Roadside attractions on Missouri's Route 66

Grab your map and discover Americana at the many roadside attractions along Missouri’s stretch of America’s Mother Road. Established in 1926, Route 66 covers 2,448 miles and eight states, with Missouri claiming more than 280 miles of the route.

Roadside markers along Interstate 44, Route 66’s modern replacement, guide you past motor courts, gas stations and other highway-dependent businesses, providing travelers a glimpse of the past.

Starting out
Start your Missouri Route 66 journey in St. Louis on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Located north of downtown, the bridge was Route 66's original crossing over the Mississippi River at St. Louis.

Old Chain of Rocks is one of the longest pedestrian and biking bridges in the world. You’ll see stunning views of downtown St. Louis and the city's whimsical castle-like water intake towers from high over the Mississippi.

Follow the city’s Riverfront Trail, a hiking and biking path, from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge to the Gateway Arch. Stop in the Arch's fascinating Museum of Westward Expansion to marvel at the rugged covered wagons, see the Lewis & Clark exhibits and say "thanks" for the invention of shock absorbers and smooth pavement.

Eats and sweets
Leaving downtown, grab a bite at the counter of the Eat-Rite Diner, where folks come from miles around to fill up on the breakfast and burgers menu.

The sweetest stop on Old Route 66 is at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Ted Drewes has served frosty "concretes" to generations of hungry travelers and long lines of loyal St. Louisans since 1929. The frozen vanilla custard shakes are blended with fruits, nuts, candies and other flavors and served so concrete-thick they're handed to customers upside down.

Across the street from Ted Drewes is the Donut Drive-In, a Route 66 icon still serving up cakey glazed donuts to hungry drivers.

Continuing west …
Travelers can visit the Museum of Transportation and see its collection of classic cars, streetcars and locomotives. The Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center houses the distinctive tile-front exterior of the famous Coral Court Motel, a notable Route 66 art deco hideaway.

In Eureka, stop at the Route 66 State Park situated along the picturesque Meramec River. The 419-acre park includes picnic areas, walking trails and a remodeled visitor center that offers modern road warriors a peek into the past with artifacts and displays from the route's 82-year history.

An hour southwest of St. Louis in Stanton you'll reach Meramec Caverns, the oldest tourist attraction on the Mother Road. Since 1933, this site has been welcoming Route 66 wanderers to its fascinating underground look at the region's history and geology.

Missouri legends say outlaw Jesse James hid men, loot and horses in the massive cave. During the attraction's early days, owners took American roadside art to new heights by turning painted barn roofs across the country into billboards promoting Meramec Caverns.

Drive the Old Route 66 in St. James, a five-block stretch of the first divided Route 66 pavement in America. While in St. James, grab a quick bite at Johnnie’s Bar, established as a café in the late 1920s, expanded into a Greyhound bus terminal in 1940, and then turned back into a dining establishment in 1960.

Rolla, Pulaski County, Lebanon
Rolla, one of the largest towns along the middle stretch of Missouri’s Route 66, boasts essential stops for Route 66 fans including the Mule Trading Post, complete with its restored signs of a mule with “wagging” ears and a hillbilly with “moving” arms. Enjoy a meal at Zeno’s Motel and Steak House, a Route 66 tradition for more than 40 years.

Entering Pulaski County, enjoy spectacular views of the Big Piney River and scenic bluffs from the town of Devil’s Elbow. Views from a 1923 through truss bridge over the Big Piney River are considered by many to be the most scenic on Route 66.

Enjoy a delicious meal at the Elbow Inn and BBQ Pit, originally the Munger Moss Sandwich Shop, which looks much the same as it did in 1929 when Route 66 was in its prime.

Pulaski County also features several historical sites of interest, including the Old Pulaski County Court House, built in 1903, and the restored Old Stagecoach Stop. Motorists can also see the Hooker Cut, the deepest pavement cut along Route 66 and a popular photo for postcards in the 1940s.

Lebanon, home of the Route 66 Museum and Research Center, offers hundreds of books, magazines and videos featuring the route, plus a collection of highway maps dating back to 1915.

At Wrink’s Market, owner Glenn Wrinkle has been greeting visitors for more than 50 years. It’s a popular stop with its Route 66 memorabilia and long history as a must-see on “The Mother Road.”

Springfield, Carthage, Webb City, Joplin
The next stop takes travelers to Springfield, home to several historic hotels including the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven Motel; the Rest Haven Motor Court built in 1947 with a classic Route 66 sign that still operates; and the Kentwood Arms Hotel built in 1926, now owned by Missouri State University.

The Gillioz Theatre, originally built in 1926 and completely restored in 2006, showcases an exquisite lobby featuring ornate paintings and detailed architecture. The Landers Theatre, Missouri’s oldest and largest civic theater, hosts plays and musicals throughout the year. Both theaters are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Adventurers looking to see a rare stretch and original portion of Route 66 can visit Spencer, an old ghost town left behind when the highway was rerouted.

Down the highway, travelers will come upon the quaint town of Carthage. On the west side of downtown, look for the glowing red-and-green neon sign of the historic Boots Motel, which once welcomed Clark Gable as a guest. A mile west of town on Old Route 66, enjoy Hollywood blockbusters at the meticulously restored Route 66 Drive-in Theatre.

In Webb City, be sure to stop by the Bradbury Bishop Deli — a ‘40s/’50s-style deli complete with the original soda fountain. Webb City also is home to one of Route 66's oddities: the Praying Hands. This 32-foot, 100-ton concrete-and-steel memorial sits atop a 40-foot-high hill in King Jack Park and serves as a reminder of the simple but profound act of prayer.

The last stop on Missouri’s portion of Route 66 is Joplin. Meander through the heart of town and stop at the Joplin Museum Complex, which features a Route 66 display and tells the story of Joplin’s history.

Missouri Division of Tourism
www.VisitMO.com