Overview
Kilgore is in the Central Piney Woods region of East Texas. Home to slightly less than 14,000 residents (2025), Kilgore is often identified as the "Oil Capital of East Texas", due to its proximity near the center of the vast East Texas Oilfield. Residents are proud of their heritage, and evidence of the city's prominence in petroleum production is widespread and accentuated throughout Kilgore.
6 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Kilgore
Kilgore College Rangerettes
The Kilgore College Rangerettes is the world’s first precision drill team. Celebrated for their pioneering synchronized choreography and their steadfast adherence to traditions, each show dazzles with precision, innovati…
The World's Richest Acre Park
On this 1.2-acre site in Downtown Kilgore once stood the greatest concentration of producing oil wells in the United States. Over 2.5 million barrels of oil were culled from this location. All but one of the original der…
The East Texas Oil Museum
Every aspect of the life of a 1930s oil boom town is recreated in this museum, which includes a full scale reproduction of a muddy Kilgore main street. Highlights include a virtual trip 3,800 feet deep into the Earth's c…
Driller Park
This small ballpark, built in 1947, was once home to the minor-league Kilgore Drillers. A local treasure and Texas historical landmark, the park now serves as the home field of the Kilgore High School Bulldogs.
Rangerette Museum
The Rangerette Showcase and museum on the Kilgore College campus features a mechanized display of Rangerette props, a display of costumes from the spring stage show, Rangerette Revels, and thousands of photographs and ne…
The London Museum and Tea Room
This small museum contains artifacts and stories of the horror of the New London School Explosion, which occurred on March 18, 1937. Museum tours are hosted by Mollie Ward, herself a survivor of the explosion. Before lea…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Dec. (climate data from nearby Mansfield)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GGG East Texas Regional Airport, Longview — 9 mi away. Directions
- TYR Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, Tyler — 31 mi away. Directions
- DAL Dallas Love Field, Dallas — 119 mi away (major hub). Directions
The nearest airports serving the area around Kilgore are Tyler Pounds Regional Airport , and East Texas Regional Airport which is mainly a private airfield. However, American Airlines' commuter line, American Eagle, operates daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. As well, Kilgore is easily accessible via automobile, and maintains a bus station which serves Greyhound Bus Lines.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Kilgore College Rangerettes, The East Texas Oil Museum
- Lunch Zen Kitchen
- Afternoon Rangerette Museum, The Texas Shakespeare Festival
- Dinner The Back Porch Grill
- Evening Country Tavern
Day 2
- Morning The World's Richest Acre Park, Driller Park
- Lunch Downtown D'Lites
- Afternoon The London Museum and Tea Room, Holiday Trail of Lights
- Dinner The Jalapeño Tree
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Get in
The nearest airports serving the area around Kilgore are Tyler Pounds Regional Airport , and East Texas Regional Airport which is mainly a private airfield. However, American Airlines' commuter line, American Eagle, operates daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. As well, Kilgore is easily accessible via automobile, and maintains a bus station which serves Greyhound Bus Lines.
Get around
Kilgore is just south of the junction of US Highway 259 and IH20, and at the junctions of Texas Highways 31 and 42. US 259 is the city's main thoroughfare; most places of note and interest lie within a few blocks of it. Kilgore's historic (and revitalized) downtown area is easily accessed from Kilgore Street, one of the city's major east-west streets. The side streets can tend to be on the rough side, typical for a small East Texas town, but all are passable in essentially any automobile.
See
See Kilgore College Rangerettes
The Kilgore College Rangerettes is the world’s first precision drill team. Celebrated for their pioneering synchronized choreography and their steadfast adherence to traditions, each show dazzles with precision, innovation, and elegance. Their dynamic routines are a mesmerizing spectacle.
See The World's Richest Acre Park
On this 1.2-acre site in Downtown Kilgore once stood the greatest concentration of producing oil wells in the United States. Over 2.5 million barrels of oil were culled from this location. All but one of the original derricks had been dismantled by the 1960s, but the original remains along with 26 steel reproductions and a replica pumpjack. Open year-round.
See The East Texas Oil Museum
Every aspect of the life of a 1930s oil boom town is recreated in this museum, which includes a full scale reproduction of a muddy Kilgore main street. Highlights include a virtual trip 3,800 feet deep into the Earth's crust to view simulated oil formations, and a restored 1930s-era oil derrick.
See Driller Park
This small ballpark, built in 1947, was once home to the minor-league Kilgore Drillers. A local treasure and Texas historical landmark, the park now serves as the home field of the Kilgore High School Bulldogs.
See Rangerette Museum
The Rangerette Showcase and museum on the Kilgore College campus features a mechanized display of Rangerette props, a display of costumes from the spring stage show, Rangerette Revels, and thousands of photographs and newspaper clippings dedicated to the first synchronized linear dance troupe of its kind.
See The London Museum and Tea Room
This small museum contains artifacts and stories of the horror of the New London School Explosion, which occurred on March 18, 1937. Museum tours are hosted by Mollie Ward, herself a survivor of the explosion. Before leaving, stop by the tea room for an old-fashioned hand dipped malt or shake. Large groups should call ahead to set up a time for their visit so volunteer tour guides can be arranged.
Do
Buy
There are antique and curio shops in downtown Kilgore. If you have time and money to spend, they're worth browsing through. You never know what you may run across. Oilfield mementos of all shapes and sizes are readily available all over town.
Eat
Eat Zen Kitchen
Local bakehouse and craft beverage destination that redefines artisanal baking of traditional breads and pastries. It embodies the spirit of “fresh from the kitchen”.
Eat The Back Porch Grill
Local grill & bar offers a vibrant atmosphere with grilled specialties, inventive appetizers, and signature cocktails. The venue had live music and warm, inviting decor.
Eat Downtown D'Lites
Delicious sandwiches on homemade bread, great wraps and soup, and great frozen yogurt.
Eat The Jalapeño Tree
Traditional Tex-Mex fare. A local favorite.
Drink
Sleep
Nearby
Longview
City / town · 6 listings · 11 mi away
Gladewater
City / town · 5 listings · 12 mi away
Tyler
City / town · 35 listings · 25 mi away
Marshall
City / town · 11 listings · 31 mi away
Carthage
City / town · 1 listings · 35 mi away
Jefferson
City / town · 10 listings · 40 mi away
Pittsburg
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Karnack
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My experience
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