Route 66 Road Trip Across Oklahoma to the Texas Border

Vintage postcard showing the location of Route 66 across Oklahoma

As Route 66 left Joplin, Missouri westbound, it was only a short distance to Kansas, and then to the Oklahoma border.

It quickly entered Commerce, and headed southwest through Miami, Alton, Chelsea, Claremore and Tulsa. The road continued through Stroud, Chandler and Arcadia to Oklahoma City.

From there, it was a straight shot west through Yukon, El Reno, Hydro, Clinton and Elk City, and finally Texola.

The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, near Shamrock, and moved on to Amarillo.

The nation's longest drivable stretch of Route 66 crosses Oklahoma, making its way past charming towns, roadside diners and quirky attractions.

Map of approximate Historic Route 66 across Oklahoma

Highlights of the many things to see on Oklahoma Route 66

There are dozens of places to see and visit along Route 66 across Oklahoma.

Experience Miami, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and authentic hometowns along the Mother Road where you'll meet friendly people and find unique shopping and dining opportunities.

Several state-of-the-art museums pay tribute to America's Main Street including the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, the National Transportation and Route 66 Museum in Elk City and the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler. And while in Oklahoma City, we recommend a visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum downtown ... it is a sobering experience.

Along the way you will still find quaint service stations, diners, motels and other structures dating from those earlier times on Route 66.

Now let's head west on The Mother Road, where we will make stops at these 20 locations on Route 66 in Oklahoma, starting at Commerce and ending at Erick near Texas:

Commerce	Arcadia
Miami	Edmond
Chelsea	Oklahoma City
Claremore	Yukon
Catoosa	El Reno
Tulsa	Hydro
Sapulpa	Weatherford
Stroud	Clinton
Davenport	Elk City
Chandler	Erick

Howdy from Oklahoma!!

Commerce, Oklahoma Allen's Conoco Fillin' Station	Regular gasoline pump at Allen's Conoco Fillin' Station, Commerce, Oklahoma
Mickey Mantle Home and Statue in Commerce

Dairy King, Commerce, Oklahoma ... a former circa mid-1920s Marathon Service Station

Miami, Oklahoma
The Gateway to Route 66 in Miami, OK	Historic Marker about the Gateway Sign

Ribbon Road Near Miami

Section of Old Route 66 9-foot wide "Ribbon Road" or "Sidewalk Highway" still visible near Miami, Oklahoma (November, 2018)

Visit Miami, Oklahoma on Historic U.S. Route 66

Afton, Oklahoma

Eagle DX Service Station in Afton, opened in the 1930s on Route 66

Welcome to Chelsea, Oklahoma

Welcome to Chelsea, Oklahoma ... Established 1889
Sign provided by the Chelsea Area Historical Society

Pryor Creek Bridge

The historic Pryor Creek Bridge was built in 1926 and carried U.S. Highway 66 traffic from then to 1932, when a new alignment bypassed the bridge. It is of "Modified Pratt Through Truss" design,123 feet long and 19 feet wide.

Located near Chelsea, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Chelsea Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass

The tunnel dates to a time when four-lane Route 66 was so busy that locals built a tunnel so pedestrians could cross under the highway safely. Today, it can still be walked through, at Walnut Street and West 6th Street in Chelsea.

Get your kicks UNDER Route 66!

Chelsea Route 66 Underpass - entrance

Route 66 Underpass Mural - interior

Chelsea Motel

The Chelsea Motel is located at the intersection of Historic Route 66 (N. Walnut Street) and E. First Street in Chelsea. It dates to circa 1936, and was alerted to Route 66 travelers by its large, elaborate neon sign that has survived into modern times. The simple stucco rectangular building consisted of six motel units; behind the motel was a smaller building that served as the motel office and home of the owner.

Today, the motel is privately owned and used for storage. It is not accessible to the public but can be viewed from the public right of way. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Seen below is a staff photo of the old Chelsea Motel taken in November of 2018.
Chelsea Motel, Chelsea, Oklahoma, along Historic Route 66

Visit Chelsea, Oklahoma on Historic U.S. Route 66

Claremore

Located on Route 66 between Chelsea and Catoosa, is the city of Claremore, home to about 20,000 residents.

Among the attractions are the Will Rogers Memorial Museum (photo below), the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum, the Belvidere Mansion, and Lake Claremore.

For more information about the city, its history and attractions, link to the VisitClaremore.org website

Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma

Catoosa, Oklahoma
The Blue Whale

Built in the early 1970s by Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift, the 20-foot tall iron and cement Blue Whale turned into a swimming park, and closed in 1988.

In 2022 the Blue Whale celebrated its 50th anniversary!

Visit Catoosa, Oklahoma on Historic U.S. Route 66

Route 66 Roadside Attraction: The Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma

Today, travelers can walk through the whale, and shop at a nostalgic gift shop on site. Free admission and parking.

Located northeast of Tulsa in Catoosa, OK

The D.W. Correll Museum

This main building of the museum in Catoosa contains a rare collection of rocks, gems, fossils and minerals from around the world.

The second building houses antique automobiles restored by Mr. Correll, and other items of broad curiosity and antiquity such as the historical Texaco gas pump. There is also a collection of antique toy tractors, cars, pickups, etc. on display.

The main building has a beautiful, painted mural on the outside (see photo below) done by the award-winning artist Lance Hunter that honors the late D.W. Correll, the museum's benefactor and a beloved Catoosa resident. The brightly colored, attention-getting mural, is 8 feet tall and 72 feet wide.

Mural at the D.W. Correll Museum in Catoosa, Oklahoma

Catoosa's Historical Society Museum

Catoosa's Historical Museum was founded by Catoosa's Historical Society. The train depot and railroad have played an important part in Catoosa's history, and it's only appropriate that the Catoosa Historical Society Museum is housed in the old depot. Visitors will find numerous local history displays including vintage photographs of Catoosa's early residents, a mailbox that was used when mail was delivered on horseback, a train depot log book dating from 1897 and a check from the Farmers and Merchants Bank dated 1907.

The Catoosa Historical Museum is easily recognized by the bright red caboose outside of the museum. It is located at 207 South Cherokee Street in Catoosa. Hours are typically 10:00am - 3:00pm on Tuesday and Friday. Phone 918.266.3296 for current opening days and hours.

The Sculptures in Tulsa
East Meets West: Symbolic Route 66 Midpoint

The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is named for the Tulsa resident who is known as "The Father of Route 66". It is located at the east entrance to the historic Route 66 bridge near downtown Tulsa.

The scene in Centennial Plaza depicts the Avery family riding west in a Motel T Ford, meeting an eastbound horse-drawn carriage. The sculptures are the work of Robert Summers.

Centennial Plaza is located at the east entrance to the historic bridge at the intersection of Southwest Boulevard and Riverside Drive.

Route 66 Bridge Over the Arkansas River

Directly west of Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is the original Eleventh Street Bridge bridge built in 1915 to carry Route 66 over the Arkansas River. It is located between newer bridges on Southwest Boulevard and Interstate 244, and was closed to traffic in 1980 although it remained open for pedestrians for a time.

Gates were locked on the bridge in 2008, and it remains closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic today. The old bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and re-named the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge.

The surface of the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The locked gate at the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Golden Driller

Located at 4145 E. 21st Street in Tulsa.

The Golden Driller is a 76-foot, 22-ton statue of an oil worker in Tulsa, located outside the Tulsa Expo Center. It is the 6th tallest statue in the United States.

The plaque at the base reads "The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God’s abundance a better life for mankind."

Visit Tulsa, Oklahoma on Historic U.S. Route 66

"You Said We Couldn't Do It" Mural

This mural commemorates a bridge built over the Arkansas River in Tulsa in 1904. The bridge wasn’t for rail traffic, so investors considered it a risky project. The government wouldn’t pay for it either. Instead, three citizens formed a toll company and paid for the bridge, a huge undertaking both financially and logistically due to the shifting river bed.

On the completed bridge they hung a sign, “You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But We Did.”

Located in the Meadow Gold District - 1306 E. 11th Street at S. Peoria Avenue

"You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But We Did" mural in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Meadow Gold Neon Sign

As the largest neon sign on Tulsa's landscape, the Meadow Gold sign is unique. With each face measuring 30 feet by 30 feet, the size and design of the Meadow Gold sign set it apart from all of the other signs that have been preserved and restored along historic Route 66.

Erected in 1934, the Meadow Gold sign stood above its rooftop perch at 11th Street (Historic Route 66) and South Lewis Avenue for nearly seven decades and served as a reminder of days gone by - days of the milkman and deliveries of dairy products to the porches and front doors of Tulsa, and America.

In August of 2004, the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture (TFA) applied for and received a grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program administered through the National Park Service to restore the Meadow Gold sign at its original location.

Located in the Meadow Gold District - 1324 E. 11th Street

The Meadow Gold Neon Sign in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Route 66 Historical Village

This open-air museum is a unique experience to educate visitors about Tulsa's history in the oil, refining and transportation industries. The Visitor’s Center is a replica of a 1920’s Phillips 66 gas station. The tallest oil derrick in North America is a favorite with visitors. Located at 3770 Southwest Boulevard.

Route 66 Historical Village website

Sign at the Route 66 Historical Village near Tulsa, Oklahoma

Route 66 Historical Village near Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Scene in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma
"Crossroads of America" ... on Historic Route 66

Sapulpa is the county seat for Creek County and is located in northeast Oklahoma’s Green Country, about 14 miles southwest of downtown Tulsa. The city is located on old U.S. Route 66, now SH-66 and Historic Route 66 (a/k/a the West Ozark Trail), through town. For more information, visit ...

City of Sapulpa website

Main Street Sapulpa website

Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce

Sapulpa at the TravelOK website

Scene in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum

The Museum in Sapulpa features the world's tallest gas pump, at 66-foot-tall, a prominent Route 66 landmark. It also includes an extensive indoor collection of historic automobiles and other historical treasures.

The Museum is on the grow, with an all new expansion planned for 2023. See photo below right, courtesy of Reed Architects, the designers of the new expansion. This will be a 60% expansion to boost its visibility, exhibit space, and revenue streams. The project includes 5,000 square feet under roof and a 2,400-square-foot outdoor plaza. It promises a dramatic increase in the museum’s 36-vehicle inventory and other exhibits. This expansion parallels a neighboring park development by the city of Sapulpa. The Route 66 Rock Creek Park will provide a tourist-friendly playground and rest stop connected to the museum.

The Museum is located at 13 Sahoma Lake Road, Sapulpa, OK 74066. For more information, phone 918.216.1171, or visit ....

The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum website and The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum on Facebook

The world's tallest gas pump ... at the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma ... expansion plans for 2023

Stroud and the Rock Cafe

The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma was established in 1939, built with rock unearthed during the paving of Route 66. It has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The owner was the inspiration for Sally the Porsche in the movie "Cars".

The Cafe is located at 114 S. Main Street in Stroud, and remains an area icon.

Visit the Rock Cafe website

Route 66 Roadside Attraction: The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma

Davenport, Oklahoma

Welcome to Davenport, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

One of the many classic murals in Davenport, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

Chandler, Oklahoma

Route 66 Interpretive Center at 400 E 1st Street in Chandler

Route 66 Interpretive Center

Phillips 66 Service Station, Chandler, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

McJerry's Route 66 Gallery in Chandler

While in Chandler, be sure to stop and visit McJerry's Route 66 Gallery at 306 Manvel (Highway 18), just off OK 66, north of downtown. The Gallery is operated by Jerry McClanahan, the award-winning artist and Route 66 historian/writer of the popular EZ 66 Guide for Travelers.

Phone 405.240.7659 for more information and opening times, and visit the McJerry66.com website.

Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum

The Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum is located at 336992 E. Highway 66 in Warwick, Oklahoma, west of Chandler.

Seaba Station was built in 1921 by John and Alice Seaba, five years before historic Route 66 would be certified. This building's life started out as a DX station, and has now been restored and operated as a popular motorcycle museum.

Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum website and Seaba Station on Facebook
or phone 405.258.9141

Exterior view of the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum in Warwick, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

Motorcycles on display at the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum in Warwick, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66

Arcadia, Oklahoma

Just east of Oklahoma City ... Home of the Round Barn

Built in April of 1898 by William Odor on his farm. Restored in 1992.

The Historic Richardson Building, since 1923, in Arcadia

The Arcadia Round Barn, on Historic Route 66 in Arcadia

John's Place

While in Arcadia, you don't want to miss John Hargrove's OK County 66 Place at 12441 E. Highway 66. It has soooo much Route 66 memorabilia, artifacts, cars, bikes, signs, antiques, and miniature models of many Mother Road attractions He even has a replica of the Catoosa Blue Whale on his pond!

Edmond, Oklahoma ... The Mural, and Much More

Edmond is home to championship golf courses, indoor/outdoor food halls, downtown street festivals and local shopping galore. Cruise Route 66 to camp at Arcadia Lake, tour historic sites and snap selfies. Explore acres of parks, 270 public art pieces and 250 restaurants, then relax in your choice of 15 hotels and more than 50 vacation homes.

Read about more Edmond Tourism and Attractions

Popular Sights and Things to See in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma State Capitol

Known as the only state capitol complex to have working oil wells on-site. The Oklahoma capitol's dome features The Guardian, a three-ton, 17 ½ foot tall bronze American Indian statue that depicts characteristics from all 39 native tribes of Oklahoma.

The building also features stained glass, murals and art exhibits that you can see on a guided tour.

Located at 2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard

The Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City

Visit Oklahoma City on Historic U.S. Route 66

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

This world class museum is located at 1700 Northeast 63rd Street in Oklahoma City.

For more information visit the website of the National Cowboy Museum

It is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the museum collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, downtown, on a cold somber day in the fall of 2018
For more information visit the website of the Oklahoma City Memorial
The Oklahoma City Memorial, downtown, on a cold gloomy day in the fall of 2018

Milk Bottle Grocery

The Milk Bottle Grocery is located on a small triangular piece of property at 2426 N. Classen Avenue in Oklahoma City along Historic Route 66.

The grocery was built in 1930, and the giant milk bottle was added in 1948. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, it is adorned with a milk bottle from Braum's, the well-known Oklahoma-based dairy in Tuttle. On one side of the grocery is the "Oklahoma City ... Where the Thunder Rolls" mural.

The Milk Bottle Grocery in Oklahoma City with the Braum's bottle on top

Oklahoma City - Where the Thunder Rolls mural at the Milk Bottle Grocery in Oklahoma City on Classen Avenue

Yukon, Oklahoma ... The Route 66 Murals, and More

Yukon is full of rich history, Route 66 roots, music heritage, family-friendly attractions, and beautiful art. Explore a while, and see why folks flock from all over to pay the city a visit!

El Reno, Oklahoma ... The Crossroads of America

El Reno was established in 1889 and is located at the intersection of two historic highways: nostalgic Route 66 and the Chisholm Trail (Hwy. 81). The city began as a railroad town and was home to three Land Runs. Today, it is a festival town and boasts many heritage celebrations, historic properties, and the only rail based trolley operating in the state of Oklahoma.

The Pony Bridge ... On Historic U.S. Route 66

This well known bridge on Old Route 66 over the South Canadian River is located near Bridgeport, OK, between El Reno and Hydro. Built in 1934, it remains the longest truss bridge in Oklahoma and the entire Mother Road route.

The 38-span pony truss bridge is 3,944 feet in length, and officially named the William H. Murray Bridge. Pony trusses are bridge trusses that don’t connect at the top.

The bridge, on the National Register of Historic Places will be closed beginning in 2022 for a two year reconstruction. The bridge will be widened to current standards, but the trusses will be reinstalled along the sides to retain its historical value.

Bridgeport Pony Bridge Closing to Traffic 10/31/22
Oklahoma Route 66 Association - 10/21/2022

The pony truss bridge in Oklahoma on Historic US Route 66

Lucille's Service Station and Roadhouse in Hydro, Oklahoma

Lucille's Service Station, a classic gas station built in 1929 along Route 66 near Hydro, is one of only two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations left on Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66.

In 1941, the Hamons family took over the operation of the station and Lucille Hamons, ran the business for 60 years. Lucille, who quickly became known for her friendly assistance to motorists, earned the nickname "Mother of the Mother Road."

Lucille's Service Station and Roadhouse, in Hydro, Oklahoma

Weatherford

The city of Weatherford was initially located on State Highway 3 starting in the early 1920s, which was redesignated as U.S. Route 66 in 1926 and paved entirely across Western Oklahoma by 1932. Route 66, which followed Main Street through the city, was lined with various tourist businesses including cafes, motels and gasoline stations like most other cities along the highway.

Today, Weatherford is home to the Stafford Air & Space Museum, the Oklahoma Heartland Museum, the Weatherford Wind Energy Park, several city parks, golf courses and much more.

More information about area attractions at the City of Weatherford's tourism website

Centennial Park

Stafford Air & Space Museum

The windmill blade mural in Weatherford

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is a popular stop 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. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum website

The National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma

The National Route 66 Museum focuses on the people who lived, worked and traveled the “Mother Road” and offers visitors a classic walk through all eight states, highlighted by realistic murals and vignettes depicting the eras of the road and the interesting places that made Route 66 so famous.

National Route 66 Museum website

Erick, Oklahoma

Located between Exits 9 and 10 on I-40, the Erick Tourism Information Center offers brochures and travel resources on statewide attractions, events, lodging and more. Enjoy clean restrooms, a vending area, advice from trained travel counselors, a gift shop and hundreds of free brochures and visitor guides.

Sandhills Curiosity Shop

Located in the old City Meat Market in Erick, Oklahoma, at 201 S. Sheb Wooley Street, is the Sandhills Curiosity Shop ... Insanity at Its Finest!
Have a good time there with Harley and his Mediocre Music Program!

Roger Miller mural in Erick, Oklahoma

Lodging Options Along Route 66 in Oklahoma

Hotels in Miami, Oklahoma

Hotels in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Hotels in Oklahoma City

Hotels in Clinton, Oklahoma

Hotels in Weatherford, Oklahoma

Hotels in Elk City, Oklahoma

Hotels in El Reno, Oklahoma

Hotels in Yukon, Oklahoma

We also have divided the trip across Oklahoma Route 66 westbound into three major segments ... select your area of interest for more details, and also visit our Route 66 city pages!

Route 66 Road Trips in Oklahoma

Kansas to Tulsa

Vintage Oklahoma Fold-Out Road Map from Phillips 66 Petroleum Company

Tulsa to Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City to Texas

OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66

Earlier Times: Vintage Views along Route 66 in Oklahoma

Earlier times on Route 66 in Oklahoma: Bishop's Driv-Inn, Tulsa, OK

We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Oklahoma and Route 66.

What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove through and around Oklahoma? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new?

What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today.

Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades.

These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today around Oklahoma.

Star Courts - Elk City	Home on the Range - Clinton	Phillips Courts - El Reno
Matlyn Court - Oklahoma City	Motor Inn Courts - Elk City	Cooks Court - Tulsa
De Luxe Courts - Oklahoma City	El Sueno Court - Claremore	Quarter Horse Motel - Vinita
Nu Homa Motel - Oklahoma City	Classen Cafeteria - Oklahoma City	Will Rogers Motor Court - Tulsa
The Major Court - Oklahoma City	Royce Cafe - Edmond	Flamingo Motel - Oklahoma City

Travel Guides for Other Segments of Route 66

Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? Here are the major segments ...

More About Route 66 Travel in Oklahoma

More Things to Do on Route 66 - at the Oklahoma Tourism Department

Oklahoma Historical Society: Route 66

Oklahoma Route 66 Association

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.

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, the 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.

More information about the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport

Order the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport online

Need More Help Planning Your Route 66 Trip?

Popular Route 66 resources for your next road trip!

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