Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise Becomes a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Attempt | News
The large-scale celebration of the Route 66 Centennial in the Capital of Route 66®, scheduled for May 30, 2026, will now become an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ effort, potentially cementing Tulsa’s place in the history books for the Mother Road’s centennial celebration. A Guinness World Records judge will be on site to verify the attempt and whether a record was broken.
“In Tulsa, we don’t do anything halfway,” said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. “Making Capital Cruise an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ effort adds another layer of excitement to what was already set to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration at The Capital of Route 66®. This will be a true citywide celebration, from north to south and east to west, and we can’t wait to show the world how we’ll celebrate the Mother Road in Tulsa.”
Tulsa’s Mother Road Market is the official judging sponsor for Capital Cruise.
“It is an incredible honor to be part of bringing a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ effort to Tulsa,” said Brian Paschal, Chief Executive Officer of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation. “Route 66 is central to Tulsa’s identity and a crucial part of our DNA, and setting a world record on the Mother Road in Tulsa during the Centennial year will be a truly unprecedented celebration.”
The cruise will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026. On Thursday and Friday, cars will be on display at Tulsa’s Expo Square, the site of the pre-Cruise Tailgate and Expo.
“I can’t wait for Capital Cruise in Tulsa,” said Christian Bengel, chairman of the Route 66 Commission and vice chairman of the Tulsa City Council. “Achieving an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title during the largest Route 66 Centennial celebration in America is exactly how The Capital of Route 66® should honor the Mother Road. This will be a citywide celebration that pays tribute to the important history of Route 66. The Capital Cruise reflects Tulsa’s bold, collaborative spirit in bringing this momentous event to life and showcasing our unique contributions to the Mother Road.”
On the day of the event, cars will leave Expo Square, head north on Yale Avenue, then turn west on 11th Street to begin the 5.5-mile stretch along Route 66.
“If you want to see America, you have to see Oklahoma, and what better way to showcase our state and the city of Tulsa than with the eyes of the world on us,” said Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. “I am thrilled to see Tulsa take a leading role in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Highway, and the impact of this event will be felt across the city, state and region for years to come.”
Route 66 is routinely top-of-mind for visitors to Tulsa. During the calendar year 2025, Route 66 made up nearly 23 percent of all known interests for Visitor Center visitors: Powered by Visit Tulsa.
“All roads lead to the capital of Route 66® as we prepare for this momentous celebration!” said Renee McKenney, president of Tulsa Regional Tourism and senior vice president of tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “It’s such a great event to bring the world to Tulsa and introduce them to our beautiful culture and community. The Mother Road Centennial deserves a big kickoff, and we plan to deliver it!”
Registration for drivers for the parade is open. Cars must be model year 1996 or older to qualify as a classic. Click here to register and visit capitalofroute66.com for more information.
