Oklahoma

A collection of 39 posts

Destinations

Blue Whale of Catoosa

The Blue Whale of Catoosa is one of the more whimsical roadside attractions in Oklahoma. Sitting on a small pond just off the highway, this giant blue whale began life in the early 1970s. It was originally a simple backyard project by Hugh Davis, who built it as a surprise

Destinations

The Biggest Route 66 Pit Stop—Tulsa, OK

You might want to add Tulsa to your destination list, OK? Especially if you’re traveling through on Route 66. It’s the kind of city where a quick pit stop can easily turn into a full day of exploring. Known as the Oil Capital of the World in the

Travel Guide

Route 66: The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Movie Cars

When Pixar released Cars in 2006, audiences of all ages fell in love with the quirky town of Radiator Springs, a place frozen in time where Route 66’s spirit thrived.  Although it’s a fictional town, every corner of Radiator Springs was inspired by the real-life communities that flourished

Destinations

The Crossroads of America—Vinita, OK

The city of Vinita is a crossroads. It’s known as the Crossroads to the Green Country, as it sits at a location where the forests of the Ozarks gradually fade into prairie.  It’s also called the Crossroads of America, as this is where three significant cross-country roads meet.

Destinations

Stop by for a Barn and Pop in Arcadia, OK

Although this is a Destinations article, Arcadia, OK, isn’t a destination. It’s not a place you specifically go to because—I’ll be honest with you—there’s not much to go to. No, Arcadia is a place you stop by to grab lunch on your motorcycle tour

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5,000 Miles of Gold Wing Luxury

When you’re in your 20s, you’re searching for yourself. The quintessential “quarter-life crisis” hits, so you quit your job, buy a 650cc dual sport, and ramble on across the country, taking scenic routes and enjoying the views.  You take weeks, even months, exploring every dirt road you find.

Travel Guide

8 Unique Attractions on Route 66

An essential part of a road trip down Route 66 is visiting the various fascinating and kooky roadside attractions along it. But the Mother Road is long, and you likely won’t have time to stop at each and every thing begging for your attention. So, where should you stop?

Travel Guide

RoadRUNNER’S Favorite Attractions Along Route 66

Route 66 and roadside attractions go hand in hand. At 2,448 miles in length, the Mother Road sure has plenty of wild, wonderful, and weird sights to see. In fact, there might be a few too many. One of the most difficult parts of planning a ride on Route

Destinations

Have a Whale of a Time in Catoosa, OK

If you want to see whales, I suggest you take a boat or motorcycle tour in Alaska. That, or you could motor down Route 66 to Oklahoma. In the Sooner State, you’ll find the city of Catoosa and its blue whale. This whale isn’t flesh and blood, though.

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Route 66 from Missouri to New Mexico

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the middle stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

The Great American Road Trip Premium Content

Part 2: The Golden Age of The Mother Road

Three scruffy bikers walked into a bar, boots dusty from the road and their eyes sharp as the edge of a Bowie knife. They weren’t looking for trouble—although trouble had a way of finding their kind. Outside, their Harley-Davidsons sat gleaming in the sun, lined up like stallions

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It’s Okay to Ride to Okay, OK

Okay, let's go. But where? How about Okay, OK?  Okay! Why is this place called Okay, OK, though? And what is there? Is it okay for motorcyclists to visit? Well, Okay wasn’t always Okay. The first European settler, French trader Joseph Bogy, arrived in this part of

Accommodations

Middle of Route 66 Hotel Roundup

After a long day of riding on Route 66, nothing beats a cozy bed in which to lay your head and dream of the next day’s adventure. We’ve previously covered some unique and nice hotels on Illinois Route 66. Now, we’re continuing to the middle section of

Classic Roads

Wichita Mountains National Scenic Byway

The uninitiated generally perceive Oklahoma as one big flat wheat field—remember that Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that celebrated the land “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain?” In reality, however, the Sooner State does have several “mountainous” regions. Although the peaks are more like speed bumps compared to

Travel Guide

10 US Riding Destinations with Bizarre Names

Some riding destinations in North America have evocative, awe-inspiring names, like the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Sea to Sky Highway. The names for some other places are… Less so. Many locations in the U.S. have decidedly mind-boggling names. But that makes them worth taking your bike to—if

Destinations

Visit Oklahoma's First State Capital—Guthrie

On the morning of April 22, 1889, Guthrie, OK, was still just a dusty prairie stop known as Deer Creek on the AT&SF Railroad in the Unassigned Lands of Indian Territory. By the same evening, it had become a tent city with approximately 10,000 residents. The new

News

How to Find the Aliens Among Us on Two Wheels

Sometimes you want a grander objective for a motorcycle tour than simply enjoying the open road and curves. If you’re after a truly otherworldly experience, why not hit the asphalt to look for proof of alien life? After all, the Congress recently got the most compelling testimony to date

Travel Guide

10 Towns for Viewing the 2024 Solar Eclipse

A rare marvel of nature is approaching in 2024. The sun will disappear behind the moon in a total solar eclipse on April 8. You surely don’t want to miss seeing this performance of cosmic ballet—after all, the next total solar eclipse in the U.S. won’t

May/Jun '23

Classic Roads: Talimena National Scenic Byway

The Talimena National Scenic Byway is a 50-odd-mile route connecting Mena, AR, and Talihina, OK. It twists and turns along Rich Mountain in Arkansas, climbing from 1,100 feet in Mena to almost 2,700 feet at the summit before plunging into Oklahoma through the Winding Stair Mountains. There is

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Following The Cherokee Trail of Tears

Missionary Daniel Butrick kept a journal of his travels with the Cherokee People as they were force marched to Indian Territory during the winter of 1838-39. It is one of the saddest episodes in American history, with the depths of despair grippingly described by him in this entry: “… the government

Mar/Apr '21 Premium Content

The Green Country Oklahoma Adventure Tour (GOAT)

Ahead, the old stagecoach road is rough and rocky. I jump off the motorcycle, camera in hand, to capture Bill as he begins the climb. Remounting, we both stand on the pegs to allow the bike to move beneath us. With no handlebar to grasp, it’s a position that

Sep/Oct '20

City Escape: Tahlequah, Oklahoma

The rugged landscape in northeastern Oklahoma offers tree-canopied lanes of twisty asphalt alongside clear mountain streams—perfect for flowing rides sprinkled with diverse restaurants and historical sites dating to the days of Indian Territory. Moderate temperatures and bright foliage make fall the best time to ride this loop, but the

Jul/Aug '20 Premium Content

Oklahoma: The “Reel” Wild West

“Let’s go take a look,” said Bill, a familiar gleam in his eye. I sighed, knowing nothing would deter him. As we made the turn for Hwy 80, which snakes along the eastern edge of Fort Gibson Lake deep in the Cherokee Nation, a road sign announced, “High water,

Jan/Feb '20

City Escape: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Historic US Route 66, an ancient old-growth forest, a world-class museum, and some quirky attractions give this day loop an eclectic appeal. Ride west across Keystone Lake and south on a twisty backroad along the Cimarron River, intersecting Route 66 in Warwick and then enjoying small-town appeal and sights of

May/Jun '17 Premium Content

Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma: Riding the Cherokee Trail of Tears Part III

We pick up the Cherokee removal journey in central Missouri: “We travelled about 12 miles to a settlement called Port Royal (believed to be Waynesville by researchers), on the banks of a beautiful stream, named Rubedoo. Here we had a delightful place, on the bank of the river, convenient to