Remove Ads

66 Day Four: Joplin, MO to Oklahoma City , OK

The Golden Driller, perfectly preserved motels, and a 72-ounce steak

  • 33
  • 04:40
  • 242 mi
  • $56
Take This Trip

Created by Bill D'Agostino - February 12th 2023

In addition to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s massive Golden Driller statue and the Tumbleweed Grill and Country Store, this stretch is home to some absolutely amazing retro Route 66 motels (even if you aren’t staying, pull over for the vintage signage). A few of the more famous ones in the state include the Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa, the Skyliner Motel in Stroud, and the Lincoln Motel in Chandler.

4359 Dakota Lane, Joplin, MO, US

Joplin KOA

KOA Book With KOA

Click to find bookable tours and activities here

1
71mi 01h 08m
Photo of Worlds Largest Concrete Totem Pole
3.7

21300 Hwy 28A, Foyil, OK, US

Worlds Largest Concrete Totem Pole

1

7355 E Easton St, Tulsa, OK, US

Admiral Twin Drive-In

The Admiral Twin Drive-In opened in 1951 and had a capacity of 1,500 cars. Today, two screens are still open seasonally for travelers wishing to spend an evening back in the ‘50s.

731 N Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK, US

Corner Cafe

2
30mi 00h 28m
Photo of Blue Whale of Catoosa
4.1

2680 N Highway 66, Catoosa, OK, US

Blue Whale of Catoosa

2
3
13mi 00h 17m
Photo of Desert Hills Motel
3.1

5220 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK, US

Desert Hills Motel

FastBook
$$

Click to discover a
great deal!

3

The Desert Hills Motel is a 50-unit retro lodge that’s been recently renovated. The neon signage is vintage perfection, showcasing two large glowing green cactuses that have been welcoming road-weary travelers since 1953.

1102 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK, US

Tally's Good Food Cafe

4
1mi 00h 05m
Photo of Golden Driller
4.0

4145 E 21st St, Tulsa, OK, US

Golden Driller

4

The Golden Driller, a giant, 76-foot-tall sculpture of an oil worker, was once put on display inside the International Petroleum Exhibition Building at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, which is said to have the world’s largest unobstructed interior volume.

Photo of The Campbell Hotel
4.5

2636 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK, US

The Campbell Hotel

FastBook
$$

Click to discover a
great deal!

5
3mi 00h 06m
Photo of Meadow Gold Sign
4.0

1335 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK, US

Meadow Gold Sign

5
6
0mi 00h 01m

1347 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK, US

Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66

6
7
1mi 00h 05m
Photo of Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
4.0

Old 11th St Bridge, Tulsa, OK, US

Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

7
8
3mi 00h 06m
Photo of Blue Dome District
4.5

East of Downtown, Historic Route 66, Tulsa, OK, US

Blue Dome District

8
9
1mi 00h 02m

1648 Southwest Boulevard, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

9

3770 Southwest Blvd, Tulsa, OK, US

Route 66 Village

4070 SW Blvd, Tulsa, OK, US

Ollie's Station Restaurant

4253 Southwest Blvd, Tulsa, OK, US

Arnold's Old Fashioned Hamburgers

Arnold’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers has been a Tulsa tradition for more than 30 years. If you’re a burger enthusiast, this is a must-stop. Every day, nearly 500 burgers are sold, and not just to locals—people flock from all over for the griddle-cooked, quarter-pound burgers with all the trimmings. Don’t miss the double-patty burger with onion rings and a milkshake.

10
11mi 00h 15m

215 N Mission St, Sapulpa, OK, US

Happy Burger

10
Photo of John Frank House
3.0

1300 luker lane, Sapulpa, OK, US

John Frank House

The John Frank House—designed by Bruce Goff, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright—is a beautiful crescent-shaped home with no sharp edges. Renowned potters John and Grace Lee Frank incorporated much of their signature style into the creation of their home. The Franks personally hand-glazed all 2,500 tiles scattered throughout the house. The current caretakers, the Franks’ daughters, frequently offer tours.

701 E Dewey Ave, Sapulpa, OK, US

Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway Co.

After Amarillo you still have a little less than half of the Texas Panhandle to go before hitting New Mexico. The skies only get wider and the land gets drier as you head further west. The “everything is bigger in Texas” attractions are mostly behind you, but there's still plenty of small town charm ahead.

Banner Photo Credit: Flickr/Daniel X. O'Neil