Tulsa is known for its Art Deco-style architecture and its connection to oil production and tribal nations. It’s also well-known for going big when it comes to its Route 66 attractions.
Does Route 66 go through Tulsa? Route 66 goes through Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a 28-mile stretch. In fact, some consider Tulsa the capital of Route 66. The Oklahoma route overall has 432 driveable miles of Route 66, the most of any state.
That makes Oklahoma and Tulsa in particular a huge deal when it comes to historic Route 66. It was something that surprised me a little bit during our month-long stay in Tulsa. This city really loves its Route 66 history, and I’m here for it.
Ready to learn more about all there is to see along Route 66 in Tulsa? Let’s dive into this very important segment of the Mother Road.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, including links through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I won’t recommend something I have not used/would not use myself, and any income earned supports the upkeep of this site.
A Brief History of Route 66
What is the history of Route 66 in Tulsa?
The history of Route 66 in Tulsa dates back to the early 1900s when the road was first developed.
Thanks to a lobbying campaign by Cyrus Avery, a Pennsylvanian who chose Tulsa as his adopted home during the oil boom, Tulsa was included in those planning stages early on. By 1926, Route 66 was officially ready for action with Tulsa as a key component.
People in and around Tulsa needed access to the city to facilitate the transportation of goods, services, and liquid gold (that’s oil, friends) across the country. It was all a very big deal with a global impact.
Avery’s efforts are what got him named the “Father of Route 66,” also known as the Mother Road.
Why is Route 66 called the Mother Road?
Route 66 is called the Mother Road because that’s how it was described in the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
In the novel, the historic route is a symbol of both desperation and hope as people flee the effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The road would take them West to new beginnings and jobs, and potentially create opportunities for new adventures.
Over the years, the road has become somewhat of a mother figure. I’m not being a creep here. Folks young and old have traveled its length not only to get from one place to another but to embrace the changing times.
It was a changing of the guard of sorts from old to new, or dirt to highway.
Is Interstate 40 the same as Route 66?
Interstate 40 (I-40) is not the same as Route 66 as far as history is concerned, but it’s served as a replacement for much of the old road. In some areas, I-40 runs parallel to Route 66.
Just as Route 66 was so revolutionary for its time, the interstate system was revolutionary when it arrived.
Stops Along Route 66 in Tulsa
What kind of kicks did Bobby Troup mean in his “Route 66” song? The kicks Bobby Troup meant in his (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 song are a euphemism for all of the fun to be had on the historic route. It’s another reference to the adventures that await on Route 66 road trips.
Luckily, if you base yourself in Tulsa, you have access to quite a few Route 66 Tulsa attractions in and around Tulsa.
Interested in a map of everything I’ll highlight here? Follow the Google link below:
GIMME MY ROUTE 66 MAP OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA
Tally’s
This isn’t a strict Route 66 original, but it’s a beloved diner in this part of town that will fuel you up for the adventure ahead. This location has been open since 1987, but it boasts a much more vintage vibe from its decor to its menu.
You can’t go wrong with a classic diner breakfast while you’re here. Their chicken and waffles, pancake stacks, and chicken fried steak are all popular options.
Marie’s Trading Post
Marie’s Trading Post is no longer in business, but the mural on the side of the old home goods store is worth a quick stop. If you’re easily entertained, try to find the following in the mural: Will Rogers, a classic car, a school bus, and hot air balloons.
Wasn’t that fun?
Desert Hills Motel
OK, so you probably won’t want to stay at this dated motel, but it’s worth a photo stop in your travels as a business that has operated here since 1953. Apparently, it’s been recently remodeled, but here’s a recent Yelp review as a reference:
“The sweltering heat was concentrated in the bathroom, where the water pressure was reminiscent of an octogenarian with an enlarged prostate. The room was clean-ish, though it looked not to have been dusted since Clinton was in office.”
I love the Internet so much.
I also love what they’ve kept about the place as far as playing up those Route 66 vibes, from the neon sign to the classic car out front. Not every place requires deeper exploration.
Decopolis
There is a lot of signage out front beckoning you inside and you should probably answer. Decopolis is part gift shop and part exhibit space that is exactly what you need on a Route 66 road trip through Tulsa.
We got a bunch of taffy there because that’s what we like to do.
We had already gotten a full bag in Uranus, Missouri, while on the road to Tulsa, but that didn’t stop us. You do NOT need to try pickle-flavored taffy, by the way.
We also grabbed some chocolate bars and perused all of the toys here, including a surprisingly large variety of Harry Potter-themed puzzles and games and “fossils” in honor of the dinosaurs out front. There are some free exhibits inside for you to look at while you’re shopping.
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66
This is another gift shop that was a service station at one point welcoming travelers along Route 66 to fill up. Whether you’re here for souvenirs or not, you’ll want to make a pit stop to meet the 21-foot-tall Muffler Man, Buck Atom.
He’s a space cowboy and a fixture on memorabilia throughout the Tulsa area along with The Golden Driller. I’ll give him a shoutout if you keep on reading.
The Meadow Gold Sign
You’ll see the huge Meadow Gold Sign while you’re across the street at Buck Atom’s. It’s been advertising milk since 1934 in some form or another after near destruction in 2004. That’s when the original building it sat in front of was demolished.
Cross the street to get a closer look at the neon and the mural next to it. “You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But We Did” was painted by Josh Butts, a local artist who is behind several large-scale murals in the city. This one is a nod to a bridge built over the Arkansas River in 1904.
The Blue Dome
This centerpiece of the Blue Dome District, Tulsa’s best entertainment district, was once a 24-hour gas station that catered to Route 66 travelers. It may look pretty far removed from the action today, but that’s because the alignment for the road changed over time.
Back in the 1920s when folks were coming by for gas, it was actually quite convenient to the original alignment of Route 66. It’s just a symbol of the neighborhood today, but it’s fun to think about how much this part of the city has changed over time.
Mother Road Market
This is Oklahoma’s first food hall and the perfect place for picky eaters who love a side of history with their lunch. The market today operates out of the historic 1939 Scrivner-Stevens Grocery Warehouse, one of the largest grocery wholesale retailers at the time.
There are quite a few merchants to choose from. We went with Chicken and the Wolf. They have a brick-and-mortar location nearby if you like it enough to try that second location. I had their vegan fried “chicken” while Brian went with a classic Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
There are no refunds if you misjudge the spice level on your food. Brian loves spicy food and the medium heat level was plenty for him.
Once you’re done eating, pop into the K66 General Store to honor some of that grocery store history. The prices are a little high, but you’re supporting local farmers and artisans while you’re there. I grabbed a jar of kimchi and pickled beets from the fermented items section.
El Rancho Grande Mexican Food
For more authentic eats along Route 66, try El Rancho Grande Mexican Food, a Tex-Mex joint serving up cheesy enchiladas since 1950. It’s one of the latest remaining Route 66 Tulsa restaurants from that time period, so a meal here is truly a blast from the past.
It’s also fun to think about the idea of Tex-Mex back in 1950, as it was definitely a foreign concept in Tulsa at that time. The sign that hangs out front is the original.
Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
Now that you know all about Cyrus Avery, this monument dedicated to the Father of Route 66 probably makes more sense. The centerpiece of the Curys Avery Centennial Plaza is a visual presentation of old vs. new, or where the East meets West.
Fun fact: It’s not a literal representation of what was happening when Route 66 hits its stride, but a symbolic depiction of the changing times.
Horses and horse-drawn wagons were replaced by cars, and coexisting was complicated. The car in the sculpture here is a Ford, obviously.
This is also where you’ll see as much as there is to see of the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge, once known as the 11th Street Bridge. This was a critical piece of Route 66, but unfortunately, it became unsafe for the passage for both cars and pedestrians over the years.
Route 66 Neon Sign Park
I’d recommend walking to this mini-park from the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza as parking can get tricky on the other side of the bridge.
You won’t be walking along the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge. I already told you that’s been closed to traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian, for some time after it was deemed unsafe for driving or walking.
Here’s what to do instead:
- Continue down below the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge to a walking path that takes you parallel to Route 66.
- You’ll pass by signage heralding Route 66 as “The Best, Most Scenic.” This isn’t the path you want, as it won’t get you far enough to the other side.
- Keep walking until you see another bridge path. This is the one you want. Keep in mind that this one is used by cyclists, too, so share the path with some vigilance.
Once you’re on the other side, you’ll see three signs reminding us of the good ol’ days on Route 66: Tulsa Auto Court, the Oil Capital Motel, and Will Rogers Motor Court.
These are all replicas of the glowing neon signs that existed here back in the day, but I read that they’re a good representation of what you’d see in front of those businesses.
Route 66 Rising
This oddly situated Tulsa Route 66 sign in the middle of the Avery Traffic Circle is worth a look if you’re able to find a spot to pull over. Brian got us to a small parking area on one side in a residential community while I hopped out to snap a photo.
The project was supposed to represent Oklahoma’s entrepreneurial spirit and Route 66 as a road of survival. Some have nicknamed the thing “Route 66 Sinking,” which I must say does make me laugh.
Again, this is a quick stop if you make it a point to check it out at all. The photos aren’t great unless you want to frogger closer to the sculpture, which I really don’t recommend.
If you’re having trouble finding the Route 66 Rising sculpture address, you’ll see it marked on your Google maps. It’s right where South Mingo Road and East Admiral Place meet.
Huge Liquid Life Bottle
It’s literally that…a huge Liquid Life bottle along a frontage road that runs parallel to Route 66. (You can see Route 66 from here, so I’ll allow it.) The 25-foot bottle is basically an ad for one of the local distribution offices for Liquid Life, but there’s little else to be said about this oddity.
Route 66 Historical Village
This modest open-air Tulsa Route 66 museum features a restored Frisco 4500 steam engine, a nearly 200-foot-tall oil derrick, and a caboose. You can climb into that caboose for a quick lil’ photo shoot or continue on your merry way.
Fun fact: The oil derrick you see here is the largest in North America. It marks the spot of the 1901 oil strike, an event that helped make Tulsa the oil capital of the world.
There’s a little informational kiosk on site that is open for a few hours on the weekends. We were never able to catch it open, but apparently, there’s a large Route 66 map inside. It’s modeled after an old Route 66 gas station.
The Red Fork Depot, an event space that looks like it’d be perfect for your upcoming nuptials, is the newest addition to the village.
Honorable Mention: The Golden Driller
This hunk of steel, concrete, and plaster isn’t on Route 66, but as it appears on every single blog discussing Route 66 in Tulsa, I feel the need to at least touch upon why that is.
The Golden Driller, also known as the sixth tallest statue in the United States, has stood in front of the Tulsa Expo Center since 1966.
He was originally built in 1952 as a big draw for the International Petroleum Exposition, a place for oilmen to keep up to date on technologies in the industry.
So what does this all have to do with Route 66?
Honestly, it’s just proximity. He’s not that far from the rest of the attractions I’ve described for you here, so he’s an easy add-on for Tulsa itineraries.
In any case, he’s huge and quite well-built, so do with all of this information what you will. I’m here to add value to your Tulsa experience.
More Route 66 Attractions Near Tulsa
Tulsa may be where the east meets the west, but Route 66 doesn’t begin or end here.
What towns does Route 66 go through in Oklahoma? In addition to Tulsa, Route 66 goes through quite a few small towns in Oklahoma that include:
- Quapaw
- Commerce
- Miami*
- Narcissa
- Afton
- White Oak
- Chelsea
- Oklahoma City
- Chandler
- Catoosa
*Don’t forget we’re talking about Oklahoma here, not Florida.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, either, but I’ve made a list of Route 66 sites not too far of a drive from Tulsa proper if you don’t feel like throwing caution to the wind and just driving. Any times listed for the towns I’ll describe are approximate from downtown Tulsa.
Blue Whale of Catoosa (20 minutes)
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is just a 20-minute drive from central Tulsa. At one point, it was the centerpiece of a swimming hole in the area after the original owners opened it for public use. They originally wanted to use the whale as a private, family affair, but money talks.
By 1988, the original owners were no longer able to care for the site, so the park was closed to the public. Revitalization efforts in the coming decades focused on returning the whale to its brilliant blue hue and creating a picnic area around the site.
You can’t swim there anymore, but you can climb around…at your own risk, of course. There was some graffiti on the dirty second level so we only took a quick look. Brian climbed up on the top of the whale’s tail during a very windy day which seemed precarious.
There also used to be an attached reptile kingdom on the site that is now a decrepit ship. You definitely shouldn’t climb into that unless you want some massive splinters. A mushroom graveyard nearby looks on where I imagine many tchotchkes were sold out of trading posts.
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park (50 minutes)
This outdoor art collection is a little over three miles east of Route 66, but it’s known as a popular detour for Route 66 travelers. The totem poles you’ll see here were all carved by Ed Galloway, either by himself or with the help of local art students.
Some of what you’ll see here dates back to 1937. The largest totem pole here was completed in 1948.
When Galloway died in the 1960s — the National Park Service and Oklahoma Historical Society disagree on the exact date — the park fell into disrepair. Recent restoration efforts have made it a quirky destination yet again.
It was a quick stop for us to check out the enormous totem poles as the gift shop and museum were closed for the season when we stopped by. If you visit in the warmer months, you may get to check out the Fiddle House, a collection of Galloway’s fiddles.
Note: Information online describes this one as dog-friendly, but there’s only a small designated area for pets at the site itself. I’d leave Fido at home if possible before heading out this way, as you’ll miss out on the best totem poles otherwise.
Route 66 Interpretive Center (1 hour 5 minutes)
This interactive museum in Chandler comes with one of the strangest videos I’ve watched about the Mother Road to date.
Your visit starts with a short tour from staff that includes common facts and uncommon truths about Chandler and its role in the local economy. That’s followed by a theater setup that plays the story of two buddies who take a trip from Oklahoma to Arizona along Route 66.
There are loose women, emergency room visits, and a full circle tale that brings one of the leads back to the historic route for a repeat trip.
It’s unclear what happens to his friend over the years, but as he jumped into shallow pools in his youth, I don’t know if it’s good.
Once you’re done with all of that, you can spend some time checking out the exhibit space. There are beds you can lounge upon and watch more Route 66 content, something I did not think I’d be doing during our Oklahoma adventures.
Phillips 66 Filling Station (1 hour 5 minutes)
This old cottage-style gas station, also in Chandler, was once a working filling station for Route 66 travelers. It’s in the process of restoration as I write this, so expect great things out of this little pocket of history. It sounds like a gift shop may be in the works in the near future.
Meramec Caverns Barn Sign (1 hour 5 minutes)
While in Chandler, make a quick stop for a photo of the last remaining Meramec Cavern barn sign in the state. It’s best if you’re traveling east if you just want a quick look out of the window. Otherwise, it’s easy enough to turn around and pull over from the other direction.
Pops 66 (1 hour 25 minutes)
This is a diner, gas station, and purveyor of pops on the country’s most historic road in Arcadia, Oklahoma. You’ll know you’re there when you see the 66-foot-tall soda bottle out front.
We didn’t eat there but did make our own six-pack of pops that included orange cream, huckleberry, and old-fashioned root beer bottles. A regular told us we couldn’t leave without trying the Sioux City Sarsaparilla, and it did not disappoint.
This is a very fun stop along this historic stretch of road.
Accommodations Near Route 66 in Tulsa
I’ve already warned you away from the Desert Hills Motel, but there are other options for Tulsa accommodations if you want to hang out for a while.
I typically use Booking.com for the best deals on hotels and cross-check with Hotels.com in case that site is cheaper. As everything in Tulsa seems to be 15 minutes away, you really don’t need to stay on Route 66 for an efficient overnight.
We were at a short-term rental for our month in Tulsa, but I know that’s a rarity for most travelers. Use the map below for options across all budgets:
Is Route 66 still worth driving?
Route 66 is still worth driving, even though so much of the Mother Road has changed over time. Tulsa’s Route 66 attractions are a great place to start, as they really show off what makes the drive so unique and special.
It’s also one of the cornerstone towns of Route 66, so it’s a must for transportation history buffs.
Ready for Route 66 Tulsa?
Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but if you’re looking to book during a particular period of time, you should use Skyscanner. It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc.
If your Oklahoma travel is limited to Tulsa, you’ll need to fly into Tulsa International Airport for your trip. It’s a smaller, regional airport, so expect connections no matter where your start is.
For adventurous folks who travel on the reg, I also subscribe to Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get cheap flight deals from your home base straight to your inbox. It’s a great way to visit destinations you’ve always wanted to visit or that weren’t even on your radar.
Your Accommodations: I usually use Booking.com and Hotels.com for our hotel needs. Both offer loyalty programs, and now offer listings that are more of the home or condo rental variety, which is great. Vrbo is my preferred Airbnb alternative.
Scroll up for my favorite places to stay near Route 66 in Tulsa.
Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try Hostelworld. Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience on a budget.
Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Favorite Things page. For more information on planning your travel, visit my Travel Tools page. It’s heavy on the text but super helpful for overall trip planning!
Love this Route 66 trip planner? Pin me!
Interested in more Oklahoma content? Check these out:
- Plan a Trip to Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- A Detailed Guide to Natural Falls State Park
- Top Things to Do in Oklahoma City
- An Epic Southern U.S.A. Road Trip Itinerary
- A Guide to Tulsa’s Best Breweries
Ready to see more?
Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.
Too much, or just enough?
