Lawton is southwestern Oklahoma's largest city, home to over 90,000 people and the gateway to some of the state's most striking landscapes. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the main draw, a 59,000-acre expanse of ancient granite peaks, prairie grasslands, and free-roaming bison just north of town. You can drive to the top of Mount Scott for panoramic views, spot longhorn cattle along the refuge roads, or fish in one of several lakes.
The city owes much of its identity to Fort Sill, one of the U.S. Army's most important installations and the only active post from the Indian Wars era. The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum is open to visitors and covers everything from the Comanche campaigns to the post's role as an artillery training center. Geronimo spent his final years here and is buried in the Apache prisoner-of-war cemetery on post.
Downtown Lawton has a walkable stretch along C Avenue with local restaurants and shops, and the 1922 Carnegie Library and the 1909 Mattie Beal House are reminders of the city's land-lottery origins. The Museum of the Great Plains tells the story of the Southern Plains from prehistoric times through the land runs, with hands-on exhibits that work well for families. The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center is also worth a visit for its insight into Comanche history and art. Lawton is not glamorous, but it is honest, affordable, and a solid base for exploring the Wichitas — and for the legendary longhorn burgers at Meers Store just up the road.