Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Cowboys, neon diners and the round barn that wouldn't fall down.
Oklahoma City is bigger and more fun than you expect. The Route 66 corridor runs straight through it — Pops on Route 66 with its giant soda bottle, the Arcadia Round Barn just east, and the Stockyards with the city's legendary steakhouse. An easy riding day in, a full evening out.
“Pops at night — 700 sodas glowing behind glass and a 66ft bottle lit above the bike. The Memorial at dawn is the one that stays with you, though.”
History
OKC was born in a single day in the 1889 Land Run, grew into a cattle and oil capital, and rebuilt itself after the 1995 bombing with a downtown renaissance. Route 66's main street, 39th Street Expressway, still carries riders through, and the roadside attractions east of town are among the route's most photographed.
Why Visit
For the Stockyards, the cowboy heritage and the densest cluster of Route 66 roadside icons on the eastern half of the route. It's also a comfortable, affordable overnight with genuinely great food.
Best Motorcycle Roads
Route 66 — Arcadia to OKC
Roll in past the Round Barn and Pops on a straight, classic alignment that screams 'America'.
Lake Hefner Parkway loop
A scenic urban loop around the lake for an evening ride — smooth, lit and relaxing.
Best Hotels
Skirvin Hilton
PremiumOklahoma City's grand 1911 hotel — old-world luxury downtown with valet parking. A treat night.
Colcord Hotel
Mid-rangeA 1910 skyscraper reborn as a boutique hotel in the middle of everything — walkable to food.
Best Restaurants
Cattlemen's Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Oklahoma City's legendary 1910 steakhouse in the Stockyards. Order the ribeye and a side of history.
Must Try · Lamb fries and a ribeye
Pops on Route 66 (Arcadia)
Diner
700 kinds of soda, a 66-ft neon bottle and a burger — pure roadside joy.
Must Try · Any unusual soda from the cold vault
Hidden Gems
- The Arcadia Round Barn — perfectly round, rebuilt by volunteers, and free to visit.
- The Stockyards City district — real working cattle yards and proper cowboy boot shops.
- The Oklahoma City National Memorial — sobering, beautiful and unmissable.
Photography Spots
- Pops' giant soda bottle glowing after dark, bike parked below.
- The Arcadia Round Barn — inside and out.
- The Memorial's field of empty chairs at dusk.
Sunrise & Sunset
Around 6:35am. The Memorial is most moving in the quiet of early morning.
Behind the neon at Pops — arrive at golden hour and stay for the lights.
Practical Information
- Pops on Route 66 (Arcadia) — fuel plus 700 sodas, the most fun fill-up on the route.
- OnCue Express on Northwest Expressway — quick and easy near the Stockyards.
Downtown has affordable metered street parking and surface lots. The Stockyards has free gravel parking. Pops has a big open lot perfect for bikes.
Suggested Walking Routes
Memorial and Bricktown
A 1.5-mile walk between the National Memorial and the Bricktown canal district — history then dinner.
Stockyards main street
A short, flat stroll past boot shops, steakhouses and the live cattle auction.
Weather & Ride Difficulty
Hot, dry summers, strong winds year-round, and an active spring storm season. Summer afternoons can hit 38°C. Ride early; explore on foot in the afternoon.
Flat, straight, well-surfaced. The only challenges are heat and wind — neither affects handling, both affect the rider.
Nearby Attractions
- Arcadia Round Barn
- Pops on Route 66
- Oklahoma City National Memorial
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — it's the real thing, a 1910 Stockyards steakhouse that hasn't changed in essence. Go for lunch to skip the dinner queue.
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