Fun things to do outdoors in Shawnee, OK

231 sunny days on average in Oklahoma. That’s almost an entire month more than average! With those extra days, explore nature with all the fun things to do outdoors in and around Shawnee. Whether you're looking to hunt your next Christmas tree or splash around in the summer sun, Shawnee's diverse outdoor adventures have it all.

Woman kayaks at Twin Lakes just after sunrise in Shawnee

Outdoor Destinations off I-40 in Shawnee

Shawnee Twin Lakes is a serene public lake destination ideal for fishing, kayaking, camping, and swimming just south of I-40 on Hwy 102! The two lakes are connected by a beautiful red-cliffed channel and features several parks, a campground with newly renovated amenities, swimming beaches, boat ramps, a fishing dock, and a kayak launch. If you don't have your own kayak, don't worry -- you can rent one at Kayak Cove on the weekends.

Shawnee has 40 diverse parks, from a flower lover's favorite Rose Garden Park on Broadway to Dean Weigant Park's towering play space by the Airport. $9 million in park renovations to be completed in 2023, including the nearly 7-acre playground at the renovated Kid Space Park which opened in late June 2023!

Runners will enjoy the Airport Track and other urban trails. Into another sport? Find pickleball, volleyball, tennis courts, and disc golf courses. If traditional golf is your sport, tee up Firelake Golf Course on the 6,335 yards of greens and fairways.

Chase the butterflies! A wonderful butterfly garden is at our Pottawatomie County OSU Extension Office grounds. In the summer months, many species of butterflies and moths, bumble bees, and honeybees flutter through the garden feeding. This garden is registered with the Monarch Watch organization with the official designation of Monarch Waystation #20948.

Explore the other side of nature at Oklahoma's only nationally accredited arboretum on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University. There are 134 different species of tree and 150 more shrub varieties, including a direct descendant sapling of the Survivor Tree from the Oklahoma City bombing.

Ready to cool off? Head to the Shawnee Splash Water Park! Open late May - early August annually, this incredible downtown waterpark opens each summer featuring a lazy river, kid's play zone, diving area, and slides.

Interested in honing your aim? Clay Bird Sports is a public sporting clays club with full 10 station walking course, and monthly tournament events. Open year-round just off Twin Lakes Reservoir.

Also located along Twin Lakes is the Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma's 1/8 model train track and locomotive! Open for private parties year-round and the first Sunday of each month for public runs include special events each December to ride with the Clauses.

In the fall and winter, one of the favorite destinations for locals and visitors alike is Sunshine Shelly's -- a pumpkin patch experience and haunted maze each fall followed by a tree farm wonderland each December.

Upcoming Outdoor Events in Shawnee