Route 66 runs 400 miles through the heart of Oklahoma — through small towns, tribal lands, and wide open prairies that tell the story of this state as well as anything. In advance of the highway's 100th anniversary, the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission awarded Keep Oklahoma Beautiful funding to support small projects along the route, helping communities along the way put their best face forward for one of the most significant milestones in Oklahoma history.

About the Program

Keep Route 66 Beautiful launched with a simple goal — support the communities along Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66 in making their corner of the highway cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. From litter cleanups to beautification projects, KOB has worked with organizations and communities across all 400 miles of the Mother Road in Oklahoma to make the centennial something to be proud of.

A Centennial Program

Keep Route 66 Beautiful was designed from the start as a centennial initiative — a focused effort to invest in Route 66 communities during one of the most celebrated years in the highway's history. The program concludes at the end of 2026, closing the chapter on a meaningful contribution to Oklahoma's Route 66 story.

KOB is grateful to the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission for entrusting us with this work, and to the communities, organizations, and volunteers who showed up for their stretch of the road.

Pick Up - Route 66 Litter Cleanup Program

The Pick Up program is Keep Route 66 Beautiful's active cleanup initiative. Registered participants receive cleanup supplies — including trash bags, safety vests, gloves, and t-shirts while supplies last — to support litter removal along Oklahoma's Route 66.

Applications for Pick Up are currently open.

Grant Programs

Keep Route 66 Beautiful offered several small project grants to support communities along the route. Grant applications are now closed for 2026. Current grant recipients can access program resources through the Route 66 Applicant Portal.

Route 66 Applicant Portal →

Route 66 Project Report →

Marnie Tosh * City of Elk City

"...this project quietly brought people together around a shared purpose...we transformed a small plot into a space that supports pollinators, adds beauty to a well-used community trail, and contributes to our city's Route 66 corridor."

Route 66 in Oklahoma

Oklahoma claims more miles of drivable Route 66 than any other state — 400 miles of the original alignment running from the Kansas border near Quapaw to the Texas border near Erick. The highway passes through communities in 11 counties, including Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and through some of the most historically significant landscapes in the American Southwest.

Keeping that stretch of road clean and beautiful isn't just good for tourism — it's a point of pride for the Oklahomans who live and work along it every day.