Oklahoma’s Best Fall Drive: Talimena Scenic Route

If you’re chasing Oklahoma’s best fall colors, this is the drive. The Talimena Scenic Drive is a 54-mile mountaintop road that twists and climbs through some of the most breathtaking countryside in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. And right now, it is glowing.

Where the Drive Begins

Starting at Talimena State Park in Talihina, the little byway winds across the Ouachita Mountains serving up some amazing views of rolling valleys and overlooks that could be straight out of a postcard. It’s an easy day trip or quick weekend getaway that’s close enough to home, but feels a world away.

If you’ve never been, now is prime time. The leaves will be hitting their peak color literally any minute now, painting the hills in deep reds, golds, and oranges. The official Talimena Scenic Drive Facebook page is full of real-time photos from folks who’ve made the trip this week, and the colors are unreal.

This is the perfect way to roll into the holiday season for just a tank of gas, a cup of coffee, and the kind of Oklahoma scenery people usually drive to Vermont for.

Make It a Full Oklahoma Getaway

The Talimena Scenic Drive delivers every bit of that classic autumn feel with small towns, local shops, and roadside diners tucked along the way. It’s an essential Oklahoma experience.

But don’t wait too long. Once the cold really sets in, the leaves start falling fast. Grab your jacket, pack the camera, and head toward Talihina before the colors fade.

Oklahoma Betrayal List

Since the TikTok trend is to share your betrayal lists, here's a solid aggregate from around Oklahoma.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

If Oklahoma Was A Candle, What Would It Smell Like?

I think it's fair to say that each place you can visit has a distinctive smell. That being said, I don't think you can just easily cram Oklahoma into just one candle. There are so many different places that are diverse and unique. It's a loaded question beyond what most people can answer. Instead, here are a few different candles to represent the places I've lived and traveled to in Oklahoma.

Gallery Credit: Kelso