Wichita Mountains Byway
A drive through the ancient Wichita Mountains of southwest Oklahoma and its wildlife refuge, with bison, prairie and the road up Mount Scott.
Also known as Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length93 miles[1]
- Drive timeAt least two hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsIncludes State Highway 49 through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge[2]
- Start and endNot verified
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesThe paved road to the top of Mount Scott is about 3 miles with a steep climb.[3]
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Wichita Mountains Byway winds through the protected valleys of the Wichita Mountains in southwest Oklahoma. FHWA notes they shelter the largest remaining block of southern mixed-grass prairie and ancient cross-timbers forest in North America.
State Highway 49 crosses the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, one of the oldest managed nature preserves in the country, where bison and longhorn graze. A steep, paved 3-mile road climbs to the top of Mount Scott.
Allow at least two hours, and drive slowly in the refuge: the animals have the right of way.
Stops along the way
-
Wichita Mountains Visitor Center
Refuge visitor center; the refuge is one of the nation's oldest managed wildlife preserves, with bison herds.
Official information · 34.71081, -98.6237 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Mount Scott
Summit road with views over the refuge (2,464 feet).
Official information · 34.74421, -98.53187 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
-
Medicine Park
Cobblestone resort town at the refuge's edge.
Official information · 34.72924, -98.50257 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Lawton Farmers MarketLawton, OK · about 6.5 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Caddo County Farmers Market, OK · about 13.9 mi from the route
- Hobart Main Street Farmers MarketHobart, OK · about 20.8 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Wichita Mountains Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway (TravelOK, Oklahoma Tourism) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Mt. Scott Service Road (TravelOK) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge: visit us (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).