ROUTE 66 in Vinita
Route 66 and Vinita, Oklahoma
Long before Route 66 arrived, Vinita had a story of its own. Established in 1871, Vinita is one of Oklahoma's oldest communities. When Route 66 came through town, Vinita became part of a new chapter in American travel as motorists headed west in search of opportunity, adventure and a glimpse of the country beyond their hometowns.
Today, Vinita remains a worthwhile stop for travelers exploring Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma. Visitors can experience the city's historic character, explore local shops and attractions, learn more about the area's history and enjoy a meal in a café that has been serving travelers since the early days of the Mother Road.
And that's where Clanton's fits into the story.
For generations, the café has been a meeting place between Vinita and the world beyond it. Farmers and families have shared tables with road-trippers and travelers passing through town. Some customers have lived nearby their entire lives. Others have traveled thousands of miles and walked through the door because Clanton's was one of the stops they didn't want to miss.
Make Clanton's a Stop on Your Oklahoma Route 66 Road Trip
If you're planning a Route 66 road trip through Oklahoma, come hungry.
Pull off the Mother Road in Vinita, look for Clanton's, and take a seat in a restaurant that has been part of this community and this highway for generations. Order an Oklahoma favorite, enjoy a slice of pie and spend a little time in a place where Route 66 history isn't behind glass.
It's still happening around the tables.
For nearly a century, Route 66 has brought travelers past our front door. We're proud to keep welcoming them.
When your Route 66 journey brings you to Vinita, Oklahoma, make Clanton's Cafe part of your story.
In Vinita, Oklahoma, that story leads right to the door of Clanton's Cafe.
Route 66 was established in 1926, and the Clanton family entered the café business in Vinita just one year later. Grant "Sweet Tater" Clanton opened the Busy Bee Cafe in 1927, beginning a family tradition that would grow alongside the Mother Road. In 1947, Clanton's Cafe opened at its present location on Route 66 and began welcoming the steady stream of locals and highway travelers passing through northeastern Oklahoma.
Nearly a century later, the road is still outside our door—and travelers are still pulling in hungry.
A Route 66 Restaurant with a Story You Can Still Experience
Many historic Route 66 landmarks now exist only in photographs and memories. Clanton's is different.
Today, Clanton's Cafe is the oldest continuously family-owned restaurant on Route 66, a distinction that connects the café to generations of travelers who have crossed Oklahoma on America's Mother Road.
This isn't a reproduction of an old-fashioned Route 66 diner or a modern restaurant decorated to look historic. Clanton's was here while the story of Route 66 was unfolding.
Through the decades, travelers have stopped in Vinita, walked through our doors and sat down for hearty Oklahoma favorites. Chicken fried steak, calf fries, chicken and dressing, burgers, homemade pies and other café classics have made Clanton's a destination in its own right.
The restaurant's story has traveled far beyond Oklahoma, too. Clanton's has been discovered by Route 66 writers, travel publications and television audiences across the country, including viewers of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Today, visitors from across the United States and around the world continue to make Clanton's part of their Route 66 road trip through Oklahoma.
Two Centennials. One Remarkable Story.
2026 — Route 66 Celebrates 100 Years
2027 — Clanton’s Cafe Celebrates 100 Years