You Can Still Drive On Route 66 In Oklahoma

You'd be shocked to know how many people are traveling across Oklahoma to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66. I think most Oklahomans think of it as touristy and just a bunch of old signs, museums, and roadside attractions.

Most people think it's a pilgrimage consisting of constantly stopping, taking pictures, spending a small pile of money, and getting on down the road to the next tourist trap... But that's not the case in Oklahoma.

You can still drive Route 66. A lot of us do without even realizing it. It's just a local road in so many communities along the way.

The Mother Road

Fun Fact: We have more of Route 66 here in Oklahoma than any other state. And while that may set up a bunch of "bad roads" jokes, it's more historical and nostalgic than you'd think.

Oklahoma has more than 400 miles of the old highway that you can still drive today, and in a lot of places you can follow the old road without ever getting on the interstate.

That's something I don't think we take enough advantage of.

The road starts way up in the northeast corner of the state around Quapaw and eventually makes its way all the way across Oklahoma to Texola on the Texas line.

Driving Route 66 In Oklahoma

And you don't have to make some giant Route 66 road trip out of it. In fact, I think most people just hop on it to get where they're going without even realizing the magnitude.

You can just pick a stretch and drive it. The fact that there are tons of little stops along the way is pretty cool too. The Oldsmobile sign, the roadside art installations, historic gas stations... It's right up my alley.

Does that make Pop's a mandatory stop every time you're near Arcadia? No. But if you're on the Mother Road for the experience, that changes everything.

The Small Towns Along Route 66 In Oklahoma

Anywhere along our 400 miles of 66, you might end up in a tiny little town you've never heard of, but that's kind of the point. Stop at a local diner. Look past the sticky menus and less-than-stellar dusty decor and have a meal. People have likely been eating at places like this longer than your parents have been alive.

The Mother Road is still here.

Everyone talks like it's something you have to experience in Chicago or Santa Monica, but it's not. It's still here. You just have to get off the interstate and get lost for a little while.