Driving the full length of the iconic Route 66 has long been on my bucket list. It’s a journey that would take considerable time to complete in one go, so for now, I’m taking it in sections. During my time in Tulsa, my top priority was to explore the 28-mile stretch of Route 66 that runs through the city. I wanted to feel the thrill of the Mother Road and soak in all the stops and sights along the way.
History of Route 66
Route 66 holds a special place in American history as the country’s first highway. Established in November 1926, the highway signs appeared a year later, providing a direct route for those migrating west to California.
This was especially true during the Dust Bowl, when hundreds of families left their desolate farms in search of a new life. John Steinbeck famously dubbed it “the Mother Road” in his novel The Grapes of Wrath, using Route 66 as a symbol of escape and hope for a fresh start. Since then, the highway has become an enduring icon in American culture.
Along the route, towns and communities flourished, creating unique stops that quickly became attractions in themselves. Route 66 wasn’t just a road—it became a hub for recreation, tourism, and classic roadside Americana.
Stretching 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, this legendary highway crossed the heart of the country—including a vibrant stretch through Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa became an important stop along the route, welcoming travelers with diners, motor courts, and neon signs that captured the spirit of the open road. Today, many of those classic landmarks still remain, making Tulsa one of the most memorable places to experience the nostalgia of Route 66.
While its role as a major transportation route has largely been replaced by the modern interstate system, U.S. Route 66 continues to hold an important place in American history and culture. So come along—let’s get our kicks on this stretch of the Mother Road.
Map of Route 66 Stops in Tulsa
Exploring the stretch of U.S. Route 66 through Tulsa, Oklahoma is easy to do in a single day. The route winds for about 28 miles through the city, passing historic landmarks, quirky roadside attractions, and classic neon signs that capture the spirit of the Mother Road.
Many of the stops are located along 11th Street and Southwest Boulevard, two of the main roads that once carried travelers west across the country. As you follow this historic corridor, you’ll discover a mix of restored landmarks and nostalgic reminders of Route 66’s golden age.
Below are some of the must-see stops along Tulsa’s stretch of the Mother Road.
Route 66 Stops in Tulsa
With the history of the Mother Road in mind, we set out to explore Tulsa’s stretch of U.S. Route 66. The road winds through the city past vintage signs, quirky roadside attractions, and historic stops that feel like stepping back into the golden age of American road trips.
The Blue Whale
The first stop along this stretch of U.S. Route 66 was the famous Blue Whale of Catoosa. Built in the early 1970s by Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife, the giant whale soon became a beloved roadside attraction.
Before long, families traveling the Mother Road began stopping here to picnic and enjoy the water. In its early days, visitors could swim in the pond surrounding the whale, and the fins even served as slides into the water.
While swimming is no longer allowed today, visitors can still walk across and through the giant whale and explore the grounds. Nearby, a whale-covered sign highlights all the stops along Route 66 from Illinois to California—a fun reminder of just how far this historic road once carried travelers across the country.
After spending some time exploring the quirky charm of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, we continued west along U.S. Route 66 toward Tulsa. As we approached the city, a striking modern landmark welcomed travelers to this historic stretch of the Mother Road.
Tulsa Rising
A more recent addition to Tulsa’s stretch of U.S. Route 66 is the striking Tulsa Rising sculpture. This large bronze sculpture greets travelers as they enter Tulsa, celebrating the city’s deep connection to the Mother Road.
The sculpture depicts a muscular oil worker emerging from the earth, symbolizing Tulsa’s history as an oil boomtown and its spirit of resilience and growth. In a short time, Tulsa Rising has become a modern icon of the city and one of the most photographed landmarks along Tulsa’s stretch of Route 66.
After taking a few photos and admiring the sculpture, we continued along U.S. Route 66 to discover more of the historic landmarks and roadside attractions that make Tulsa such a memorable stop on the Mother Road.
Desert Hills Motel
One of the businesses that flourished along U.S. Route 66 was the classic roadside motel. These small, inexpensive places offered travelers a convenient place to rest before continuing their journey down the Mother Road.
Many of these motels have become attractions in their own right, standing as nostalgic reminders of the golden age of American road trips. One of the most recognizable in Tulsa is the Desert Hills Motel, known for its vintage mid-century design and its colorful neon sign. The bright sign, shaped like a desert oasis with a palm tree, is one of the most photographed Route 66 signs in Tulsa and a perfect example of the bold neon advertising that once lined the highway.
Unfortunately, when we arrived, several large trucks were parked in front of the motel, blocking our view of the building and its iconic sign. Even so, it was easy to imagine the days when weary travelers pulled in for the night, their cars lined up outside the rooms as they paused before continuing their journey along Route 66.
Buck’s Cosmic Curios
One of the most famous—and certainly one of the most photographed—stops along U.S. Route 66 in Tulsa is Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios. It’s almost impossible to miss the towering space cowboy Buck Atom standing proudly beside the road.
Buck stands 21 feet tall outside a restored 1950s gas station that has been transformed into a colorful souvenir shop filled with Route 66 memorabilia. His retro space-age style perfectly captures the playful roadside charm that made the Mother Road so memorable.
On the other side of the shop stands the newest addition to the scene—Stella Atom. Stella joined the cosmic crew in recent years and has quickly become just as popular with visitors stopping to snap photos along this lively stretch of Route 66.
Meadow Gold
One of Tulsa’s longest standing icons of Route 66 is the Meadow Gold sign. From the 1930s-1970s this sign was the most recognized landmark of Route 66 in Tulsa. It was the sign that signaled visitors had made it to Tulsa. It sat on top of a building until 2004 when the building was torn down. Not wanting to lose this iconic marker, the city had a a brick pavilion built in the spot where the building stood so the sign could go on watching over the city.
Meadow Gold Mack
Thanks to the popularity of the Meadow Gold Sign—and perhaps a little friendly competition with Buck Atom down the road—a newer addition has appeared in the same square. Standing tall outside the shop is Meadow Gold Mack, a towering lumberjack statue that has quickly become another fun photo stop along U.S. Route 66 in Tulsa.
Mack greets visitors outside the Meadow Gold store, where travelers can stop in for dairy treats and a bit of Route 66 nostalgia. Like many of the roadside giants that dot the Mother Road, this cheerful lumberjack adds a bit of whimsy and charm to Tulsa’s growing collection of Route 66 landmarks.
Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge
One of Oklahoma’s claims to fame is being the home of Cyrus Avery, the man widely credited with championing the idea and development of U.S. Route 66. Often called the Father of Route 66, Avery was instrumental in promoting a highway that would connect communities and make cross-country travel easier.
Today, the historic Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge stretches across the Arkansas River in Tulsa. The bridge stands as a tribute to the man whose once-radical idea of a connected highway system helped shape the American road trip and turned Route 66 into one of the most famous highways in the country.
East Meets West Sculpture
Just beside the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge stands the striking East Meets West sculpture. This detailed monument features life-size figures capturing a dramatic moment in time—a horse-drawn oil field wagon colliding with a Ford Model T. The sculpture symbolizes the transition from the old ways of travel and industry to the modern age of automobiles that helped define U.S. Route 66.
Behind the sculpture fly the flags of the eight states that the historic highway passes through, from Illinois to California. Because of its location along the Arkansas River in Tulsa, the city was long considered the midpoint of Route 66—a symbolic meeting place where the East and West came together along the Mother Road.
Neon Sign Park
The final stop along this stretch of U.S. Route 66 in Tulsa is the colorful Route 66 Neon Sign Park. This small park features recreated neon signs modeled after the glowing advertisements that once lined the Mother Road in its heyday.
During the golden age of road trips, these bright signs advertised motels, motor courts, and roadside businesses to travelers passing through town. Their flashing lights acted like beacons to weary drivers, promising a warm meal, a comfortable bed, or a place to rest before continuing their journey west.
Standing among the glowing signs today offers a nostalgic glimpse into that earlier era of travel. Just beyond the park runs the modern highway that eventually replaced much of the historic route—a quiet reminder of how the Mother Road evolved while still holding on to its legendary place in American road trip history.
Tulsa has long been an important stop along U.S. Route 66. Driving this stretch of the Mother Road felt a bit like stepping back in time. Some stops tell the story of a bygone era when Route 66 was at the height of its popularity, while others are newer additions that celebrate the road’s lasting legacy.
Although much of the original highway was eventually replaced by modern interstates, interest in Route 66 has never completely faded. In fact, there has been a renewed appreciation for the historic road in recent decades as communities work to preserve its landmarks and roadside attractions. Today, driving Route 66 has become something of a pilgrimage for road-trip lovers who want to experience this legendary highway for themselves.
After exploring this small section of the Mother Road, I find myself even more eager to continue the journey. There is something special about following Route 66 and discovering the quirky stops, historic sites, and unexpected treasures waiting just off the road.
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