Road trip on Historic U.S. Route 66 to Sapulpa, Oklahoma



Route 66 Road Trip to Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma

U.S. Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.

"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

In Oklahoma, Route 66 covered 432 miles. After traveling through Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, the Mother Road entered Oklahoma near Commerce, and headed southwest through Miami, Chelsea, Claremore, Catoosa, Tulsa and into Sapulpa. In general, it followed the route of present-day Interstate I-44. From Sapulpa, Route 66 continued west to Oklahoma City and eventually into Texas.

Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Sapulpa is the county seat for Creek County and is located in northeast Oklahoma’s Green Country, about 14 miles southwest of downtown Tulsa. The city is located on old U.S. Route 66, now SH-66 and Historic Route 66 (a/k/a the West Ozark Trail), through town. The city is home to more than 20,000 residents.

Sapulpa is a popular stop for travelers on Route 66. Sapulpa’s historic downtown district is in the heart of historic Route 66 path and was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2003. The City features an active Main Street Program.

Besides checking out Route 66 icons and museums in the city, be sure to enjoy the natural beauty found at Pretty Water Lake, featuring trout fishing opportunities and the half-mile Pretty Trail. And don't miss the historic Rock Creek Bridge No.18 on Route 66 at the western edge of the city.

And from November to January, be sure to enjoy the Route 66 Christmas Chute. It is the brainchild of a group of business owners and city officials to bring families to downtown Sapulpa to enjoy a unique, walkable Christmas experience. Walk historic Route 66 under 800-foot-long canopies filled with Christmas ornaments and decor in ten magical Christmas themes. With events every weekend and pop-up-shops, restaurants, and downtown retailers, the Route 66 Christmas Chute is sure to become a holiday destination!

What To Do This Weekend at the Route 66 Christmas Chute in Sapulpa
Sapulpa Times - 12/07/2023

 

Map of Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma showing the location of Sapulpa
Map of Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma showing the location of Sapulpa


Sapulpa: "Crossroads of America"

Scene in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Scene in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, on Historic Route 66


Gasoline Alley Classics

Gasoline Alley Classics, a longtime manufacturer of game room, garage, and man cave automobilia décor, has launched its first retail shop in a former Model T assembly plant and dealership on Route 66 in Sapulpa. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on September 9, 2022.

Gasoline Alley has quickly become a "must see" stop for Route 66 travelers in the Sapulpa area. Roadtrippers enjoy checking out the signs, Route 66 memorabilia and vintage Ford autos inside, and take advantage of the many photo ops at "The Official Home of Lady Luck"!

It is located at 24 N. Main Street in Sapulpa, and also offers an extensive online store featuring apparrel, signs, stickers, oil cans and so much more.

Read more ... website of Gasoline Alley Classics and Gasoline Alley Classics on Facebook ... phone 918.806.1000

Interior view of Gasoline Alley Classics in Sapulpa, Oklahoma Sign at Gasoline Alley Classics in Sapulpa, Oklahoma ... the Official Home of Lady Luck

Sapulpa Museums

The Sapulpa Historical Society operates the Historical Museum, the Sapulpa Fire Museum, and the Waite Phillips-Barnsdall Filling Station Museum.

Housed in the historic Lee Hotel, the Society opened the Historical Museum in the early 1980s. Today, the Museum occupies all three floors of the old hotel. The hotel rooms and dorm rooms are now home to the the Historical Museum's offices and exhibits. A small village showcases some of Sapulpa 's early businesses. Included are an early-day blacksmith shop, a sheriff's office, the John F. Egan General Merchandise Store, Rock Creek Indian Methodist Church, Euchee Mission Boarding School , and a diorama of the Frisco Railroad shops that were located here in the early 1900s. A nicely stocked gift shop is also onsite!

The museum is located at 100 East Lee Avenue in Sapulpa. Visit the website or phone for opening hours and tour information for all three museums.

Read more at the website of the Sapulpa Historical Society & Museum or phone 918.224.4871

Historical Museum
Sapulpa Historical Museum in Oklahoma
Fire Museum
The Fire Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma
The banner on the outside of the Sapulpa Historical Museum in Oklahoma

Waite Phillips-Barnsdall Filling Station Museum

Located at 26 East Lee Avenue

Waite Phillips-Barnsdall Filling Station Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma



The Murals of Sapulpa

This mural contains a dozen symbols of Sapulpa’s rich history, from the “Guardian of the Plains” Buffalo that sits on New Sapulpa Road, to the famed Harvey House, to the Burnett Mansion, which now houses the offices for The Make Sense Foundation. It is located near the corner of Dewey Avenue (Route 66) and Main Street.

Mural in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

This mural is located near 15 East Hobson Avenue on the Reed Architecture & Interiors Building.

Mural in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

This mural on a City of Sapulpa Water Tank features the Oklahoma state wildflower, the Indian Blanket Flower.
The water tank mural in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Sapulpa’s outdoor murals are abundant, nostalgic and meaningful
Sapulpa Times - 11/09/2023

Gulf Oil Service Station

This restored Gulf Oil Service Station is owned by a Sapulpa businessman who uses it as a personal office and storage space for his eclectic collections. It is located at 106 E Hobson Avenue.

Vintage Gulf Oil Service Station in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

More Scenes Around Sapulpa

The Sapulpa Trolley on Historic Route 66
The Salpula Trolley
The Sapulpa Interurban Trolley
The Salpula Trolley
The Time: In Sapulpa
The Time: In Sapulpa ... a vintage clock downtown


Rock Creek Bridge No.18

This bridge was built in 1921 to serve the Ozark Trail. It became part of U.S. Highway 66 in 1926 when the Chicago to Los Angeles route was initiated. The bridge served motorists traveling on U.S. 66 until a new highway was built to the south in 1952.

It is located near the junction of U.S. 66 and W. Ozark Trail in Sapulpa, just west of the city.

Read more about the Rock Creek Bridge at NPS

The world's tallest gas pump ... at the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma The world's tallest gas pump ... at the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum

The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa features the world's tallest gas pump, at 66-foot-tall, a prominent Route 66 landmark. It also includes an extensive indoor collection of historic automobiles and other historical treasures.

The Museum is on the grow, with an all new expansion planned for 2023. See photo below right, courtesy of Reed Architects, the designers of the new expansion. This will be a 60% expansion to boost its visibility, exhibit space, and revenue streams. The project includes 5,000 square feet under roof and a 2,400-square-foot outdoor plaza. It promises a dramatic increase in the museum’s 36-vehicle inventory and other exhibits. This expansion parallels a neighboring park development by the city of Sapulpa. The Route 66 Rock Creek Park will provide a tourist-friendly playground and rest stop connected to the museum.

The Museum is located at 13 Sahoma Lake Road, Sapulpa, OK 74066. For more information, phone 918.216.1171, or visit ....

The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum website and The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum on Facebook

The world's tallest gas pump ... at the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma ... expansion plans for 2023


Lodging, Dining and Attractions in the Sapulpa Area

TripAdvisor

Sapulpa Travel Guide at TripAdvisor

Hotels in/near Sapulpa with traveler reviews at TripAdvisor

Sapulpa restaurant reviews at TripAdvisor

Attractions and Things to Do in Sapulpa


Interactive Map of Sapulpa Oklahoma


More Information about Sapulpa and Route 66

City of Sapulpa website

Main Street Sapulpa website

Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce

Sapulpa Historical Society & Museum

Creek County

Sapulpa at the TravelOK website

Travel Oklahoma: Route 66

Oklahoma Historical Society: Route 66

Oklahoma Route 66 Association

Sapulpa Weather at WeatherUnderground

Sapulpa Travel Guide at TripAdvisor: Hotels, dining and things to do


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Oklahoma Route 66 Passport

The Official Oklahoma Route 66 Passport

The Oklahoma Route 66 Passport from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department helps Route 66 travelers find new destinations to explore and document their progress along the way. A new updated passport (yellow) is being offered beginning in 2023.

The Route 66 Passport, which is available free at TravelOK.com, features 66 of the state’s memorable Mother Road attractions. It includes iconic stops like Catoosa’s Blue Whale, Stroud’s Rock Cafe and Clinton’s Oklahoma Route 66 Museum along with many newer favorites.

Get your passport stamped at each stop, then take it to a Tourism Information Center to be verified and earn an exclusive Route 66 coin.

Both the new yellow and previous red Route 66 Passports are now available in a digital format. Download the official TravelOK Trip Planner app on the Apple App Store or Google Play to get started. When you get to each stop, you'll find a code displayed that you can enter to digitally check in.