Fall Route 66 Road Trip: Visit Miami, Oklahoma & the Dobson Museum

Looking for a memorable Route 66 road trip in Oklahoma this fall? Make Miami part of the journey. As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary, the Dobson Museum & Home offers travelers a unique way to experience the Mother Road—first from behind the wheel, then through Centennial on the Mother Road, a visual journey comparing 50 Route 66 locations then and now.There may be no better year to take a drive on Route 66. The Mother Road marks its centennial in 2026, giving travelers a timely reason to slow down, get off the interstate and rediscover the communities and places that made the highway an American icon.

For a fall road trip through northeast Oklahoma, Miami offers something especially fitting: a chance to experience Route 66 on the road, then step inside the Dobson Museum & Home and see how the Mother Road has changed over time.

Drive It. See a Century of Change.

The Dobson Museum’s fall exhibit, Centennial on the Mother Road, captures 50 locations along Route 66 in a then-and-now visual journey. The history featured in the exhibit is still visible along Route 66 throughout Ottawa County.

Just south of Miami in Afton, travelers can see the former Eagle Service Station, later known as Afton Station. The Route 66 landmark opened as a gas station in 1933 and served Mother Road travelers for decades.

Afton is also home to the historic Cities Service Station and Horse Creek Bridge, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Together, these surviving landmarks make the drive between Miami and Afton an easy extension of a visit to the Dobson Museum—and a chance to experience some of the Route 66 history explored in Centennial on the Mother Road out on the road itself.

Why Stop in Miami, Oklahoma?

Ottawa County has long been part of the Route 66 story, and Miami gives travelers an opportunity to connect the road trip experience with the local history behind it. At the Dobson Museum, the Centennial exhibit adds context to what you have just seen—or what you are about to see—along the Mother Road.

Instead of simply passing through, visitors can pause and look more closely. What has changed? What remains recognizable? Which places have taken on new lives? The exhibit’s 50-location format turns those comparisons into a visual trip through a century of change.

Make the Museum Part of the Road Trip

A good road trip leaves room for discovery. The Dobson Museum is the kind of stop that can add meaning without taking over the day. Explore Centennial on the Mother Road at your own pace, then spend time discovering the museum’s broader collection and the stories of Ottawa County.

Knowledgeable staff and docents are available to help you map out your road trip pointing out historic sites, great places to eat and share stories, making the museum a useful stop for longtime Route 66 enthusiasts as well as travelers who are just beginning to explore the road’s history.

A Fall Drive With a Little More Meaning

Fall already gives us a reason to get in the car and go somewhere. Route 66’s 100th anniversary gives this year’s drive a little more significance. So take the slower road. Notice the places you might otherwise pass. Make a stop in Miami. And before you continue down the Mother Road, see what a century of change looks like through the Dobson Museum’s Centennial on the Mother Road.

Make It an Overnight Route 66 Adventure

Want to slow the trip down even more? Turn your fall drive into an overnight Route 66 getaway. Miami and the surrounding Ottawa County area offer convenient options for RV travelers and campers, from a stay directly on Route 66 to campsites near the water at Grand Lake.

Buffalo Run Wild RV Resort — 8300 US Route 66, Miami. A natural fit for Mother Road travelers, with full-hookup RV sites directly along Route 66 and convenient access to Miami.

Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park — 14820 OK-137, Miami. A good choice for travelers who want to pair their Route 66 trip with time outdoors. The park offers RV and tent camping near Grand Lake.

Gopher Valley Campground — Within the Twin Bridges Area near Miami. A reservable campground with RV and tent-capable sites that offers another option for extending the road trip into an overnight outdoor stay.

Camping availability, amenities and reservation requirements can change, so check directly with the campground or Oklahoma State Parks before traveling.

Plan Your Visit

Centennial on the Mother Road is on display October 6 through December 19, 2026, at the Dobson Museum & Home in Miami, Oklahoma. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome to explore at their own pace.

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