How To Plan a Fun Weekend To The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

the-pioneer-woman-mercantile

If you like country cooking, colorful kitchen gadgets, shopping, grabbing a coffee, and bakery treats, then you’ll love visiting the The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The Merc (its nickname) is a charming place to visit with a down-home, rustic country atmosphere. It will make your heart sing.

I live in Oklahoma, and I’m sharing my favorite things to do while visiting The Merc and the Pawhuska area. Pablo and I enjoy heading to Pawhuska for the weekend to hike in the Tallgrass Prairie or at Osage Hills State Park and then stopping by The Mercantile for a coffee.

Visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

Visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, has made Pawhuska, Oklahoma, world-famous with her southern ranch charm and country cooking. The first time my parents came to visit us in Oklahoma, they both said it was the first thing they wanted to do.

Pawhuska is a small town (I’m talking one stoplight). This charm is what makes visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile fun.

How To Get To The Pioneer Woman Mercantile From Tulsa

From Tulsa, The Merc is about an hour away.

Since we live in Tulsa, we take the backcountry route, which is about 56 miles from Tulsa. It is slower driving, and you get to see farms, the prairie, and views of the Osage Hills.

Once you get into downtown Pawhuska, you will notice how cute and quaint the town is, with old brick buildings lining the main strip.

Map Directions To The Merc From Tulsa

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile Hours

Visit The Pioneer Woman website to check out the latest updates on hours and seasonal fun.

Things To Do at The Merc

Browse the store, grab some food, visit the Drummond Ranch, walk downtown Pawhuska, or drive up to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Osage Hills State Park, or Bluestem Falls. Then, cozy up after a fun-filled day at The Boarding House.

Shopping

The Mercantile is packed full of awesome country kitchen dishes, cookware, and gadgets. It has books, candles, jewelry, clothes, home décor, and official swag.

Everything you buy gets wrapped like a present too.

Eating at the P.W. Coffee Shop and Bakery

Eating at the P.W. Bakery at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Eating at the P.W. Bakery at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

Food is a major part of The Pioneer Woman’s brand, and you are in for a treat.

While shopping and browsing, walk upstairs (or take the elevator) to The P.W. Coffee Shop and Bakery. There is seating upstairs with places to hang out and enjoy views of downtown Pawhuska.

The bakery offers The Pioneer Woman’s homemade baked goods, freshly baked pies, pastries, chocolate, and fancy coffee.

My favorite treat: is called the Spicy Cowgirl Coffee. They also offer gluten-free baked goods occasionally.

Grab some goodies to go if you can’t stay long or are saving room for The Pioneer Woman Deli Restaurant (which is on the main floor).

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile Deli Restaurant

This place is usually packed. I’m talking a 3-4 hour wait to eat at the restaurant. Reservations are not accepted. So, be sure to plan ahead if you would like to eat at the deli. The wait time tells you how awesome it is.

The Mercantile website says mornings and late afternoons have shorter waiting periods. We have yet to wait long enough to eat at the deli. Instead, we always opt for a delicious coffee and snack at the bakery.

Tour The Lodge at The Drummond Ranch

Guess what else? You can make a day out of visiting all The Pioneer Woman has to offer and go on a tour of the Drummond Ranch. Ree’s Food Network show is also filmed here.

Tickets are required to go on lodge tours and are available that specific day only.

Check out The Pioneer Woman website to see how you can take a tour of the Drummond Ranch.

Visit The Pioneer Woman Collection Store

There is another store next to The Merc to visit down the street with more products from The Pioneer Woman. It is called The Pioneer Woman Collection. It has kitchenware and clothes.

Stay at The Boarding House

If you are planning a weekend getaway, check out The Boarding House. It’s a cowboy luxury hotel by The Pioneer Woman brand.

When we stopped in to see, the front desk attendant said The Boarding House is booking at least six months in advance.

Other Things To Do in and Around Pawhuska

Things to do in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Tallgrass Prairie, Bluestem Falls, Osage Hills State Park

Visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

North of Pawhuska, there is a 39,650-acre protected Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. It is the largest prairie preserve on earth. The Nature Conservancy has helped restore the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, and it is home to about 2,500 free-ranging bison.

Since I’m a biology and sustainability nerd, I love these kinds of places. Check it out. Hopefully, you’ll be able to see some buffalo when you go. There are some neat trails to hike in the area. In the spring, it’s fun to see the baby bison.

See Bluestem Falls

The are beautiful waterfalls to visit a few minutes from downtown Pawhuska. The area is called Bluestem Falls. They are easy to access and take pictures of.

Explore Osage Hills State Park

Osage Hills State Park is 20 minutes north of Pawhuska. It’s a great place to hike, camp, and stay in rustic cabins.

Final Thoughts

A stop at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is a must. You’ll find all sorts of amazing food and goodies, and Ree Drummond herself might be on-site to chat with guests.

Have fun out there.

Ashlee & Pablo


Find More Oklahoma Adventures:

Follow The Happiness Function on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

Posted in

Ashlee Fechino

Ashlee Fechino is an outdoor recreation and travel writer sharing the best-kept secrets that aren’t in your typical guidebook. Her goal is to inspire people to travel with a sense of adventure by sharing hidden gems across the U.S. and beyond. She is married to an expat Argentine, Pablo. They camp in their Aliner often and love wandering the world. Follow their latest adventures on Instagram @thehappinessfxn.

27 Comments

  1. Carrie on December 19, 2020 at 9:15 am

    This looks like so much fun! I’d love the chance to see buffalo and that coffee shop would definitely be on my list of stops.



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 19, 2020 at 10:25 am

      Hi Carrie – awesome, hope you have a wonderful time! XO



  2. Farrah on December 16, 2020 at 10:50 am

    I’ve never been here but it looks like a super cool place to explore someday! I like visiting small towns + kitchenware = one of my favorite things to browse through! 😛



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 17, 2020 at 8:27 am

      Hi Farrah – You have to come see next time you are in Oklahoma!



  3. Cristina Sala on December 15, 2020 at 8:41 am

    Hola Ashlee me encanto la escapada de fin de semana . La pradera una belleza total. Que lindo el cafe de vaquera. Increible los bisontes o bufalos. No conocia la bandera.



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 15, 2020 at 10:26 am

      ¡Hola Cristina! Gracias por leer. Sí, esperamos llevarte aquí algún día. Abrazos.



  4. Catherine on December 14, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    I haven’t been to OK yet but when I do, I definitely want to stop at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile! The Merc’s pastries and other goodies sound right up my alley, and I want to check out that huge prairie reserve, too. Thank you for the post!



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 15, 2020 at 10:25 am

      Hi Catherine – thanks for reading. Hope you can make it! You’ll have a blast.



  5. Cristina on December 14, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    It looks like a lovely place to visit. Thank you for sharing 🙂



  6. Disha Smith on December 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    I lived in Oklahoma City for three years and didn’t get a chance to visit the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. I’ll definitely have to make a stop here when I go back to OKC for a visit.



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 14, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Oh how cool, I don’t hear of many people that have lived in Oklahoma often! Thanks for sharing.



  7. Anna on December 13, 2020 at 7:47 am

    I would love to visit the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile one day! I’m on the east coast so hopefully I can take a road trip once COVID is handled.



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 13, 2020 at 11:49 am

      Hi Anna – awesome, I hope you can make it out someday. Yes to post-COVID travels!!



  8. Bea on December 13, 2020 at 4:20 am

    It definitely sounds like this store has everything!! And the bakery sounds amazing!!



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 13, 2020 at 11:49 am

      Hi Bea – totally, the bakery and coffee shop are the best part (I think ;)).



  9. Lina on December 13, 2020 at 3:59 am

    Oh it looks like a perfect place for a great weekend! Would love to enjoy a coffee there 🙂



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 13, 2020 at 11:48 am

      Hi Lina – thanks for leaving a comment. Hope you can make it someday!



  10. Burt on December 12, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    Thanks for sharing about the MERC and the Pioneer Woman !! I used to watch her show, too !! Im glad
    you’guys found her !!



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 13, 2020 at 11:47 am

      Hi Uncle Burt – that is awesome!!



  11. Margie on December 12, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    This store is my kind of place! Just saved it on my list. Thanks!



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 12, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Margie! Awesome – hope you can make a visit someday.



  12. Sarah on December 10, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    This sounds like the perfect place for a girl’s weekend before the holidays to get holiday shopping done!!



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 11, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Hi Sarah – Yes, great idea!!



  13. Emma on December 9, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    This sounds like my kind of place, everything I love to buy in one place. Great tips and thanks for the recipe links too. I’d love to visit one day but for now at least I can make something at home



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 11, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Hi Emma – when you go, you’ll have to let me know. We love The Merc! Xo



  14. Taylor on December 9, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    Would love to pick up a coffee here! Cool spot.



    • Ashlee Fechino on December 11, 2020 at 11:25 am

      Taylor – you totally should! It is so cute.