Route 66, that famed Mother Road that runs from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier, has its longest stretch through Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, Route 66 travels 400 miles from Quapaw near the Kansas border to Texola on the Texas panhandle border. If a Route 66 road trip is in your future, here are a few of the most iconic stops for food and fun.
EATING ROUTE 66
Traveling from east to west, Clanton's Cafe in Vinita excels at chicken-fried steak dredged in buttermilk. The cafe is also famous for its ham and bean special on Wednesdays and fried catfish on Fridays.
In Tulsa, Hank's Hamburgers is a local favorite. Open since 1949, Hank's takes burgers seriously.
The Rock Cafe in Stroud is an iconic Route 66 landmark. From 1959 to 1983, it was operated by Mamie Mayfield, a legendary hostess known to truckers and road trippers on the old Mother Road.
Before you hit Oklahoma City, a giant neon soda bottle may catch your eye. POPS Arcadia is a landmark diner and gas station with hundreds of sodas, a shop and a 66-foot-tall soda bottle out front. Filled with countless choices of vintage and unique sodas, POPS also has a great selection of food.
In Oklahoma City, Cattleman's Steakhouse is a must for anyone who loves thick steaks and Old West history. Open since 1918, this is the longest-operated restaurant in Oklahoma and is in the historic Stockyards City. Try the world-famous lamb fries, if you dare.
El Reno is home to the onion-fried burger, and Sid's serves up one of the best onion-fried burgers in the state. Farther west in Hydro, you'll pass the original Lucille’s station, built in 1927. While the original gas station is now a historic landmark, Lucille's Roadhouse in Weatherford keeps up the historic traditions.
