With Oklahoma being the epicenter of Route 66, our state features over 400 miles of the original highway. Oklahoma was the first state to mark its portion of the route with the official Route 66 signage.
The creation of the Mother Road in 1926 connected Oklahoma to the rest of the country, and became a thread that wove together countless communities along the way.
The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and the Oklahoma Historical Society are working to ensure Route 66 remains an epic experience for generations to come. The Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission was established to plan, coordinate and promote statewide activities celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. From Oklahoma City to Arcadia, throughout Tulsa and Catoosa, many popular Route 66 locations are less than 1.5 hours from Stillwater and make for a perfect day trip.
Prepare yourself to go on some adventures this year as many towns have been undergoing renovations in anticipation of the milestone birthday. With Oklahoma having the most mileage of Route 66 out of any state in the country, there are many attractions and pitstops barely an hour away. Oklahoma City crews installed more than 200 Route 66 signs along their 51.5 miles of the famed highway within OKC city limits so residents and visitors can retrace America’ s Mother Road( also known as Will Rogers Highway).
Popular spots on Route 66 throughout OKC are the State Capitol Complex, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma History Museum, the iconic 1958 Gold Dome, both Will Rogers and Tower Theatres, and the historic Milk Bottle Grocery. Lake Overholser Bridge is a pivotal landmark along Route 66 as it was one of the first main bridges to be built across the state of Oklahoma. The Okla- homa City Zoo is also situated on Route 66. OKC’ s Chinatown, rooted in the 1970s influx of Vietnamese immigrants, is a key stop for experiencing diverse Asian cultures on the Mother Road.
Just minutes from Edmond are two classic Route 66 favorites in Arcadia. The Arcadia Round Barn features a unique design believed to resist tornadoes, with a second-story loft now used for community events. The barn houses a museum and a gift shop. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Pops 66 Soda Ranch is a Route 66 landmark known for its 66-foot-tall soda bottle sculpture and a selection of nearly 500 bottled sodas. It also has a gas station and Americana diner. Choosing sodas will take awhile, so make sure you have plenty of time. Fortunately, Pops 66 lets you select mix-and-match 6 packs!
Tulsa is the self-proclaimed“ Capital of Route 66,” featuring a 28-mile stretch of the iconic highway. Tulsa businessman and Oklahoma’ s first highway commissioner, Cyrus Avery, is considered the father of Route 66. He led the national committee that created the route and picked 66 to be the Route’ s official number. Tulsa has actively invested in preserving and promoting its Route 66 heritage, leading to its official“ Capital” title. The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa honors him with bronze sculptures depicting the“ East Meets West” theme of the historic highway, including a Model T and a horse-drawn wagon, alongside the Route 66 Skywalk and flags of the eight states Route 66 crosses.
Tulsa’ s two downtown historic districts, Greenwood and Blue Dome, are both along Route 66. Other famous attractions include Route 66 Neon Sign Park, the Golden Driller Statue and
Meadow Gold
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