French
DeutschBethany is a city in the Greater Oklahoma City region of Oklahoma. It is home to Southwestern Christian University and Southern Nazarene University.
Understand
[edit | edit source]People traveling to Bethany specifically, rather than the OKC area, are usually headed to one of the colleges, or they've got business with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and want to be in between the two airports in OKC. Wiley Post Airport is just outside of Bethany's city boundaries, and Will Rogers is half a dozen miles south. The FAA Academy at Will Rogers trains future air traffic controllers, each of whom spends several months in the area. As a result, there are a larger than usual number of medium-term rentals in Bethany's residential areas.
The city is surrounded on all sides by Oklahoma City. Bethany was a post-war boom town fueled by US Route 66 during the middle of the 20th century. Between 1940 and 1970, the population went up almost ten-fold. Since that peak, the population has slightly declined. One legacy of this is block after block of older post-war ranch houses.
Get in
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By car
[edit | edit source]Drive in on Route 66. Bethany is surrounded by Oklahoma City, halfway between the John Kilpatrick Turnpike and Interstate 44 (which is Highway 74 north of Route 66).
By plane
[edit | edit source]The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is the 1 Will Rogers World Airport (OKC IATA) in Oklahoma City, approximately 8 miles to the south-southeast of Bethany.
2 Wiley Post Airport (PWA IATA), for general aviation, is immediately on the northwest border of Bethany's city limits.
Yes, both of the airports are named after men who died in a plane wreck. The larger airport also has a street named for Amelia Earhart, who also famously died in a plane wreck.
Get around
[edit | edit source]You will need a car. Bus service is limited, bicycles are rare, and very little is within convenient walking distance.
See
[edit | edit source]Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bethany 66 Festival (next to US Route 66, near Southern Nazarene University). in May. Family-oriented festival celebrating US Route 66 with car shows, live entertainment, and Princess and Action Hero Parade.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Rink Gallery, 3200 N Rockwell Ave, ☏ +1 405 787-7465. Mon–Sat 10AM–6PM, Sun 1–5PM. One of those antique stores that stretch on and on with a snack bar.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Birrieria Diaz, 6700 NW 39th Expy, ☏ +1 405 603-1304. Daily 8AM–9:30PM. An unpretentious but popular taqueria. One cool thing about it is the mural outside. $20.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Quality Inn & Suites Bethany – Oklahoma City West, 7840 NW 39th Expy, ☏ +1 405 367-3397. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The indoor pool and hot tub can be pretty inviting when the weather is below zero outside. FEMA approved for US federal employees. $90+.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Bethany |
| Amarillo ← Yukon ← | W  E | → Oklahoma City → Tulsa |