Wilburton

Small southeastern Oklahoma city near Robbers Cave State Park, with a campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Located in Latimer County in southeastern Oklahoma, Wilburton is a city of almost 3,000 people nestled at the end of the San Bois mountain range. It is home to Eastern Oklahoma State College, a community college founded in 1908 that gives the small city a lively campus presence.

The main draw is Robbers Cave State Park, about 5 miles north on Highway 2. The park was reputedly used as a hideout by Old West outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr. Every September, Wilburton hosts a festival and bike rally at the park.

Guide

Getting There

Wilburton is in southeastern Oklahoma, about 150 miles southeast of Oklahoma City and 110 miles east of McAlester on US Highway 270. The most practical way to arrive is by car — there is no scheduled air service and no passenger rail. The drive from Oklahoma City takes around two and a half hours via I-40 and US-270. McAlester, the nearest larger town, is about 45 minutes west and has a regional airport if you need to fly in.

Guide

Things to Do

Wilburton's main draw is the outdoors. Robbers Cave State Park, a few miles north, offers hiking, rock climbing, and cave exploration through dramatic sandstone formations. The town itself is compact and walkable, with a few historic buildings and Eastern Oklahoma State College providing a low-key campus atmosphere.