahoma’s state rock. How about its state crystal? The hourglass selenite crystal comes from Oklahoma’s salt plains. Translucent, the crystals are famous for the dark-brown hourglass shapes that can be seen inside the crystals.
An enigmatic and unique addition to any geological collection, Oklahoma’s hourglass selenite crystals are infallible souvenirs from Oklahoma.
6. Anything Route 66
Oklahoma is the birthplace of Route 66. The iconic highway, which extended 432 miles through the Sooner State, was invented by Tulsa businessman Cyrus Avery.
In Route 66’s heyday, Oklahoma was a heavily-trafficked part of the route. Because of that, you can find all sorts of roadside curiosities and attractions, some still in use today.
Okies are proud of their highway heritage and the road culture is alive and well. All across the state, you can find Route 66 souvenirs that are retro, kitschy, curious, or downright cool. Stores like Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios in Tulsa and Bazaar on 66 in Elk City are great places to look for unique Oklahoma souvenirs and gifts.
7. Pops 66 Soda and souvenirs
One such stop curious Route 66 stop is Pops 66 Soda, a so-called soda ranch identifiable by the towering, glowing soda bottle statue (which is, of course, 66 feet tall). Sample some of its trademark soda, although choosing from its more than 600 flavors might be difficult.
Fancy a peanut butter and jelly soda? What about buffalo wing, dog drool, or banana?
Don’t worry, they have your regular favorites too. And more. So much more. Guzzle the spirit of Route 66 and then take some home with you. The store’s restaurant is also a great place for a bite to eat, and their convenience store sells a variety of merchandise, from hats and stickers to T-shirts and license plates.
8. Native American craftwork
As the state with the second-largest proportion of Native Americans, Oklahoma is a great place to appreciate craftwork by Indigenous artists and designers.
From woven works and jewelry to pottery and posters, Native Oklahomans are creating fantastic art that they want to share with locals, visitors, and anyone else who comes along, making Native American artwork a phenomenal Oklahoma souvenir.
It’s important to be certain that what you buy comes from authentic artists, as cultural appropriation in art, jewelry, and design are commonplace and harmful.
9. Sports merchandise
Boomer Sooner! I mean, Ride ‘Em Cowboys! Or, um, Go Golden Hurricanes? Whatever the team, I’m a fan as long as they’re from Oklahoma.
Sports merchandise from one of the state’s collegiate or professional sports teams makes for a great Oklahoma souvenir. Be careful where you wear, though, as rivalries between universities like OSU and OU are fierce.
You can also find sports merchandise from the NBA’s Thunder, which has its seat in Oklahoma City, or minor league sports teams like the Tulsa Drillers and Oklahoma City Dodgers.
10. Cowboy boots
Oklahoma is cowboy country. Starting centuries ago, cattle trails cut through the land that is now Oklahoma. Like many people from the South and West, Oklahomans adopted cowboy fashion and accessories.
Cowboy boots are, of course, a bold statement piece to rock with a bold outfit. In Oklahoma, they won’t feel out of place. No better place to buy them than from a local Western outfitter.
11. Bedre Fine Chocolate
Based in Davis, Oklahoma, Bedre Fine Chocolate is one of the most popular chocolatiers in the state. Its chocolates have been featured internationally and can be found in retail stores across the country.
But everything tastes better in the land where it’s made. Owned by the Chickasaw Nation, Bedre Fine Chocolate offers a great way to support Indigenous Oklahomans and eat some fine chocolate to boot.
12. Country music vinyl
Oklahomans have played pivotal roles in the development of genres, particularly country and western music. Artists like Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Woodie Guthrie, and Carrie Underwood have all called the state home.
Wherever you are in Oklahoma, find the nearest record store and check their inventory. At once vintage and in style, vinyl records are a great way to enjoy music, especially when it’s genuine Okie music scratched straight from a record.
13. Pecans
Whether you call them PEE-cans or puh-KAHNs, Oklahoma is known for that buttery, sweet nut. It’s one of the state’s specialty crops, featured in the Oklahoma state meal, and a lot of native varieties grow there.
Pecan farms criss-cross the Oklahoma countryside, such as Couch Pecan Orchard and Great Buffalo Pecan Farm.
14. Craft beer
Once there were cattle trails and now there are craft beer trails. From southeastern Oklahoma up through Tulsa, you can taste the bold and varied flavors of craft beers from the state’s best microbreweries.
Better yet, you can take those beers home with you for some responsible consumption after your Oklahoma sojourn. Some beer aficionado favorites include Stonecloud Brewing Company, Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing, and Beaver’s Bend Brewery.
15. Museum souvenirs
Oklahoma has some prime museums and any good traveler knows museum gift shops can be great places to peruse souvenirs and gifts.
After visiting some of the finest cultural institutions the Sooner State has to offer, look through the gift shops from Oklahoma souvenirs at places like the Philbrook Museum of Art, the Gilcrease Museum, and the First Americans Museum.
Where to buy Oklahoma souvenirs and gifts
The list is made, and the desired gifts and souvenirs are on your mind. Let’s check out some of the best Oklahoma gift shops to purchase your souvenirs and mementos.
Rose rocks and hourglass selenite crystals can be found at stores in Oklahoma City at places like BlueSeven and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and at many spots in Noble, Oklahoma, the rose rock capital of the state.
For Oklahoma barbecue sauces and spice rubs, check out this catalog from Made in Oklahoma to browse the best flavors from across the state. Made in Oklahoma is also an excellent place to browse for just about any Oklahoma souvenir.
Oklahoma sports gear can be found at spirit shops associated with each team, near stadiums and college campuses.
If you’re looking for a record, check out Monkey Feet Music and Trolly Stop Record Shop in Oklahoma City or Gardner’s Books and Starship Records and Tapes in Tulsa.
Get your cowboy swagger on with cowboy boots and other Western accessories at Teners Western Outfitters in Oklahoma City and Boot Barn in Tulsa.
Shop for Native American art and jewelry at Chickasaw Holiday Market and Oklahoma Native Art. These stops are a good place to start supporting Indigenous businesses, but there are too many to list, so check out this comprehensive catalog for more.
