Route 66 Day 5 (West to East): Amarillo, Texas to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Epic Self-Guided Driving Tour
Places: 49 POIs
Distance: 562.53 mi
Duration: 11h:02m
GPS-guided narration through
Your Smartphone
Apple CarPlay
Android Auto
Tour #2933
About this English self-guided 11h:02m driving tour in Springfield
Welcome to UCPlaces and Day 5 of our west-to-east Route 66 adventure—from Amarillo, Texas, to Springfield, Missouri!
Today, we’ll trade the wide-open Texas Panhandle for Oklahoma’s historic towns, cross a short but memorable stretch of Kansas, and roll into Missouri. Four states, one legendary road, and plenty of stories along the way!
We’re beginning just east of Amarillo, a city that welcomed generations of Route 66 travelers with a hot meal, a full tank, and a place to sleep. Now, with Amarillo behind us, we’re continuing east in their tire tracks.
Ahead are leaning water towers, vintage gas stations, neon signs, and communities that helped give the Mother Road its personality. We’ll travel through Oklahoma City and Tulsa, meet the hometown of baseball legend Mickey Mantle, and discover how mining towns and cattle trails became part of America’s great road trip.
This is a full day of driving, so settle in and give yourself time for breaks. Stop for fuel, stretch your legs, and explore whatever catches your curiosity. Some of the best Route 66 memories happen when you park the car!
Follow the UCPlaces navigation, obey posted signs, and keep your attention on the road. We’ll guide you along the route and share the stories as you go.
By the time we reach Springfield, we’ll be ready for a well-earned rest—with just one final day remaining on our journey to Chicago.
Ready? Let’s get back on the Mother Road!
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
- Category
- Language
- Mode
- Region
- Country
- City
This is the reverse-direction version of:
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
, Attraction : Ending Point
11215 E Interstate 40 Hwy, Amarillo, TX 79118, USA
Goodbye Amarillo!
Welcome to Day 5 of our eastbound Route 66 adventure with UCPlaces! Today, we’re traveling from the Texas Panhandle toward Springfield, Missouri, discovering roadside surprises, historic towns, and the stories that made the Mother Road legendary.
Amarillo is now behind us as we head east near Yarnall. For generations of Route 66 travelers, Amarillo was a welcome stop in the wide-open Panhandle—a place to fill the gas tank, grab a hearty meal, and settle into a roadside motel before another long stretch of highway.
Its diners, motor courts, and neon signs offered more than a little comfort. They brought travelers and business to a city whose identity was already shaped by cattle, railroads, and the vast surrounding plains.
Today, we’re carrying that road-trip spirit eastward. Ahead lie the Leaning Tower of Texas, Shamrock’s beautiful U-Drop Inn, and Oklahoma’s wonderfully quirky Route 66 landmarks.
Settle in, follow the UCPlaces navigation, and let’s see what the Mother Road has waiting for us!
Amarillo is now behind us as we head east near Yarnall. For generations of Route 66 travelers, Amarillo was a welcome stop in the wide-open Panhandle—a place to fill the gas tank, grab a hearty meal, and settle into a roadside motel before another long stretch of highway.
Its diners, motor courts, and neon signs offered more than a little comfort. They brought travelers and business to a city whose identity was already shaped by cattle, railroads, and the vast surrounding plains.
Today, we’re carrying that road-trip spirit eastward. Ahead lie the Leaning Tower of Texas, Shamrock’s beautiful U-Drop Inn, and Oklahoma’s wonderfully quirky Route 66 landmarks.
Settle in, follow the UCPlaces navigation, and let’s see what the Mother Road has waiting for us!
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 2.63mi
, Attraction : Roadside Attraction (Recommended selfie spot).
704 Front St, Groom, TX 79039, USA
Groom — Big Faith and a Little Tilt
We’re approaching Groom, a small Texas Panhandle town with two landmarks that make a big impression. One reaches straight toward the sky. The other looks like it’s having second thoughts.
Coming from Amarillo, the first is the enormous white cross on the western side of town. Standing 190 feet tall—roughly the height of a nineteen-story building—it’s hard to miss against this wide-open landscape. Around its base, sculptures depict the Stations of the Cross, offering visitors a place to pause and reflect.
As we continue east, watch for another familiar Route 66 sight: a water tower marked “Britten U.S.A.” And yes, it really is leaning!
That tilt was deliberate. In the early 1980s, local businessman Ralph Britten turned the tower into an attention-grabbing advertisement for his truck stop. A perfectly upright water tower might disappear into the scenery. But one that looks ready to topple? That gets people talking—and stopping.
Britten secured the structure with concrete anchors and buried supports, leaving two legs hanging above the ground. The result looks alarming, but the unusual angle was part of the plan.
His truck stop burned down in 1988 and was never rebuilt. The tower stayed, becoming a landmark in its own right.
That’s part of the charm of Route 66. A practical business idea becomes a roadside curiosity, and eventually, something travelers come from around the world to see. Here in Groom, you get a towering statement of faith and a wonderfully crooked piece of roadside ingenuity—all in one small town.
Coming from Amarillo, the first is the enormous white cross on the western side of town. Standing 190 feet tall—roughly the height of a nineteen-story building—it’s hard to miss against this wide-open landscape. Around its base, sculptures depict the Stations of the Cross, offering visitors a place to pause and reflect.
As we continue east, watch for another familiar Route 66 sight: a water tower marked “Britten U.S.A.” And yes, it really is leaning!
That tilt was deliberate. In the early 1980s, local businessman Ralph Britten turned the tower into an attention-grabbing advertisement for his truck stop. A perfectly upright water tower might disappear into the scenery. But one that looks ready to topple? That gets people talking—and stopping.
Britten secured the structure with concrete anchors and buried supports, leaving two legs hanging above the ground. The result looks alarming, but the unusual angle was part of the plan.
His truck stop burned down in 1988 and was never rebuilt. The tower stayed, becoming a landmark in its own right.
That’s part of the charm of Route 66. A practical business idea becomes a roadside curiosity, and eventually, something travelers come from around the world to see. Here in Groom, you get a towering statement of faith and a wonderfully crooked piece of roadside ingenuity—all in one small town.
Read More
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Goodbye Amarillo!
Place 2
Groom — Big Faith and a Little Tilt
Place 3
Alanreed — A Little Town on the Mother Road
Place 4
McLean — When the Traffic Moved On
Place 5
1929 Phillips 66 Station — A Cottage for Your Car
Place 6
McLean–Alanreed Area Museum — Life Beyond the Highway
Place 7
Shamrock — One More Texas Chapter
Place 8
Goodbye Texas, Hello Oklahoma!
Place 9
Sayre — A Railroad Town on the Mother Road
Place 10
Elk City — Celebrating the Mother Road
Place 11
Canute — On the Old Road
Place 12
Turkey Creek and Monument Creek
Place 13
Clinton — Keeping Route 66’s Story Alive
Place 14
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum — On Your Left
Place 15
Welcome to Weatherford — From the Mother Road to Space
Place 16
Lucille’s Historic Gas Station — Mother of the Mother Road
Place 17
Bridgeport’s Pony Bridge — Across the Canadian River
Place 18
The Giants Display — Larger Than Life
Place 19
Welcome to El Reno!
Place 20
Welcome to Oklahoma City — The Mother Road in the Capital
Place 21
Classen Boulevard — The Mother Road Meets the Asian District
Place 22
Uptown 23rd — Neon and the Mother Road
Place 23
Oklahoma State Capitol — On Your Left
Place 24
Oklahoma History Center — On Your Right
Place 25
Kelley Avenue — Following the Original Mother Road
Place 26
Edmond’s 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse — On Your Right
Place 27
Old Route 66 Gas Station Ruins — On Your Left
Place 28
1889 Land Run Boundary Marker — On Your Right
Place 29
Historic Threatt Filling Station — On Your Right
Place 30
Welcome to Chandler — A Town That Rebuilt
Place 31
Welcome to Davenport — Bricks and Painted History
Place 32
Welcome to Stroud — A Town That Moved
Place 33
Depew — Bypassed Before the Interstate
Place 34
Welcome to Bristow — Cotton, Oil, and the Mother Road
Place 35
Welcome to Kellyville — From Trading Post to Route 66
Place 36
Welcome to Sapulpa — The Crystal City
Place 37
Route 66 Historical Village
Place 38
Oaklawn Cemetery — Remembering Tulsa’s Past
Place 39
Meadow Gold and Tulsa’s Art Deco Heritage
Place 40
Tulsa — A Few Fun Facts
Place 41
Welcome to Chelsea — Under the Mother Road
Place 42
Welcome to Vinita — Railroads, Route 66, and a Sculptor’s Name
Place 43
Welcome to Afton — Rails, Road Trips, and a Scottish Connection
Place 44
Welcome to Miami — Main Street on the Mother Road
Place 45
Welcome to Commerce — Home of the Commerce Comet
Place 46
Welcome to Kansas — The Mother Road’s Shortest Chapter
Place 47
Welcome to Joplin — Into the Show-Me State
Place 48
Welcome to Carthage — America’s Maple Leaf City
Place 49
Springfield — A Well-Earned Farewell
Click below for full access to this tour
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 9.5 to 12.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 49 stops, covering top attractions such as Goodbye Amarillo!, Groom — Big Faith and a Little Tilt, Alanreed — A Little Town on the Mother Road, McLean — When the Traffic Moved On, 1929 Phillips 66 Station — A Cottage for Your Car.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Goodbye Amarillo! (Address: 11215 E Interstate 40 Hwy, Amarillo, TX 79118, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!