Day 6: From Oklahoma to the Land of Enchantment

Day 6 was all about milestones. We reached the halfway point of Route 66 and ended the day beneath some of the most famous neon lights on the Mother Road.

We started the morning in Clinton with breakfast at the Route 66 Café at the Market before heading to Elk City, home to the National Route 66 and Transportation Museum.

Between the transportation exhibits and the giant Route 66 shield, it was easy to see why Elk City has become one of the premier stops for Route 66 enthusiasts.

Continuing west through Sayre, we admired the impressive Beckham County Courthouse before arriving in Erick, hometown of country music legend Roger Miller and actor/country music singer Sheb Wooley.

The quirky Sandhills Curiosity Shop delivered exactly what its name promises: a collection of oddities, stories, and Route 66 character Harley Russell that could never be duplicated anywhere else.

Before long, we crossed into Texas, our fifth Route 66 state.

Our first stop was Shamrock, home to perhaps the most beautiful service station on the entire route. The restored U-Drop Inn and Tower Station, with its striking Art Deco architecture and glowing green trim, looked like something straight out of a movie.

Nearby, the vintage Magnolia Station provided another reminder of Route 66's rich automotive heritage.

Shamrock is also the hometown of Bill Mack, the legendary country music DJ and songwriter known as the "Midnight Cowboy." His late-night radio shows entertained travelers and truckers across America for decades, making him a fitting Route 66 connection in this historic Texas town.

In McLean, we visited the Devil's Rope Museum, a fascinating collection dedicated to barbed wire and life on the Texas plains. It may sound unusual, but Route 66 has a way of turning unexpected subjects into memorable experiences.

The roadside attractions continued in Groom, where the famous leaning water tower still tricks travelers into looking twice.

Nearby stands the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a towering 190-foot monument that can be seen for miles across the Texas Panhandle and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks along Route 66. Beneath the massive cross, visitors can explore religious sculptures and displays that add an unexpected and memorable stop to the journey.

Just down the road, Slug Bug Ranch offered a Texas-sized twist on Cadillac Ranch, with a line of buried Volkswagen Beetles standing proudly beside the highway.

By afternoon, we reached Amarillo and made what may be the most Texas stop imaginable: The Big Texan, known for oversized steaks and larger-than-life personality.

Then, we explored Amarillo's historic Route 66 district before heading to one of the most iconic attractions on the entire highway: Cadillac Ranch. The row of colorful, half-buried Cadillacs is every bit as surreal in person as it appears in photographs.

West of Amarillo, we passed through Vega, stopping at the Milburn-Price Culture Museum and another beautifully preserved Magnolia station before reaching one of the most significant points on the Mother Road.

In Adrian, we found the famous Midpoint Café, marking the halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica: 1,139 miles in either direction. Standing beneath the midpoint sign was a special moment. After nearly a week on the road, we had officially reached the center of America's most famous highway.

Soon afterward, we crossed into New Mexico, our sixth state of the journey. The landscape began to change immediately.

The wide-open plains, distant mesas, and endless skies hinted at the Southwest adventures still ahead.

As evening approached, we rolled into Tucumcari, one of Route 66's neon capitals. We explored Tee Pee Curios and soaked in the town's vintage atmosphere before dinner at Del's Restaurant.

Del's delivered a true New Mexico welcome. I ordered the chile rellenos smothered in both red and green chile—a classic "Christmas-style" combination that perfectly captured the flavors of the Southwest. The mild heat of the chiles paired beautifully with the roasted peppers, creating a dish that felt both comforting and distinctly New Mexican.

For dessert, a warm sopapilla drizzled with honey provided the perfect sweet finish and my first taste in years of one of the state's most beloved traditions.

The perfect ending to the day came after sunset.

We checked into the legendary Blue Swallow Motel, one of the most photographed and beloved motels on Route 66.

As darkness fell, the neon signs flickered to life, bathing the property in shades of blue, red, and green. The glow felt like a postcard from the 1950s, preserved for modern travelers to enjoy.

Sitting outside our room under the New Mexico night sky, we couldn't help but reflect on how far we'd come. Six days ago, we stood at the Begin Route 66 sign in Chicago. Tonight, we were halfway to the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the neon lights and timeless charm that make the Mother Road unforgettable.

Tomorrow, the Southwest awaits.