States Bordering Oklahoma: Complete List with Directions
Oklahoma, located in the South Central US, shares borders with six states:
| Direction | Bordering State(s) | Boundary Feature |
|---|
| North | Colorado, Kansas | 37th Parallel North (CO); 37th Parallel / survey line (KS) |
| East | Arkansas, Missouri | Arkansas River / survey line (AR); Missouri River? No—MO border is a short ~50 mi segment along the Missouri River in the northeast corner (Ottowa County). |
| South | Texas | Red River (entire southern boundary) |
| West | New Mexico | Meridian line (103°W) — the "Panhandle" border |
Key Geographic Notes
- Panhandle (Oklahoma Panhandle / "No Man's Land"): Borders CO (north), NM (west), TX (south). Originally "Public Land Strip" — no state wanted it until 1890.
- Red River: Forms entire TX border; shifts over time (avulsion) — subject to Supreme Court cases (TX v. OK).
- Missouri Border: Only ~50 miles in NE corner (Ottawa County). Most of OK's eastern border is AR.
- Tri-State Points: OK-KS-MO (near Miami, OK); OK-CO-NM (Black Mesa area); OK-NM-TX (Texline area).
Major Cities Near Borders
- North: Bartlesville (near KS), Guymon (Panhandle, near CO/NM)
- East: Fort Smith, AR (across from OK), Miami, OK (near MO)
- South: Denison, TX / Durant, OK (Red River), Lawton (inland)
- West: Clayton, NM (near OK Panhandle)
Oklahoma's rectangular-ish shape with a "panhandle" makes it one of the most recognizable state outlines—a product of 19th-century territorial negotiations, railroad routes, and the Compromise of 1850.
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