Bethany, Oklahoma

Returning to Route 66, turn east to cross the 1924 steel truss Lake Overholser Bridge, important in the trek west for thousands of Americans and the fictional Joad family in Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. Map Continue following Route 66 (NW 39th Expressway) to Holiday Inn Express, a great place to spend the night and eat a complimentary full breakfast before visiting downtown Bethany. Located at 7840 NW 39th Expressway 1-800-315-2621, Holiday Inn Express offers free internet, a pool, workout room, group meeting room, and business services. Jim’s Diner is next door to the west, or you can drive to Rockwell and NW 39th Expressway to visit

Swadley’s Barbecue or Sonic Drive-in or continue to downtown Bethany restaurants including Jim’s Diner, Pho3Nine, Birriera Diaz (real Mexican), Boomarang Diner, Stray Dog Café, or Papa Angelo’s Pizza restaurants on College and Northwest 39th Expressway.

Stop the next morning, continue east past the headquarters of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church’s giant globe and the campus of Southwestern Christian University. Then stop at the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, 3818 N. Rockwell Avenue to pick up maps and tour brochures.

The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital, which serves children with complex medical and physical disabilities, is located at 6800 Northwest 39th Expressway. The Children’s Center was founded in 1898 by Mattie Mallory, who was also a founder of Bethany.

Continuing east on Northwest 39th Expressway, park in the 6700 block for shopping in the unique shops, boutiques, antique malls, and restaurants in downtown Bethany. There’s additional parking behind these stores which were built in the early 1900’s when the interurban brought people from Oklahoma and El Reno to shop here.  On the northside of old Route 66, take a walking tour of the Southern Nazarene University campus. SNU is home to seven of alumnus

Scott Stearman’s outdoor sculptures. Replicas can be purchased in Scott's studio at 6724 NW 39th Expressway in downtown Bethany.

Historic Bethany Murals by Dr. Bob Palmer are painted on the walls of downtown businesses along Asbury and College Streets and in the downtown parking lot. On the Saturday of each Memorial Day weekend, the Bethany Improvement Foundation hosts the free family-friendly Bethany 66 Festival with musical entertainment, a car/truck/motorcycle show on Route 66, children’s activities, and food/craft vendors.

 Continue your tour of Bethany by turning south on College Avenue from the downtown corner of 6600 NW 39th Expressway (Route 66). In the 3800 block, you’ll find The Cottage, Splurge Baskets of Love, CJ’s Sporting Goods, and the Bethany Post Office.

Follow College Avenue to NW 23rd Street to visit Papa’s Leather Barn. Papa’s is a leading motorcycle apparel store located at 6623 NW 23rd in Bethany. Other NW 23rd businesses include Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy at 6821 NW 23rd, McDonald’s at 7010 NW 23rd, Walgreen’s at 23rd and Rockwell, and Ace Hardware at 7120 NW 23rd.

By continuing east into Oklahoma City on NW 23rd Street, Route 66 followers will see historic The Tower Theater, Giant Braum's Milk Bottle, and gold Geodesic dome between May and Lincoln Streets. The Oklahoma State Capital with its oil derrick is located on NW 23rd and Lincoln.

Alternate directions to Bethany:
From I-40 west of Oklahoma City, take MacArthur or Rockwell north to NW 39th Expressway (Route 66).
From I-35, take I-44 west to Bethany (OK 66) exit and follow Route 66 to Bethany.

For group or guided tours, call Arlita Harris at the Bethany Improvement Foundation 405-312-0155.