My kids get two full weeks off school during spring break, so we almost always take advantage of the extended time off to travel somewhere new. This year, we settled on a road trip to Oklahoma City to check out a hotel I’ve been eyeing since it opened in 2025: Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark.
Okana has an indoor and outdoor water park, 404 hotel rooms and suites, a massive arcade complex, and several onsite dining options. On top of that, it’s adjacent to the First Americans Museum and the Exhibit C gallery, both of which are dedicated to Native American history, art and culture. That’s because Okana is owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation. In fact, the name Okana is a combination of two Chickasaw words—oka, which means “water,” and inkana, which means “friend.”
After spending a fun-filled (and very wet) weekend there, here’s my take on what you can expect when you visit, plus with a few tips for making the most of your stay.
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Hours of indoor (and outdoor) water park fun
At more than 100,000 square feet, Okana’s indoor water park is the largest indoor water park in the region. I could tell as we were approaching the resort that the water park was massive, but once we stepped inside I was blown away by just how many attractions have been put under one roof. The indoor water park has five full-size waterslides, including a water coaster, as well as two separate splash playgrounds (one for big kids and one for babies and toddlers) with several smaller slides.
There’s also a lazy river, wave pool, surf simulator, activity pool with basketball hoops and a lily pad crossing, and a large adults-only hot tub. It was a little chilly during our visit, but there is an outdoor deck with loungers if you want to get a bit of sun even when the outdoor water park isn’t open. You also don’t need to leave the water park when you get hungry. My family was able to spend the entire day there and make the most of our stay. There are three quick-service restaurants inside the water park, along with a full-service bar.
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My youngest son is seven, so all three of my kids were tall enough that we could enjoy all of the attractions together. We could race each other on the dueling slides and all five of us could ride together on the family tube slide. We spent hours bouncing between slides, the lazy river and the wave pool, and my kids were determined to conquer the lily pad obstacle course as many times as possible throughout the weekend. It was great to be somewhere where we could enjoy together as a family.
Between mid-May and Labor Day, Okana’s outdoor water park is also open, adding five additional acres of fun for families. There’s a large sandy beach lining a large lagoon-style pool with a beachlike feel, two waterslides, a zipline, a floating inflatable obstacle course, a deep pool with jumping platforms, and a shallow adults-only pool with partially submerged loungers for sunbathing.
Admission to the indoor water park and the seasonal outdoor water park is included in the cost of your hotel stay; day passes are available for locals or guests staying elsewhere. Pricing varies based on the day and whether you want to visit both the indoor and outdoor water parks, but you can expect to pay between $30 and $80. You can save slightly by purchasing an after-4 p.m. pass as well.
The indoor water park opens at 10 a.m. and operates until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. depending on the day. Outdoor water park hours vary a bit more, but it generally begins operation between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and closes between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Fun on land, too
At some point, you might choose to get out of the water and seek out some fun that doesn’t require a swimsuit. Right outside the entrance to the indoor water park, Okana has a fitness center, two sit-down restaurants, an ice cream and candy shop, a Starbucks coffee shop, and a massive arcade and entertainment center called Okanarama.
As a directionally-challenged individual, I appreciated that all of the resort’s entertainment and dining were in one central location. I didn’t need a map to find my morning coffee or the laser tag arena. Okanarama had everything from classic arcade games to claw machines and VR games, but you could also pay an additional fee for laser tag, a mirror maze, or an escape room. My two older kids did the laser tag and loved it.
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Right outside the resort, there are three additional restaurants, a spa, and the First Americans Museum and Exhibit C Gallery. All of these are within a short walk outside the resort’s front door. Some of the restaurants have an interactive element to them: Smokehouse Social and Curveball Kitchen have sports simulators, while Bullseye has dart boards (this restaurant is only open to guests ages 13 and up).
Thanks to the resort’s location near the Bricktown neighborhood, we did get out and explore Oklahoma City during our visit. I did also love the convenience of having everything under one roof (or a few steps away) when traveling with kids, though.
Guest rooms designed for families of all sizes
Of Okana’s 404 guest rooms, there are a variety of room types for families of all sizes. My family of five stayed in a multi-room suite with two queen beds, a sleeper sofa, and a set of bunk beds that slept up to eight guests. Okana also offers junior suites that sleep up to four guests and rooms with up-to-two sets of bunk beds that sleep six or eight guests.
Our room had a balcony overlooking the Oklahoma River, while other rooms overlook the outdoor portion of the water park. Not all rooms have balconies, so choose your room carefully if that is something you are interested in. Rates start at $159 per night and climb higher during the summer months and around holidays.
The room design incorporates Native American art and design elements, as well as a lot of smart features for families. There are things I never gave much thought to that I appreciate so much more now that I have a large family, like a full-size garbage can, hooks for drying wet items, tons of storage, refrigerators in the room, and lots of charging outlets for all of our devices.
There are also ice machines on every other floor and microwaves on each floor for heating up a quick breakfast or leftovers from the restaurants.
Tips for visiting Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark
Here are a few tips for your visit to Okana:
- Life jackets are provided inside the water park for guests who need them.
- Leave the boogie boards and rafts at home; they aren’t allowed in the water park.
- Towels are available to resort guests free of charge. If you’re visiting with a day pass, you’ll need to bring your own towels.
- Cabanas and reserve seating are available for the indoor and outdoor water parks. Pricing starts at about $100 and includes food and drink service to your cabana.
- Lockers are also available to rent starting at $20 for a large locker and $25 for an extra large.
- You can visit the water park beginning at 12 p.m. on your check-in day. Pack your swimsuits where they are easily accessible so you can change in the locker room, because check-in time isn’t until 4 p.m.
- At check-in, you’ll be given a wristband that you can use to unlock your room, pay for food and drink during your stay, and get into the water park. If you’re visiting with kids, you can choose whether to have the payment option turned on or off for their wristbands.
- If you have a room with a balcony, resist the urge to leave your wet items outside to dry. Oklahoma gets very windy and you may be without a swimsuit if it blows away overnight.
- We spent two nights at Okana, which was a good amount of time to do everything we wanted within the water park. I would consider adding a third day if you visit when the outdoor water park is open.
- While you’re in Oklahoma City, I recommend visiting Bricktown for activities like dining, bowling and mini golf, and don’t miss the Oklahoma City Zoo, Science Museum Oklahoma, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark is a natural choice for fall or winter vacations when you want to beat the winter blues, but the addition of an outdoor water park makes it perfect for visiting year-round.
