Route 66 was paved across America in the 1920’s. This iconic highway begins in Chicago, IL and ends in Santa Monica, CA. It meanders through 8 states and crosses 3 time zones. But the heart of Route 66, over 400 miles, goes right through Oklahoma.
“Well if you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66.” Bobby Troup (1946) song lyrics
Plan Your Trip
Your trip will be filled with sights to see and amazing roadside attractions. With all these scenic miles ahead it’s a good time to plan out your next moves.
The Route 66 Ultimate Guide will help. It’s free to download.
You need to plan your trip so that you won’t miss anything. The app will give you information on all the historical sites, charming towns and beautiful art deco architecture on the route.
Top 7 Sights to See
Route 66 dips into Oklahoma from Kansas. The road runs slightly North of the town of Quapaw. Just over the stateline you might want to stop at the Quapaw Tribal Museum.
Quapaw Tribal Museum: A museum that shows the history of the Quapaw tribe. It is also the home of the retired naval tugboat the Quapaw. And you can also purchase hand made Indian art, clothes and Pendleton blankets.
Coleman Theatre: Tour the beautifully restored Victorian theatre in Miami.
Totem Pole Park: It’s hard to miss this 90 foot totem pole right outside of the town of Chelsea. And don’t miss the museum of handmade fiddles and gift shops.
Will Rogers Memorial Museum: The tiny town of Claremore features the Will Rogers memorial Museum. Will was a philosopher and a cowboy. You can visit the museum and see his saddle collection. You can watch all his movies from the 1930’s here.
Heart of Rt 66 Auto Museum: The museum is easy to find. Because the world’s largest (66 foot tall) gas pump sits in front.This is a unique interactive history museum. The 1930’s building is a restored WPA armory. You can relax in vintage furniture and watch the videos that reveal the rich history of Route 66.
Old Town Museum Complex: Elk City is home to 4 large and diverse museums. The fun starts with Myrtle. She’s a 14 foot tall Kachina doll made of scrap metal and oil drums.
The first museum is the Oklahoma Rt 66 Museum. There is a great mix of memorabilia and murals. And don’t forget to take a stroll through the classic motorcycles and cars from every era.
The Old Town Victorian Mansion has the history of Elk City in a perfectly restored Victorian mansion.
There’s also a Farm and Ranch Museum and a Blacksmith Museum where you can view all the tools that ranchers and blacksmiths used before the Industrial Revolution.
Cherokee Trading Post: This is a huge travel mart and restaurant located in Calumet. It’s been here since 1963. Indian artisans sell their handcrafted jewelry, pottery and wall hangings.
Get Your Kicks
The top 7 attractions barely scratch the surface. There are tourist attractions, history lessons, and amazing cuisine all along this road. Check your app for Custers Last Stand and the Civil War Battlefields. And try not to miss the Round Barn, The Cowboy Museum and Pop’s. Enjoy yourself!
