Have you been itching for a road trip? Widows down, music up, fun roadside attractions…sounds great, doesn’t it?
Well, you’re in luck because one of the best states to enjoy a variety of attractions on road trips is Oklahoma. If you start your journey in and around Oklahoma City, you’ll be at the center of it all, as three major interstate highways, I-40, I-44, and I-35 all run right through it, giving you plenty of options.
Here, we’ll cover each of the interstates and the main attractions you can find along each of them. That way, you can pick a direction and go, or (and even better) hit up all these fun Oklahoma attractions and enjoy a slice of true Americana.
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 runs from Missouri through Tusla and Oklahoma City. It also runs parallel to the former (and quite famous) Route 66, the mother of all epic road trip highways. Because of that, there are plenty of interesting things to see along the way.
Via Tam Bao Buddhist Temple on Facebook
Heading towards Oklahoma City, your first stop after the Missouri boarder should be the Tri State Spook Light, a paranormal glowing light that can be seen from the road and has been continuously investigated (without resolution) from the 1880s.
Interstate 44 is also home to a number of larger than life objects. If you need to add a few of these to your list, hit up the 50 foot tall Buddhist Deity and 25 foot tall Liquid Life Bottle, both just outside Tulsa.
Interstate 40
Once past Oklahoma City, continue heading West along Interstate 40. It’s here where you’ll really start to see some of the leftover and saved attractions from the old Route 66 as it continues into Texas.
For history buffs, stop at the Canadian County Historical Museum. This is the site known as the “End Line of the Oklahoma Land Rush,” here you’ll find the marker, plus a nice little museum about the history of the rush and the region.
Via Route 66 Museum on Facebook
In Clinton, Oklahoma, right off I-40 you’ll find two attractions, the Elvis Stayed Here Motel (aka the Trade Winds Motel), p.s. Elvis stayed in room 215. The other attraction is the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum where you can some awesome displays that will tinge your nostalgia.
Interstate 35
Heading South out of Oklahoma City, you’ll find Interstate 35, this route runs through Oklahoma via Kansas and Texas.
Heading south from Kansas one of the very first things you’ll come across is something you really have to see to believe, a fully upended 18 wheel tractor trailer that has to serve as one of the most unique billboards in the country.
Via Wilkins Oklahoma Truck Supply on Facebook
Continue heading south and you’ll run into two off the beaten path museums, that are equally fun and educational, not to mention perfect for the kid at heart. The first is the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum, right inside Oklahoma City itself. Keep driving south and you’ll come across the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley.
Enjoy the Road
Of course, the most important thing to remember on any road trip is to keep an open mind and follow the road. Once you start touring the highways and byways of Oklahoma, you’ll find a number of fun and fascinating attractions that will keep you going.
