Not a sleepy town, El Reno is known for its festivals, cultural heritage, historic sites, and the only rail-based trolley operating in Oklahoma. If you enjoy rich history, culture, and a taste of yesterday without crowds and traffic, this is the destination for you.
You can reach El Reno from three major highways: Interstate 40 from the east or west; U.S. Highway 81, also known as the Old Chisholm Trail, from the north or south; and, from the east, Historic Route 66.
The Chisholm Trail was established by Jesse Chisholm in 1866 for wagon transportation to his trading posts in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas. It later became the main route for cattle transportation between Texas and the Kansas Pacific Railway railhead. Between 1867 and 1884, an estimated five million cattle were driven along the trail. As for the storied Route 66, it boosted business in El Reno when it was aligned to pass through the town in 1926, but the route became less popular in the early 1960s after Interstate 40 was built south of El Reno.
Oklahoma has a long history of indigenous inhabitants. A Paleo-Indian camp estimated to be between 7,000 and 11,000 years old is near El Reno. Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes inhabited Canadian County at the time European settlers arrived. Today, 11% of the population is Native American.
El Reno was established not long after the 1889 land rush but was originally called Reno City. It was named for Fort Reno, a former U.S. Army cavalry post 4 miles from the city. After persistent flooding problems, the city was moved about 5 miles south and renamed El Reno, which is Spanish for "the reindeer."
Try out one of the city's famed onion burgers, ride a trolley through El Reno's historic downtown, and check out Fort Reno. And that's just to start. You'll find lots more to see and do.
When are the best times to visit El Reno, Oklahoma?
The best times to visit El Reno for both weather and tourism is in spring and early summer when temperatures range from the 60s to the low 80s. Hotel rates will be at their highest during this time and you'll see the most tourists in June, so book early to ensure availability. The hot summer is still popular, but tourism drops in July when temps are in the mid-90s for most of the month. This is a good time to visit if you enjoy the heat as room rates will be lower.
Temperatures drop from the mid-80s in September to the 70s in October. Early fall is a pleasant time to visit and rates will be cheaper than in spring. The cheapest room rates and the smallest crowds will be in the winter, especially January and February. Labor Day and the Christmas season tend to be busy.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in EL Reno, OK:
EL Reno, OK: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below we've posted 3 graphs illustrating avg. price patterns by star rating class in EL Reno, OK. Browse these illustrations to determine the cheapest seasons to book in EL Reno throughout the year.
What are the luxury hotels near El Reno, OK?
You won't find luxury hotels in El Reno, so if you want high-end amenities, your best bet is Oklahoma City. You can explore attractions in both the big city and the little town, or you could stay at an upscale hotel in Oklahoma City for part of your trip and spend the rest of your vacation in El Reno.
For all the amenities of home, you'll enjoy the Residence Inn by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown in downtown Oklahoma City near Chesapeake Arena, home of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. The all-suite hotel offers studio and one-bedroom suites with double sofa beds and kitchenettes. Beds feature premium bedding. Rooms also have flat-screen televisions, desks, and free wired and wireless internet access. You can get some exercise by swimming laps in the outdoor pool and working out in the fitness center.
Make full meals in your room, check out nearby restaurants, or grab a bite to eat at the snack bar/deli. The hotel serves free breakfast daily and offers a free reception so guests can mingle. After a long day, you can relax in front of the fireplace in the lobby. Business travelers can take advantage of the hotel's business center.
If a home away from home isn't enough of a bump up, you just might love the 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City - MGallery. The unique 4-star boutique hotel is exquisitely decorated in an artful industrial style and features a contemporary art museum with 14,000 square feet of exhibition space. Your room will let in lots of sunshine with huge steel windows that offer spectacular views. Choices range from spacious, comfortable queen and king single rooms to fun and fancy lofts to the startlingly luxurious 21c Suite, which covers 2,828 square feet and has a 2,220-square-foot terrace.
The hotel offers a sauna, a steam room, and a spa that offers massages. Mary Eddy's Kitchen x Lounge is led by Executive Chef Jason Campbell and the restaurant also offers in-room dining and catering. The hotel also has a business center, a 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour valet service, free Wi-Fi, and a complimentary shuttle to downtown destinations. You'll be half a mile from Myriad Botanical Gardens and a few blocks from the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The structure was once a Ford assembly plant and is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
What are the affordable hotel options in El Reno, OK?
3 Star Average Prices: £71.55
Save money on lodging with a basic room at Motel 6 El Reno, which is a mile from the historic downtown. You'll save further by utilizing the mini fridge and the microwave, as well as the free coffee in the lobby. Take a dip in the outdoor pool and enjoy the flat-screen television in your room from your cozy pillowtop bed. Free Wi-Fi will keep you connected. The wide desk accommodates two chairs.
At Best Western El Reno, you'll also have a microwave and a mini fridge in your budget-friendly room, and you can take advantage of the free full breakfast served each morning. Your room will be equipped with an LCD television, and you can work at the in-room desk with free Wi-Fi or head to the business center. Get refreshed outdoors in the pool after a day in the sun.
2 Star Average Prices: £58.98
What are the best discounts in El Reno, OK?
Baymont by Wyndham El Reno offers government/military, senior, and AAA discounts. Rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, desks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. You'll also enjoy the indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center. Don't forget to get up in time for the free continental breakfast.
Members of the military, government employees, and seniors get discounts at Hampton Inn El Reno, Oklahoma, where you'll enjoy the indoor pool and the fitness center. Rooms feature refrigerators, microwaves, flat-screen TVs, and free wired and wireless internet access. Free buffet breakfast is provided daily.
What are the top hotels near El Reno, OK?
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Oklahoma City El Reno will put you in a room with a comfortable bed, refrigerator, microwave, coffee/tea maker, desk, and free Wi-Fi. On top of that, you can enjoy a favorite TV show or movie on your 55-inch LCD television. The hotel offers an indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, grocery/convenience store, a bar, and an arcade/game room for family fun. Free breakfast is served daily.
Enjoy value-filled thoughtful touches at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites El Reno, which features an indoor pool, spa tub, and sauna for rest and relaxation. Your room will be equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, flat-screen television, desk, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary newspapers. The hotel offers a business center and serves a free buffet breakfast each day.
What are the best attractions in El Reno, Oklahoma?
One of the top attractions near El Reno is its namesake, Fort Reno, which dates back to 1874. The former military fort's restored campus houses 25 historic buildings and a cemetery on 6,000 acres. Visitors can also tour a museum and visitors center.
It's a must to try the Heritage Express Trolley, which takes riders through the city, including the historic downtown. The restored 1924 Brill Motor Car runs Wednesday through Saturday.
History buffs will enjoy the Canadian County Historical Museum, which also houses historic buildings on its grounds at Heritage Park. These include the oldest standing structure in the county, the first Red Cross canteen in the U.S., a hotel, and a jail.
On a hot day, your family will love a visit to Lake El Reno, which offers swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing, and more. On land, you can enjoy a golf course, a remote-control airplane field, and a motorcycle dirt track.
El Reno offers a number of annual events, notably the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, which celebrates the burger that has been served every day in El Reno for more than a hundred years. In addition to creating the world's largest fried onion hamburger, the event features live music, games, eating contests, a car show, and arts and crafts. More than 25,000 people attend the downtown festival each year.
A visit to El Reno, Oklahoma, will provide well-preserved history in a place where people know their neighbors. Book a trip to experience El Reno.
FAQs about hotels in EL Reno
Recent traveler reviews of EL Reno, OK
Below are reviews of the city of EL Reno, OK from an actual visitor's perspective.
"Friendly!"
Score
5.0 / 5
The hotel employees were very friendly.
Theresa B., from 28-Jul-2024
"Friendly Staff"
Score
4.0 / 5
The hotel employees were very friendly.
Theresa B., from 28-Jul-2024
"Nice Town"
Score
5.0 / 5
It's a nice town.
Tenni M., from 17-Mar-2024
"Room was very clean and comfortable."
Score
4.0 / 5
Alott to offer in El Reno and near by towns makes for good drive
Randall S., from 29-Oct-2022
"Yummy breakfast!"
Score
4.0 / 5
Yummy breakfast!
Julie F., from 24-Apr-2022
The average traveler rating of the city of EL Reno, OK shown above is
4.4 out of 5 based on 5 reviews