Local eats & drinks
Sit-Down Dining
Breakfast- Sunrise Cafe, Friendship Inn
Italian - Roma's, Luigi's
Japanese/Sushi - Sakura
Mexican- The Plaza, Taqueria Hernandez
Steak- Fred's, Backdoor (Blair)
Quick Bites
Asian - Combo Noodles, Donuts & Fried Rice
BBQ - Heavy Haulers
Burgers - Whataburger, Braum's
Chicken - Chick-fil-A, Chicken Express
Chinese - YuYu
Coffee & Tea - 7Brew, HTeaO, White Buffalo, Just Brew It, Starbucks
Donuts - EZ Go Donuts, Donuts & Fried Rice
Ice Cream - Joey's Ice Cream, Braum's
Hawaiian - Aloha Grill
Mexican - Pickup Taco
Pizza - Domino's, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars
Sandwiches - Jersey Mike's, Joey's A Taste of Chicago
Drinks & Dining
Drinks & Dining
Bar and Grill - Salt Fork, 580 Bar & Grill
Sports Bar - JD's Hideaway
Bar- Pump 310 Lounge
Drive-Thru Daiquiri - Bayou Booze
Dive - Joe Dans Saloon and Dance Hall, Trader Tom's Tavern
Local Shopping & ESSENTIALS
Essentials & Groceries
Local Butchers - Quartz View Meats, Butchee Beef
Groceries - Commissary, Walmart, United Supermarket
Health Foods - The Verdant Mercantile & Refillery, H&E Farms
Medicine/Pharmacy - On-base (limited hours), Walgreens, Broadway Pharmacy
Specialty Stores
Auto - AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA, Parts World (Roosevelt)
Antiques - Red Dirt Antiques, 3 Krazy Chicks, Abby Lane
Boutiques - Cotton Candi, The Vinedresser, Gator’s Western Wear
Gifts, Flowers & Home Décor — The Enchanted Door, Batch & Blossom, Petal Pushers Flowers & Gifts, Solis Design Company
Hobbies/Fun - Hobby Lobby, Bealls, Shoe Dept
Outdoors - Dunham's Sports, AEC Outdoors, Outdoor Rec (Rentals)
Tools - Harbor Freight, Ace Hardware, Fox Building Supply
Self-Care
Self-Care
Barbers - North Main, Razor's Edge, Bulldog Barbershop, The Men's Groom
Hair Salon - Poppy Salon, The Crop
Gyms - On-Base, CRAFT, CrossFit Pegasus, 10th Planet (BJJ)
Nail Salon - Krystal Nail & Spa, Luxury Nail
Tanning, Spa, Massage - Better Bodies, Rejuvenate Aesthetics/Spa, CRAFT
Chiropractor - Reed Chiropractic, Quartz Mountain Chiropractic
Local To-Do's
Indoor
Outdoor Sports
Axe Throwing - JD's Hideaway
Bowling - Galaxy Lanes (on base), Town & Country Lanes (located E Broadway St)
Movies - Heritage Park Theatre (Great for small films. For the "I've been waiting for 'X' for 3 years, go to the Lawton AMC)
Museums - Museum of the Western Prairie (Actually worth it!)
Wine - Quartz Mountain Winery
Outdoor Sports
Outdoor Sports
Golf
Altus - Windy Trails (On Base), Western Heritage
Lawton - Ft Sill Golf Course, Lawton Municipal
Nearby - Crooked Creek (Cordell), Sayre National (Sayre), Hobart Municipal (Hobart)
Tennis & Pickleball
On-Base, Hoyt Shadid Park
Pools
On-base (Season & Daily Passes)
Linda Wiginton Aquatic Center (Lazy River!!)
Altus Reservoir Beach Area (Hoyt Shadid Park)
Hiking
Mount Scott, Baldy Point Summit, Wichita Wildlife Refuge
Paintball Junction - Go shoot your friends!
For the kids & fur babies!
Dog Parks - Altus Dog Park
Outdoor Playgrounds - Hoyt Shadid Park, Heritage Park, Multiple on-base,
Indoor Playgrounds - FCC Indoor Playground (on base and FREE!), Red River Bounce, My Little Kingdom, Curiosity Avenue (Lawton, but totally worth it!)
Splash Pads - Altus Splash Pad, On-base beside Putt-Putt/Library
Hunting
- Check seasons, mainly September to December
- Need access to private land, land lease, or guided hunts (Talk to the folks at AEC Outdoors)
- Waterfowl/Dove - Best to go through Fallen Outdoors or AEC Outdoors
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge - Whitetail Deer, Elk, and Turkey (Go through Ft Sill for tag lottery)
- If you want to hunt in Altus - send us a text, we'll set you up with some local outdoorsmen!
Fishing
Fishing
Fishing
- Altus Reservoir (Smallies Only, Mainly Sunfish)
- Lake Lugert (Bass, Walleye, Crappie, and Catfish)
- Tom Steed (Everything in Lugert, Massive Catfish)
- Elmer Thomas (Everything in Lugert, Great boating)
- North Fork Red River (Stocked Trout October-ish, Maybe Paddlefish!)
- Lake Lawtonka (Everything in Lugert, feeds into Medicine Creek)
- Medicine Creek (Stocked Trout in October/November, Everything in Lugert)
Seasonal Events
Do it, It's Here! (In Altus)
Spring Events
- Walkin' on Chalk: Held in late March. Local artists and community members take over the downtown sidewalks to turn them into massive, colorful chalk masterpieces.
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt: This is a massive family favorite held at local parks like Hightower Park or the Altus Reservoir, featuring thousands of eggs, prizes, and photos with the Easter Bunny.
- Main Street Block Party: Taking place in mid-to-late April, this ticketed 21+ event takes over downtown Altus. It typically features regional tribute bands, food trucks, and local street vendors.
- Tulip Farm at Sweet Pickens - Pick your own tulips at a local farm just north of Altus. Includes food and plenty of fun for the whole family! Kicks off in mid-March. Be sure to hit opening weekend for some of the best blooms!
- Rock n' Rumble: A lively car show and street cruise weekend held in early May that brings classic cars, hot rods, and live music to the historic downtown square.
Summer Events
- Summer Solstice Market: Organized by Elysium Acres of Altus in mid-June, this open-air market highlights local craft makers, fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, and handmade apparel.
- The American Spirit Festival: Held over a weekend in late June at Hoyt Shadid Park and the Altus Reservoir, this is the city's signature summer bash. The event is packed with family activities like jet ski racing, a giant waterslide, pie and hot dog eating contests, a cardboard boat regatta, and live music, concluding with a massive fireworks display.
- Cattledrive and Great Plains Stampede Rodeo: This is a must-do! Truly Oklahoma, traditionally Altus! The cattledrive starts on base where military leadership, on horseback drive longhorn through the base. Military night is awesome with a flyover, free meal, and everything from barrel racing to bull riding! Don't miss it in late August/early September!
Fall Events
- Farm Fest & Chili Cook-Off: Held in early October by Main Street Altus featuring spicy chili cook-offs and agricultural family activities.
- Altus Balloon Festival: Taking place late October at the Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, this is one of the city's biggest weekends featuring hot air balloons, food trucks, and craft vendors.
- Sweet Pickins Pumpkin Patch: Open in October, offering family-friendly maze walking, petting zoos, and pumpkin picking.
Winter & Holiday Events
- Christmas Open House: Hosted in November by Main Street Altus to kick off local holiday shopping.
- Museum of the Western Prairie Holiday Market: Showcases pottery, paintings, and unique crafts from local artists.
- Reindeer in the Park: A family-centered outdoor holiday event in early December organized by Main Street Altus.
- Christmas Parade: Occurs in early-mid December, typically in the early evening hours. Includes floats, some vendors, and candy being tossed for all the kiddos.
Not in the backyard, but go! (<1 hr)
Spring Events
- Frederick Oyster Fry: A quirky March tradition featuring fried oysters (Gulf, not Rocky Mountain). Live music and a regional craft show. Frederick is about 40 minutes away.
- Mangum Rattlesnake Derby: This late-April festival features rattlesnake demonstrations, guided hunts, carnival rides and local vendors. Mangum is about 30 minutes away.
- Celebration of Freedom: Hobart’s May celebration includes a patriotic parade, military displays, live music and family activities. About a 45-minute drive.
Summer Events
- Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute: Quartz Mountain hosts talented young musicians, dancers, actors and artists each June. Check the schedule for public performances and exhibits. About 30 minutes away.
- Kiowa County Free Fair: An August county fair in Hobart featuring livestock, agricultural exhibits, handmade goods and family activities.
Fall Events
- Hometown Harvest: Hobart’s September festival includes antique tractors, a parade, pumpkin activities, pony rides and an evening street dance.
- Hollis Cotton Festival: An October celebration of southwest Oklahoma’s cotton-farming heritage with demonstrations, farm equipment, food and live music. About 45 minutes away.
- WWII Open Hangar Day: Watch WWII-style parachute jumps and explore vintage aircraft, military vehicles and living-history displays at the Frederick Regional Airport.
- Frederick ChiliFest: A late-October chili cook-off featuring local recipes, vendors and small-town competition.
Winter & Holiday Events
- Greer County Christmas: Mangum hosts several downtown shopping and family events throughout November and December.
- Christmas in Frederick: An old-fashioned holiday celebration featuring a downtown parade and community prize giveaway.
It's A Drive, But Worth It! (1-3 hrs)
It's A Drive, But Worth It! (1-3 hrs)
Spring Events
- Medieval Fair of Norman: Held in early April, featuring jousting, costumes, performers and medieval food. Norman is about 2 hours away.
- Norman Music Festival: A free, multi-day festival featuring hundreds of performances throughout downtown Norman in late April.
- Festival of the Arts: Held in late April, downtown Oklahoma City fills with visual artists, live performances and standout food vendors. About 2¼ hours away.
- Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon: Taking place in late April, this meaningful event offers races for every ability and crowds lining the course.
Summer Events
- Women’s College World Series: The nation’s top college softball teams compete for the NCAA championship in late May and early June. Tickets and hotels sell quickly.
- deadCenter Film Festival: Oklahoma’s largest and only Oscar-qualifying film festival brings screenings and premieres to downtown OKC in mid-June.
- Dodge City Days & Roundup Rodeo: Held from late July into early August, this major Western festival features a PRCA rodeo, bull riding, parades and cowboy culture. About 2¾ hours away.
- Red Earth Festival: Held in late July or early August, this major OKC festival showcases Native American art, dance and culture.
Fall Events
- Oklahoma State Fair: Held in mid-to-late September, featuring carnival rides, concerts, livestock shows, competitions and over-the-top fair food.
- State Fair of Texas: Running from late September through mid-October, this massive fair features Big Tex, national concerts, the Texas Auto Show, rides and legendary fried food. Dallas is roughly 3¼ hours away.
- OU–Texas Red River Rivalry: The Sooners and Longhorns meet inside the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas each October. Book tickets and lodging well in advance.
- AQHA World Championship Show: Elite American Quarter Horses compete in riding, roping, ranching and performance events from late October into mid-November.
Winter & Holiday Events
- Cattlemen’s Congress: Held in early January, this premier cattle show brings thousands of animals, exhibitors and major livestock sales to Oklahoma City.
- Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball: Catch an NBA game at Paycom Center during the regular season, which runs from October through April.
- Chickasha Festival of Light: From late November through December, 43 acres of Shannon Springs Park become a massive walk-through and drive-through Christmas-light display. About 1½ hours away.
DAY TRIPS
Local Trips Worth Taking (30-90 mins, One Way)
- Quartz Mountain State Park – About 30 Minutes: Start with a morning hike through the granite hills, then enjoy a picnic overlooking Lake Altus-Lugert. Depending on the season and water level, you can also fish, kayak or spend time near the lake. This is the easiest option when you want outdoor scenery without committing an entire day.
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – About 1¼ Hours: Arrive early and begin with the drive up Mount Scott, when the summit road is open, for panoramic views across the refuge. From there, look for bison, elk, prairie dogs and longhorn cattle or hike the Kite Trail along the canyon rim toward Forty Foot Hole. Finish with a famous longhorn-beef burger and cobbler at Meers Store & Restaurant. Refuge restrictions and Meers’ operating hours can change, so check both before leaving.
- Medicine Park – About 1¼ Hours: Spend a relaxed afternoon walking along Medicine Creek and Bath Lake, exploring the town’s cobblestone buildings, shops and restaurants. Families can visit the Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center, which takes roughly two hours and includes indoor exhibits, outdoor habitats and animal presentations. Medicine Park can easily be combined with the Wichita Mountains, but it also makes a pleasant standalone trip.
- Lawton & Fort Sill – About 1 Hour: Military-history enthusiasts should tour the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and the U.S. Army Artillery Museum, which displays more than 70 artillery pieces. In Lawton, visit the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center before grabbing lunch or walking around Elmer Thomas Park. Check current Fort Sill visitor-access requirements before traveling.
- Wichita Falls, Texas – About 1¼ Hours: Spend the day shopping, dining or exploring downtown, with drinks at Wichita Falls Brewing Company, Half Pint Taproom or the Iron Horse Pub. Families can visit Castaway Cove Waterpark during the summer, while year-round options include museums, live theater, art exhibits and the River Bend Nature Center. Check the local event calendar for concerts and performances before making the drive.
Full-Day Trips (Up to 2.5 hrs, one-way)
- Route 66 Museum Road Trip – About 1¼–2 Hours: Begin at Elk City’s National Route 66 Museum, where exhibits recreate the Mother Road through all eight states. Continue east through Clinton for another Route 66 museum stop, then finish in Weatherford at the Stafford Air & Space Museum. Lucille’s Roadhouse makes a convenient Route 66-themed lunch stop.
- Norman – About 2 Hours: Start at the Sam Noble Museum to see dinosaurs, prehistoric Oklahoma exhibits and Native cultural collections. Tour the University of Oklahoma campus, visit the free Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and finish with food or shopping around Campus Corner. During football season, an OU home game can easily become the focus of the entire trip.
- Oklahoma City – About 2¼ Hours: Begin at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, then have lunch in Bricktown or near Scissortail Park. Spend the afternoon at either the First Americans Museum or the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Families may prefer the Oklahoma City Zoo or Science Museum Oklahoma instead.
- Caprock Canyons State Park – About 2¼ Hours: Arrive early and drive slowly through the park to look for members of the Texas State Bison Herd. Follow the easy Mesa Trail for a relaxed outing or choose one of the more challenging canyon trails for bigger views. Pack food and plenty of water, as services near the park are limited.
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area – About 2½ Hours: Begin at the Travertine Nature Center, then explore the trails and spring-fed scenery around Travertine Creek, Little Niagara and Buffalo and Antelope Springs. Finish the day near Lake of the Arbuckles or explore downtown Sulphur. Water flow, swimming access and park closures can change, so check current conditions before leaving.
- Palo Duro Canyon & Amarillo – About 2½ Hours: Reserve a day pass and drive from the canyon rim to the floor, stopping at overlooks and the visitor center. Choose a shorter trail such as Paseo del Rio or tackle the popular Lighthouse Trail during cooler weather with plenty of water. Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo on the way home, or stay for the outdoor musical TEXAS during its summer season.