U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma - Route Description - Tulsa To Kansas Border

Tulsa To Kansas Border

As with the rest of Route 66 in Oklahoma, the majority of this segment follows Oklahoma state highway 66, with a number of older alignments that take Route 66 through many of the communities along the way. From the northeast side of Tulsa, at the intersection of 193rd Ave and Interstate 44/state highway 66, two or three routes are available, depending on which sources one considers to be official:

• The simplest route follows 193rd St. north onto the I-44 east entrance ramp. At the "top" of the ramp, the route diverts across the freeway and down a left exit onto state highway 66 almost immediately. The route then proceeds along state highway 66 through Catoosa and Chelsea.
• A second route proceeds north on 193rd Ave, crossing under I-44, and turns northeast onto Cherokee St. This route turns east onto Rice St, crosses state highway 66, and then turns northeast onto "Old US Highway 66". This road turns north as it joins with 225th St. This road splits into a "Y" just before it intersects with state highway 66. Maps indicate that both sides of the "Y" intersect with state highway 66, and that the right side of this "Y" leads the traveler to cross state highway 66 again, to find an abandoned segment of Route 66 on the other side.
• A third route proceeds north on 193rd Ave, past I-44, and turns northeast onto Cherokee St. One then turns hard right onto Antry Dr., then left onto state highway 66. The route turns east onto Rice St, then northeast onto "Old US Highway 66", north on 225th St, and then northeast back onto state highway 66.

Route 66 then follows state highway 66 northeast through Verdigris and into Claremore. One may either continue on state highway 66 all the way through town, or divert one block west and take the older alignment down J.M Davis Blvd. The route re-joins state highway 66 via Stuart Roosa Dr., at the north end of town.

Route 66 then proceeds north and east via state highway 66. Other communities along this stretch of road include Sequoyah, Foyil, and Busyhead. In Chelsea, state highway 28 briefly merges with state highway 66, then diverges north after about 5 blocks, while state highway 66 continues toward White Oak. After White Oak, US 60/US 69 join the route. Just beyond this intersection, state highway 2 joins the route as the road continues to Vinita. In the downtown area of Vinita, state highway 2 diverges to the north while US 60/US 69/Route 66 turn to the right. The highway crosses I-44 just east of the city and intersects with state highways 82 and 85. At the latter junction, the highway takes a turn to the north and continues through Afton.

Just east of Afton, there are two possible alignments:

• One may turn off to the right onto E 220 Road. This is actually a stretch of the original 9-foot-wide (2.7 m) "sidewalk" highway. The driver would follow the road straight at first, then follow the original roadbed as it curves to the right, avoiding the 90-degree intersection ahead. This joins with S 520 road and intersects with and crosses US 69. One should proceed straight on S 520 Road, crossing US 69 and eventually crossing over I-44. Less than one mile (1.6 km) later, the roadbed curves to the east onto 210th road, again avoiding the 90-degree intersection. Less than one mile (1.6 km) after this, the sidewalk road becomes regular paved roadway, which then intersects with US 69. At this point, Route 66 turns north to follow the main highway.
• Alternatively, one may remain on US 69, bypassing the sidewalk road entirely and continuing northeast. After about 2 miles (3.2 km), US 59 joins the route (about half way between the two ends of the sidewalk route). At the US 60/US 69/I-44 interchange, US 69 continues north while US 60 diverts east.

Shortly after Narcissa, another section of the old Route 66 alignment is available, again as a stretch of sidewalk highway:

• At 140th road, the original Route 66 alignment turns to the right, onto another stretch of sidewalk highway. The roadbed turns north onto 540th road after one mile (1.6 km), then east onto 130th road after another mile. After about 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the route turns north onto "E" St. SW. The route continues north through a rural-looking residential area and joins with state highway 125 after one mile (1.6 km). After another 1.4 miles (2.3 km), the road bends to the right and crosses the Neosho River, then bends to the left and joins with Main Street in Miami, Oklahoma. The Route continues north through town. Like the stretch of road near Afton, the sidewalk roadbed bends and curves around the corners, avoiding the actual 90-degree intersections entirely.
• Alternatively, one may remain on US 59/US 69, bypassing the sidewalk road. State highway 10 joins the route about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) beyond Narcissa, and US 59 diverts to the west at this intersection. US 69/Route 66 continues northeast into Miami. At the intersection with Main Street, state highway 10 proceeds east, while US 69/Route 66 diverges to the north.

Route 66/US 69 continues north through Miami. As of this writing (16 Sept 2008), a construction project has parts of Main St. blocked, but a detour is available via one of the parallel streets. As the highway exits to the north, an alternate alignment becomes available:

• At the intersection with Newman Road, US 69 bends northeast. Just past Newman Road is an exit that takes one back onto Main Street; a sign is currently in place directing travelers to take this exit to remain on Route 66. From here, Route 66 proceeds north through the "back" side of Commerce, Oklahoma. Route 66 turns east at Commerce St. and proceeds through the downtown area of Commerce. Route 66 turns north at Mickey Mantle Blvd to rejoin with US 69.
• Alternatively, one may remain on US 69, bypassing the downtown area of Commerce.

US 69/Route 66 bends to the east as it exits the north side of Commerce. About 1.8 miles (2.9 km) after this bend, US 69 diverts to the north. Alternate US 69 begins at this point, and Alternate 69/Route 66 continues east, bending north as the highway enters the south end of Quapaw, Oklahoma. The Route continues through Quapaw and proceeds northeast beyond the Oklahoma/Kansas state line to Riverton, Kansas, where 66 splits from alternate 69 and heads eastward as Kansas state highway 66.