Just outside of Miami, Oklahoma, you’ll find the skinniest road on Route 66. The Ribbon Road, also known as the Sidewalk Highway, is a nine-foot-wide stretch of pavement that holds the title of the narrowest surviving section of Route 66. It’s the only one of its kind left standing (or driving).
This little road was laid down between 1921 and 1922. Originally part of Oklahoma State Highway 7, the Ribbon Road predates Route 66 by a few years. But when the Mother Road was officially born in 1926, this pre-existing path between Miami and Afton was absorbed into the lineup.
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Why only nine feet wide? Legend says Oklahoma was a little short on cash but still wanted to go the distance, so instead of paving half the length with a normal road, they paved the whole thing… just really, really narrow. This resulted in a 15-mile-long one-lane road with six sharp right angles and a whole lot of charm.
Today, two segments of the Ribbon Road still exist, including a three-mile drive just southwest of Miami. If you’re up for a historic cruise, you can still roll down this century-old path. It’s like driving down a piece of living history… with a little bumpiness for good measure.
There’s even a roadside marker (added in 2012) to mark the spot where history and asphalt meet. It reads:
Completed in 1922 as Federal Highway Project No. 8. Running 15.46 miles from Miami to Afton. The only remaining 9′ section of original pavement on the old Route 66 system, taken out of service in 1937. A National Register of Historic Places Site.
These days the road’s looking a little rough around the edges. The sections are worn down, chunks are missing, and farm equipment hasn’t exactly been gentle. But despite its cracks and quirks, the Ribbon Road still draws Route 66 fans from around the globe, all eager to say they drove this historic stretch of pavement.
Preservation efforts are in the works, and Route 66 lovers are hopeful that this sliver of highway history gets the TLC it deserves. After all, it’s not every day you get to steer down a road that’s barely wider than your car and more than 100 years old.
Photos of Route 66 Ribbon Road in Miami, Oklahoma
