Situated in the heart of Tornado Alley, Tulsa is characterised
by a temperate, sometimes subtropical, climate with four distinct
seasons. Winters (December to February) are cold, with temperatures
occasionally dipping below 26°F (-3°C) and an annual snowfall
average of around nine inches (23cm).
In the spring and early summer, there are thunderstorms,
hailstorms, strong winds, and occasionally tornados, with plenty of
rainfall expected. During the summer months, average highs reach up
to 93°F (34°C), with average highs at the beginning and end of
summer around 88°F (31°C) and high humidity brought by southerly
winds.
Tulsa International Airport
Location: The airport is located nine miles (8km) from
Tulsa.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Getting to the city:
Tulsa Transit provides a bus service from the airport to
downtown Tulsa. Taxis, shuttles, and rental cars are also
available.
Car Rental:
There are several car hire companies with branches at Tulsa
Airport, including Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo,
Enterprise, Payless, and Thrifty.
Airport Taxis:
There is a taxi rank outside the baggage claim area. Taxis have
a minimum charge of $10, and there is an additional fee of $2 per
extra passenger and per bag. The estimated fare for one person to
downtown Tulsa is about $20. A passenger will pay about $16 to
reach the University of Tulsa.
Facilities:
Located in the passenger terminal of Tulsa Airport are several
ATMs, restaurants, bars, shops, a chapel, a business centre and
conference rooms, shoeshine and massage services, and a military
lounge.
Parking
There are short-term and long-term parking facilities at Tulsa
Airport. Hourly parking is available across from the baggage claim
area. Charges are $1 for the first half hour and $2 per hour
thereafter, and up to a maximum of $12 per day. Garage parking is
also available at $12 per day. The economy parking lot provides
free shuttles to the terminal and charges $8 per day.
Tulsa Transit provides bus services within the Tulsa metro area.
Travellers may find buses a slow and inconvenient method of getting
around the city. There is a free downtown circulator service called
The Loop that runs on Friday and Saturday evenings between 5pm and
1.30am.
Tulsa has an extensive network of paved bike trails. However,
the rolling landscape may prove a challenge for all but the fittest
cyclists, especially in the heat of summer. The best way to get
around in Tulsa is by car, as the city is designed in an
easy-to-navigate grid pattern.