Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass
A loop north of Tulsa through Osage Nation country, with a bison prairie, an oilman’s ranch and Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie skyscraper.
- Distance
- 258 km (160 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 52 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- OK
- Updated
- May 20, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 258 km (160 mi) with 8 stops, from Tulsa to Blue Whale of Catoosa. About 2 h 52 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Oklahoma
Route description
This loop leaves Route 66 at Tulsa and heads north-west for about an hour to Pawhuska, capital of the Osage Nation, whose oil wealth in the 1920s is the backdrop of Killers of the Flower Moon. The Osage Nation Museum and the historic downtown are worth an hour.
North of town, gravel roads lead into the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where a large bison herd roams freely. Allow a half day for the scenic loop and stay in your vehicle near the animals; the roads are fine for cars but dusty and slow for large rigs.
Head east on US-60 toward Bartlesville, detouring to Woolaroc, an oilman’s ranch retreat with a museum of Western art and a wildlife preserve. In Bartlesville, Frank Lloyd Wright’s copper-green Price Tower rises unexpectedly above the prairie town.
Return south on US-169 and OK-20 to Claremore, rejoining Route 66 at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Finish at the Blue Whale of Catoosa before rolling back into Tulsa.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Tulsa
OK - 278 km
Pawhuska
OK - 325 km
Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
NaturePawhuska, OKOne of the largest protected tallgrass prairies left, grazed by a free-roaming bison herd. The access roads are gravel; drive slowly and stay in the car near the bison.
- 445 km
Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve
HistoryBartlesville, OKAn oilman’s ranch retreat turned museum, with Western art and Native American collections. The wooded entrance road passes bison and elk.
- 521 km
Bartlesville
OK - 60 km
Price Tower
HistoryBartlesville, OKFrank Lloyd Wright’s only built skyscraper, a copper-trimmed 19-story tower completed in 1956 on the open prairie. The exterior alone is worth the detour.
- 769 km
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
HistoryClaremore, OKA hilltop museum and tomb honoring Oklahoma’s cowboy humorist, with films, saddles and his writings. A short hop off Route 66.
- 819 km
Blue Whale of Catoosa
OdditiesCatoosa, OKA grinning concrete whale built in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift. It sits in a spring-fed pond beside Route 66.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Tulsa → Pawhuska · 48 mi · 0 h 52 minOvernight nearby, for example: Tent Hill (10 mi); Osage RV (10 mi).
- Day 2: Pawhuska → Price Tower · 57 mi · 1 h 01 minOn the way: Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville.Overnight nearby, for example: Riverside RV Resort & Campground (1 mi); Tent Hill (12 mi).
- Day 3: Price Tower → Blue Whale of Catoosa · 55 mi · 0 h 59 minOn the way: Will Rogers Memorial Museum.Overnight nearby, for example: Claremore Expo Center RV Park (10 mi); Mingo RV Park (8 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in September and November. Hot in June–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass?
3-day road trip of about 258 km (160 mi) with 8 stops, from Tulsa to Blue Whale of Catoosa. About 2 h 52 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 52 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass start and end?
It starts in Tulsa and ends in Blue Whale of Catoosa.
Which states does Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass pass through?
Oklahoma.
Where can you camp along Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass?
OpenStreetMap lists 41 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Claremore Expo Center RV Park, Mingo RV Park and Cherry Hill Park.
When is the best time for Off Route 66: Osage country and the tallgrass?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
