Road trips are synonymous with fast food drive throughs. When you’re spending hours a day in your car it’s only natural to want something quick, easy, and convenient that doesn’t involve finding a place to park. Burgers, fries, tacos, and chicken nuggets are all popular options for eating in the car. But, when it comes to a road trip on The Mother Road, there are plenty of other options for Route 66 dining that you won’t find anywhere else.
Yes, there are plenty of fast food drive throughs on Route 66. And some of them are unique to their location (like Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger in Oklahoma). But there are also vintage diners, steakhouses, food trucks, eat-in restaurants, coffeehouses, and local bars that serve a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Looking for the best Route 66 dining options to add to your road trip itinerary? Use the filters below to search our dining directory by location, type, or keyword to fill your travel plan and your stomach. Whether you’re visiting just one of the eight states on The Mother Road (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California) or driving the entire journey from Chicago to Los Angeles (or vice versa), there are plenty of places to stop for a good meal. And don’t forget to top it off with a classic milkshake, even if you take it to go!
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Must SeeLou Mitchell’s Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois
Start your Route 66 road trip off right with a good breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Lou Mitchell’s opened in 1923 and several factors contributed to its continued success. Besides their delicious breakfast and lunch fare, its location at the start of Route 66 made it a quintessential stop before traveling the Mother Road.
Lucille’s Roadhouse in Weatherford, Oklahoma
Lucille’s Roadhouse in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is a charming homage to one of Route 66's most cherished stops. Opened in 2006, this Route 66-themed restaurant has been delighting guests with delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for over a decade, all while offering a slice of history on the side.
DECOPOLIS TulsaRama in Tulsa, Oklahoma
DECOPOLIS TulsaRama in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a Route 66 attraction featuring a 1950s-themed ice cream parlor, fantasy bookstore, art gallery, visitor center, and unique shopping experiences.
Must SeePops 66 Soda Ranch in Arcadia, Oklahoma
Pops 66 Soda Ranch on Route 66 is a soda shop, restaurant, roadside attraction, and gas station all wrapped into one. Get a meal, taste one of the more than 700 varieties of soda, fill up your car, and check out the world’s largest soda bottle while you’re there.
Monarch Pharmacy & Soda Fountain in Baxter Springs, Kansas
Monarch Pharmacy & Soda Fountain in Baxter Springs, Kansas isn’t just any drugstore. Housed in a building that looks like it’s been there for decades (even though this business only opened in 2015), Monarch brings back the classic soda fountain experience while serving as a real, working full-service pharmacy.
Punkins Place in Baxter Springs, Kansas
Punkins Place in Baxter Springs, Kansas, is a cute and cozy coffee stop parked right on Route 66. Grab a hot (or iced!) latte, americano, macchiato, or tea, or kick it up a notch with a colorful Lotus Energy Drink. Pair your drink with a fresh pastry.
Must SeeCars on the Route in Galena, Kansas
Galena, Kansas is a Route 66 town that partially inspired the Pixar movie Cars. And at the popular roadside attraction Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas you can meet one of the stars of the movie in person: Tow Mater. Cars is a Pixar movie set in a world where anthropomorphic talking cars populate.
Must SeeEmma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville, California
If you’re traveling Route 66 through Victorville, California, make time for a stop at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe. Sitting just off the highway since 1947, it’s the oldest diner in town and has long been a favorite of truckers, locals, and road trippers looking for a hearty meal.
Must SeeCollege Street Café in Springfield, Missouri
College Street Cafe in Springfield, Missouri offers comforting meals and friendly hospitality on Route 66. The diner opened in Springfield in the 1950s. Though it went through different names and several owners over the years it always was there to serve hearty meals to Route 66 travelers and locals alike.
Buc-ee’s in Springfield, Missouri
Need gas, snacks, or souvenirs on your Route 66 road trip? Springfield, Missouri is home to the very first Buc-ee's in Missouri. The popular travel center and road trip stop has made a home in the "Birthplace of Route 66." Buc-ee's is a popular chain of travel centers that was founded in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1982.
Lost Along the Mother Road
Not every stop along Route 66 has stood the test of time. Over the decades, some Route 66 attractions have faded from the map, leaving behind ghost towns, relics, and memories of what once was. These sites may be gone, but they are not forgotten, living on through photos, memories, and the travelers who still seek their traces.
