700 Sodas, One Diner: Why You Can’t Skip This Route 66 Stop

There are roadside diners—and then there’s Pops 66. Nestled along America’s most legendary highway in Arcadia, Oklahoma, this pit stop isn’t just another place to grab a burger and fill up the tank. It’s an unapologetically quirky shrine to soda pop, mid-century Americana, and the kind of road trip nostalgia that makes you want to roll the windows down and blast oldies radio.

And yes, you read that right: 700 sodas on the menu.

A Soda Lover’s Neon Oasis

Sure, Route 66 has its share of classic diners and neon nostalgia, but Pops 66 doesn’t just fit the scene—it steals it. Since opening in 2007, the building has served mid-century modern gas station realness with a twist: sleek lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a “we’ve got everything you didn’t even know you needed” kind of energy. Out front, a 66-foot LED-lit soda bottle towers over the highway, glowing like a rainbow-colored lighthouse for anyone in need of a serious sugar hit.

Step inside and it’s a head-turner: part diner, part general store, and part soda cathedral. Shelves are stacked with hundreds of glass bottles in colors that would make a painter jealous, flavors that range from classic to utterly bizarre, and enough options to make even the most decisive traveler pause… and then panic a little.

80 Root Beers & a Side of Buffalo Wing Soda

Sure, you’ll find the classics: 80 different root beers, retro bottles of Dad’s, and more cream sodas than you thought existed. But Pops also dares you to test your taste buds with some truly bizarre concoctions. Ranch Dressing soda? Check. Teriyaki Beef Jerky soda? Unfortunately, yes. Buffalo Chicken Wing soda? You bet. And for those who think dessert belongs in a bottle, there’s peanut butter and jelly, maple bacon, and even sweet corn.

The beauty of it all? You don’t have to pick just one. Grab a six-pack carrier and create your own lineup—half nostalgia, half dare.

Floats That Break the Rules

Of course, Pops isn’t just about shock-value sodas. The diner itself serves up hearty road trip fare—burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and salads. But the real move? Order a float. Unlike most diners, you’re not limited to Coke or root beer. Here, any soda in the cooler can become your float base. Orange cream float? Absolutely. Lemon soda with vanilla ice cream? Surprisingly refreshing. Cherry cola with chocolate ice cream? Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

Basically, Pops turns dessert into a choose-your-own-adventure story.

Same Pops, New Chapter

The late Aubrey McClendon, who co-founded Chesapeake Energy and owned a piece of the OKC Thunder, originally dreamed up Pops and named it after his dad, “Pops.” Though McClendon passed in 2016, the diner still carries on under new owners Jessie and Zar Sandhu—thankfully without changing the quirky magic that makes it special.

Why You’ve Gotta Stop

Whether you’re a soda purist, a foodie thrill-seeker, or just someone who needs a cold drink and a tank of gas, Pops 66 is the kind of roadside gem that makes Route 66 legendary. It’s nostalgia and culinary chaos in a single stop.

So next time you’re cruising the Mother Road, keep an eye out for the giant glowing soda bottle. Pull over, grab a burger, and make some questionable choices in the soda aisle. After all—road trips are about the journey and the snacks.