Physical activity is an important preventive behavior in which older adults can participate to maintain or improve their health. Limited research has been conducted to examine the relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in rural community dwelling older adults. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe physical activity and to examine the relationship between physical activity and HRQoL in rural community dwelling older adults. Methods: Fifty-six older adults [Women: n = 43, age = 75.29 ± 8.07 years, Body Mass Index (BMI) = 27.16 ± 5.20 kg/m2; Men: n = 13, age = 77.00 ± 7.29 years, BMI = 27.96 ± 4.43 kg/m2; 93% Caucasian] were recruited from rural Oklahoma to participate in this study. Researchers met with participants to interviewer administer two questionnaires: the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36). The PASE allowed participants to self-report their physical activity and the SF-36 was used to assess HRQoL. Following their interviews, participants had their height and weight measured to calculate BMI. In addition, they wore an accelerometer at their waists during all waking hours for seven consecutive days. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Results: Overall, participants accumulated 168.10 ± 76.26 counts/minute and had total PASE scores of 115.97 ± 59.91. HRQoL physical subscale scores ranged from 62.50 ± 41.28 to 68.13 ± 23.29, and mental subscale scores ranged from 59.46 ± 20.81 to 83.18 ± 16.62. Counts/minute, total PASE scores, and HRQoL physical and mental subscale scores did not significantly differ (p > .05) between women and men. Counts/minute were significantly correlated with two HRQoL physical subscale scores: physical functioning (r = .39, p = .003) and role limitations due to physical health (r = .32, p = .02). Vitality, a HRQoL mental subscale score, was also significantly correlated with counts/minute (r = .27, p = .04). Total PASE scores were significantly correlated with physical functioning (r = .27, p = .04) and role limitations due to physical health (r = .37, p = .005). Conclusions: Physical activity was positively related to 3 of the 8 HRQoL subscale scores. Although preliminary, results indicate the relationship between HRQoL and physical activity varies by assessment technique (self-report vs. accelerometer-determined).