Discover Claremore, Oklahoma

Small-Town History, Real Tulsa Commute

Claremore has more genuine history per square mile than almost anywhere else in the metro, and it still functions as a real, everyday commuter option for the Tulsa area.

The town is best known as the hometown of Will Rogers, the cowboy-humorist and entertainer who once told audiences, “Now my home is Claremore, OK… one of the best towns in the world to live in if any of you are thinking about making a change.” A century later, people are still making that same move to Claremore. His memorial, tomb, and research library still anchor the town today, alongside the annual Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo. Claremore had its own unlikely boom era too: in 1903, a test oil well accidentally struck mineral water instead of oil, and for decades the town marketed itself as “Radium Town,” drawing visitors who believed the sulfur-rich waters had healing properties. Add in the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum, reputedly home to the world’s largest private gun collection, and Rogers State University, and Claremore carries more identity than a town its size usually does.

Housing here ranges from historic craftsman homes and brick bungalows near downtown to newer developments and acreage properties on the outskirts, where the terrain turns genuinely hilly along the Verdigris River, a different feel than the flatter parts of the metro closer to Tulsa. Buyers looking for space, especially in the Sequoyah school district area, will find some of the larger lots and custom-build opportunities in the region.

Downtown Claremore keeps its small-town character with locally owned shops, cafés, and restaurants along Will Rogers Boulevard, and the community calendar stays full year-round with events like the Bluegrass & Chili Festival and the Rogers County Free Fair. Claremore Lake Park and nearby Oologah Lake give residents fishing, boating, and hiking options that are a longer drive from most of the rest of the metro.

Claremore is roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive from Owasso, close enough for dinner and shopping choices either direction, and commuting into Tulsa, Broken Arrow, or Owasso for work is a normal, everyday pattern here rather than a stretch. The tradeoff is distance: depending on where in each city you’re starting from, the drive can run anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, so it’s worth timing your specific commute before you commit rather than assuming worst-case Tulsa traffic. For buyers prioritizing space and small-town identity over the shortest possible commute, that tradeoff is an easy one to make.

If you want genuine Oklahoma history, real space to spread out, and a commute that’s longer but still very livable, Claremore is worth serious consideration.