Oklahoma Borders: States, Map & Complete Guide
Fact-checked • Updated January 11, 2026
Oklahoma borders six states: Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northeast, Arkansas to the east, Texas to the south, New Mexico to the west, and Colorado to the northwest. The Red River creates most of the southern boundary with Texas. Oklahoma's Panhandle gives the state its distinctive shape, stretching west between Texas and Kansas.
Oklahoma Border Map
Map showing Oklahoma's boundaries with six states, the Red River, and the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Border Details
Explore each of Oklahoma's borders in detail. Click any card to learn more.
Kansas
Kansas forms Oklahoma's entire northern border along the 37th parallel.
Missouri
Missouri borders Oklahoma's northeastern corner for about 30 miles.
Arkansas
Arkansas borders Oklahoma's eastern edge with rivers forming part of the boundary.
Texas
The Red River creates most of Oklahoma's southern border with Texas.
New Mexico
New Mexico borders Oklahoma along the western edge of the Panhandle.
Colorado
Colorado touches Oklahoma's northwestern corner in the Panhandle.
Which States Border Oklahoma?
Oklahoma shares borders with six states: Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northeast, Arkansas to the east, Texas to the south and west, New Mexico to the west, and Colorado to the northwest. The distinctive Oklahoma Panhandle creates borders with three additional states in the western region.
North: Kansas
Kansas and Oklahoma share a border along Oklahoma's entire northern edge. The state line follows the 37th parallel north latitude, creating a straight east-west boundary.
The Oklahoma-Kansas border stretches about 415 miles from Missouri in the east to Colorado in the west. This includes both the main body of Oklahoma and the Panhandle. The border follows a surveyed line across prairies and plains. Oklahoma counties along this border include Ottawa, Craig, Nowata, Washington, Osage, Kay, Grant, Alfalfa, Woods, Harper, Beaver, Texas, and Cimarron.
- About 415 miles along 37th parallel
- Straight east-west line
- Includes main state and Panhandle
North-East: Missouri
Missouri borders Oklahoma in a small northeastern corner. This is Oklahoma's shortest state border, touching only one Oklahoma county.
The Oklahoma-Missouri border runs for about 30 miles. The boundary follows a straight line in the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma. Only Ottawa County in Oklahoma touches this border. The town of Miami, Oklahoma sits just a few miles from this tri-state area where Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri meet.
- About 30 miles, Oklahoma's shortest state border
- Only Ottawa County touches Missouri
- Near tri-state corner with Kansas
East: Arkansas
Arkansas borders Oklahoma along the eastern edge. Rivers create portions of this boundary, including parts where the Arkansas River and smaller waterways mark the state line.
The Oklahoma-Arkansas border extends for about 165 miles from Missouri in the north to Texas in the south. Several rivers including portions of the Arkansas River help define this boundary. Oklahoma counties along this border include Ottawa, Delaware, Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Le Flore, and McCurtain. The Ouachita Mountains span both states in the southern portion of this border.
- About 165 miles north-south
- Rivers form parts of boundary
- Ouachita Mountains in south
South: Texas (Red River Border)
Texas and Oklahoma are separated primarily by the Red River along Oklahoma's southern boundary. This winding river creates one of the most well-known state borders in the central United States.
The Oklahoma-Texas border follows the Red River for about 540 miles from Arkansas in the east to the 100th meridian in the west, where a land border continues along the Panhandle. The Red River has historically been the source of border disputes between the states. Oklahoma counties along this border include McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall, Love, Carter, Jefferson, Stephens, Cotton, Tillman, Jackson, Harmon, Greer, Beckham, Roger Mills, and others in the Panhandle.
- About 540 miles, mostly Red River
- Historic border disputes over river
- Land border along Panhandle
West: New Mexico
New Mexico borders Oklahoma along the western side of the Oklahoma Panhandle. The boundary follows the 103rd meridian west longitude, creating a straight north-south line.
The Oklahoma-New Mexico border runs for about 34 miles along the western edge of the Panhandle. This straight-line border follows a meridian surveyed in the 1800s. Only Cimarron County in Oklahoma touches New Mexico. The Panhandle's western border creates a narrow strip of Oklahoma territory extending westward.
- About 34 miles along 103rd meridian
- Only Cimarron County touches New Mexico
- Western edge of Panhandle
North-West: Colorado
Colorado touches Oklahoma at the northwestern corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle. This creates a four-state meeting point where Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico all come together.
The Oklahoma-Colorado border is Oklahoma's shortest border at roughly 2 miles. This tiny border exists only at the northwestern tip of the Panhandle. Only Cimarron County touches Colorado. The border sits at the intersection of the 37th parallel (north boundary) and 103rd meridian (west boundary), forming a precise corner point.
- About 2 miles, shortest border
- Four-state corner point
- Only Cimarron County touches Colorado
The Oklahoma Panhandle: No Man's Land
The Oklahoma Panhandle is a 166-mile-long strip of land extending west from the main body of Oklahoma. This narrow territory is about 34 miles wide and sits between Kansas to the north and Texas to the south. The Panhandle was historically called 'No Man's Land' because no state or territory claimed it for decades. It became part of Oklahoma Territory in 1890 and was included when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The Panhandle gives Oklahoma its distinctive shape and borders with three additional states: New Mexico, Colorado, and more of Texas. Only three counties make up the entire Panhandle: Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver counties. The region is sparsely populated high plains country, quite different from the rest of Oklahoma.
Red River: The Texas-Oklahoma Border
The Red River forms about 540 miles of the Oklahoma-Texas border, making it one of the longest river boundaries between states. The river gets its name from the red clay soil that gives the water a distinctive rust color. Border disputes between Oklahoma and Texas over the Red River went all the way to the Supreme Court multiple times, with arguments over where exactly the state line sits within the shifting river channel. The court eventually ruled the border follows the southern bank of the river, giving Oklahoma more territory. Major crossings of the Red River include bridges at Denison, Durant, and other cities. The river valley provided fertile land that attracted settlers to both states.
Key Facts & Statistics
This table shows every border Oklahoma shares, organized by direction and type.
Oklahoma borders exactly six U.S. states
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Geographic features, river boundaries, and topographic data