66 Stops on Oklahoma's Stretch of Route 66
Did you know it was an Oklahoman businessman (Cyrus Avery) who helped dream up what would become America’s Mother-Road..Route 66? Avery lobbied congress to demonstrate the need for a highway linking Chicago to Los Angeles, and in 1926 he got his wish when Route 66 was born.
Avery often referred to the route as the Main Street of America and now, almost 100 years later, Route 66 continues to transport millions of travellers each year; although today it serves less as a thoroughfare and more as a journey through America’s heartland. An adventure filled with stunning scenery, delicious food, quirky and colourful photo-stops and some of the friendliest people on Earth.
Lots might have changed over the years (and continues to change with each year that passes) but one aspect remains… Oklahoma is home to the longest, single-state stretch of Route 66.
And to commemorate that standing here are 66 of Route 66’s must-see locations. Get your favourite road-trip music playlist started, because it’s time (when we can) to ‘get your motor running’ and put the pedal to the metal.
The Eastern Stretch:
If you’re travelling along Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles (as the song suggests), you’ll first enter Oklahoma through the gateway township of Quapaw. Here’s some of the other stops you’ll want to discover as you wind through the Eastern Stretch of Oklahoma’s section of Route 66.
1. Quapaw Tribal Museum, Quapaw - www.quapawtribe.com 2. Dairy King, Commerce 3. Mickey Mantle’s Statue and Boyhood Home, Commerce 4. Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger, Miami
One of the most famous diner icons on all of Route 66, Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger is hard to miss. Travellers will be greeted by a cuckoo-clock inspired building and a massive neon sign. But it’s the made-to-order burgers and the cherry limeades that have made this a Route 66 institution for decades.
5. Coleman Theatre, Miami - www.colemantheatre.org
Originally built as a vaudeville theatre in 1929, the Coleman Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ is still in operation and can be heard accompanying a number of the productions housed in this classic venue.
6. Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum, Afton - www.darrylstarbird.com 7. Clanton’s Cafe, Vinita - www.clantonscafe.com 8. Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park, Chelsea
The centrepiece of the Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park is a 27 metre tall carved concrete totem pole. Galloway started building the totem pole in 1937, but recently the park received some long-overdue restoration work to inject new life into one of Route 66’s quirkiest and most colourful attractions.
9. Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore - www.willrogers.com
Cowboy philosopher Will Rogers is an American icon. So much so that one of Route 66’s nicknames has long been the Will Rogers Highway.
10. Blue Whale, Catoosa
Undeniably one of Route 66’s most famous attractions, the Blue Whale was the brainchild of Hugh S Davis, a zoologist who wanted to create a fun area for his grandchildren to play in. Whilst the whale’s slides and ladders are no longer in operation – the whale is still one of Route 66’s most Instagrammed locations.
11. Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium, Tulsa - www.tulsamuseum.org 12. Tally’s Café, Tulsa - www.tallyscafe.com 13. Golden Driller, Tulsa
Standing at 23 metres in height, the Golden Driller is one of the tallest freestanding statues in the United States. A symbol of Tulsa’s oil-mining routes, the gentle giant is so proud of the town he call’s home, he even
wears a belt with TULSA adorned on the buckle.
In the early 1900’s Tulsa’s Greenwood District was a thriving centre for black commerce and music. In 1921, it was also the scene of one of the worst race massacres in history. Today, the Greenwood Cultural Center, and soon to open Greenwood Rising, pay homage to this poignant piece of American history.
14. Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66, Tulsa - www.buckatomson66.com
15. Meadow Gold Sign, Tulsa - www.meadowgolddistrict.com
16. Route 66 Historical Village, Tulsa
17. Greenwood Cultural Center, Tulsa (Greenwood Rising opening in 2022) - www.greenwoodculturalcenter.org
18. Center of the Universe, Tulsa
19. Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa - www.woodyguthriecenter.org
Perhaps best known for the classic ‘This Land Is Your Land’, Woody Guthrie (1912 - 1967) is one of Oklahoma’s most beloved sons. More than 50 years after his death, the Woody Guthrie Center is home to the largest collection of memorabilia devoted to the folk singer, including the fiddle he carried with him on his World War II journeys.
In the next 12 months Tulsa will welcome two new additions to it’s burgeoning Art’s District.
20. Bob Dylan Centre, Tulsa – www.bobdylancentre.com
The new Bob Dylan Centre will curate and exhibit a priceless collection of more than 100,000 items spanning Dylan’s career including manuscripts, notebooks, instruments and recordings when it opens in May 2022.
21. OKPOP, Tulsa - www.okpop.org
OKPOP will include stories from movies, radio, television, illustration, literature, theatre, wild west shows and Route 66 - all connected to a sense of time and place through the language of music. From Hansen to Kristen Chenoweth, OKPOP will be a showcase of the creative spirit of Oklahoma’s people
and their influence on pop culture all around the world.
22. Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa - www.philbrook.org
One of Oklahoma’s cultural gems, its permanent collections reside in a grand historical mansion set on 25 acres of exquisitely manicured, Italianinspired gardens.
23. Gathering Place, Tulsa - www.gatheringplace.org
24. Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa - www.cainsballroom.com
Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom, in the heart of downtown Tulsa, has hosted thousands of musicians and performers since opening its doors in 1924. But it is the rumoured presence of not just one, but two, lingering spirits that continues to mystify visitors, even today. Frequent sightings of former musician Bob Wills (1905 - 1975) himself are often reported, along with a mysterious “Lady in Red” figure who has been seen, heard and felt by a number of employees and patrons over the years.
25. Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum, Sapulpa - www.heartofroute66.org
26. Bristow Historical Train Depot & Museum, Bristow - www.bristowhistory.org
27. Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy, Depew - www.livingkitchenfarmanddairy.com
If you’re travelling Route 66 between April through December, you should plan a lengthy stop at Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy. This unique culinary experience is a true farm-to-table degustation featuring over nine-courses utilising produce all grown on site or at neighbouring farms.
The Central Stretch:
Oklahoma’s Central Stretch will take you through the centre of the state, past some legendary pit-stops and into the State’s capital, Oklahoma City.
28. Rock Café, Stroud - www.rockcafert66.com
If you’re a fan of the Disney-Pixar movie, Cars, you have to stop at Rock Café. The diner is full of Route 66
inspired nostalgia, but the real draw card is the owner, Dawn Welch, who was such an inspiration to Walt Disney Company Executive, John Lasseter, that he created the character of Sally based on Dawn’s persona.
29. Davenport Murals, Davenport
30. Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center, Chandler - www.route66interpretivecenter.org
31. Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History, Chandler - www.okpioneermuseum.org
32. Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum, Warwick - www.seabastation.com
The Seaba Station was built in 1921, five years before Route 66 was even certified as a national highway. Today, though, the landmark is filled with over 65 vintage motorcycles from 1908 to present day, making the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum the ultimate playground for motorcycle enthusiasts and those with an appreciation for the fine art of vehicle design.
33. The Butcher BBQ Stand, Wellston - www.butcherbbqstand.com
34. The Chicken Shack, Luther
35. Round Barn, Arcadia - www. arcadiaroundbarn.com
36. POPS, Arcadia - www.pops66.com
Oklahoma has more than a few of these ‘giant’ attractions for budding photographers, influencers and kids (big and small) to enjoy – perhaps none more iconic than the 20-metre tall neon-lit Soda Pop bottle that adorns the entrance to POPS Soda Ranch in Arcadia. But whilst the entrance is an experience in and of itself, inside soft drink lovers can try over 100 different flavours of soda from classic cola, right the way through to bacon flavoured.
37. Blue Hippo, Edmond
38. Winchester Drive-In, Oklahoma City - www.winchesterdrivein.com 39. Oklahoma History Center,Oklahoma City - www.okhistory.org/historycenter
40. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City - www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Not many museums can claim a fully recreated frontier cattle town – complete with 19 buildings, but at the museum’s Prosperity Junction exhibit,
you’ll find just that. The perfect place for the family to step into the shoes of some of the greatest real-life and fictional cowboys that have formed history, folklore and pop culture.
41. Bricktown Entertainment District, Oklahoma City
42. Milk Bottle Building, Oklahoma City
43. Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City - www.okhouse.gov
44. Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, Oklahoma City - www.memorialmuseum.com
Sitting on the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is a somber memorial designed to educate and pay respect to those who perished on the 19th April 1995 when a bombing forever changed the lives of Oklahoma City residents. The site features a number of memorials and exhibits, perhaps none more notable that the solemn survivor tree.
45. Boathouse District, Oklahoma City
46. Tim’s Drive Inn, Warr Acres
Made with thick fry bread, Tim's Drive Inn serves Indian tacos, which are an Oklahoma favourite.
47. Gallery 66, Bethany
48. Yukon Historical Museum, Yukon
49. Express Clydesdales Ranch, Yukon - www.expressclydesdales.com
50. Historic Fort Reno, El Reno - www.fortreno.org
Fort Reno was established in 1874 to help protect the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Since then, it has served as both an agricultural research station and as a German prisoner of war camp during WWII. Now, many of these cavalry soldiers and German prisoners of war are said to ‘wander and inhabit’ the Fort’s over 25 historic structures, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors to the Fort over decades past have mentioned a number of strange sightings including faces in windows, unidentified orb lights appearing at random in photographs and water faucets suddenly springing into life all by themselves.
51. El Reno Mother Road Monument, El Reno
52. El Reno Fried Onion Burgers, El Reno
Simple and delicious, three small local joints have been serving up fried onion burgers, chili, malts and fries for decades. Johnnie’s Hamburgers & Coneys, Robert’s Grill and Sid’s Diner – are all worth checking out.
53. Muffler Men Mural, Calumet
The Western Stretch:
On the final leg of your Oklahoma Route 66 adventure before you pass into neighbouring New Mexico, you’ll encounter fascinating museums, historic trading posts and plenty of Oklahoma’s famous wide-open wonders.
54. Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park, Hinton - www.redrockcanyonadventurepark.com
Here’s a place where you can get back to nature. Explore the stunning foliage (particularly in Autumn) all set amongst dramatic red-rock vistas. Or if you’re up for something more adventurous, you can always try abseiling or rock climbing.
55. Lucille’s Service Station, Hydro
56. Heartland of America Museum, Weatherford - www.oklahomaheartlandmuseum.com
57. Stafford Air & Space Museum, Weatherford - www.staffordmuseum.org
58. P Bar Farms the Maze, Weatherford - www.pbarfarms.com
Home to one of Oklahoma’s oldest corn mazes, this is the place to be in Autumn. From hayrides to train rides, you’ll get to experience life on the prairie and whilst the farm is open year-round, if you visit in October, you might want to prepare for a bit of a Halloween fright if you take on the after-dark corn maze.
59. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton - www.okhistory.org/sites/route66
One of several Route 66 Museums in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is undoubtedly one of the
most popular, due it’s highly themed ambience. The museum takes you chronologically through the story of Route 66 with many kitsch photo-ops and souvenirs.
60. Jiggs Smokehouse, Clinton - www.jiggssmokehouse.com
61. Mohawk Lodge Indian Store, Clinton
Part museum, part store, Mohawk Lodge Indian Store was the first trading post in Indian Territory.
62. Foss State Park, Foss
63. The Sandhill Curiosity Shop, Erick
64. National Route 66 Museum Complex, Elk City
This Route 66 inspired museum is hard to miss – particularly given what is believed to be the world’s largest Route 66 sign is out front. The museum features a number of sections featuring everything from classic cars to the 4m tall Myrtle the Doll, made of oil drums and scrap metal.
65. Beckham County Courthouse, Sayre
66. Tumbleweed Grill and Watering Hole No. 2, Texola