Issuu

2025-2026 Trip Guide

Blue Hippo

DELUXE

WoodRidge Inn & Suites

Welcome to Oklahoma’s 400+ miles of Route 66!

IN THIS GUIDE…

What you are holding is a county-by-county layout of Route 66 through Oklahoma. Each section contains maps, directions, tourist attractions, town overviews, and more. Throughout its history, Route 66 has been an engine of westward exploration; tourists today frequently follow the same east-to-west path when searching for the old highway. This guide is laid out accordingly. We have tried to be as accurate as possible, but

Route 66 is ever-evolving. Changes are inevitable, so be prepared to improvise. It’s all part of the adventure of traveling!

CREDITS…

General copy: Association members and local city organizations. A true team effort!

Maps: University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Scenic Byways Program, updated by Rhys Martin

Trivia/facts: Michael Wallis, author of Route 66: The Mother Road; Jim Ross, author and historian; and the greater Route 66 community of roadies and advocates.

On the cover...

The new mural at our office in Tulsa, painted by Ryan Smart of Splinter Block! It features the state’s Route 66 Centennial logo. Stop by for a selfie next time you’re in town!

For additional information about Oklahoma Route 66 and upcoming events, contact us! We are always happy to assist travelers.

(405) 258-0008 www.oklahomaroute66.com

Business Members are listed throughout this guide in each community. There is also a directory at the beginning of each section. East covers Quapaw to Depew, Central covers Stroud to Calumet, and West covers Geary to Texola. The Members listed here are current as of the time of printing - for the most up-to-date listing, please check out our website. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. The Association assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

Index to city information and maps MAPS

CITY INFO

From the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association

Hello, and thank you for picking up the Oklahoma Route 66 Association Trip Guide!

For over thirty-five years, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association has been a champion for the Mother Road in the Sooner State. Our mission is to help preserve and protect the historic road while celebrating the new additions that make Route 66 a unique experience. For most of that time, we have been producing this annual guide to help travelers find their way and have the best time on the most famous road in the world.

Not only does this guide include maps to keep you on the road itself, but it also provides historical context behind each community you’ll drive through. This guide also highlights attractions along the way and our Business Members. Without their support, this guide would not be possible and we would not be able to execute our mission:

To celebrate and preserve Route 66 in Oklahoma through education, promotion, and advocacy, ensuring the future of the Mother Road while honoring its community and history.

Please stop and visit with as many of them as you can – and show YOUR support by spending some money when you do. Let them know you learned about them in this booklet!

We want to continue serving Oklahoma’s 400+ miles of Route 66 far into the future. If you find value in this Trip Guide and want to be a part of our journey, join the Oklahoma Route 66 Association today! You can join via our website, by calling us, or by sending us a check in the mail. Check out the Membership Application on Page 52 for more information.

As Oklahoma author and historian Michael Wallis says: Life begins at the off-ramp.

We’ll see you on the road!

Rhys Martin

OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION TRIP GUIDE

Business Directory EAST (Quapaw to Depew)

Without the support of our Business Members, we wouldn’t be here. Support them as you travel Oklahoma Route 66!

COMMERCE

City of Commerce

618 Commerce Ave | 918-6754373

Dairy King

100 Main St | 918-675-4261

Hitch N’ Post Antique & Flea Market

401 Commerce Ave | 918-6754519

MIAMI

Briley’s Silverscreen Ice Cream, Soda, & Gifts

103 ½ N Main St | 918-919-3537

Chapters

31 N Main St | 918-540-0468

The Coleman Theatre Beautiful

103 N Main St | 918-540-2425

Dobson Museum/Ottawa County Historical Society

110 “A” Street SW | 918-542-5388

The Frozen Elephant

329 S Main St | 918-961-7014

Goodfella’s Pizzeria 34 N Main St | 918-919-3803

Pizza Hut Express

101 “A” Street NW | 918-540-2471

Pizza Hut of Miami

1320 N Main St | 918-542-6642

Visit Miami OK

111 N Main St | 918-542-4435

Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger 915 N Main St | 918-542-1696

Woody’s Bar-N-Grill 227 S Main St | 918-919-3748

VINITA

66 Apparel 117 S Wilson | 918-256-8573

Blazin’ B BBQ & Catering 134 S Wilson | 918-323-0310

Cabin Creek RV

441915 US-60 | 918-256-8000

City of Vinita 104 E Illinois Ave | 918-418-3631

Clanton’s Cafe 319 E. Illinois | 918-256-9053

Eastern Trails Museum 215 W. Illinois | 918-244-5355

Hi-Way Café

437918 E Highway 60 | 918256-5465

Holiday Inn Express - Vinita 232 S 7th St | 918-256-4900

Home of Hope

226 W Dwain Willis Ave | 918236-0212

Kelley’s Therapeutic Massage 420 W South Ave | 918-6132246

Northeast OK Electric CoOp PO Box 948 | 918-256-9417

Official Rt 66 Pin Trading Co 136 S Wilson | 702-308-9200

Park Hills Motel & RV Park 438415 US-60 | 918-256-5511

RCB Bank

120 W Canadian | 918-7130222

The Route 66 Mercantile

320 S Wilson St | 918-2568406

Vinita Antique Mall 127 S Wilson St | 918-3230310

Vinita Daily Journal 138 S Wilson | 918-256-6422

Vinita Friends of Route 66 104 E Illinois | 918-323-1918

Western Motel 437866 E Highway 60 | 918256-7542

CHELSEA

Chelsea Area Historical Society PO Box 404 | 918-923-1409

Chelsea Motor Inn 321 E Layton | 918-789-3437

Main Street Diner 251 W 6th St | 918-489-2001

Project Chelsea OK 918-789-2511

CLAREMORE

Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce

419 W Will Rogers Blvd | 918-3412818

Front Porch Bakery 18435 S Highway 66 | 918-3417505

J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

330 N Lynn Riggs Blvd | 918-3415707

Okie Snack Wagon 918-340-8385

Rogers County Development 1503 N Lynn Riggs Blvd Ste D | 918-343-8959

Rogers County Historical Society 121 N Chickasaw Ave | 918-3421127

Sailor Antiques and Collectibles 422 W Will Rogers Blvd | 918-3414838

Shepherd’s Cross 16752 E 450 Rd | 918-342-5911

Visit Claremore 400 Veterans Pkwy | 918-341-8688

Will Rogers Memorial Museum 1720 W Will Rogers Blvd | 918-3438118

Will Rogers Productions 661-399-5832

CATOOSA

The Blue Whale 2860 N Hwy 66 | 918-266-2505

Catoosa Chamber of Commerce 650 S Cherokee Suite C | 918266-6042

Catoosa Historical Society 207 N Cherokee | 918-266-6592

City of Catoosa 214 S Cherokee | 918-266-2505

D.W. Correll Museum 19934 E Pine St | 918-266-3612

Hampton Inn & Suites 100 McNabb Field Rd | 918-7393939

Visit Cherokee Nation 877-760-6700

TULSA

AAA Oklahoma 2121 E 15th St | 918-748-1000

Admiral Twin Drive-In 7355 E Easton St | 918-878-8099

Agitsi Stained Glass 2615 W 40th Pl #3 | 918-340-8030

Annette Murray, Author 918-230-8388

Anybody’s Guest 2219 E 11th St Ste 3 | 918-5766887

Apertures Photo

4602 E 11th St | 918-742-0500

Art Emporium 66 2615 W 40th Pl | 918-706-7715

Atlas Automotive Repair 4625 E 11th St | 918-910-2886

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 1347 E 11th St | 918-629-4606

Cedar Rock Inn 4501 W 41st St | 918-447-4493

The Campbell Hotel & Event Center

2636 E 11th St | 918-744-5500

Circle Cinema 10 S Lewis Ave | 918-585-3456

Cottage in the Pearl 1153 S Quaker Ave | 918-900-4020

Decopolis 1401 E 11th St | 918-382-7388

Desert Hills Motel 5220 E 11th St | 918-834-3311

Expressly Gifts

10032 S Sheridan Rd Ste H2A | 918-664-3320

Freddie’s Hamburgers 9130 E 11th St | 918-836-5600

Generations Antique Mall 4810 E 11th St | 918-834-7577

OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION TRIP GUIDE

Gusher Newspaper 1125 S 110th E Ave | 918-437-7470

Hank’s Hamburgers 8929 E Admiral Pl | 918-832-1509

Jerlissa’s Trading Post 2010 E 11th St | 918-906-2782

Jesse’s Restaurant 1134 S Memorial | 918-832-9052

John’s Classics on Rt 66 8702 E 11th St | 539-867-3000

Joseph Gierek Fine Art 1342 E 11th St | 918-592-5432

Meadow Gold District PO Box 521094 | 918-695-7249

Meadow Gold Mack 1306 E 11th St Ste A & B

Mother Road Market 1124 S Lewis Ave | 918-984-9001

Mother Road Real Estate/KW Advantage 2651 E 21st St Ste 100 | 918-7122252

Mythic Press 2015 E 3rd St | 918-516-8255

Ollie’s Station Restaurant 4070 SW Blvd | 918-446-0524

Paula’s Treasures 17619 E 11th St | 918-829-1480

Route 66 Alliance PO Box 54214 | 918-629-2984

Route 66 Historical Village 3770 Southwest Blvd | 918-6199473

Splinter Block 3306 Charles Page Blvd | 918-7245150

Standing Horse Acres 8223 Frankoma Rd | 918-724-5150

Starlight Concerts PO Box 35158 | 918-706-6615

Tulsa Air & Space Museum & Planetarium 3624 N 74th E Ave | 918-834-9900

Tulsa Fire Museum 1010 E 8th St | 918-619-6103

Tulsa Regional Early Ford V8 Club 407-314-0498

Tulsa Route 66 Main Street 2215 W 38th Pl | 918-445-4457

Tulsa Spotlight Theater 1381 Riverside Dr | 918-587-5030

Visit Tulsa 1 W 3rd Street Suite 100 | 918560-0238

Wings of Freedom 10338 E 11th St | 918-888-4097

SAPULPA

Crossroads Cookery 117 E Dewey Ave | 918-851-3314

Gasoline Alley Classics 24 N Main | 918-806-1000

Happy Burger 215 N Mission | 918-224-7750

Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum 13 Sahoma Lake Rd | 918-2161171

Route 66 Electric

1003 E Lee Avenue | 918-8502056

Route 66 Tree Service

12904 W 86th St S | 918-918-8554398

Sapulpa Area Chamber of Commerce 101 E Dewey | 918-224-0170

Sapulpa Historical Society 100 E Lee Ave | 918-224-4871

Sapulpa Main Street 15 N Water St | 918-224-5709

Tee-Pee Drive-In Theater 13166 W Ozark Trail | 918-9285500

Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway 701 E Dewey | 918-224-1515

Waypoint Lounge 111 S Main St | 918-600-2055

KELLYVILLE

High on a Hill Dairy Goats 15362 S 217th W Ave | 918-8419951

BRISTOW

Anchor 66 630 S Roland St | 918-813-1182

Bristow Historical Society & Museum 1 Railroad Pl | 918-367-9335

Bristow Tire & Auto Service 115 W 4th Ave | 918-367-2224

Bristow Toy Museum 118 N Main St | 918-629-2852

City of Bristow 110 W 7th Ave | 918-367-2237

Evergreen RV Park 37661 W Hwy 66 | 918-367-2610

Granny’s Emporium 709A S Roland | 918-367-1727

Oklahoma Venue 66 116 W 8th St | 918-381-4624

A BIT ABOUT SIGNS

Since Route 66 was federally de-certified in 1985, the road itself now carries many names and numbers Modern highways overlay the original pavement or bypass it nearby. In Oklahoma, there’s even a State Highway 66 - which is sometimes but not always Historic Route 66 Even when Route 66 was in full swing the road was re-aligned multiple times for various reasons It can be confusing! That’s why our guide gives you maps and calls out alternative street names to help you find your way

Oklahoma was the first state to mark former US Highway 66 with what became the distinctive Historic Route 66 signage The first one was installed in Warr Acres on June 6 1990 thanks in part to the fundraising and awareness efforts that the Oklahoma Route 66 Association led Thirty years later the Association once again led the effort to replace those signs with a new version, working with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to identify areas where signage was lacking

State Highway 66 (SH 66) exists in northeastern and central Oklahoma. Specifically, it starts just east of Vinita and goes all the way to El Reno This can be deceiving however In Tulsa SH 66 signs mirror Interstate 44; following them will cause you to miss the historic road entirely When State Highway 66 ends in El Reno, Business Loop I-40 signs begin These will put you on the Interstate, too, if you ’ re not careful

It’s a good idea to look through this guide before you travel and keep it with you while you ’ re on the road Signage is there to help you but it’s not perfect If you get lost one of our many Business Members would be more than happy to help you find your way again It’s part of the adventure!

OGERS HIGHWAY

Will Rogers was the most famous public figure of the early 20th century A radio and movie star known for his wit and wisdom, he was at the peak of his prosperity as a humorist-philosopher entertainer when he tragically died in an airplane crash on August 15, 1935

Just days later, a group of leaders from Tulsa suggested that US Highway 66, which connected Rogers’ hometown to Hollywood, be symbolically named The Will Rogers Highway In January of 1936, the US Highway 66 Association made it official with a logo and a formal proclamation.

ROADSIDE ATTRACTION SIGNS

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has replaced many of the early 2000s Hampton Inn signage, which had gone missing or were faded by the Oklahoma sun New signs have been added, too! Keep an eye out for these signs, signaling that a Route 66 roadside attraction or side trip are nearby

Each sign provides bitesized content and history for the location you're visiting

1990 SIGN DESIGN 2021 SIGN DESIGN STATE HIGHWAY 66 SIGN

US BIKE ROUTE 66 SIGN

OTTAWA & DELAWARE COUNTIES

SIGNAGE

General Information

Starting at the Kansas border and continuing through Ottawa and Delaware counties, Historic Route 66 has multiple designations: US 69 Alt., US 69, US 59, and US 60. It can be confusing!

In Miami, if you are westbound, take care that you don’t turn off Main when you see a sign for US 69 South. The modern alignment bypasses the beautiful downtown district and you’ll miss the Coleman Theatre Beautiful….among many other places!

Continue south on Main until you reach the major intersection that indicates State Highway 10/Steve Owens Blvd. Either turn right (west) here to take the newer way out of town, or go straight to access the 9-foot road. (See the directions on the right side of this page.)

Street names of Route 66 in towns (east to west):

Quapaw: 69 Alt. • Main • 69 Alt. Commerce: 69 • Mickey Mantle Blvd. • 69 (or 69 • Commerce St. • Main St. • 69 for older alignment) Miami: 69 • Main • Third Ave. SW/Steve Owens Blvd./SH 10 • 69

Afton: 60/69 • South First • 60/69

ROAD FACTS

Ottawa County has a unique stretch of historic highway. The 9-foot-wide segment that connected Miami and Afton through a series of zigzags has been known by various nicknames, including the Scotch Highway, Ribbon Road and Sidewalk Highway. The road is rough, but a cautious, careful driver can handle it just fine.

Drive slowly, as the road is narrow (you’ll have to pull over to the shoulder if you meet another vehicle), and gravel is periodically spread across the road surface. If you look carefully, you will see white curbs on either side of the road.

The county has plans to resurface this road and we’re working to preserve as much as possible. Stay tuned!

2025-2026

Directions for driving the 9-foot segments:

Miami segment:

Westbound: At the Steve Owens and Main intersection in Miami, stay on Main Street. This will turn into E. Street SW and 125 as you cross over the Neosho River. Continue straight until you reach a T intersection (E 130 Rd), then turn right. After a half-mile, the asphalt ends and the 9-foot roadbed begins.

Eastbound: One mile north of Narcissa (a half-mile after the blue cylindrical water tower), turn right. This road is marked E 140 Rd. on the other side of the highway. There is a granite historic marker on the right.

Southern segment:

Westbound: Look for the NE Tech Center on the right side of current 66. The interstate will be in front of you. Turn right onto E 200 Rd in front of the Center.

Eastbound: One mile east of Afton, there is an old fragment on the right side of the road with a Will Rogers Highway marker. Look to the left and you’ll see a gravel road marked S 520 Rd opposite the end of the fragment on the right. Turn left here.

ROADSIDE SCAVENGER HUNT

See if you can find the following landmarks (listed in no particular order):

• Dead Man’s Corner w/gas station ruins on the north side.

• Chat piles. These are the tailings (leftovers) from mining.

• Abandoned motor court southwest of Miami (on the newer alignment, past the Neosho River.) These were the Riviera Courts / Holiday Motel and is on the National Register of

Historic Places. Be mindful of Private Property!

• Brick farm silo.

• Eagle-Picher Plant.

QUAPAW

The first town east-to-west travelers encounter on Historic Route 66 is Quapaw. The town is named for Chief John Quapaw of the Quapaw Tribe, one of the founders of the community. It was a railroad stop in the early days but the discovery of nearby lead and zinc deposits brought rapid prosperity.

It was also an early celebrator of the Good Roads Movement; in 1933, the town held a big celebration when the road was paved. A zinc tablet (since gone missing) was laid on Main Street commemorating the spot as where “East Meets West” since the road completion linked Ottawa County pavement all the way to Chicago, IL.

The Quapaw Tribe hosts one of the state’s oldest powwows, held around Independence Day annually. It lasts several days and brings in nearly 50 tribes from the region.

Quapaw is also close to the famous Spook Light, an unexplained phenomenon on a section of road known as the Devil’s Promenade! Dusk sightings of this mysterious ball of light date back to the late 1800s. It’s not directly on Route 66 and is on the east side of I-44; check online or ask locally for directions. Please be respectful of local residents and private property.

LANDMARKS

-Historic Marker: Entering Indian Territory (KS/OK Border)

-Quapaw Signing Stone (403 S Main St)

COMMERCE

Like its northern neighbor, Commerce was a mining town in the heyday of the Tri-State Mining District (the nearby town of Picher was entirely abandoned due to over-mining; you can see the tall piles of gravel from Route 66). Check out the Will Rogers

COUNTIES

Highway Marker on the NE side of town (as Historic Route 66 curves south) for more! Commerce is better known for its famous resident: Mickey Mantle. There’s a statue honoring the New York Yankee baseball player next to the 1952 bypass alignment of Route 66 – but don’t skip the original route that goes through downtown. Otherwise, you’ll miss some great shops and converted service station photo ops! Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home is also here on Quincy Street.

BUSINESS MEMBERS

-City of Commerce, 618 Commerce Ave, 918-675-4373

-Dairy King, 100 Main St, 918675-4261

-Hitch N’ Post Antique & Flea Market, 401 Commerce Ave, 918-675-4519

LANDMARKS

-Will Rogers Highway Marker (56050 E 50 Rd)

-Commerce Water Tower (400 Commerce Ave)

-Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home (319 S Quincy)

-Mickey Mantle Statue (400 S Mickey Mantle Blvd)

-Hole in the Wall Conoco Station (101 S Main)

MIAMI

Pronounced “My-am-uh” after the Native American tribe for which it’s named, the eventual seat of Ottawa County was founded by Congressional Decree in 1891 (fun fact: Miami, Florida wouldn’t come along for another five years!) It started as a cattle town and then also prospered from the local mining industry. George L. Coleman, Sr. built his stunning vaudeville theatre and movie palace in 1929 because he couldn’t convince the top acts to stop here without such a venue.

Miami was also the site of World War II aircraft training by British

pilots. There is a Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) section of the cemetery on the north side of town that flies a Union Jack flag at the grave sites of several fliers that tragically died during flight exercises.

Miami today is the home of many local-owned businesses, shops, and colorful murals. There are nearly a dozen Native American tribes in or near town and a variety of cultural sites in the area. South of Miami are two sections of Route 66 called the Sidewalk Highway, or Ribbon Road In 1922, there was only enough money to either pave half the road from Miami to Afton or pave it the whole way…only half as wide. The single asphalt lane is nine feet wide with concrete curbs. The Association is working with the county to help preserve one mile of this historic road.

BUSINESS MEMBERS

-Briley’s Silverscreen Ice Cream, Soda, & Gifts, 103 ½ N Main St, 918-919-3537

OTTAWA & DELAWARE COUNTIES

-Chapters, 31 N Main St, 918540-0468

-Coleman Theatre Beautiful, 103 N Main St, 918-540-2425

-Dobson Museum / Ottawa

County Historical Society, 110 A Street SW, 918-542-5388

-The Frozen Elephant, 1931 N Main St, 918-961-7014

-Goodfella’s Pizzeria, 24 Main St, 918-919-3803

-Pizza Hut Express, 101 A Street NW, 918-540-2471

-Pizza Hut of Miami, 1320 N Main St, 918-542-6642

-Visit Miami OK, 111 N Main St, 918-542-4435

-Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger, 915 N Main St, 918-542-1696

-Woody’s Bar-N-Grill, 227 S Main St, 918-919-3748

LANDMARKS

-G.A.R. Cemetery (2801 N Main St)

-Murals (throughout downtown)

-Coleman Theatre Beautiful (103 N Main St)

-Marathon Station (331 OK-125)

-Former Riviera Courts (Intersection of US Rt 66 and S 545 Rd; Private Property)

-Sidewalk Highway Historic Marker (Intersection of US Rt 66 and E 140 Rd)

AFTON

Afton has been around since 1886 and is either named after the daughter of a Scottish railroad surveyor or the Robert Burns poem, “Flow Gently Sweet Afton.” Both claims honor the Afton River in Scotland. This railroad town (along the Frisco line) has always counted on local agriculture as a primary industry but also serves as a gateway to the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees to the east.

Unfortunately, several historic buildings and sites have been lost

2025-2026

in the last few decades – including the Palmer Hotel and the Horse Creek Bridge – and Afton Station closed after long-time Route 66 advocate and roadie Laurel Kane passed away. Still, there are a few sites that recall the so-called glory days of the road. Afton is also the home of 2022 Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame inductee Betty Wheatley.

LANDMARKS

-Buffalo Ranch Historic Marker (21600 S US-69)

-Crosstar Flag and Tag Museum (103 S Central Ave)

-Will Rogers Highway Marker (21875 S 520 Rd)

-Former Avon Courts (703 S 1st St)

Afton Station Postcard From the Laurel Kane collection

953 E. ILLINOIS AVE. | VINITA, OK 74301

A NATION OF HOSPITALITY

Going on a Route 66 adventure? Take a moment to rest, refresh and admire Cherokee art and culture at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center, with its permanent exhibition featuring beautiful pottery by the renowned Cherokee National Treasure.

Outside, take a photo beside the awe-inspiring sculpture “A Bundle of Seven Arrows.” Inside, enjoy refreshments at the grab-and-go café and find something special for loved ones at the gift shop. The center also presents cultural classes, events and the rich Cherokee history of Vinita, Oklahoma.

CHEROKEE NATION ANNA MITCHELL CULTURAL & WELCOME CENTER