Eclectic Stops on Route 66 in Oklahoma

Cruising along Route 66 through Oklahoma is a journey through U.S. history and culture. Find multiple Route 66 museums dotting the 640-kilometer stretch. At the open-air Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa, roam fully restored steam engines, passenger cars, an oil derrick and more. Car lovers flock to the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa to admire the collection of vintage and classic vehicles. Learn the history of the iconic drive at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton or the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler. Stop in Elk City to tour its museum complex comprising the National Route 66 Museum, as well as transportation, blacksmith and farming museums. Famed actor Will Rogers is remembered as “Oklahoma’s favorite son” with 12 galleries of memorabilia and photographs at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. The great Cherokee Nation, one of several Native American tribes in Oklahoma, is honored at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita. Discover tribal art, artifacts and recorded stories – all for free admission.

Get your camera ready to capture the charm, nostalgia and quirky spirit of the Mother Road. At the Totem Pole Park in Chelsea, wander the eclectic collection of concrete totem poles created by folk artist Ed Galloway as a monument to Native American cultures. Pops 66 Soda Ranch in Arcadia welcomes drivers with a towering soda bottle covered in multi-colored LED lights. Head inside the shop to find more than 600 kinds of soda to buy or dine at the restaurant. Find the iconic Buck Atom and Stella Atom “muffler men” statues in Tulsa. The 6-meter-tall space cowboy and his companion sit outside Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66, a can’t-miss souvenir shop in the historic Meadow Gold District. Near Tulsa, climb inside and atop the adored Blue Whale of Catoosa, or have a picnic nearby. The roadside attraction will be renovated in 2025, including adding a visitors center and playground; check online for potential closures. Take a photo with Happy, the lovable Blue Hippo of Edmond, before enjoying downtown Edmond’s local shops and restaurants.

Driving Route 66 through Oklahoma is also a culinary adventure with roadside favorites cooking classic dishes accented by local flavors. At Rock Café in Stroud, devour delicious diner fare and unique menu options like alligator burgers and German Jägerschnitzel. Ike’s Chili in Tulsa is the city’s oldest restaurant, feeding hungry drivers since 1908. Try Ike’s 100-year-old chili recipe, a renowned favorite of Will Rogers himself. A giant yellow cuckoo bird welcomes patrons to Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger in Miami, the last location of this fast food drive-in chain from the 1960s. Make a stop in Weatherford to have a meal at Lucille’s Roadhouse. The Route 66-themed restaurant looks like a historic two-story gas station, Lucille’s Service Station, built in 1929 in neighboring Hydro. For an elevated dining experience in Oklahoma City, book a table at an eatery helmed by a James Beard award winner. Try soul food at Florence’s Restaurant, the award-winning establishment on the city’s northeast side. Or, visit one of chef Andrew Black’s three restaurants in Oklahoma City – Black Walnut, Grey Sweater and Perle Mesta.

Fly into Tulsa International Airport (TUL) or Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers International Airport (OKC), and rent a car to travel along Route 66.