Four hundred miles in a car with children, and your final destination does not involve a single beach, rollercoaster, or cartoon character. In fact, your only goal is the end of the road.

Why would you undertake such a journey? Because it’s steeped in history and, despite the lack of a true destination, so jam-packed with roadside stops and activities that it would take a year-long series to cover them all.

Welcome to Oklahoma’s Historic Route 66

Oklahoma is lucky to have more drivable miles of Route 66 than any other state—an appropriate distinction considering that it is, in many ways, the birthplace of the Mother Road. In 1927, Cyrus Avery of Tulsa became the president of the newly-commissioned US Highway 66 Association. The group’s task was to pave and unite a helter-skelter network of local highways, creating the first Interstate Highway stretching from Chicago to California.

There are as many ways to explore Route 66 as there are curves and detours in the road. Covering every mile of asphalt between the Texas and Kansas borders is an undertaking best reserved for longer trips, but central Oklahoma is the perfect starting point for a number of day-trips or weekend excursions. Beginning in the east, here are some of my picks for family-friendly stops along the route.

The Blue Whale, Catoosa

Of all of Oklahoma’s Route 66 landmarks, the whale is perhaps the most memorable and nationally-acclaimed. Constructed around 1970 by Hugh Davis for his wife Zelta, the Blue Whale guards a swimming hole and park that entertained local children into the 1980s. But before you arrive, remind your would-be water nymphs that this pond has long since closed, and the whale is only strong enough for careful exploration and some fun photos.

The Rock Café, Stroud

In the beginning I said this trip would not involve any cartoon characters, but here’s an exception. Dawn Welch, who owns the Rock Café, was the inspiration for Sally in the 2006 Pixar Entertainment and Disney Studios movie, Cars. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Rock Café offers alligator burgers, but for those who aren’t inclined to eat reptiles, there are plenty of other items on their large and reasonably-priced menu.

Hillbillee’s Bed and Breakfast and Café and The Round Barn, Arcadia

Kids will like the Wild West look of the Hillbillee building’s façade, while couples can enjoy luxury with a rustic flair in “The Cabin,” a new room billed as a honeymoon suite. Originally a Phillips 66 station dating back to the early days of the road, the remodeled property is steeped in 66 lore.

Across the highway from Hillbillee’s lies another Route 66 institution—The Round Barn. You won’t need to spend a lot of time here, but taking a look inside is free, and the history is interesting.

Fort Reno, El Reno

Since its beginnings as a military camp in 1874, this frontier outpost has accumulated so much interesting history it deserves an article of its own. Fort Reno’s visitors’ center is open daily, but check out their website before you hit the road. It contains information about monthly events, such as their “Ghost of Ft. Reno” reenactment tours. This month’s Ghost of Ft. Reno takes place on March 17, 7:30pm. See our calendar for details.

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton

Don’t let the two museums dedicated to Route 66 confuse you. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton does not play second fiddle to the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City. The museum’s director, Pat Smith, and her husband Virgil obviously take personal pride in every inch of the establishment, especially the lovingly-restored diner that sits on the museum grounds. From this counter, they often distribute free Moon Pies and Coca-Cola in glass bottles. The historical context the museum provides makes it an ideal stop for a larger Route 66 tour.

For a more complete list of Route 66 destinations, I recommend contacting the Oklahoma Tourism Department at 800-652-6552 or the Oklahoma Route 66 Association at 405-258-0008. Oklahoma Route 66 by Jim Ross is also an authoritative book on the subject.

The Rock Café
114 West Main Street
Stroud, Oklahoma 74079
918-968-3990
www.RockCafeRoute66.com

Hillbillee’s
206 E. Hwy 66
Arcadia, OK 73007
405-396-2982

The Old Round Barn
P.O. Box 134
Arcadia, OK 73007
405-396-0824

Fort Reno
7107 W. Cheyenne St.
El Reno, OK 73036
405-262-3987
www.FortReno.org

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Pat Smith, Director
2229 West Gary Blvd
Clinton, Oklahoma 73601
580-323-7866
Route66.org

Chelsey Simpson is an editor who lives in Edmond with her husband and her miniature schnauzer, Ellie.