Ka-Chow! Kids can also get their kicks on Route 66
An inexpensive family vacation in Tulsa that’ll leave your kids laughing and learning
If you’ve seen the movie Cars, then you might remember the line from race car Lightning McQueen: “I can’t go out on the track and do the same old thing, it won’t work.” That’s true for this summer’s vacation. Instead of the same ol’ family road trip, make your destination the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa June 23, 24 and 25, 2023.
Kids under the age of 12 get in free during the three-day festival. Adults can score tickets for just $10 each by stopping by the AAA office at 2121 East 15th Street in Tulsa June 12 through June 23. You can also buy tickets online at www.Route66RoadFest.com.
In Cars, Route 66 takes Lightning McQueen into Radiator Springs. But in real life, Route 66 winds 2,400 miles through eight states! 400 miles run through Oklahoma alone, which is more miles than any other state. You can experience the entire historic highway and the locations along the way that inspired the movie Cars at the AAA Route 66 Road Fest.
Step on the gas because the festival is jam-packed with family activities in the Route 66 Road Fest Activity Zone! The Boy Scouts of America are bringing their Pinewood Derby! The wood car racing event pits unpowered, unmanned miniature cars against each other all day long! Kids can choose a pre-built car made from pine wood, plastic wheels and metal axles and race their friends and families. There will also be sanctioned races throughout the day where participating Boy Scouts can win awards.
Get your golf pants ready! The AAA Route 66 Road Fest also has an 18-hole miniature golf course. The holes are centered around actual attractions along Route 66 like The Blue Whale of Catoosa, dinosaurs, wigwams and more. The custom-built course is unique and fun as the highway itself.
Bring your toy cars to participate in the Hot Wheel Races! The races are held by the T-Town Wheelers, a family-oriented club of Hot Wheels and other brands of diecast collectors and customizers. The downhill races will take place on the hour and will accommodate up to 20 cars racing per session. There will be awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each session. Don’t have any Hot Wheels? You can buy one at the car show from one of our vendors.
Let your children express their creative side in our Interactive Art Space. Kids can sit and color or paint any of their favorite Route 66 attractions and then take the artwork home. Adults and children can also join one of our Paint Along Classes with the fantastic Rosemary Daugherty of Moonlight Art Factory. Rosemary will be doing guided paint classes featuring some of your favorite Route 66 icons. Register here to ensure your spot in her paint along classes.
Go virtual! Your whole family can put on googles and experience virtual reality in our Virtual Reality Area. Just hop into one of our four VR arenas and take on the challenge of your choice.
The dinosaur area is simply DINO-mite! You can hang out and interact with a life-size T-Rex or Raptor. Our eight-foot dinosaur is the closest you can get to the real thing. Baby dinosaurs will also be roaming around the festival and are a big hit with smaller kids. Get your cameras ready!
There are activities for big kids too (that’s you, mom and dad.). Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and people of Route 66 through the ages. In an interactive experience called The Journey, you’ll learn how the road was built, then travel through the centuries as the highway expands and changes. Actors from the time periods will share their stories with you. Walk through a 1920s gas station, a 1930s gangster lockup, a World War II era diner and a classic 50s drive-in movie theater. From the past through today and into The Future of Mobility – it’s a road trip like no other.
Cars, cars and more cars! Take in hundreds of classic and other cars of all makes and models. The vehicles span the history of the automobile from the early Model Ts to the self-driving vehicles of the future. You can also meander through the RV Park with vintage and modern campers. With their resurgence in popularity, RVs are cruising across America’s highways. providing a private traveling experience for their passengers. So, whether it’s stepping back in time with a cool retro mini or the latest high-end motorhomes, this collection has something for everyone.
