ROAD TRIP: Oklahoma City to Ruidoso
If you're planning a road trip from Oklahoma City to Ruidoso, here’s how to get here and some ideas of what to see and do along the way.
HOW TO GET HERE
WHAT TO SEE ALONG THE WAY
If you haven’t visited already, start your trip with 350 years of Banjo history at the the American Banjo Museum. The museum houses the largest collection of banjos on public display in the world with interpretive displays that present the history of the banjo from its humble African roots through its heyday during the roaring '20s to its present day voice in bluegrass, folk, jazz and world music. As the nation’s only museum dedicated to America’s instrument, the American Banjo Museum seeks to preserve the banjo’s legacy and promote an appreciation of its history and heyday.
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum:
Journey through the history of the nation’s most revered highway at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Encounter the iconic ideas, images, and myths of the Mother Road. Learn about the dreams and the labor needed to make the road a reality. Experience the Dust Bowl as thousands streamed along the road, away from drought and despair, and towards the “land of promise.” Listen to the sounds of the Big Band era, when the roar of the big trucks and the welcome home cries to returning soldiers dominated the road. Sit at the counter or a booth in the 1950s diner and feel the open road as America’s families vacationed along the length of Route 66.
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum:
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo showcases the colorful history and modern activities of the world's most popular breed of horse and a RaceRuidoso.com favorite. Changing, one-of-a-kind exhibits are on display year-round. Don't miss the gift shop inside the Hall of Fame & Museum for all sorts of items for the horse lover. They even have a gallery featuring western art.
HUNGRY?
The flamboyant display of Texan bravado at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo dares patrons to consume a 72 ounce steak and all of the trimmings. If you can finish it all within an hour, your meal is free!
Address: 7701 I-40 East, Amarillo, TX 79118 | Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:30PM | Menu: bigtexan.com | Phone: (806) 372-6000
The sight of these half-buried Cadillacs west of Amarillo, Texas has fascinated and surprised many a curious traveler since 1974. Photo by Richie Diesterheft, public domain.
Cadillac Ranch:
The ultimate Texas Panhandle photo-op is ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field at the same angle as the Cheops Pyramid. Cadillac Ranch has been stopping visitors since 1974 when the infamous public art work was created in 1974 by artists of the Ant Farm group. The cars are easily spotted off the access road on the south side of I-40 in Amarillo. The accepted practice today is to leave your own mark on the art by spray painting the cars, which gives them an ever-changing patina.
International UFO Museum and Research Center:
People from around the world travel to Roswell to see what the Museum has to offer and to simply "be in Roswell where it happened." Museum exhibits include information on the Roswell Incident, crop circles, UFO sightings, Area 51, ancient astronauts and abductions. The catalyst for the museum was the 1947 Roswell UFO incident, in which a rancher, W. W. "Mack" Brazel, discovered metal debris outside of Roswell. The exhibits are designed not to convince anyone to believe one way or another about their subjects. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions. Many visitors come numerous times and some spend days or even weeks doing research in the library. The Museum continues to provide information to the general public on all aspects of the UFO phenomena.
The International UFO Museum And Research Center is located in Roswell, New Mexico, United States, in the downtown district, and is focused largely on the 1947 Roswell Crash and later supposed UFO incidents in the United States and elsewhere. Photo by AllenS, public domain.
Welcome to Ruidoso!
There’s something for everyone here. Use our Ruidoso Travel Guide to find things to do, events, experiences, places to stay, restaurants, trip ideas, and outdoor activities.