Have you ever thought of taking a trip somewhere but you weren't sure where you were going? Sometimes we find ourselves in need of a joyride or a road trip and don't know where to go. I can tell you now, if you live in any of the eight states that play home to Route 66, you've got plenty of destinations to look forward to. At over 2,400 miles in length, spanning from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angelos, California, Route 66 is full of American history and destinations that will amaze you, leaving you wanting to come back and experience this stretch of history even more.
There are so many places to go along this historic road. This guide will provide you information for locations in Oklahoma that are all within twenty miles of each other!
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
Located in Arcadia, Oklahoma, our first destination on our Route 66 road trip is a gas station and diner known as Pops. Built in 2007, Pops is a relatively new addition to historic Route 66 but is a destination that you don't want to miss! If you're needing gas, this is a convenient and cool location just a little off of the major nearby highways. If you're hungry, get yourself a burger and chili cheese fries from the diner. And if you're thirsty, you can conveniently choose from over 650+ flavors and brands of soda. Pops provides visitors with cardboard 6-pack carriers so you can try a variety of different flavors to bring home! And don't forget to stay until the sun starts going down to view the color display put on by the business's 66 foot tall soda bottle! With the many LED rings lining it from top to bottom, this pop bottle lights up all the colors of the rainbow, putting on a dazzling display throughout the evening!
If planning to include this in your next Route 66 road trip, be sure to plan a little extra time to hang out a while, enjoy the open field next to the building, and drink some brisk lemon meringue soda!
Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum
Our next destination is one that can be easily missed as the place is small, but if you know where it is, it's well worth the stop!
Just off of Route 66 in Warwick, Oklahoma, the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum calls itself home. The museum was originally a gas station built in 1921 and would later also become an engine rebuilding shop. After various purchases and restoration to bring back the life once held in its earlier years, Seaba Station has become a small museum and antique/gift shop. With admission free to any who stop by (though donations are appreciated), you can take a look through history at the progression of motorcycles over the last century. If you're really interested in owning a motorcycle (especially one as vintage as the ones here), some bikes have the option to purchase directly from the museum! This place is also highly popular among the biker crowd, so if you're on Rte. 66 riding the Harley for a joyride, this is a great place to stop and view some neat history. They even have the motorcycle used by Hydra in Captain America!
After traveling through the different eras of motorcycles in American history, don't forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out! There are a variety of items available to purchase, such as shirts, vintage toys and knick-knacks, Route 66 signs for the wall, and so much more!
Arcadia Round Barn
Coming in at one of the oldest locations on Route 66 is the Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma. A museum and gift shop today, this barn was built in 1898 by William Odor using a process that soaked the wood in order to bend and curve it to make the barn round. Unfortunately, over time the building began to deteriorate and eventually the roof collapsed on itself. However, in 1992, restoration of the round barn was completed.
The Round Barn sits at a whopping 60 feet in diameter and stands 43 feet tall. The upstairs can be rented out to people wanting to host a wedding, business event, or some form of celebration (though capacity is limited due to the building's structure). Downstairs plays home to the museum's gift shop with the walls surrounding the center shop full of history of the round barn and other nearby Route 66 attractions. This is also a great place for kids to go, as they have a scavenger hunt for children to look through the various historical items and tools to find what they're looking for!
Route 66 holds many destinations along the more than 2,400 miles it stretches. Many places have had to be rebuilt and/or restored to their former glorious conditions, some locations are new, and others have been left as they are to enrich the history of where they're located. Not to mention, some spots are super easy to miss, so if you're driving down the road, be sure to keep an eye out for small pull-off spots and old/run-down buildings. So if you're ever finding yourself in need of somewhere to go, a road trip down Route 66 has so much to offer. These were simply a few locations in central Oklahoma that are worth visiting. But after our trip down this short twenty mile stretch, there's still another 2,429 miles to visit. So get up, get out, and get your kicks on Route 66!
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