If there’s one state that truly embraces the spirit of Route 66, it’s Oklahoma. With more drivable miles of the Mother Road than any other state, this stretch is packed with neon-lit motels, towering roadside giants, historic museums, classic diners, and enough quirky attractions to keep your camera roll full from border to border.
From the legendary Blue Whale of Catoosa to onion burgers sizzling on the griddle and original ribbon-road pavement beneath your tires, Oklahoma delivers the kind of road trip nostalgia Route 66 was built on. It’s a place where you can sip hundreds of soda flavors, sleep under glowing neon, drive brick streets from the 1920s, and meet the larger-than-life characters who keep the highway’s history alive.
Whether you’re cruising the full 2,400-mile journey or just tackling a state at a time, Oklahoma proves why Route 66 isn’t just a road, it’s an experience. Here are the top ten things to do on Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Oklahoma
1. Have a Whale of a Time at a Giant Roadside Attraction
One of the most iconic roadside attractions on Route 66 can be found in Oklahoma: the Blue Whale of Catoosa. This oversized cetacean was built by Hugh S. Davis as a gift for his wife in 1972, and it’s become a beloved mascot of the Mother Road ever since. It even got a brand new visitor center for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026. The Blue Whale is one of the most popular stops in Oklahoma, and all of Route 66, so be sure to add this stop to your road trip itinerary.
Bonus!
The Blue Whale isn’t the only popular roadside attraction on Oklahoma Route 66! This state is filled with large, quirky stops. On your road trip, keep an eye out for the Blue Hippo in Edmond, Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park in Foyil, the World’s Tallest Gas Pump in Sapulpa, and the Rt. 66 Spaceman in Weatherford, among the Top Oklahoma Route 66 Roadside Attractions.
2. Eat a Fried Onion Burger in El Reno
The fried onion burger, also known as the Oklahoma onion burger, got its start back in the Great Depression, when local cooks needed to stretch their meat supply. In the 1920s, Homer and Ross Davis of El Reno’s long-gone Hamburger Inn started pressing shredded onions into ground beef patties. What began as a creative fix became a regional tradition still going strong today. Stop by Sid’s Diner in El Reno to get a taste of this Oklahoma classic. Family-owned for more than 50 years, Sid’s version of this local staple has earned national attention, with features on Food Network’s Man v. Food and in countless magazines and travel shows. Their burger has crispy edges, chewy onions, and that unmistakable fried flavor. Pair it with fresh-cut fries or onion rings and wash it all down with a thick, creamy chocolate shake.
Bonus!
Sid’s Diner isn’t the only restaurant in El Reno serving up fried onion burgers! The onion burger triple threat also includes Johnnie’s Grill and Robert’s Grill. Stop into all three of these iconic restaurants and decide for yourself who makes the best fried onion burger in Oklahoma.
3. Drive on an Original Stretch of The Mother Road
One of the best parts of driving on Route 66 is driving on Route 66. And one of the most unique stretches of Route 66 is Ribbon Road in Miami, Oklahoma. This narrow, nine-foot-wide roadway is the last surviving segment of its kind from the entire 2,400-mile span of the Mother Road. The story goes that when building this stretch of road, budget constraints forced planners to make a tough decision: build a full-width road for part of the route or pave the whole way with just one lane. The result? A 15-mile-long, single-lane road with six sharp 90-degree turns and long, straight stretches flanked by concrete curbs. Though much of the original Ribbon Road has since been lost or widened, two historic sections still remain, with the most accessible being a three-mile drive just southwest of Miami. This remaining segment is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and marked with a roadside marker commemorating its place in transportation history.
Bonus!
Another unique stretch to drive on is Route 66 Brick Paved Broadway Street in Davenport, where several blocks in the downtown area are still paved with original 1925/1926 bricks from Davenport Brick & Tile Company.
4. Catch a Movie at the Drive In
Watch a movie the old-fashioned way at a classic drive-in movie theater on Route 66. Tee Pee Drive-In is a historic drive-in theater located in Sapulpa. First built in 1949, it’s now been renovated and reimagined so modern travelers can enjoy a film in style. Pull in, grab a bucket of popcorn or a Frito chili pie at the retro concession trailer, and even sip a cocktail under the stars.
Bonus!
Can’t get enough drive-in movies? Visit Admiral Twin Drive-In in nearby Tulsa. Opened in 1951, and featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders, this theater still screens movies on its renovated screen.
5. Eat a Route 66 Cookie
Set inside a former 1927 Marathon gas station, Dairy King in Commerce is a vintage roadside eatery that is easy to spot and hard to skip. While it no longer fills gas tanks, it still delivers comfort food classics including burgers, milkshakes, and old-school ice cream treats. One of the most fun must-tries here is the Route 66 Cookie. Shaped like the iconic highway shield and stamped with “US 66,” this sugar cookie is both a tasty snack and a Route 66 souvenir you can eat.
Bonus!
While you’re there, turn around, and check out another vintage service station located right across the road: Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station.
6. Explore the Land of the Giants
Tulsa, Oklahoma, has recently gained a new nickname—The Land of the Giants—due to the influx of Route 66 Muffler Men and Uniroyal Gals popping up along the Mother Road in town. But it all started with one: the Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man. Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 opened in a repurposed classic 1950’s PEMCO gas station in 2018. A year later, the shop’s mascot, a space cowboy named Buck Atom, was brought to life in the most spectacular of ways with a giant, 21-foot-tall fiberglass muffler man who quickly became a favorite roadside attraction among road trippers.
Bonus!
Buck Atom is no longer the only muffler man in Tulsa! Seek out all the fiberglass giants in the Land of the Giants: the Stella Atom Space Cowgirl Uniroyal Gal on the other side of the shop, Meadow Gold Mack Muffler Man across the street, Cowboy Bob Muffler Man next door, and the Rosie the Riveter Uniroyal Gal down the road.
7. Learn All About Route 66 in Oklahoma and Beyond
Oklahoma is home to the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City. This museum celebrates the Mother Road in both Oklahoma and beyond. Focused on the people who lived and work on Route 66, along with the automobiles and places that defined it, the museum campus offers an interactive tour through history. With five museums in one, be sure to reserve a couple of hours on your travel itinerary to explore all of the buildings and exhibits in this complex.
Bonus!
The National Route 66 Museum isn’t the only Route 66 museum in Oklahoma. If you want to delve deeper into the history of Route 66 in the state, you can also explore the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton and the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler.
8. Drink a Soda with a Twist
Pops 66 Soda Ranch on Route 66 is a soda shop, restaurant, roadside attraction, and gas station all wrapped into one. Head inside to try one (or several) of the more than 700 varieties of soda from around the world. They have everything from standard colas to fruity blends to flavor concoctions you’d never expect to find in liquid form (like buffalo wings, creamed corn, and peanut butter and jelly). There are even some more off-the-wall flavors that just about anyone would be hesitant to try. Sodas with names like bug barf, dog drool, and kitty piddle. If you’re hungry, stop in the Pops 66 restaurant for a burger, a hot dog, or an omelet. Eat in the small dining room or grab a road trip meal to go. And you can’t miss the world’s largest soda bottle out front!
Bonus!
Arcadia, Oklahoma is home to some of the best Route 66 attractions on the Mother Road. Before or after exploring Pops, head down the road to find the uniquely-structured Arcadia Round Barn and the menagerie of quirky Route 66 recreations at OK County 66 (John’s Place).
9. Spend a Night Under the Neon
Route 66 is known for its iconic vintage motels lit by iconic glowing signs. In Oklahoma, the Skyliner Motel in Stroud is one of the oldest motels with one of the newest refurbished signs. The Route 66 motel originally opened in 1954 and, in 2026, it reopened once again, with 10 modern rooms lit by one of the best neon signs in the state. Located right down the block from Rock Cafe, this motel is a must-stay for anyone traveling the Mother Road in The Sooner State. Spending the night in Stroud comes with the added advantage of being able to explore all of the Neon on Main signs that light up Main Street.
Bonus!
There is no shortage of neon signs to explore on Route 66. In Stroud itself, look for new welcome signs and several businesses sporting new placards. Also visit the Western Motel in Vinita, Route 66 Neon Sign Park in Tulsa, Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa, and the Visit Luther Sign in Luther, among many others across the state.
10. Honor the Mother of Mother Road
Known to travelers far and wide as the “Mother of the Mother Road,” Lucille Hamons spent nearly 60 years welcoming travelers with warm meals, cold drinks, and an unmatched brand of Oklahoma hospitality. Her Provine Service Station in Hydro became a true Route 66 staple—not just for the fuel, but for the kindness that came with it. Alongside her husband Carl Hamons, Lucille operated the Provine Service Station from 1941 until her passing in 2000. Now recognized as Lucille’s Historic Highway Gas Station (or simply, Lucille’s Place), this historic landmark as been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997. Stop by to visit the past and to remember a woman beloved by every traveler who stopped by.
Bonus!
Lucille was so popular her historic gas station has inspired other local businesses, like the restaurant Lucille’s Roadhouse and Lucille’s Hotel. But if you really want to pay your respects to the Mother of the Mother Road, visit her gravesite in Hydro.
Oklahoma may hold more miles of Route 66 than any other state, but the journey doesn’t stop here. Keep rolling down the Mother Road and discover the top things to do in every state along the way. Each stretch brings its own personality—from classic diners and quirky roadside giants to desert landscapes and neon-lit motels—proving that Route 66 is best explored one state at a time.
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Illinois
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Missouri
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Kansas
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Texas
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in New Mexico
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Arizona
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in California
