Planning a visit to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla.? We have a home in Pawhuska and have put together this list of tips to help you make the most of your visit.
As local residents as well as Airbnb vacation rental owners, we’ve had lots of questions from blog followers about visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. We’re answering lots of them here, including how long to stay, where to stay in Pawhuska, and the best time of year to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile.
If you have more questions after reading this post, just let us know in the comments.
How long to stay on your visit to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
When guests of our Airbnb book just one night, they always tell us they wished they’d stayed longer. A one night’s stay in Pawhuska is simply not enough. We suggest booking a minimum two to three-night stay. There’s a lot to see and do in and around Pawhuska. In fact, we found more than 70 things to do (like visit the Tallgrass Prairie). So, as long as you’re coming, plan to stay while.
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Where to stay in Pawhuska, Okla.
The Pioneer Woman Boarding House is an eight-room boutique hotel located just steps from The Merc. Since opening in 2018, it has been booked solid. Each time they open dates for online bookings, they fill immediately. This is in large part because Ree knows how to make each person’s stay special.
That said, watch the website for cancellations like this lady does. If you see an open date, don’t wait too long to book it. They go fast.
You can also book a vacation rental in town
There are dozens of fantastic whole-house vacation rentals on Airbnb, including ours we call Postcard Place. Our three-bedroom home with a covered front porch was featured in The Pioneer Woman Magazine and has nearly 200 five-star reviews. For easiest access to The Merc, be sure to book a place that’s located in right in Pawhuska.
The best times to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is open year round and seems to be the busiest in the summer months. In our opinion, there’s really not a bad time to visit The Merc. It just depends on what you enjoy most. The yearly average temperature in Pawhuska is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. July is the warmest month and temperatures average about 83 degrees. January is the coldest month of the year.
If you like big celebrations and lots of activity, come for the Fourth of July, National Indian Taco Championships (first weekend in October), the Holiday Lights Parade (first weekend in December), or during the Cavalcade Rodeo in July. If you prefer less busy and quieter times, plan to visit during the week (Tuesday-Thursday) during the school year (September-May).
What to do at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
When you visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, remember you’ll actually have several places in town to visit. Of course there is the Pioneer Woman Mercantile, which is a full-service restaurant, store, and bakery. Be sure to visit the second floor of The Mercantile to experience the newly renovated (in 2023) coffee shop and bakery. There are lots of comfy new spots to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry.
Just to the right of the bakery counter there’s a short hallway with big windows through which you can watch the bakers work to create deliciousness like this:
Ree has several other stores, as well. Just down the street from The Merc is The Pioneer Woman Collection. Across the street, you’ll find her pizza place called P-Town Pizza. Right below that is Charlie’s Sweet Shop, Ree’s ice cream parlor named after the Drummonds’ beloved basset hound, Charlie.
While visiting, you’ll also want to snap a photo by the red truck parked out front. But please don’t climb on it.
Pick up a ticket to visit the lodge on Drummond Ranch
A visit to the Pioneer Woman’s Lodge where Ree films her show is another popular activity. Check The Mercantile’s website to see if the lodge is open for tours during your visit. If it is, pick up a complimentary ticket from the cashier in The Mercantile. Don’t feel like you need to get there the minute The Merc opens, either, as there is no limit to the number of tickets available.
How busy is The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
From what we’ve seen, the busiest days at The Mercantile are typically Friday, Saturday, and Monday. If a table in the restaurant is not available, you can just leave your name and a cell phone number with the host, and they’ll text you when your table is ready. You can browse the shops while you wait.
Lunchtime is the busiest time at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. We suggest having your evening meal at The Mercantile (it’s the same as the lunch menu) to avoid long wait times.
What to order when you visit the Pioneer Woman Mercantile restaurant
There are two menus at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. One is for breakfast, and the other is for lunch/dinner. Know going in that most of the portions are large. Below are our suggestions, though if you try something else you won’t go wrong.
What to order for breakfast
Our favorites for breakfast include the cowboy coffee, avocado toast, egg white veggie scramble and the yogurt parfait. For a splurge, try the Edna Mae’s pancake breakfast served with three different butters and four flavors of syrup.
Favorite menu items for lunch
For lunch, we recommend the heirloom tomato salad, the beet salad or Ladd’s favorite chicken sandwich.
Which appetizers we like best
Our current recommendations for appetizers include the epic chips and dips platter and the Capt’n Crunch chicken strips.
Note: the parmesan garlic fries are piled high and will serve your entire table (and probably the one next to you, as well).
Our picks for a fabulous dinner at The Merc
For dinner, Ann has been ordering the Mediterranean salmon salad. Steve typically eats lightly all day so he can enjoy his favorite half order of the chicken fried steak dinner.
Save room for dessert
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a one of several dessert options. Our recommendation for groups is to order the build your own turtle brownie sundae at The Merc. Everyone gets a brownie and you can add your toppings at the table.
Of course, you can also head across the street for an unforgettable sundae from Charlie’s sweet shop.
Must haves from The Pioneer Woman Mercantile store
When you visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, don’t leave town before purchasing the plastic wrap dispenser. Trust us on this one – it’s life changing. We also own the aluminum foil and parchment paper dispensers and buy them often as gifts.
We also recommend taking home a souvenir from The Merc like a Drummond ranch t-shirt or hat, a coffee mug, or a Pioneer Woman dish ware.
Don’t miss the huge selection of salt and pepper shakers for sale at The Merc! You can grab shakers shaped like everything from pineapples and avocados to cowboys and dogs (go figure).
Where to eat on a Sunday in Pawhuska
On Sundays, many restaurants are closed, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, P-Town Pizza, and Charlie’s Sweet Shop. But don’t worry, there are still some great places to eat. Locals love Buffalo Joe’s for breakfast or lunch. It is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. You can also get a good meal at El Jalisco (Mexican), Simple Simon’s (pizza and salad bar), or Trigger’s BBQ (pictured below).
If you forgot something when you visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
If you forgot something or need a few groceries, Harps Hometown Foods is our local grocery store. It’s conveniently located on Main Street and open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Pawhuska also has a Family Dollar and Dollar General store located on the East side of town on Main Ave. Finally, Weigants Pharmacy on Kihekah Ave. can fill prescriptions and offer other healthcare supplies you might need.
Hours and Directions for visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
The Mercantile is open Monday-Thursday 7am-7pm, Friday & Saturday 7am-8pm. The bakery closes at 5pm Monday-Thursday but is open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday.
Use the map below to get directions to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile.
Ready to plan your visit to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile?
We hope you’ll come! We’d love to have you stay at our home we call Postcard Place. You can book your stay HERE. Have more questions? Ask us anything in the comment section below.
Would like to plan a visit for a girls getaway and if we stay at the Airbnb how do we make sure we can get tickets to tour the filming set and other attractions?
We’re so glad that you’re interested in visiting Pawhuska! When you go, we recommend you plan on spending at least two nights there…and perhaps more. The most common complaint we hear from visitors is that they wish they’d had more time.
Visiting the Lodge where Ree films her show is easy. You simply go to The Merc on the day of your visit and ask for a ticket. The ticket is basically just directions to the Lodge. Tickets are complimentary and there is no limit to the number they give out. Keep in mind, however, that the Lodge is not open every day. It is closed when Ree is filming or when the Drummonds need to use it for something else. The best way to find out when it’s open is to check the Mercantile’s website here: https://www.themercantile.com/pages/lodge-tours Ree typically announces open dates a month or two in advance, though sometimes they do add last minute openings as her schedule changes. As far as the rest of Ree’s stores go, know that they are open Monday-Saturday and are closed on Sundays and some major holidays. The hours vary by season, so again, I’d recommend checking her website for the most up-to-date information.
Once you’ve visited Ree’s stores and Lodge, know that Pawhuska has plenty of other things to do. We’ve compiled a list on our blog at https://postcardjar.com/pawhuska
When you come, we recommend staying in town. Many visitors who come stay in Bartlesville, Ponca City, or even Tulsa meaning that they leave late afternoon. Folks who stay in town can avoid the crowds and they get the benefit of feeling what life is like in Pawhuska. We have our house there on Airbnb when we’re not there. You can find the listing here: https://bit.ly/3MZ5Qii
I hope this is helpful. Please let us know if you have more questions.
Thanks so much for the information! We recently visited in mid-May 2023 and unfortunately did not obtain rooms at the Boarding House, but stayed across the street at The Frontier. It’s gorgeous and the staff were fantastic! We did everything else on your recommendation list except for the Lodge tour. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take our service dog to the Ranch and we never leave her alone.
Otherwise, a fantastic visit to Pawhuska, Oklahoma!!!
So glad you enjoyed your trip to Pawhuska! Come back again! 🙂
Steve & Ann,
Thanks so much for the kind shout-out in your latest blog post! It’s so sweet of y’all to remember our story.
Tim and I will be returning to The Pioneer Woman’s Boarding House in a couple of weeks to celebrate my birthday and our 56th Boarding House stay.
Of course, we’ll be staying in my favorite of the 8 amazing rooms, the Butterfly Room!
We truly enjoy keeping up with your latest travels and escapades through your various social media outlets – y’all are always such a fun read!
Take Care & Safe Travels!
– Angelia
I think it’s safe to say, you’re family at the Boarding House! So great to hear from you, Angelia.