Discover the Gathering Place: Tulsa’s Top Family Attraction

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The Gathering Place in Tulsa is one of the most incredible parks to explore in the U.S.

Designed by the same renowned landscape architect who created Maggie Daley Park in Chicago and Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York, it’s a must-see destination for families.

Our family recently explored this incredible park, and it’s safe to say it’s unlike any other we’ve visited.

In this guide, I’ll answer your top questions about the Gathering Place, share personal insights, and provide helpful tips to make your visit unforgettable.

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How big is the Gathering Place?

Once all phases of the Gathering Place are complete it will be about 100 acres! It’s a sprawling urban oasis filled with activities, play areas, and natural beauty.

Just recently, Williams Crossing opened, allowing visitors to walk across the Arkansas River on the Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge.

This new addition also offers spaces to relax or play on the QuickTrip Lakeview Lawn, enhancing the park’s connection to the riverfront.

How Long Should You Plan to Stay?

You could easily spend an entire day here!

With so much to see and do, from boat rentals to playgrounds, you might even want to return the next day. 🚣‍♀️

Convenient on-site dining options make it easy to stay for hours without leaving the park, or you can pack your own picnic lunch too! 🧺

There really is SO much to do and see at the Gathering Place. To download a map, click here.

Is the Gathering Place Free?

Yes, the Gathering Place is absolutely FREE!

Parking in the Gathering Place parking lots is also free.

Can You Swim at the Gathering Place?

While there’s no swimming, the park features several water play areas, including Mist Mountain and Charlie’s Water Mountain. 💦

These spots are perfect for cooling off on a hot day.

➡️ Bring swimwear or a change of clothes for kids to fully enjoy these features.

What’s the Theme at the Gathering Place?

As its name suggests, the Gathering Place was designed to bring people together and it does just that!

It is a fantastic place to spend time with family and friends.

Between the numerous play areas, gathering spaces inside of Williams Lodge and the ONEOK Boathouse, and sprawling lawns and outside areas, there are so many perfect spots to spend time together.

The park incorporates Tulsa’s natural riverfront landscape and serves as a community hub where families and friends can connect and create memories.

What amenities are at the Gathering Place?

The park includes two impressive buildings:

• Williams Lodge: A cozy space with dining options, restrooms, and areas to relax.
• ONEOK Boathouse: Features boat rentals, restrooms, and event spaces.

Both buildings are worth exploring for their architecture and amenities.

Williams Lodge is so impressive inside while the ONEOK Boathouse has the Cabinet of Wonder- the perfect spot to play I see, I see with your kids!

🌟 There are also family restrooms conveniently located near the Land of River Giants themed area of the Adventure Playground.

How Far Is the Gathering Place from Downtown Tulsa?

The Gathering Place is approximately 2.5 miles from downtown Tulsa, making it a quick and convenient trip by car. 🚗

Driving is often the best option, especially for families with kids or those planning to bring along strollers, wagons, or other essentials.

➡️ Located next to the Gathering Place’s overflow parking lot, the Discovery Lab is a fantastic children’s museum that’s fun for kids of all ages. My kids LOVED the tape tunnels! Keep in mind, the Discovery Lab has an admission fee of $14 for visitors aged 2 and over. 🌟 Teachers, show your current school staff ID for free admission!

Dining at the Gathering Place

The Gathering Place makes it easy to spend an entire day here with convenient dining options for every visitor.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Redbud Cafe: Located inside Williams Lodge and open daily, the cafe offers a variety of options including sandwiches, breakfast items, grab-and-go snacks, ice cream, and more. It’s perfect for a quick meal or refreshing treat. 🍩 🍨 ☕️

• The Patio: Situated outside Williams Lodge, The Patio is open on weekends (weather-permitting). Here, you can enjoy classic favorites like hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries, and cheeseburgers. 🌭 🍔 🍟🥤

• Food Trucks and Pop-Up Vendors: On busy days or during special events, you might find food trucks offering a mix of local and unique eats.

• Picnic Areas: Prefer to bring your own food? The park has plenty of scenic picnic spots, including tables and shaded areas where you can enjoy your meal amidst the beautiful surroundings. 🧺

➡️ If this is your first time visiting the Gathering Place, plan ahead whether to bring a lunch or buy it at Williams Lodge or at a potential food truck. If you are visiting during the off-season or on a weekday, your only option to purchase food will be inside Williams Lodge at Redbud Cafe.

Activities for Everyone at the Gathering Place

As I have mentioned above, there is just SO much to do, see, and explore for EVERYONE at the Gathering Place.

From adventurous play areas to serene natural spaces, the Gathering Place really does have it all!

Highlights include:

• Adventure Playground: A multi-zone play area with castles, slides, climbing nets, and sensory gardens. It’s a dream come true for kids of all ages. 🏰 🏴‍☠️🌺

• Slide Vale: Four exciting slides built into the landscape.

• Swing Hill: Offers swings for all ages and stunning views of downtown Tulsa.

• Mist Mountain & Charlie’s Water Mountain: Fun water play areas to beat the heat. 💦

• Sports Courts: Basketball, volleyball, and street soccer or hockey courts. ⛹️‍♀️ 🏐 🏒

• Skate Park & BMX Track: Designed for all skill levels. 🛹

• Peggy’s Pond: A serene spot for paddleboat, kayak, or canoe rentals. 🚣‍♂️

• Walking and Biking Trails: Explore the park’s natural beauty at your own pace. 🚲

• QuickTrip Lakeview Lawn: Spend time enjoying views of the Arkansas River.

• Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge: Enjoy a walk or run across the Arkansas River. 👟

Everything You Want to Know about Adventure Playground

More than likely, your kids’ favorite area at the Gathering Place will be the Adventure Playground.

It’s definitely my kids’ favorite spot too!

Highlights include:

• Spiral Connector: A castle-like structure with suspension bridges and climbing nets. 🏰

• Skywalk Forest: Giant slides, climbing ropes, and tunnels.

• Land of the River Giants: Blue Heron slides and Paddlefish climbing structures.

• Ramble Sensory Garden: A whimsical mirror maze. 🪞

• Fairyland Forest: Banana slide and imaginative climbing areas. 🍌

➡️ The Adventure Playground is divided into zones with each area having a theme of its own as well as a suggested age range for play.

Top 5 Tips for Visiting the Gathering Place

1. Bring a stroller or wagon

There’s a lot of walking at the Gathering Place. After an exciting day of playing and exploring, younger kids will appreciate having a stroller or wagon to rest in.

If you park in the overflow lot, expect a 10-15 minute walk to the Adventure Playground- having a stroller or wagon makes this much easier.

A stroller or wagon is also handy for carrying essentials like snacks, water bottles, swimwear, towels, extra change of clothes, and more!

2. Have a change of clothes or swimwear

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating—there are plenty of opportunities for kids to get wet at the Gathering Place.

Bringing swimwear or a change of clothes ensures they can fully enjoy the water features. 💦

It’s also smart to have extra clothes on hand for other outdoor play mishaps. Consider packing extra shoes or both sandals and athletic shoes so kids can easily enjoy water play and tackle climbing structures.

3. Arrive early

The Gathering Place is a popular destination, and for good reason!

Arriving early helps you avoid crowds and secure a convenient parking spot.

Plus, there’s so much to do and see here—you’ll want to maximize your time to fully experience this amazing park.

4. Know the parking options

As mentioned, there are two main parking lots.

The lot near Williams Lodge is very convenient, close to the Adventure Playground and water features, making it easy to return to your car when needed.

The overflow lot, near the Discovery Lab Museum, is about a 10–15 minute walk from the playground.

🌟 Our Experience: The first time we visited we didn’t realize that there were two different parking lots. We first drove to the main lot and saw it was closed so then had to do some turning around and had to sit in a little bit of traffic to get to the overflow lot. 

If you pass by the gravel overflow lot as you are driving in and you see a bunch of cars there, it is maybe safe to assume the other lot is already full. You could perhaps save yourself a bit of time and just park in the overflow lot. 

On the other hand, if there are not many cars in the overflow lot, then maybe you can hope the parking lot near Williams Lodge is still open. 

5. Make a plan with your kids

Before letting your kids loose in the Adventure Playground, set some ground rules and decide on a meeting point in case someone gets lost.

Staying together in each play zone before moving to the next one is a great way to ensure everyone stays accounted for and safe.

I hope this helps give you a good idea of what to expect at the Gathering Place. It is certainly an amazing park and one of the coolest places we have ever been!

If you are looking for more to do in Tulsa after visiting the Gathering Place, check out my post Free Things to Do in Tulsa for some more fantastic ideas.

May you LOVE your adventure. KW