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OKLAHOMA The Mother Road State
376 miles
WITH MORE THAN 370 MILES of the Mother Road, Oklahoma contains the largest concentration of surviving original alignments and historic roadway sections of Route 66 anywhere in America. The highway enters from Kansas near Miami and travels diagonally across the state to the Texas border, connecting dozens of communities whose identities remain deeply intertwined with the road. More than a transportation corridor, Route 66 helped shape Oklahoma’ s economy, culture, and place in American history.
Oklahoma’ s greatest contribution to the Mother Road may be the work of Cyrus Avery. A Tulsa businessman, road advocate, and visionary, Avery played a pivotal role in planning the highway and ensuring it crossed Oklahoma rather than taking a more direct route farther north. His influence was so significant that he became known as the“ Father of Route 66,” and his legacy remains visible throughout the state, particularly in Tulsa, where Route 66 passes directly through the heart of the city. Read more about Avery on page 48.
The Oklahoma stretch offers remarkable variety. In the northeast, the road winds through former mining communities and historic downtowns before reaching Tulsa, one of Route 66’ s most vibrant urban centers. Farther west, travelers encounter rolling prairie, agricultural communities, restored service stations, classic diners, and some of the most recognizable roadside attractions on the entire route. The landscapes gradually shift from green hills and river valleys to the red-dirt plains that define western Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is also home to some of Route 66’ s most famous landmarks. The whimsical Blue Whale of Catoosa has delighted travelers for generations, while the towering Arcadia Round Barn and colorful Pops 66 Soda Ranch have become modern icons. Historic stops such as Rock Cafe, the National Route 66 Museum, and Tulsa’ s Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza provide deeper connections to the road’ s past and continuing legacy. It’ s this enduring Route 66 legacy that has led many enthusiasts to call Oklahoma the“ Mother Road State.”