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. Newly commissioned photography brings those places into the present, inviting visitors to compare what they see today with the road and communities that came before.
That makes the exhibit a natural companion to the drive itself. Route 66 is more than a line on a map. Its character comes from the towns, buildings, businesses and everyday places encountered along the way—and from the changes those places have experienced across generations.
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 share stories along the way, 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.
