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Things to Do Near Fort Sill: Wichita Mountains, Medicine Park & Lawton
People come to Lawton for Fort Sill, and a lot of them are surprised by what's just past the gate. Within about half an hour of our house in Elgin you've got granite mountains, free-roaming bison, a cobblestone resort town and some very good burgers. Here's how we'd spend a free afternoon, or a whole extra day, around a graduation or a visit to post.
Drive times below are approximate, from Shadow Ridge Retreat in Elgin. Hours and seasons change, so check each place before you go.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
About 35 minutes. If you only do one thing, do this. The refuge is one of the oldest managed wildlife refuges in the country, and it's the reason the area feels so different from the rest of the plains: rugged granite hills, lakes, and wide open prairie.
- Wildlife. Bison and Texas longhorn roam the refuge, and you'll often see them from the road. There are prairie dog towns and elk too. Stay in your car or well back from the animals; bison are big, fast and not tame.
- Mount Scott. A paved road winds to the summit, and the view over the lakes and the plains is the classic photo of the area. It's a great short trip for grandparents or anyone who doesn't want to hike.
- Hiking. There are trails from easy lakeside walks to scrambles over boulders. Bring more water than you think you need in summer.
- Holy City of the Wichitas. A stone chapel and buildings inside the refuge, best known for its long-running Easter pageant.
Medicine Park
About 30 minutes. Oklahoma's first resort town, built from the round red cobblestones that give it its look. Wander the shops along Medicine Creek, get something to eat, and in summer watch families swimming at Bath Lake. The Medicine Park Aquarium & Natural Sciences Center is here too, a good pick with kids.
Lake Lawtonka
About 30 minutes. Just past Medicine Park at the foot of the mountains, popular for fishing, boating and a lakeside picnic.
Meers Store & Restaurant
About 35 minutes. A small, old-fashioned roadside spot on the edge of the refuge, famous for its oversized burgers made from longhorn beef. Pair it with a drive through the refuge for an easy half day. It can get busy on weekends, so go hungry and be patient.
Rainy-day and history stops
- Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. On post, about 15–20 minutes. Historic stone buildings and exhibits on the fort's long history, including the Apache prisoner-of-war era; Geronimo is buried at Fort Sill. Check post access rules before you go.
- Museum of the Great Plains. In Lawton, about 25 minutes. Regional history from the first peoples of the plains through settlement, a good way to fill a hot or stormy afternoon.
Eating and errands in Lawton
About 20 minutes. Lawton has the area's grocery stores, big-box shopping and most of its restaurants, from local Mexican and barbecue to the familiar chains. If you're cooking a celebration meal back at the house, do your shopping on the way in. Elgin itself has a few places to eat and the basics, just minutes from the house.
Our picks by group
- Grandparents: the drive up Mount Scott, then lunch in Medicine Park.
- Kids: bison-spotting on the refuge, the aquarium in Medicine Park, and the game room back at the house.
- Your soldier on a pass: a big home-cooked meal, a nap, and the fire pit. Honestly, that's usually what they want most.
Make Shadow Ridge your base. 5 bedrooms, sleeps 12, a game room and a fire pit, 15–20 minutes from Fort Sill and a short drive to all of the above. Book direct and skip the booking-site fees.
Coming for a graduation? Read our Fort Sill graduation weekend guide.