By Sinaiyouth 
My kids get two full weeks off from school during spring break, so we almost always take advantage of this extended leave to travel to a new place. This year, we opted for a road trip to Oklahoma City to discover a hotel that I have coveted since its opening 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 on-site dining options. Additionally, it is adjacent to the First Americans Museum and Exhibit C Gallery, both 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:okwhich means “water”, and I’m sorrywhich means “friend”.
After spending a fun (and very humid) weekend there, here’s my take on what you can expect during your visit, plus some tips for making the most of your stay.
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Hours of fun in an indoor (and outdoor) water park
At over 100,000 square feet, Okana Indoor Waterpark is the largest indoor waterpark in the region. As I approached the resort, I could tell that the water park was huge, but once inside, I was blown away by how many attractions were packed under one roof. The indoor water park features five full-size water slides, including a water coaster, as well as two separate play areas (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 lily pad crossing, and a large adults-only hot tub. It was a little chilly when we visited, but there is an outdoor terrace with lounge chairs if you want to soak up some sun even when the outdoor water park isn’t open. You also don’t need to leave the water park when you’re hungry. My family was able to spend the whole day there and make the most of our stay. There are three quick-service restaurants inside the water park, as well as a full-service bar.
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My youngest son is seven, so all three of my kids were old enough that we could enjoy all the attractions together. We could race against each other on the dueling slides and all five of us could ride the family slide together. We spent hours bouncing between the slides, lazy river, and 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 in a place where we could enjoy together as a family.
Between mid-May and Labor Day, the Okana Outdoor Waterpark is also open, adding five additional acres of fun for families. There is a large sandy beach bordering a large lagoon-style pool with a beach feel, two water slides, a zip line, a floating inflatable obstacle course, a plunge pool with jumping platforms, and an adults-only shallow pool with partially submerged lounge chairs for sunbathing.
Entrance to the indoor water park and seasonal outdoor water park is included in the price of your hotel stay; day passes are available for locals or guests staying elsewhere. Prices vary depending on the day and whether you want to visit the indoor or outdoor water parks, but you can expect to pay between $30 and $80. You can also save a little by purchasing a pass after 4 p.m.
The indoor water park opens at 10 a.m. and operates until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. depending on the day. The outdoor water park’s hours vary a little more, but it generally starts operating between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. and closes between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Fun on earth too
At some point, you may choose to get out of the water and have fun without wearing a swimsuit. Right outside the entrance to the indoor water park, Okana has a fitness center, two table service restaurants, an ice cream and candy shop, a Starbucks coffee shop, and a huge arcade and entertainment center called Okanarama.
As an individual with orientation difficulties, I appreciated that all of the resort’s entertainment and restaurants were in a 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 extra for a laser tag, mirror maze, or escape room. My two older kids did laser tag and loved it.
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Just outside the resort, you’ll find three additional restaurants, a spa as well as the First Americans Museum and Exhibit C Gallery. All of these are just steps from the front door of the resort. Some restaurants have an interactive element: Smokehouse Social and Curveball Kitchen have sports simulators, while Bullseye has darts (this restaurant is only open to guests ages 13 and older).
Thanks to the resort’s location near the Bricktown neighborhood, we got out and explored Oklahoma City during our visit. I also loved the convenience of having everything under one roof (or within walking distance) when traveling with kids.
Rooms designed for families of all sizes
Among Okana’s 404 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 could sleep up to eight people. Okana also offers junior suites that sleep up to four people and rooms with up to two sets of bunk beds that sleep six or eight people.
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 this interests you. Rates start at $159 per night and climb higher during the summer months and during vacations.
The room design incorporates elements of Native American art and design, along with plenty of smart family-friendly features. There are things I never really thought about that I appreciate a lot more now that I have a big family, like a full-size trash can, hooks to dry wet items, tons of storage, in-room refrigerators, and plenty of charging outlets for all of our devices.
There are also ice machines on all other floors and microwaves on each floor for reheating a quick breakfast or leftovers from restaurants.
Tips for Visiting Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark
Here are some tips for your visit to Okana:
- Life jackets are provided inside the water park for guests who need them.
- Leave the bodyboards and rafts at home; they are not allowed in the water park.
- Towels are provided free of charge to resort guests. If you come with a day pass, you will need to bring your own towels.
- Cabanas and reserve seats are available for indoor and outdoor water parks. Pricing starts at around $100 and includes food and drink service in your cabin.
- Lockers are also available for rental starting at $20 for a large locker and $25 for a very large.
- You can visit the water park from 12:00 on the day of arrival. Pack your swimsuits somewhere easily accessible so you can change in the locker rooms, as check-in time isn’t until 4 p.m.
- Upon check-in, you will receive a bracelet that you can use to unlock your room, pay for food and drinks during your stay and access the water park. If you are coming with children, you can choose to enable or disable the payment option for their bracelets.
- If you have a room with a balcony, resist the urge to leave your wet things outside to dry. Oklahoma is very windy and you may find yourself without a swimsuit if it blows away overnight.
- We spent two nights in Okana, which was enough time to do everything we wanted in 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 restaurants, 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 a fall or winter vacation when you want to beat the winter blues, but the addition of an outdoor water park makes it perfect for a year-round visit.