Route 66Trip Guide
Route 66 town guide · Oklahoma

Route 66 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, the state capital, sits about 894 miles from Chicago, near the middle of Oklahoma's long stretch of Route 66. It is a main overnight town on our planner and a good place for a rest day.

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop (the fork-and-knife markers are places to eat). Open Oklahoma City on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.

The Route 66 icon here is small: the Milk Bottle Grocery, a tiny three-sided grocery crowned by a giant metal milk bottle on the city's old Route 66 line. Two stops tell a story the road's postcards left out. In Luther, east of the city, the Threatt Filling Station is a Black-owned Craftsman gas station that gave Black travelers on Route 66 a safe stop under Jim Crow, and the 1929 Elks Victory Lodge and Ruby's Grill Building was a hub of Black community life on the city's northeast side.

Museums make up most of our list. The Oklahoma City National Memorial stands on the site of the Murrah Federal Building and honors those affected by the 1995 bombing. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum shows Russell and Remington paintings and rodeo history, the First Americans Museum opened in 2021, and downtown has the American Banjo Museum and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, known for its Chihuly glass. The Myriad Botanical Gardens, built around a glass conservatory, and the big city zoo are easy breaks from the car.

Practical note: the city is big and spread out, so drive between sights. El Reno, with its old gas stations and railroad hotels, is about 32 miles further west.

Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Oklahoma City

  1. Milk Bottle GroceryA tiny three-sided grocery crowned by a giant metal milk bottle on Oklahoma City's old Route 66 line.
  2. Arcadia Round BarnA true round barn from 1898, built of curved bur oak and rebuilt by volunteers, beside Route 66 in Arcadia.
  3. Threatt Filling StationA Black-owned Craftsman gas station that gave Black travelers on Route 66 a safe stop under Jim Crow.
  4. North Canadian River BridgeA 1924 road bridge over the North Canadian River, listed on the National Register and tied to Route 66.
  5. Elks Victory Lodge-Ruby's Grill BuildingA 1929 brick building that was a hub of Black community life on Oklahoma City's northeast side.
  6. Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical GardenA big city zoo and garden with more than 2,000 animals, a good family break from long Route 66 miles.
  7. Oklahoma City National MemorialThe memorial and museum on the site of the Murrah Federal Building, honoring those affected in 1995.
  8. National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumA major museum of Western art and cowboy life, with Russell and Remington paintings and rodeo history.
  9. Myriad Botanical GardensA 15-acre downtown garden in Oklahoma City built around the Crystal Bridge Conservatory.
  10. Oklahoma City Museum of ArtDowntown Oklahoma City's art museum, known for its Chihuly glass and a 55-foot glass tower.

Retro roadside (4)

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Threatt Filling Station in Luther, OK

Threatt Filling Station

Luther, Oklahoma · on Route 66

A Black-owned Craftsman gas station that gave Black travelers on Route 66 a safe stop under Jim Crow.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit
Arcadia Round Barn, Oklahoma

Arcadia Round Barn

Arcadia, Oklahoma · on Route 66

A true round barn from 1898, built of curved bur oak and rebuilt by volunteers, beside Route 66 in Arcadia.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit
Elks Victory Lodge-Ruby's Grill Building in Oklahoma City, OK

Elks Victory Lodge-Ruby's Grill Building

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.6 mi from Route 66

A 1929 brick building that was a hub of Black community life on Oklahoma City's northeast side.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit
Milk Bottle Grocery in Oklahoma City, OK

Milk Bottle Grocery

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · on Route 66

A tiny three-sided grocery crowned by a giant metal milk bottle on Oklahoma City's old Route 66 line.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Historic bridges (1)

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North Canadian River Bridge in Oklahoma City, OK

North Canadian River Bridge

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · on Route 66

A 1924 road bridge over the North Canadian River, listed on the National Register and tied to Route 66.

Historic bridgePhoto credit

Nature & parks (3)

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Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.6 mi from Route 66

A big city zoo and garden with more than 2,000 animals, a good family break from long Route 66 miles.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Hambrick Botanical Gardens

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 0.6 mi from Route 66

Four landscaped gardens with ponds, streams and sculpture on the grounds of Oklahoma City's cowboy museum.

Nature & parks
Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City, OK

Myriad Botanical Gardens

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.9 mi from Route 66

A 15-acre downtown garden in Oklahoma City built around the Crystal Bridge Conservatory.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Museums (7)

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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 0.6 mi from Route 66

A major museum of Western art and cowboy life, with Russell and Remington paintings and rodeo history.

MuseumPhoto credit
First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, OK

First Americans Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 2.6 mi from Route 66

Oklahoma City's American Indian cultural museum, officially opened in 2021.

MuseumPhoto credit
Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma History Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 0.1 mi from Route 66

Oklahoma's official state history museum, on an 18-acre site across from the Governor's mansion.

MuseumPhoto credit
American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, OK

American Banjo Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.8 mi from Route 66

A museum devoted to the banjo's long American story, from the slave trade era to today.

MuseumPhoto credit
Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.4 mi from Route 66

The memorial and museum on the site of the Murrah Federal Building, honoring those affected in 1995.

MuseumPhoto credit
Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 1.6 mi from Route 66

Downtown Oklahoma City's art museum, known for its Chihuly glass and a 55-foot glass tower.

MuseumPhoto credit
Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK

Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 0.7 mi from Route 66

Home of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, with hands-on exhibits on state history and a theater.

MuseumPhoto credit

Where to eat in and around Oklahoma City

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Next towns on Route 66

Route 66 in Oklahoma City: questions

Did Route 66 go through Oklahoma City?
Yes. Route 66 ran through Oklahoma City; the Milk Bottle Grocery stands on the city's old Route 66 line.
What is there to see on Route 66 in Oklahoma City?
We list 15 stops in and around Oklahoma City, mostly museums, retro roadside stops and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Milk Bottle Grocery, Arcadia Round Barn and Threatt Filling Station. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
How far is Oklahoma City from the next towns on Route 66?
Oklahoma City sits at about mile 893 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Stroud, OK, about 46 miles back. Heading west, El Reno, OK is about 32 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
Is Oklahoma City a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?
Yes. Our trip planner uses Oklahoma City as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.