Driving Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma, brings together three very different roadside experiences within a short stretch of the Mother Road: bold modern architecture, a massive history-filled mural and one of Oklahoma’s most recognizable historic barns.
Arcadia was our first stop on Day 5 of our nine-day, eight-state Midwest road trip. We spent about three hours visiting POPS 66 Soda Ranch, searching for the Windmill Shops Route 66 Centennial Mural and exploring both floors of the Arcadia Round Barn. That included lunch at POPS, where the unusually slow service took up more than an hour of our visit.
If your time is limited, POPS and the Round Barn are the two stops I would prioritize. The Windmill Shops mural is an easy and worthwhile photography stop between them. This guide shares what impressed me, what I would do differently and how to plan your own Route 66 stop in Arcadia.
Why Arcadia Belongs on an Oklahoma Route 66 Itinerary
Arcadia offers a compact look at several eras of Route 66 history. The Round Barn was built in 1898—decades before the highway became the Mother Road—while POPS represents a modern interpretation of the classic roadside attraction. The Windmill Shops mural connects those stories through images of Arcadia’s history and the Route 66 Centennial.
These stops are close enough to visit during one morning or afternoon. Traveling by car made it easy for us to move from POPS to the mural and then to the Round Barn without feeling rushed. Even with our unexpectedly long lunch, three hours gave us enough time to explore and photograph all three locations.
POPS 66 Soda Ranch: Soda, Architecture and an Honest Diner Review
POPS 66 Soda Ranch was our first Arcadia stop, and its 66-foot soda bottle immediately delivered the oversized roadside personality I hoped to find along Route 66. The bottle is impressive during the day, although I would love to return after dark to see it illuminated.
The building itself deserves just as much attention. POPS combines glass walls, red stone and a dramatic white canopy stretching across the fuel pumps. Instead of recreating a vintage diner, the architecture gives the classic Route 66 roadside stop a bold, modern identity.
Inside, the colorful soda-bottle wall was my favorite feature. Rows of bottles arranged by color transform the glass walls into a rainbow display. POPS advertises more than 700 soda flavors, ranging from familiar favorites to unusual varieties. We explored the shop and created a mixed six-pack to take home.
Even if you do not plan to eat, POPS is worth visiting for the soda selection, architecture and photography.
Is the POPS Diner Worth It?
Our diner experience was the weakest part of the visit. We ordered a burger with fries and a shake. The food was average, the prices felt high for what we received and it took more than an hour for our food to arrive.
Service can vary from one visit to another, but based on our experience, I would not recommend planning a meal here if your Route 66 schedule or budget is limited. I would return to photograph the building, browse the soda collection and build another six-pack—but I would eat somewhere else.
If you decide to dine at POPS, allow considerably more time than you expect. Travelers making a short Arcadia stop can still enjoy the most memorable parts of POPS without eating in the restaurant.
Windmill Shops Route 66 Centennial Mural
The Windmill Shops mural was a planned stop, although I did not know exactly where to find it when we left POPS. We drove farther along Route 66 and did a little exploring until we located the shopping center. The mural is painted across the back of the building, so it is easy to miss if you only look from the road.
Its size was the first thing that impressed me. The mural stretches across a 225-foot wall and unfolds like a visual timeline of Arcadia. Historic buildings, transportation, classic vehicles, the Round Barn and familiar Route 66 imagery appear across the brightly painted panels.
I especially enjoyed seeing the town’s history incorporated into the artwork rather than finding one generic Route 66 scene. The mural gives visitors a reason to slow down, walk along the building and notice how individual images connect Arcadia’s past with the highway’s 1926–2026 Centennial.
Parking at the shopping center was easy during our visit. We parked in front and walked around to the back, where there was plenty of room to view and photograph the mural. Because the artwork spans the entire building, plan to photograph individual sections rather than expecting to capture every detail in one frame.
The mural is only a short drive from POPS and sits one block east of the Arcadia Round Barn, making it an easy stop between Arcadia’s two best-known attractions.
Travelers who enjoy finding public art can explore more of my street art maps and photography stops.
Why the Arcadia Round Barn Is a Must-See
The Arcadia Round Barn was our final stop, and it became one of the two places I consider essential when visiting Route 66 in Arcadia. Its red circular exterior and domed wooden roof make it instantly recognizable, but the most impressive part of the barn is waiting upstairs.
Built in 1898, the Round Barn predates Route 66. William Harrison “Big Bill” Odor constructed the barn using local materials, including wooden rafters softened in water and shaped to create its unusual curved roof. After decades of deterioration, community volunteers restored the landmark and reopened it to the public in 1992.
Exploring the Museum and Upstairs Loft
The downstairs level feels like a small museum and gift shop. We explored exhibits about the barn, Arcadia and local Route 66 history before heading upstairs.
The loft is the part visitors should not miss. Curved wooden rafters rise toward the center of the domed ceiling, creating an architectural pattern that is difficult to appreciate from outside. The open floor, warm wood and repeating lines made the loft one of my favorite photography subjects in Arcadia.
Admission was free during our visit, although donations were appreciated. We spent approximately 45 minutes exploring both levels without feeling rushed.
I only saw stairs leading to the loft and did not notice an elevator. Visitors who need step-free access should contact the Round Barn before arriving to confirm which areas are accessible.
How to Plan a Three-Hour Route 66 Stop in Arcadia
Our route—POPS, the Windmill Shops mural and then the Round Barn—worked well because it moved naturally along Route 66. Three hours was enough for all three stops, but lunch at POPS consumed more than an hour. Travelers who skip the diner could comfortably complete this itinerary in about two hours.
Suggested Time at Each Stop
- POPS 66 Soda Ranch: 45–60 minutes for the soda shop, architecture and photographs. Add at least an hour if you plan to eat.
- Windmill Shops mural: 20–30 minutes to walk behind the shopping center and photograph several panels.
- Arcadia Round Barn: Approximately 45 minutes for the downstairs exhibits, gift shop and upstairs loft.
- Driving and parking: 15–20 minutes of flexibility between the three locations.
Addresses for Your Arcadia Route
- POPS 66 Soda Ranch: 660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, Oklahoma
- Windmill Shops mural parking: 210 N. Odor Street, Arcadia, Oklahoma
- Arcadia Round Barn: 107 E. Highway 66, Arcadia, Oklahoma
First-Timer Tips
- Check current opening hours before leaving because attraction and museum schedules can change.
- Build extra time into your POPS visit if you plan to order food.
- Consider visiting POPS near dusk if seeing the 66-foot bottle illuminated is important to you.
- Carry a wide-angle lens or use your phone’s standard camera for the mural and Round Barn loft.
- Bring a little cash for a donation at the Round Barn.
- The mural has a paved walkway from its parking area. I only noticed stairs leading to the Round Barn loft, so confirm accessibility directly if you require step-free access.
Is Route 66 in Arcadia Worth Visiting?
Yes. Arcadia does not require an entire day, but it delivers an impressive amount of Route 66 history, architecture and roadside character within a compact area.
POPS provides the color, soda selection and modern roadside design. The Windmill Shops mural turns the town’s history into a large-scale visual story. The Round Barn preserves the architecture and community history that existed before Route 66 reached Arcadia.
I would happily return to POPS and the Round Barn. Next time, I would like to see the giant soda bottle illuminated after dark, create another six-pack and spend more time photographing the Round Barn loft. I would skip the POPS diner, however, because our meal was expensive, average and unexpectedly slow.
If you have only a couple of hours, prioritize POPS and the Round Barn. If you can allow closer to three hours, add the mural for an easy and colorful look at Arcadia’s Route 66 story.
Continue Your Oklahoma and Route 66 Road Trip
Arcadia was only the beginning of our day in Oklahoma. From there, we continued toward Oklahoma City for murals, immersive art at Factory Obscura and time around Bricktown.
For the broader journey, follow my complete Midwest road-trip itinerary or explore the U.S. Weekend Getaways guide for more Route 66 and central-U.S. road-trip ideas.
Which Arcadia stop would be first on your list: POPS, the Windmill Shops mural or the Round Barn?
