There is no single Route 66 museum. The old highway has a string of them, from small volunteer-run rooms full of signs and gas pumps to state-run exhibits that walk you through the Dust Bowl, the 1950s and the arrival of the interstates.
This guide sorts the best ones by state, explains what each does well, and helps you pick the two or three that fit your route and your interests. Hours below were checked in September 2026, but many of these places run on volunteers, so call ahead before a long detour.
Route 66 museums at a glance
| Museum | Town | Best for | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Route 66 Museum | Clinton, OK | The full story, decade by decade | Paid admission |
| National Route 66 Museum | Elk City, OK | All eight states, with a car ride exhibit | Check before you go |
| Arizona Route 66 Museum | Kingman, AZ | Travel on the 35th parallel, murals and dioramas | Paid admission |
| Route 66 Mother Road Museum | Barstow, CA | Cars and artifacts in a 1911 Harvey House | Free, donations welcome |
| California Route 66 Museum | Victorville, CA | The westernmost stretch and Victor Valley history | Free, donations welcome |
| Route 66 Auto Museum | Santa Rosa, NM | Classic and rare cars | Check before you go |
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton
If you only visit one museum on the whole drive, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton is the strongest candidate. Run by the Oklahoma Historical Society, it covers the whole road, not just the Oklahoma miles. The exhibits move through the eras of the highway, from the Dust Bowl migration to the Big Band years, and there is a 1950s diner section where you can sit at the counter or in a booth.
The museum sits at 2229 West Gary Boulevard, just off I-40 at exit 65. From February through October it opens Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; from November through January it opens Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is paid, with reduced rates for some visitors; check current prices before you go. It closes the first week of January and on state holidays.
National Route 66 Museum in Elk City
A short drive west of Clinton on I-40, Elk City has its own take on the theme. The National Route 66 Museum is part of the Old Town Museum Complex and covers all eight states of the highway. Its best-known exhibit is an interactive ride in a 1959 Cadillac. Because Clinton and Elk City are so close, many travelers pick one; if you have kids, Elk City’s hands-on style tends to hold their attention longer.
Oklahoma also has the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, housed in a 1935 WPA-built armory.
Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman
Kingman’s museum occupies the Historic Powerhouse at 120 West Andy Devine Avenue, a building that once supplied electricity to the town and to area mines. Opened in 2001, it traces travel along the 35th parallel long before the highway existed: Native American trade routes, wagon roads, Dust Bowl families, then postwar vacationers. Murals, photos and life-size dioramas tell the story.
For the Route 66 Centennial, the museum added interactive kiosks and large vinyl wall displays of historic Route 66 images in 2025. The same building houses the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum, the Kingman visitor center and the gift shop of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. It opens daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is paid, so check current ticket prices before you go.
California Route 66 museums: Barstow and Victorville
Route 66 Mother Road Museum, Barstow
Barstow’s museum lives inside Casa del Desierto, the 1911 Harvey House built for Santa Fe Railway passengers. It first opened in 2000, closed in June 2024, and reopened on March 22, 2025. Inside you will find vintage cars, including a 1958 Edsel, a 1923 Model T Doctor’s Coupe and a 1929 Ford Model A, plus Route 66 artifacts. Current hours are Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m..
California Route 66 Museum, Victorville
The California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, at 16825 D Street, focuses on the westernmost portion of the highway and the history of the Victor Valley. Admission is free and donations are welcome. It opens Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with holiday closures such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Victorville is less than an hour down the old road from Barstow, so you can see both in one afternoon on the way to Los Angeles.
Route 66 car museums worth a stop
If you care more about chrome than history panels, look at the car museums. The Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, on the old road through town, started as a car restoration business and shows more than 30 privately owned cars, from popular models to rare ones, with a gift shop and snack bar. The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, opened in 2016, is the other classic car museum stop; check its hours before you go.
In Illinois, the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac displays vehicles that belonged to artist Bob Waldmire alongside road memorabilia, and Berwyn has a small Route 66 museum near Chicago. In Missouri, the Route 66 State Park visitor center near Eureka occupies a 1935 roadhouse and displays road memorabilia.
Which museums should you choose?
A practical plan for most itineraries:
- One big history museum: Clinton or Elk City in western Oklahoma.
- One museum in the desert: Kingman, which pairs well with the Seligman to Kingman drive.
- One California stop: Barstow if you like cars and railroad architecture, Victorville if you want a free, quick visit.
- A car museum if you love classics: Santa Rosa or Sapulpa.
To see where each one falls on the map and how many days to give the drive, use our Route 66 road trip guide, then slot the museums into your daily legs. And if the Mother Road is only one of the trips on your list, compare it with the most scenic drives in America before you settle on dates.
2026 is a special year to go: Route 66 was designated on November 11, 1926, and the centennial is being celebrated with events in all eight states.
Route 66 museum FAQ
What is the best Route 66 museum?
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton is the most complete: it covers the whole highway, era by era, and is run by the state historical society.
Is there a Route 66 museum in Arizona?
Yes. The Arizona Route 66 Museum is in Kingman’s Historic Powerhouse, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Are the California Route 66 museums free?
Victorville is free, and the California Historic Route 66 Association lists Barstow as free too; both welcome donations.
Can I visit Clinton and Elk City on the same day?
Yes. The two towns are close on I-40, so both museums fit in one day if you start early.
