More than half a million Oklahomans are expected to travel 50 miles or more this upcoming holiday weekend, AAA Oklahoma said.
The auto club is projecting that more than 510,000 Oklahomans will travel over the Independence Day holiday period, which it considers to be Thursday through Monday this year.
“As usual, the large majority will be driving to their destinations. However, air travel and other modes of travel transportation (trains, cruises and buses) are up significantly compared to last year,” AAA said in a news release.
More than 80% of travelers — more than 410,000 Oklahomans — are expected to hit the roads for the holiday, despite record-high gas prices, AAA said.
Air travel is expected to see a 2.5% increase over last year, with nearly 68,000 Oklahomans taking to the skies this Independence Day weekend, AAA said.
“The volume of travelers we expect to see over Independence Day is likely to be the highest for summer holidays since 2019,” said Leslie Gamble, AAA Oklahoma spokeswoman.
“Earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase, and it’s not tapering off. People have made their plans, and despite it costing more, they are finding ways to still take that much-needed vacation.”
While gasoline prices have ticked down slightly in the past two weeks, they will still be the highest on record for a Fourth of July holiday period, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, a fuel price-tracking service.
The national average shot above $5 per gallon for regular unleaded in mid-June but has since come down about 13 cents below that mark, according to GasBuddy.
But prices are still well above $4 per gallon in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
AAA also outlined price estimates in other areas for the holiday period this year:
Air: The average lowest airfare is 14% higher than last year, coming in at $201 per ticket.
Hotels: Mid-range hotel rates have increased about 23%, with the average lowest nightly rates coming in at $244 per night for AAA-approved hotels.
Car rentals: Since last year, the average daily rate for car rentals has continued to increase. With more people traveling, these prices remain on the rise due to continued supply chain issues coupled with growing demand. While daily car rental rates have decreased 34% compared to last year, with the average lowest rate coming in at $110 per day, rates are $40 more per day on average than in 2019.
Best and worst travel times
AAA said that according to INRIX , a traffic and travel analytics company, the best and worst travel times this holiday period are:
Best times: Before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Thursday; before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m. Friday; before noon and after 7 p.m. Saturday; and all of Sunday and Monday.
Worst times: 2-8 p.m. Thursday; noon-9 p.m. Friday and 2-4 p.m. Saturday.
Main Street of America: Route 66 attractions state by state
Main Street of America: Route 66 attractions state by state
For anyone who thrives on nostalgia, driving the 2,448 miles of Route 66 is a must. The iconic highway has inspired road trips, songs, and animated movie characters since construction on the “Main Street of America” was approved in 1926, back when gas cost less than a quarter a gallon. In “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 the “Mother Road;” a place where migrants came together as a community. Nat King Cole recorded “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” in 1946—and more than a half-century later, Tow Mater from the 2006 animated film “Cars” was inspired by a rusty tow truck in Galena, Kansas.
After the Great Depression, families looking for a better life could make their way west, driving their way across eight states starting in Chicago and ending in Los Angeles. Mom-and-pop shops, service stations, and motels popped up along the route. Travelers can still visit the Old Riverton Store in Riverton, Kansas, grab a root beer at Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, Arizona, or spend the night at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
U.S. Highway 66 was realigned several times until 1985 when it was decommissioned and replaced with interstates. Modern roadways may have made sections of Route 66 irrelevant, but about 80% of the winding road still exists. Many of the historic sites along the route have been restored; and Congress voted in 2018 to designate the roadway a National Historic Trail .
Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions—state by state—to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America , and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.
You might also like: Most likely destination for travelers from every state
Tamsin Slater // flickr
Mural City (Pontiac, Illinois)
There are 23 murals in Pontiac, including the Route 66 shield on the back of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum. Roadtrippers can grab a mural guide at the museum or follow the red painted footprints for a walking tour.
IvoShandor // Wikimedia Commons
Route 66 State Park (Eureka, Missouri)
The Route 66 State Park visitor center is located at the former Bridgehead Inn, built in 1935, and offers plenty on the iconic highway’s history. The park also offers nature trails and picnic sites where road-weary travelers can stretch their legs or have a bite.
Yinan Chen // Wikimedia Commons
Devil’s Elbow, Missouri
Devil’s Elbow is situated in the Ozark Mountains and the Mark Twain National Forest, making it one of the more scenic stretches of Old Route 66. Be sure to check out the classic diners, bars, and grills in the area for a big taste of nostalgic Americana.
Gorup de Besanez // Wikimedia Commons
Brush Creek Bridge (Cherokee County, Kansas)
The historic Brush Creek Bridge, also known as Rainbow Bridge, was constructed in 1923. Iowa bridge designer James Barney Marsh created the Rainbow Arch design and patented the construction elements in 1912. Route 66 motorists used the 130-foot bridge to cross Route 66 until the interstate was built in the 1960s.
southernbellefabrics // pixabay
Totem Pole Park (Foyil, OK)
Artist Ed Galloway created his Totem Pole Park—located about 3.5 miles off Route 66—as a place to show off folk art made of stone and concrete. Many of the pieces depict birds and Native American images. The largest totem pole in the park is 60 feet tall. The original construction lasted from 1937 to 1961 and was restored from 1988 to 1998.
Jana Taylor // Wikimedia Commons
Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Tesas)
In 1974, a group of San Francisco artists decided to bury 10 Cadillacs made between 1949 and 1964 nose-first into a Texas field. Millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, who died in 2014, funded the art installation. Graffiti is encouraged, so road trippers can stop by and leave their own mark on the cars before heading further west. The site is off Exit 66 of Interstate 40.
Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress
Midpoint Cafe (Adrian, Texas)
Adrian, Texas, marks the official midpoint of Route 66. There’s even a white line on the road and a sign noting the distance between Chicago and Los Angeles—both are 1,139 miles away. Hungry motorists can stop in for a burger at Midpoint Cafe, which served as inspiration for Flo’s V8 Cafe in the animated movie “Cars.”
Marcin Wichary // Wikimedia Commons
Tee Pee Curios (Tucumcari, New Mexico)
After spending a night in the Blue Swallow, travelers can stop by Tee Pee Curios, a 1940s-era gas station-turned-gift shop. The store offers jewelry, pottery, and any number of Route 66 souvenirs. Guests enter the shop through a concrete wigwam built around the front door. A Route 66 shield is painted on the side of the building.
Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress
Clines Corners Retail Center (Clines Corners, New Mexico)
This New Mexico travel center has been serving Route 66 travelers since it first opened in 1934. Drivers can park their RVs overnight, or stop in the cafe for breakfast, a burger, or a burrito.
Alan Levine // Wikimedia Commons
Blue Hole (Santa Rosa, New Mexico)
This natural sinkhole with sapphire-colored water was a fish hatchery in the 1930s. The Blue Hole became a recreation area in the 1970s and is now a popular spot for swimmers and scuba divers. The water is 81 feet deep and about 60 degrees, fed by a network of artesian springs connected to the Pecos River.
Mary P Madigan // flickr
Winslow Corner (Winslow, Arizona)
Travelers who want to take it easy should make sure to stop by the corner where Old Highway 66 meets North Kinsley Avenue in Winslow, Arizona. The 1972 Eagles song “Take it Easy” inspired an installation called “Standin’ On the Corner” Park,” a statue of a man with a guitar standing on the corner near a red flatbed truck. The town of Winslow didn’t create the park until three decades after the song was written, partially because Interstate 40 bypassed the town and cut down on tourist traffic.
Arizona Parrot // flickr
Grand Canyon National Park
Access to Grand Canyon National Park isn’t right off Route 66, but seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World is worth a detour. From Williams, Arizona, drive 60 miles north to get to the South Rim.
Luca Galuzzi // Wikimedia Commons
Meteor Crater (Meteor City, Arizona)
Sometime between 5,000 and 50,000 years ago, a meteor crashed into northern Arizona and formed a massive crater that’s been turned into a popular tourist attraction. The site is only minutes from Interstate 40 and the old Route 66. If it’s too hot, visitors can pop into the Meteor Crater Visitor Center on the crater’s rim to view the crater from a comfortably air-conditioned room.
Carol M. Highsmith // Library of Congress
Rt. 66 Museum (Victorville, California)
Motorists can stop by the California Route 66 Museum to learn some history and take some photos in the ‘50s diner or VW Love Bus. There’s a Model T on the grounds and an old outhouse. Visitors can make a pit-stop in the library and gift shop to get some Route 66 memorabilia before heading back to the road.
Sanfel // Wikimedia Commons
Original McDonald’s (San Bernardino, California)
The first McDonald’s opened in 1948 close to Route 66 (the exact location is 1398 N. East St. at West 14th Street in San Bernadino). In 1954, businessman Ray Kroc met the McDonald brothers in California while selling the brothers milkshake mixing machines. The rest is franchising history.
Tamsin Slater // flickr
Cucamonaco Service Station (Rancho Cucamonga, California)
The canary yellow Cucamonga Service Station was built in 1915 and remained a gas station until the ‘60s. It fell into disrepair in the ‘70s but has since been restored and turned into a museum.
Einbierbitte // Wikimedia Commons
Roy’s Motel & Cafe (Amboy, California)
Roy’s opened in 1938 and is located in Amboy, which some call a ghost town. The sign is a particularly popular photo spot for Route 66 road-trippers. While some hope the cafe is fully restored in the future, visitors can still pop in and thumb through old newspapers or buy a souvenir and some snacks.
ahisgett // flickr
Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, California)
In 1926, the original end to the route was at Seventh and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. That spot wasn’t a very scenic end for drivers after a long trip. So in 2009, the Route 66 Alliance and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation decided to erect an “End of the Trail” sign on the pier. To get there, motorists drive toward the pier and then walk out about 200 feet. The end sign is just past the Bubba Gump shrimp franchise and just before the Playland arcade.
IVAN IVANOVICH DAN // Shutterstock
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