Broken Arrow

Introduction

Broken Arrow sits in Tulsa and Wagoner counties in Oklahoma, within the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa, so it works well as a base if you want to stay close to the city while sleeping outside its core.

Before you go

Broken Arrow sits in a part of Oklahoma where tornado season runs from late winter into midsummer, though the city and neighbouring Tulsa are rarely hit. Even so, keep an eye on the forecast during those months and know where you would shelter if a major storm approached; the Tornado safety page is worth reading before you travel.

Getting there

Driving is the preferred way to reach Broken Arrow. From Tulsa International Airport, take State Highway 11 east onto I-244 East, then US-169 South; from there you can either take the BA Expressway (State Highway 51) east and turn off at the exit you need, or stay on US-169 South. Broken Arrow exits appear at every mile south of State 51 on US-169 until 91st Street — pass 91st and you'll continue two miles to the end of US-169 at Memorial Drive in Bixby. When leaving US-169, turn east off the freeway for Broken Arrow.

From Downtown Tulsa, take State-51 (the BA Expressway) east toward US-169: for North Broken Arrow, continue on State-51 past US-169 and take your exit; for South Broken Arrow, join US-169 South from State-51. From Coweeta, take the BA Expressway (State-51) west and turn off at one of several exits before US-169, or take State-51 to US-169 and head south for South Broken Arrow. From Bixby, follow any street from 91st through 131st east from Memorial Drive until you reach Garnet Ave, about two miles. Tulsa Transit runs one route connecting the city to Tulsa, with bus services Monday through Friday.

Getting around

Broken Arrow is a car-oriented city, and having access to a vehicle is by far the most practical way to get around. The road network follows a four-direction grid running north–south and east–west, with roughly one mile between major roads, so navigating is straightforward once you have a car or a ride. East–west streets are numbered: the larger the number, the farther south you are, and the smaller the number, the farther north. Main roads generally end in "1" — 111th, 101st and 71st streets, for example — while streets such as 115th, 103rd and 79th are minor roads, mostly leading into residential areas.

• By car: The main approach routes are US-169 and the Broken Arrow Expressway (State Highway 51). Broken Arrow exits along US-169 appear at roughly every mile south of State 51 until 91st Street; when exiting US-169, turn east off the freeway to reach the city itself.
• From the airport: The nearest major airport is Tulsa International. Take State Highway 11 east onto I-244 East, then US-169 South, and either take the Broken Arrow Expressway east and turn off at the exit you need or continue on US-169 South.
• From Downtown Tulsa: Take State-51 east toward US-169. For north Broken Arrow, continue past US-169 and take the exit you need; for south Broken Arrow, get onto US-169 South from State-51.
• From Bixby: Follow any street from 91st through 131st east from Memorial Drive until you reach Garnet Avenue, roughly two miles along.
• From Catoosa: Take the Broken Arrow Expressway west and turn off at one of several exits until US-169; for south Broken Arrow, take State-51 to US-169 and head south.
• Buses: Public transport is very limited. Tulsa Transit operates a single route connecting Broken Arrow to Tulsa, running Monday through Friday only — there is no weekend bus service, so plan weekday trips carefully and arrange alternatives for Saturdays and Sundays.
• Rail, metro and tram: The city has no rail, metro or tram network of its own, and none is described as connecting it to the surrounding region, so do not plan on trains or light rail.
• Taxis and ride-hailing: Given the car-oriented layout and sparse public transport, a private ride — taxi, ride-hailing app or hotel-arranged car — is a sensible fallback, but confirm availability locally before depending on it.
• Walking: The one-mile spacing of major roads means walking is practical within a given area but not as a way to cross the city; most destinations are separated by distances better suited to driving.

For most visitors, the simplest plan is to arrive by car — your own or a rental picked up at Tulsa International Airport — and use the numbered grid to navigate once you are in the city. Build your itinerary around driving, and treat walking as a way to cover short local distances rather than a means of getting across town.

Where to stay

Lodging in Broken Arrow is limited, and the one option the source notes is a combined wedding chapel and bed and breakfast: Tarp Gardens Chapel and Tivoli Inn on West Washington Street, which offers seven rooms. If you need a wider choice of accommodation, plan to look beyond the city itself.

Food & drink

Broken Arrow has a spread of casual spots for eating out. For budget meals, Memories of Japan on W Kenosha Street serves traditional Japanese food, Uncle Vinny's New York Pizza on the same street offers New York-style brick-oven pies and slices for eating on the go, and Tandoori Guys on W Houston Street does an Indian buffet.

In the mid-range, Ted's Cafe Escondido on W Kenosha Street is known to get very crowded and very loud unless you arrive early, though the food and service are superb. Nātv on S Main Street serves traditional Native American and Indigenous food at a decent price in a casual sit-down setting. For a splurge, Los Cabos on Bass Pro Drive is a local award-winning Mexican cantina. When you want a drink, C.J. Moloney's on S Aspen Avenue is the only Irish pub in town, with live music nightly and a big celebration on St. Patrick's Day.

What to see and do

Start your look at Broken Arrow's past at The Museum Broken Arrow on South Main Street, which traces the town's story from a small Muscogee Creek outpost to the modern city. Inside you can see the Ernest Childers Cabin, artifacts from various periods, genealogical resources, and a showing of the film Broken Arrow. Outdoors, the town's memorials reward a wander: Veterans Park holds two bronzes, one of local World War II hero Ernest Childers in Native regalia and another of a modern-day US soldier, along with a stone plaque listing local citizens who have died in combat since 9/11. Central Park, the main meeting ground for events, hosts the municipal pool, the community centre, and the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials. On Main Street, Centennial Park displays a bronze of a pioneer family, and the Centennial Clock stands in front of the Farmer's Market.

For active afternoons, Ray Harral Nature Park on the southern edge of town offers plenty of trails and sits atop the site of a Depression-era Hooverville, where artifacts from that time still surface periodically. Broken Arrow Lanes is the local bowling alley, with dozens of lanes, dining areas, and youth and professional leagues, while Broken Arrow Roller Sports caters to skaters. The Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, a modern steel-and-glass building at the junction of 81st and Main, puts on theater performances through the year. Time your visit for the first weekend of May and you'll catch Rooster Days in Central Park, a county fair with a craft fair and rides that began as a livestock market before the Depression. From April to October, the Broken Arrow Farmer's Market sells specialty goods from local farmers and craftsmen at its pavilion north of the railroad tracks. In winter, The Rhema Lights covers a church park in Christmas displays, including a synchronized light bridge with music, plus helicopter and horse-and-buggy rides.

Three days in Broken Arrow

Day one: Arrive from Tulsa International Airport and take State Highway east into Broken Arrow, or drive south from Downtown Tulsa via Memorial Drive. Settle into South Broken Arrow, then use Garnet Avenue as your base for errands and an evening meal. If you are without a car, Tulsa Transit connects the city with Tulsa on weekdays, Monday through Friday.

Day two: Head north into North Broken Arrow to explore the older part of town, then follow the Broken Arrow Expressway toward Tulsa for an afternoon in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. Return via the BA Expressway in the evening.

Day three: Drive east on State Highway toward Wagoner for a change of pace, or head south toward Bixby. Keep an eye on the weather: Oklahoma spring afternoons can turn warm and humid before storms build, and tornado season makes it wise to check forecasts before a long drive.