Hotels in Norman, OK

Plan a trip to the third-largest city in Oklahoma, and you’ll get the chance to tour Norman, the county seat of Cleveland County, and a travel destination for its many fascinating museums, exciting cultural attractions, and its wealth of nature parks and surrounding green spaces. Stay at top Norman hotels and see the best city sights like the National Weather Center, which includes the Storm Prediction Center, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Just 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, Norman is the home to many great museums, including the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Spend a day in nature from the beautiful Lake Thunderbird State Park, where you can explore its marinas, take advantage of its multiple boat ramps, and go for a nice lake swim during the hot summer months. Whatever you wind up doing in Norman, you’re bound to have a blast in this southern city.

Spend a fun day just outside the best Norman hotels touring the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Founded in 1899, it wasn’t until 1999 that the museum was relocated, expanded, and its current building was completed and filled with more than 7 million objects and specimens across 12 collections. With almost 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, plus five galleries and exhibits that focus on Oklahoma's natural history, Sam Noble is one of the world's largest university-based natural history museums. Previously known as the Stovall Museum of Science and History, named after paleontologist J. Willis Stovall, this professor assembled much of the original collection, some of which you can still see on display today.

For a nice nature respite not far from hotels in Norman, head out on State Highway 9 just 12 miles east of Norman to Lake Thunderbird State Park. This 1,874-acre Oklahoma state park located in Cleveland County provides recreational access to Lake Thunderbird along with other offerings such as two nice marinas, nine boat ramps, and a great swim area at the lake. With more than 200 sites for parking recreational vehicles, including 30 full hookups, plus campsite and restrooms, this is a great place to park in peace lakeside while you road trip around the state. There’s also a lovely seasonal restaurant on site, so make sure to check its availability when planning your next visit.

For a wonderful day of art exploration, make your way to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, situated right on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman. This Museum offers a vast collection of historic works, unique styles, and fascinating time periods. Free to enter, you’ll stroll past works by Van Gogh and other classic artists before stumbling into the art of French Impressionism, East Asian collections, the American Southwest, and gorgeous Native American art. The museum’s growing collection features over 20,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, contemporary art, and works on paper from the 16th century to the present. Plan to spend at least three hours observing the many works offered by Fred Jones Jr. before heading back to Norman Hotels in town.

Have a great trip to Norman, Oklahoma, and don’t forget to check out our other hotels in Durant, Lawton, and Stillwater.