The Oklahoma stretch, spanning approximately 400 miles, is rich with historic landmarks, quirky roadside attractions, and classic diners. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or just love a scenic drive, this guide will help you make the most of your journey through Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Must-See Stops Along the Way:
1. Quapaw & Commerce
- Quapaw Tribal Museum (📍905 Whitebird St, Quapaw)- Native American heritage site. Housed inside the Robert Whitebird Cultural Center, which also contains the Quapaw Nation Library, Language Program, and Historic Preservation Program, as well as the USS Quapaw memorial anchor and the Quapaw Veterans Wall.
- Mickey Mantle's Boyhood Home (📍319 S Quincy St, Commerce) – Baseball fans will enjoy a glimpse into the early life of this sports legend.
- Allen’s Conoco “Hole in the Wall” station (📍 101 S Main St, Commerce) - old cottage-style service station.
2. Miami - Gateway to Route 66 in Oklahoma
- Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (📍111 N Main St)- Local visitor center. It provides Route 66 information, maps, and guidance for attractions in the area.
- Coleman Theatre (📍 103 N Main St) – Beautifully restored 1929 theater with Spanish Mission-style architecture.
- Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger (📍 915 N Main St) – A vintage fast-food stop with a unique cuckoo clock design.
- Ribbon Road (Sidewalk Highway)(📍 E 140 Rd & S 540 Rd) - the last surviving nine-foot-wide segment of the entire 2,400-mile Route 66.
3. Vinita
- Vinita Chamber of Commerce / Tourism Office (📍107 W Canadian Ave) - provides maps, brochures, and guidance for Route 66 travelers.
- Eastern Trails Museum (📍215 W Illinois Ave) - exhibits on Vinita’s history, Route 66 heritage, and local culture.
- Clanton’s Café (📍319 E Illinois Ave) – Serving up chicken-fried steak since the 1920s, a Route 66 classic.
4. Foyil
- Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park (📍21300 OK-28A, Chelsea)– home to the world’s largest concrete totem pole (90 feet tall).
- Andy Payne Monument (📍US Highway 66 & Main St) - Honoring the hometown hero who won the 1928 Transcontinental Footrace.
- Historic Texaco Gas Station / Foyil Filling Station(📍12243 S Andy Payne Blvd)- A restored Route 66-era station in town
5. Claremore
- Will Rogers Memorial Museum (📍1720 W Will Rogers Blvd) – Honoring Oklahoma's most beloved humorist and actor.
- J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum (📍330 N J M Davis Blvd)- Features the world’s largest privately owned gun collection.
- Route 66 Centennial Monument — A newly installed landmark located at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum celebrating 100 years of Route 66, with QR codes linking travelers to local stories and attractions.
- Hammett House Restaurant (📍1616 W Will Rogers Blvd)- Famous for chicken fried steak, onion rings, and mile-high pies.
- Boomarang Diner (📍302 W Will Rogers Blvd)— Retro-style diner serving burgers, breakfast plates, and comfort food classics.
6. Catoosa
- Blue Whale of Catoosa (📍2680 N Highway 66)– One of the most famous and whimsical Route 66 landmarks.
- Catoosa Historical Museum (📍217 S Cherokee St #201)- Small but rich in local artifacts, including railway and Route 66-era items.
- D.W. Correll Museum (📍19934 E Pine St) - Located just off Route 66, showcasing antique cars, rocks, minerals, and Route 66 memorabilia.
- Arrowood Trading Post (📍2700 N Old Hwy 66) - Preserved, historic site.
7. Tulsa - Capital of Route 66
- Mother Road Market (📍1124 S Lewis Ave) – Food hall and retail hub, home to the official Tulsa Route 66 Visitors Center.
- Route 66 Historical Village / Red Fork Depot (📍3816 Southwest Blvd) - Outdoor museum with historic locomotives, oil derricks, and Route 66 exhibits.
- Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza (📍 815 Riverside Dr)- Honors the “Father of Route 66 - Cyrus Avery” with a massive bronze sculpture of Avery’s family crossing the Arkansas River.
- Meadow Gold Sign (📍1306 E 11th St)– A restored double‑sided neon sign.
- Golden Driller Statue (📍4145 E 21st St)– A 76-foot-tall tribute to Oklahoma’s oil industry. Sits just a short distance off the highway at the Tulsa Expo Center.
- Dining:
- El Rancho Grande (📍1629 E 11th St) - Tulsa’s oldest Mexican restaurant, operating since 1953 right on Route 66.
- Tally’s Good Food Café (📍1102 S Yale Ave)- famous for chicken‑fried steak and cinnamon rolls.
8. Sapulpa - Crystal City of the Southwest
- Sapulpa Historical Museum (📍100 E Lee Ave)- Functions as the town’s Route 66 visitor center.
- Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum (📍13 Sahoma Lake Rd)– Showcasing vintage cars and classic memorabilia.
- Waite Phillips Filling Station Museum (📍26 E Lee Ave)- Restored 1920s gas station along Route 66.
9. Stroud
- Route 66 Centennial Monument (📍Ed Smalley Centennial Park, 114 W Main St) — Installed downtown as part of Oklahoma’s centennial project. It’s a 16‑foot illuminated Route 66 shield with QR codes linking to local stories and attractions.
- Route 66 Spirit of America Museum (📍220 W Main St) - A local heritage site showcasing Americana and Route 66 memorabilia.
- Lodging:
- Skyliner Motel - (📍717 W Main St)
- Hampton Inn and Suites - (📍915 W. Ada Webb Dr)
- Dining:
- Rock Café (📍114 W Main St)– A famous eatery that inspired characters in Pixar’s Cars.
10. Chandler - Pecan Capital of the World
- Route 66 Interpretive Center (📍400 E 1st St) – Serves as both a museum and visitor center.
- Dining:
- Big Willy’s Hot Dogs in Phillips 66 Cottage Station (📍703 Manvel Ave)
- Route 66 Bowl - Chevelle Café (inside) (📍920 E 1st St) serves pizza, burgers, wings, and casual fare, making it more than just a bowling alley.
- Lodging:
11. Arcadia
- Historic Round Barn (1898) (📍107 OK-66, Arcadia) - exhibits, a gift shop, and often hosts events.
- Pops 66 Soda Ranch (📍660 OK-66) – A futuristic gas station with over 700 varieties of soda and a 66‑foot neon soda bottle.
- OK County 66 (John’s Place) (📍13441 OK-66) - a backyard museum created by John Hargrove, a retired airplane and school bus mechanic who transformed his property into a personal homage to Route 66.
12. Oklahoma City
- Lake Overholser Bridge (📍8703-8709 Overholser Dr, Bethany) - Historic 1924 bridge and lakeside recreation area directly on Route 66.
- Milk Bottle Building ( 📍 2426 N Classen Blvd) – A tiny historic building with a giant milk bottle on top.
- Gold Dome Building (📍 1112 NW 23rd St) - Mid‑century geodesic dome
- Big Truck Tacos (📍 530 NW 23rd St ) - modern Route 66 stop serving creative Mexican street‑food—tacos, burritos, gorditas, and rotating specials.
- Stockyards City – A taste of the Old West with cattle auctions and cowboy culture.
13. El Reno
- The Filling Station Visitor Center (📍120 S. Choctaw Ave. ) - Renovated retro fuel station serving as El Reno’s official Route 66 visitor hub.
- Fort Reno (📍7107 W Cheyenne St )- historic U.S. Army post established in the 1870s.
- Dining:
- Robert’s Grill ( 📍300 S Bickford Ave) - one of the oldest continuously operating burger counters in Oklahoma..
- Sid’s Diner ( 📍300 South Choctaw Ave)– Famous for its onion burgers, a regional specialty.
- Lodging
14. Clinton
- Oklahoma Route 66 Museum ( 📍 2229 W Gary Blvd) – Oklahoma’s official Route 66 museum featuring immersive, decade‑by‑decade exhibits and memorabilia.
15. Weatherford
- Stafford Air & Space Museum ( 📍 3000 Logan Road) – Honoring astronaut Thomas Stafford and space exploration.
- Dining
- Lucille’s Roadhouse (📍 1301 N Airport Rd)
16. Elk City
- National Route 66 Museum ( 📍 2717 W 3rd St) – A major multi‑museum Route 66 attraction featuring immersive exhibits, vintage vehicles, and Elk City’s broader museum campus.
17. Sayre
- Beckham County Courthouse (📍 302 E Main St) – famously appeared in the film The Grapes of Wrath.
- Shortgrass Country Museum ( 📍106 E Poplar Ave) - Housed in the former Rock Island Railroad Depot (1930)
18. Erick - Hometown of Roger Miller
- Erick Tourism Information Center (📍 17672 E I‑40) – Staffed by travel counselors who provide orientation for Route 66 travelers.
Tips for Your Road Trip
- Plan Your Stops: Oklahoma’s Route 66 is packed with attractions, so map out your must-see spots in advance.
- Try Local Diners: The food along Route 66 is as much a part of the experience as the drive itself.
- Fuel Up: Some stretches between towns can be long, so keep an eye on your gas tank.
- Take Photos: Iconic landmarks, neon signs, and quirky roadside attractions make for great memories.
- Enjoy the Journey: Route 66 is all about the adventure, so take your time and soak in the nostalgia.
Whether you’re driving a short segment or the entire Oklahoma stretch, Route 66 promises a road trip full of history, charm, and Americana.
Oklahoma Route 66 Map
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