El Reno - city in Oklahoma, United States

El Reno is a city of 20,000 people (2019) in the Frontier Country region of Central Oklahoma. El Reno is one of few cities in Oklahoma to have a streetcar in operation in the downtown area.

The city was begun shortly after the 1889 land rush. The city was named for the nearby Fort Reno.

The city is also known for its Fried Onion Burger Festival, a tribute to a popular hamburger version where onions were supplemented into the patty to make the sandwich go further back in the Great Depression.

Get in

It lies about 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Oklahoma City.

Get around

• Heritage Express Trolley. Runs from Heritage park through downtown Wednesday though Sunday.

See

• Canadian County Historical Museum, 300 S Grand Ave, +1 405 262-5121. W-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Free
• Fort Reno, 7107 W Cheyenne St, 35.561667°, -98.035°, +1 405 262-3987, info@fortreno.org. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-4PM.

Do

• Fried Onion Burger Day, +1 405 262-8888. Annual weekend festival that features the World's Largest Fried Onion Hamburger, called The Big Burger. Music, games, classic cars, and plenty of fried-onion burgers. In early May each year. 2018-09-23

Buy

Eat

• Johnnie's Hamburgers and Coneys, 301 South Rock Island (on Route 66), 35.53108°, -97.95225°, +1 405 262-4721. M–Sa 7AM–9PM, Su 11AM-8PM. One of three hamburger joints in town where you can buy El Reno's famed fried-onion burgers. $6–12 2018-09-23
• Montana Mike's Steakhouse, 1609 Southwest 27th, +1 405 422-1100. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM.
• Sid's Diner, 300 South Choctaw, +1 405 262-7757.
• Hugh's Kitchen, 1317 S. Choctaw. M-F 11AM-9PM, Su 10AM-2PM. $7-15

Drink

• Vices Bar And Venue, 1701 E Hwy 66, +1 405-295-6426, vicesbarandvenue@gmail.com. 10AM-2PM. 2021-10-15

Sleep

Hotels/Motels

• Best Western, 2701 S Country Club, +1 405 262-6490. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. The outdoor pool might get a little chilly in winter, but there's a nice breakfast. $75
• Baymont Inn, 1707 S.W. 27th St, +1 405-295-8556. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Such an inviting indoor pool, and then there's breakfast. $60-70

• Hotel 81 El Reno, 2851 S. Highway 81 & I-40, +1 405 262-1022. Free wifi and exteriors lit up with neon.
• Motel 6, 1506 Domino Ln, +1 405 262-6060.
• Regency Inn, 2706 S. Country Club, +1 405 262-1526.

Inns

• Bill & Clara's Home & Ranch, 2701 W 10th St, +1 405-650-6651. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 2PM. A country brick home. $100/night

Campgrounds

• Canadian County Fairgrounds, 220 N. Country Club Rd, +1 405 262-0683.
• Hensley's RV Park, +1 405 262-6490.
• Lake El Reno RV Park, 2001 Babcock, +1 405 262-7115.

Stay safe

El Reno was the site of the infamous 2013 "El Reno" tornado that had a width of 2.6 miles and killed 8 people, including three storm chasers caught up in the subvortex while in their car. All visitors to the six-state region called Tornado Alley should be familiar with tornado safety – including not chasing tornadoes in cars.

Go next

Related: Tornado safety