66 go through Kansas, but that small section punches above its weight. The town of Galena is the home of Cars on the Route, a former Kan-O-Tex service station that celebrates its connection to the Pixar animated movie Cars. Operating as a gift shop, burger restaurant, and welcome center, Cars on the Route proves that travelers still value roadside service offered by friendly faces.
No Route 66 road trip would be complete without a photo op with a“ Muffler Man,” and travelers can find that opportunity at Buck Atom’ s Cosmic Curios in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A 21-foot-tall space cowboy and 19-foot-tall space cowgirl welcome visitors to this restored 1950s PEMCO gas station. Inside, you’ ll find toys, souvenirs, art, apparel, and more.
Perhaps the most visibly distinct restored Route 66 service station is the U-Drop Inn, the first commercial business on Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas. Art Deco detailing and two towers make it an unmistakable roadside attraction. In its prime, the building operated as both a service station and as a cafe. Now owned by the City of Shamrock, the station operates as a visitor center, chamber of commerce office, and community center.
These restored and preserved service stations serve a vital role in protecting the history of Route 66. In this age of convenience, when everyone is trying to get where they’ re going as quickly as possible, what qualifies as good service has adopted a different definition. Service stations remind us of an era when good service took time, when travelers were taken care of and greeted with friendly faces and a local perspective. It’ s an experience we motorcyclists can appreciate more than most.
RIDERMAGAZINE. COM / AUGUST 2026 / 61