If you love classic road trips, roadside Americana, and quirky attractions, a Route 66 road trip through Oklahoma belongs at the top of your bucket list. Oklahoma boasts the longest drivable stretch of Route 66 in the United States, packed with neon signs, historic diners, vintage motels, museums, murals, and unforgettable photo ops.
From eastern Oklahoma to the Texas border, this guide covers the best Route 66 stops in Oklahoma, including iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and can’t-miss attractions that bring the Mother Road to life.
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Eastern Oklahoma: Where Your Route 66 Journey Begins
Quapaw
Dallas’ Dairyette – A Route 66 classic serving burgers, malts, and shakes since 1969. Bonus points for the vintage jukebox.
Quapaw Tribal Museum – Learn the history of the Quapaw Tribe through artifacts, traditional clothing, and the U.S.S. Quapaw anchor outside.
Tip: If you’re starting your journey here and need a place to stay, consider Downstream Casino Resort. It is owned by the Quapaw Nation. We highly recommend it.
Learn more: Downstream Casino Resort
Commerce
Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station -Known as the Hole in the Wall Conoco station, it was built on the side of a building on Main Street when Route 66 was newly paved.
Dairy King -This cottage-style former gas station not only has great burgers and soft-serve ice cream, but they sell Route 66 cookies which are shaped like the Route 66 shield.
Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home & Statue – Photo-worthy stops celebrating the baseball legend who grew up here.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget your camera! You’ll find lots of photo ops on this road trip. I use the Kodak PixPro because it’s a great size and takes great pictures and videos.
Miami
Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger – One of the most iconic Route 66 diners in Oklahoma, complete with neon, a cuckoo-clock theme, and a mascot.
Coleman Theatre – A stunning 1929 theater featuring a Mighty Wurlitzer organ and grand chandelier.
Ribbon Road (Sidewalk Highway) – Two original one-lane stretches of Route 66 pavement dating back to 1922.
Tip: Take time to drive around downtown Miami. There are a lot of great murals on the buildings.
Afton
Nowhere on Route 66 Barbecue -Dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, and vintage photos lining the walls.
Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame – Darryl Starbird’s custom cars are known for futuristic styles, bubble tops and bright colors. The museum features over 50 cars. Be aware that the museum is only open March through October. It is open every day these months except Tuesdays.
Northeast Oklahoma Route 66 Highlights
Vinita
The oldest town on Oklahoma Route 66, Vinita’s stretch of the Mother Road features historic buildings with a variety of shops, antique stores, cafés, and more. It is the second oldest town in Oklahoma. There is a big mural downtown on a turquoise wall celebrating Vinita’s history and the Route 66 Shield painted on the road.
Clanton’s Café – Serving classic diner food since 1927 and still family-run.
Eastern Trails Museum – A walk through Vinita’s early days.
Hi-Way Café – Just west of Vinita, Hi-Way Café is one of the most photographed stops on Route 66. You can’t miss it with the full-sized Muffler Man statue out front. The building is decorated with murals and inside you find great comfort food.
Tip: Hi-Way Cafe is worth stopping at just for the photo ops with the outside statues.
Chelsea
Pryor Creek Bridge -The only unaltered Route 66 bridge in Oklahoma.
Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass Mural -This underpass was reopened in 2016 with a new mural with images of the town’s history. Bring a pen and sign your name on the spot to memorialize your visit.
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park – Home to a 90-foot concrete totem pole and a fiddle museum.
Claremore
Hammett House Restaurant – Known for towering, mile-high pies. They freshly bake 14 varieties of pies every day.
Will Rogers Memorial Museum – One of Route 66’s nicknames has long been Will Rogers highway and this museum honors not only his humor but also his many movies. You will find his tomb here, along with lots of memorabilia from his long career.
Swan Brothers Dairy Farm-This family-owned dairy farm has been around for 95 years and still sells raw milk and cheese that is made on site. You’ll find other Oklahoma goodies in the store, such as local honey.
Route 66 Nut House – Fresh locally- grown pecans, homemade fudge in more flavors than you could imagine, and roadside charm. We love nuts (and fudge) and definitely bought our fill here.
Catoosa
Blue Whale of Catoosa – One of the most beloved Route 66 attractions anywhere. This 80- foot blue whale in a small fishing pond will make you smile and is a great place for selfies.
Molly’s Landing – This rustic log cabin that houses a restaurant is nestled among the trees just off Route 66. The entrance is unexpected since it is a section of the Bird Creek Bridge that once carried Mother Road traffic.
Tulsa: Big City, Big Route 66 Energy
Tulsa blends Route 66 history with museums, diners, and quirky roadside icons.
Admiral Twin Drive-In -This drive-in theatre is where Pony Boy and his friends from the movie “The Outsiders” took in a show. It still shows movies during the spring and summer. It opened in 1951 with one screen but added a second screen soon after.
Tally’s Café – Massive menu and classic diner portions.
Golden Driller – A 76-foot-tall selfie magnet. You’ll be amazed at how big he really is when you stand at his base. It didn’t look that big until we pulled into the parking lot! Pretty amazing.
Blue Dome Building – This former gas station was a luxury pit stop in 1924 when it opened on 2nd Street along the original alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. Motorists enjoyed 24-hour service with new-at-the-time amenities like hot water, car wash, and pressurized air to keep those tires pumped.
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios & Decopolis 66 – Two quirky monuments and souvenir shops embody Tulsa’s Route 66 revival. Meet space cowboy Buck Atom, a 21-foot fiberglass statue that’s sure to get your attention. This “muffler man” brings nostalgia for these roadside giants along old Route 66. Instead of a car part, Buck holds a gleaming rocket ship. He stands outside a 1950s gas station that’s now a Route 66 souvenir shop. Next door, Decopolis 66 is hard to describe. Expect a mini city with Tulsa-themed souvenirs, gifts, dinosaurs, postcards, dairy bar and Art Deco “museum”.
Pro Tip: I’m a sucker for souvenirs and had a great time looking around here. I always take my “travel” shopping bag with me for stops like this. It has wheels which makes it nice to not have to carry a bunch of bags. Check it out on Amazon.
Mid-Oklahoma: Heart of the Mother Road
Sapulpa
Sapulpa Historic Museum-Sapulpa is at the intersection of Route 66 and U.S. Highway 75 and was once nicknamed the “Crossroads of America”. This museum tells the story of this town, which is located in a former three-story hotel where you can still see themed guest rooms on the second floor.
Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum-This is a car lover’s paradise with hot rods to military vehicles. The big, really big, attraction is the 66-foot-tall gas pump in front of the museum.
Bristow
Bristow Historical Museum & Depot-You’ll learn about the Native territories, the discovery of oil and life on the frontier in this restored train depot. You can even go inside the red caboose outside!
Bristow Firestone Service Station– This Art Deco style brick building was built in 1930 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is L-shaped with four service bays. Constructed by the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., it sold gas and serviced cars.
Stroud
Rock Café -Inspiration for Pixar’s Cars and a Route 66 staple. Lots of memorabilia and great diner food.
Skyliner Motel – The Skyliner held it’s opening in the summer of 1959. Still open, it has a great neon sign and ten units with an L-shaped layout facing the Gibble Gas station at the corner.
Davenport
Davenport Murals– Murals from the town’s past, including the Route 66 mural, decorate the buildings of downtown Davenport.
Brick Paved Street– When Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 traffic through the town increased and the local government paved the Main Street with vitrified bricks. These were made locally by the Davenport Brick & Tile Company and are uniform in size. This spot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chandler
Route 66 Bowl Sign– This sign once sat along Route 66 but has now found a new home where it sits in front of a new entertainment complex that is being built.
McJerry’s Route 66 Gallery– Jerry McClanahan was fascinated with Route 66 as a child which led him to producing Mother Road guidebooks and maps. He now opened a gallery to showcase his work and collection of Route 66 artifacts.
Luther
Threatt Filling Station– Built in 1915, this gas station is believed to be the first black-owned business along Route 66. The business is no longer open, but the building still stands.
Arcadia
Arcadia Round Barn– One of most popular stops along the Mother Road is this round barn. Built in 1898, this is the only round barn on Route 66. You’ll see old farm equipment outside, a gift shop on the first floor and the amazing domed roof on the second floor.
POPS– Another iconic Route 66 stop that you can’t miss. The POPS sign is 66-foot-tall soda pop bottle that looks like a beacon glowing at night. Inside you’ll find over 700 types of bottled soda for sale along with other goodies. There is also a diner here and gas station.
Tip: Be sure to prepare your car ahead of time for your road trip so you stay safe. We carry this auto emergency kit with us even when driving close to home.
Learn More: Pre-road trip Checklist
Edmond
Touch the Clouds– This bronze statue pays tribute to Touch the Clouds, a chief of the Miniconjou people.
Blue Hippo– This giant fiberglass hippo has been a resident of Edmond and goes by the nickname “Buddy” Not much is known about him, except he’s been around for a long time and you can find him sitting off the street in downtown Edmond.
Oklahoma City: Route 66 Icons & Urban History
Tower Theatre – Restored 1937 landmark with bars and performance space.
Cheever’s Café– During Route 66’s heyday this Art Dec building served as the Cheever family’s florist shop. Now it is a local’s favorite restaurant.
Milk Bottle Building– This building is on a tiny piece of land in this busy city and has been around since 1930. In 1948 a giant metal milk bottle was put on the roof, and it still advertises local dairy businesses.
Yukon
Yukon’s Best Flour Mill-The Yukon Mill and Grain Company constructed this mill and elevator in 1902. Located at West Main Street and 3rd Street, the building is now used for grain storage. The well-known sign was placed on top of the mill in the 1940s.
Express Clydesdale Ranch– You can meet these impressive horses at this ranch. This historic home of world champion Clydesdales was built in 1936.
El Reno
El Reno Mother Road Monument– For a great photo op, visit this 10 ft, three-dimensional sign added to downtown El Reno. They really celebrate Route 66 in this town.
Guardian of the Mother Road Mural– This 50-foot mural is on an old cinderblock wall that once served as a screen for a drive-in theater.
Calumet
Muffler Men Mural– Large fiberglass sculptures known as Muffler Men have always been popular on Route 66. In 2019, three cutout Muffler Men paintings were installed along the highway and have become a popular stop on the Mother Road.
Western Oklahoma: The Final Stretch
Hydro
Deer Creek Market/Nutopia– This store has a huge selection of Oklahoma grown goodies including Oklahoma-farmed peanuts. If you need munchies, this is a great stop. We stocked up here!
Lucille’s Service Station– This 1920’s era two-story gas station was owned by Lucille Hamons who was known as the “Mother of the Mother Road” because of her kindness to all travelers. You can’t go inside anymore, but you get a photo of the distinctive building.
Clinton
Mohawk Lodge Indian Store-Part Museum and part store, this was the first trading post in Indian Territory. It’s been around since 1892.
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum– Not only will you find a classic diner and gift shop filled with goodies, but you’ll also find some classic cars that drove Route 66.
Elk City
National Route 66 Museum Complex– It is believed that the world’s largest Route 66 sign is located in front of this complex. You won’t miss the sign, nor will you miss 14-foot-tall Myrtle the Kachina Doll. Made of oil drums and scrap metal Myrtle has been residing along Route 66 since 1962. Inside you’ll find a complex of museums highlighting life in Oklahoma. The last stop on your Route 66 road trip through Oklahoma won’t disappoint.
Final Thoughts: Why Oklahoma Is a Route 66 Road Trip Essential
If you’re looking to truly get your kicks on Route 66, Oklahoma delivers in a big way. With the longest drivable stretch of the Mother Road, the state offers an unmatched mix of nostalgia, history, roadside attractions, food, culture, and classic Americana.
Whether you’re chasing neon signs, snapping photos of Muffler Men, or savoring diner pie, a Route 66 road trip through Oklahoma is one you won’t forget. Oklahoma has become one of our favorite places to visit, not only on Route 66 but the whole state. We hope you enjoy your trip here.
We love to share information and tips we learn along the way to help you plan your trip. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.