Whether you crave thrills, relaxation, or family fun, OKANA delivers the perfect summer escape. 

Oklahoma City offers the state’s largest waterpark resort with amenities, indoor and out, that will satisfy children who avoid high-adrenaline rides, those that love them, and adults who want to work hard on fitness gains and recover with sleep and spa services.

We took a 6-hour road trip from Georgetown, Texas, to OKANA Resort & Waterpark. It’s only a 3-hour trip from DFW. That makes this beachy getaway (in an urban city) an easy enough drive for two girl friends with their 9-year-olds from the Austin-area (our situation). It’s a must-do for those in the Dallas-area. You can load up the car and get from home to OKANA faster than watching “Wicked for Good” for the dozenth time. 

Our Lincoln Navigator was packed to the brim with iPads, chargers, headphones, snacks, white noise sound machines, sunscreen, suitcases, and four eager-to-get-there passengers. Meet the clan:

Rachel – Working mom of three. Rachel likes good wine, great steak, and a tension-relieving massage.

Trace – Rachel’s son, Trace, is 9-years-old. He is a sensitive child who likes gentle rides at theme parks. He has a selective palate. He feels safe near a parent.

Julie Anna – my daughter, Julie Anna, is 9-years-old. She’s a thrill-seeker who used to stand on her tippy toes to eke on rides before she met height requirement. She likes most food. She wants free reign to run free, with a home base to see a parent every now and then.

Me – I’m an athlete. I eat a plant-forward diet, don’t drink alcohol, and always find a way to get a workout.

Over three days of fun at OKANA, you’ll identify with one or more of us. (If your party includes teenagers, see our 2025 story.)

CHILL
Trace

Not every child goes running to waterslides, faster than a lifeguard can blow a whistle. Trace arrived at OKANA, enthusiastic about the mega-cool room (we got a bunk bed suite!), arcade, arts and crafts, and a wavepool and lazy river.

OKANA offers an array of rooms. Each option is stocked with eucalyptus-scented bath products, including an exfoliating hand and bath wash. The bathrooms are spacious and there’s plenty of room to sprawl outside of the bed space, even in the standard rooms. OKANA’s outstanding mattresses and luxurious bedding had all the three professional travel writers on our press trip raving. Elevated lodging at OKANA includes options of: Multi-room Suites; Family River Suite with Patio; Junior Suites; Inkana River Suite; Junior Double Queen Suite; Bunk Suite.

The 20,000-square-foot arcade is loaded with interactive fun. There’s virtual reality games, a mirror maze, two-story laser tag, an escape room, and (parents will love this!) claw machines that are spaced in their own far-southern silo. I chose to steer Trace and Julie Anna clear of the claw machine quarters. Just north of the arcade zone is OKANARAMA arts and crafts. We painted a rock, colored beach balls, and went on a scavenger hunt. (There is no extra cost for the daily arts and crafts at OKANARAMA.) 

The 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark offers fun for chill-types. There are shallow spaces and gentle water slides in a kiddie area, called Splash Falls. (It gets its namesake from a giant bucket that fills then dumps a waterfall every five minutes.) Trace particularly loved the wave pool. The waves get progressively bigger as the cycle runs. A jumbo screen plays entertainment above the wave pool. Another “chill vibe” attraction is the lazy river.

THRILL
Julie Anna

Julie Anna was the daredevil of our party. She couldn’t wait to soar into the “fly” pool, climb and pull herself through the inflatable obstacle course, ride “Wild Rapids,” a waterslide roller coaster, and grab ice cream from OKANA Candy Co. well past bedtime.

OKANA’s outdoor “beach” spans 4.5-acres! That makes it the fourth-largest outdoor resort pool in the country! (There are two larger in Las Vegas and one in Orlando.) There are two thrilling slides that exit to a freefall at the bottom into a deep pool. Nearby, there’s a “fly” pool with a high cliff jump (no running start. Julie Anna and I tried.), a zipline, and a fun slide. 

The inflatable obstacle course on OKANA’s outdoor beach is reminiscent of Waterloo Adventures on Lake Travis in Austin. Waterloo Adventures inflatable theme park went out of business in 2025, after two seasons of low lake levels prohibited operations. Fortunately for fellow Austinites who really loved those inflatables, the deep pool water here makes the inflatable obstacle course accessible anytime the beach is open! (That’s anytime after Memorial Day, before Labor Day.) The obstacle course includes monkey bars, launching pads, easy rock climbing with protruding ledges for steps and holds, difficult rock climbing with an inverted ledge at the top, and a summit that can be exited by freefall or slide.

Wild Rapids is one of 15 indoor waterslides. It’s a fast-paced uphill explosion, powered by jets that spew water at high velocity. The two-person raft bolts up a steep pitch, with riders screaming “aaaaaaaah,” only to drop them down many thrilling descents to the tune of “AAAAAAAAAH!” This water rollercoaster requires two riders and there is a height minimum and weight maximum for safety reasons. Of the 15 indoor waterslides, Wild Rapids attracts thrill-seekers like ants to a gumdrop. To beat the summer crowds, make this your first ride when the indoor waterpark opens daily at 10am.

Wild Rapids. Video Brook Benten

Walk into OKANA Candy Co. and get the irresistible whiff of their homemade waffle cones. They offer an assortment of specialty craft ice creams. The price is remarkably reasonable at just $5.95 for a generous single scoop, plus $1 for the waffle cone. Julie Anna went for the electric blue cotton candy ice cream. I opted for the dairy-free, oatmilk-based “nice” cream. OKANA Candy Co. always offers at least one dairy-free flavor. For full-dairy plus a jolt and some ethanol, there’s a flavor called Exhausted Parent– with espresso and bourbon.

BE STILL
Rachel

If you’re like Rachel, vacations are for dialing down the speedy pace of life. An adult beverage in a private cabana, a dinner too divine for a mundane Monday, and a massage with relaxation room and sauna– these are the things that Rachel looked forward to at OKANA.

OKANA Resort and Waterpark is owned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. Like plenty of other Native American communities, the Chickasaw Nation takes a strong, proactive stance against the impact of substance abuse. We wonder if this may be an explanation for a conservative wine selection. Alcohol is available for consumption at OKANA, and 21+ guests are welcome to enjoy responsibly. The resort offers house twists on classic cocktails, like gin and tonic with a splash of cranberry juice and a watermelon spritzer with vodka, garnished with fresh mint and a slice of watermelon. 

Oenophiles have a few options. When we dined at Curveball Kitchen, our server told Rachel the wine options were a red blend or rose. She selected the rose. The server said that the bottle of rose was at another restaurant, but that she’d go get it. Later on the trip, we were at Bullseye and Rachel asked about the wine options. Our server told her that the only wine they have is a rose. No time later, the server returned and explained that someone from another restaurant had taken their bottle of rose. When one bottle of wine makes its way around a 40-acre property, alcohol drinkers may be better off tickling their tastebuds with spirits, beer or cocktails.

Private cabanas are available on the outdoor beach or indoor waterpark. Prices start at $199 during off-season. Cabanas include plush lounge furniture and covered seating that can accommodate up to eight guests comfortably. (This is especially convenient when first-come-first-serve pool chairs are occupied by early birds. Sleep in and mosey in and out of the waterpark on your schedule when you rent a cabana!) Indoor cabanas are semi-private with shaded enclosures. Escape the harsh heat on the outdoor beach with a ceiling fan. All cabanas come with a mini fridge stocked with an assortment of beverages. Cabana guests are catered by a dedicated server, eager to deliver food and beverage orders.

Adults can escape from the hustle and bustle at both waterparks. Indoors, there’s Soothing Springs. That’s a warmer pool (not quite a hot tub, but warmer than the 82-degree water throughout the indoor park) with built-in seating and easy access to the bar. Outdoors, there’s a 21+ swim-up bar and tanning pool. If you’re like Rachel and you enjoy a poolside cocktail but need to keep your eye on little ones, dig your toes in the sand at the white sand beach around the 64,000 square feet outdoor lagoon. The kids can pack sand around your feet as you sip a pina colada. Moms call that a free exfoliation.

Rachel’s husband, Tommy, is a Louisiana-trained southern chef. He makes scratch pasta, seafood gumbo, and steaks that would make Emeril Lagasse cry. She is accustomed to superb suppers at home. It takes a lot to impress her. Smokehouse Social delivered a flaming tomahawk that scored major points on presentation and juicy, tender taste. The steak was lit on fire and cooked to medium-rare in front of our very eyes. The finished product was juicy, smokey tender, delicious protein– with just the right amount of savory fat and salt. Tommy would have given it a chef’s kiss. Rachel felt at home.

CBD oil is widely used to mitigate stress, manage pain and reduce inflammation. It may even aid sleep. It is derived from the cannabis plant, but is non-intoxicating. This natural compound added to a mixed-pressure massage enhances the soothing effects of massage therapy. Rachel selected the CBD Massage from The Spa at OKANA’s expansive list of treatments. She experienced a blissful hour of full-body relaxation with the medicinal benefits of CBD oil. The 50 minute service is reasonably priced at $115 ($150 after tax and tip). A CBD Massage at The Spa at OKANA finishes with a cool glass of drinking water and an escort to the spa’s halotherapy sauna. This warm sauna is a comfortable temperature (think Texas in April, not Texas in June). Salt aids in respiration, skin exfoliation, and it can calm the nervous system. The salt sauna is also paneled with overhead red light for full-body red light therapy. A complimentary (to spa guest) visit to the halotherapy sauna is recommended for extended relaxation after “The CBD.”

Halotherapy sauna. Video Brook Benten

ATHLETIC ZEAL
Brook

Walking around OKANA Resort, you’ll certainly get your steps in. (It’s the size of 30 football fields, including the convention center!) For fitness enthusiasts, weekend warriors, and athletes, this is the place to stay– partly for in-house amenities; also for everything that surrounds it!

OKANA offers an intimate fitness center for guests 18+. Energizing natural light surrounds the studio with a view of the resort’s outdoor beach. There’s a cable multistation with multiple grips and pin-placed weightstack options with assorted handles. A pull-up bar offers bodyweight core training, like pull-ups, chin-ups, toes-to-bar, and hanging leg lifts. The standard cardio equipment of treadmills, an elliptical and a bike line the window. There’s one strength bench and a rack of dumbbells, from light to heavy. I found ample space to perform functional fitness exercises in a dumbbell HIIT circuit. The view– you really cannot beat the view for a resort sweat sesh.

There are more virtual sports at OKANA than any waterpark resort I’ve visited. Whether you enjoy digital interactive bowling, baseball, golf, skeet shooting, football, archery, or real axe throwing and dart lanes, OKANA has you covered. Among Smokehouse Social, Curveball Kitchen, and Bullseye, there are no shy of a dozen options for swinging clubs and throwing axes. Bays may be reserved by the hour.

A cool thing about OKANA from an athlete’s perspective is that it sits on the banks of the Oklahoma River. That’s a heavily managed and dammed portion of the North Canadian River that spans 7-miles for recreational use. This is where canoe slalom sports in the Olympic Games will take place in 2028. Oklahoma City has already prepared for the Games with meter markers on white columns to measure the kayak and canoe disciplines. (The triathlon portion of the 2028 Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles, but the spirit of training on Olympic grounds energizes athletes, nonetheless.) I visited OKANA on race week for the Supertri Austin Triathlon. I stepped right out of OKANA for a shakeout run on the Oklahoma River Trail. It loops 13.7 miles around Oklahoma City. I took a first place age group finish in the Supertri Austin Triathlon. Victory is somewhat thanks to the amazing outdoor recreational trail that was freely accessible while I was on vacation.

Runners are notorious for having damaged feet. My calluses had calluses and my toes hadn’t been painted since Christmas. As a mom and an athlete, I have a lot of competing priorities and treating my feet isn’t one of them. At OKANA, I booked a spa service for a pedicure. The Classic Pedicure is only $45 ($60 after tax and tip). That’s a value-priced pedicure anywhere, yet you get the luxury here of wearing a spa robe (if you’d like) plus a visit to the spa’s relaxation room with chaise lounge chairs, cozy blankets, trail mix snack, infused water and hot tea. My esthetician rubbed the calluses on my feet with a gentle exfoliating stone until they felt soft and smooth. She shaped my nails to uniform ovals with pushed cuticles for smooth application of a double coat of brilliant white polish with a finishing clear topcoat. 

COME TOGETHER
Trace, Julie Anna, Rachel, Brook

We may all have distinctive tastes in what constitutes a good time, but we can agree on this: togetherness is the most fun of all. OKANA Resort and Waterpark offers plenty of amenities to satisfy guests at whatever energy level they desire. Here are some Summer 2026 events that will have you saying “OKANA,” which translates to Explore with Intention.

• National Waterpark Day (June 20) – OKANA’s favorite holiday will feature a live DJ, OKANA swag
• Father’s Day (June 21) – Outdoor BBQ celebration with Horse Soldier Bourbon samplings, a cigar roller, live music, and lawn games.
• 4th of July Bash (July 4) – A riverside celebration of America’s 250th featuring drink specials, hot dogs, live music, a drumline, and fireworks. There will also be giveaways, a dunk tank, and games across both waterparks.
• Labor Day Bash (September 7) – The summer’s grand finale, celebrated across both waterparks, before OKANA Beach closes for the season.

 

OKANA: Adventure Awaits! Video Brook Benten

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cover photo courtesy OKANA Resort & Waterpark

Brook Benten, M.Ed., ACSM-EP, is a triathlon ambassador, trail runner, mom of two, owner of a really big dog (who makes daily appearances on her Instagram stories), and author of three books. She served for over a decade as a fitness subject matter expert for Prevention Magazine. OKANA Resort & Waterpark appealed to Brook for active adventures with tres amigos. This story wouldn’t be complete without the endearing, disparate contributions of Trace, Julie Anna, and Rachel.