Road trip on Route 66 to Clinton, Oklahoma



Route 66 Road Trip to Clinton, Oklahoma

You're on Historic Route 66 in Clinton, Oklahoma

U.S. Route 66 was one of the United States' first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.

"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

In Oklahoma, Route 66 covered 432 miles. After traveling through Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, the Mother Road entered Oklahoma near Commerce, and headed southwest to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Weatherford and into Clinton.

In general, it followed the route of present-day Interstate I-44. From Clinton, Route 66 continued west to Elk City and Erick and then into Texas.

Clinton, Oklahoma

Positioned in a large valley surrounded by scenic rolling hills and wide-open spaces, Clinton, Oklahoma is a community of about 10,000 residents. For outdoor enthusiasts, hiking and fishing at nearby Foss Lake are popular activities.

Many Route 66 visitors are drawn to area attractions, such as the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, the Cheyenne Cultural Center, the Lucky Star Casino, and the state’s first-of-its-kind Water–Zoo indoor water park.

Other must-see Clinton attractions include the Cherokee Trading Post & Boot Outlet, and Acme Brick Park, which contains nearly 150 acres of family fun, including the nature trail and miniature train.

Located in Clinton in the heart of western Oklahoma, the Frisco Conference Center offers a conveniently located facility that meets the demands of today’s sophisticated meetings and events. The Frisco Center is capable of hosting many types of meetings, business or social.

Clinton and U.S. Route 66

Clinton benefited from the presence of U.S. Highway 66, fostering the locally famous Pop Hicks Restaurant, which opened in 1936. The longest running restaurant on Route 66 burned down in 1999. Like most other cities and towns on Route 66, Clinton was also the home of many other tourist businesses including several restaurants, cafes, motels and gasoline service stations.

Today, cross-country travelers often pass Clinton to the south on Interstate 40, but Clinton remains a popular tourist stop on Route 66 as one of the largest cities in Western Oklahoma between Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas. Much of the old U.S. 66 route that passed through the city is now designated as an I-40 business loop.

Map of Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma showing the location of Clinton
Map of Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma showing the location of the City of Clinton

Lodging, Dining and Attractions in the Clinton Area

click to view hotel listings and traveler reviews for lodging in Clinton, Oklahoma at TripAdvisor

Clinton Travel Guide at TripAdvisor

click to view hotel listings and traveler reviews for lodging in Clinton, Oklahoma

Hotels in/near Clinton with traveler reviews at TripAdvisor

Clinton restaurant reviews at TripAdvisor

Attractions and Things to Do in Clinton


Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is a popular stop for Route 66 travelers in Clinton, Oklahoma. The state's official showcase of Route 66 is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, and offers visitors a spirited tour of pure Americana.

Located off I-40 at Exit 65 at 2229 West Gary Boulevard.
Phone the museum at 580.323.7866

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum website

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum on Facebook

Scenes Around the Museum

Exterior view of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK "Get Your Kicks on RT 66" display at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK
Interior exhibit area at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK: The Red Corvette Neon Route 66 sign at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK
Interior exhibit area at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK: Yellow truck and Phillips 66 sign Interior exhibit area at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK: Sinclair Gas station and old car headed west
Interior exhibit area at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK: The loaded gold Nash Rambler The Route 66 Diner at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK


Interactive Map of Clinton, Oklahoma


More Information about Clinton and Route 66

City of Clinton website

Clinton Chamber of Commerce

Clinton at the TravelOK website

Travel Oklahoma: Route 66

Oklahoma Historical Society: Route 66

Oklahoma Route 66 Association

Clinton Weather at WeatherUnderground

Clinton Travel Guide at TripAdvisor



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Oklahoma Route 66 Passport

The Official Oklahoma Route 66 Passport

The Oklahoma Route 66 Passport from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department helps Route 66 travelers find new destinations to explore and document their progress along the way. A new updated passport (yellow) is being offered beginning in 2023.

The Route 66 Passport, which is available free at TravelOK.com, features 66 of the state’s memorable Mother Road attractions. It includes iconic stops like Catoosa’s Blue Whale, Stroud’s Rock Cafe and Clinton’s Oklahoma Route 66 Museum along with many newer favorites.

Get your passport stamped at each stop, then take it to a Tourism Information Center to be verified and earn an exclusive Route 66 coin.

Both the new yellow and previous red Route 66 Passports are now available in a digital format. Download the official TravelOK Trip Planner app on the Apple App Store or Google Play to get started. When you get to each stop, you'll find a code displayed that you can enter to digitally check in.