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EASTERN MISSOURI
St. Louis · Madison · Pacific · Eureka · St. Clair · Sullivan · Stanton · Cuba · Fanning · Rolla
12 stops
All stops, east to west
The original Route 66 crossing of the Mississippi River — a 5,353-foot steel bridge built in 1929 with a dramatic 30-degree bend in the middle. Closed to cars since 1968, it reopened as a pedestrian and cycling bridge in 1999 and is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. The perfect first stop entering Missouri.
Chain of Rocks Rd, Madison / St. Louis
Built on the site of the former Times Beach, a town evacuated in 1983 due to dioxin contamination and later demolished, the park now features hiking, cycling, and horse trails along the Meramec River. The visitor center is housed in the 1935 Bridgehead Inn roadhouse and filled with Route 66 memorabilia and exhibits.
97 N Outer Rd, Eureka
The first park of its kind in Missouri — a growing collection of restored neon signs salvaged from Route 66 motels, diners, and garages that once lit up the highway from St. Louis to Joplin. Plan your visit at sunset to watch the signs come alive. A moving tribute to the road's golden era.
I-44 frontage road near St. Robert, St. Robert
The most visited cave in Missouri, with 150,000 visitors a year exploring 4.6 miles of spectacular limestone caverns beneath the Ozarks. Legend holds that Jesse James used the caves as a hideout after his robberies. Guided tours reveal massive formations and seven theatrical levels of underground rooms.
1135 MO-W, Stanton
Built in 1934 from native stone and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wagon Wheel is the oldest continuously operating motel on all of Route 66. The original stone cabins, vintage neon sign, and on-site Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que have made this one of the Mother Road's most beloved stops.
901 E Washington St, Cuba
Cuba has earned the nickname 'Mural City' with more than a dozen large outdoor murals painted on downtown buildings, each depicting a different aspect of the town's history and Route 66 heritage. The most famous is the Bette Davis mural. A self-guided walking tour connects them all — maps available at the chamber of commerce.
Downtown Cuba, Cuba
A 42-foot cedar rocking chair that claimed the Guinness World Record for largest rocker from 2008 until being surpassed by a taller rival. Still an unmissable roadside photo stop at the Fanning 66 Outpost and Feedstore, which sells local jams, Route 66 souvenirs, and cold drinks for the road.
4659 State Hwy AB, Fanning
An extraordinary private collection of vintage gasoline pump globes, enamel signs, vintage pumps, and automotive memorabilia arranged around a classic old garage shed. Visible from the road and open for browsing — a genuine time capsule of American roadside culture.
21959 E Outer Rd, Cuba
Also in this region
A stunning 1934 log-and-stone roadhouse that is one of the most architecturally beautiful historic structures on Route 66. Now a restaurant serving steaks and Missouri classics, the hand-hewn cedar interior and massive stone fireplace have barely changed in 90 years.
1329 Big Bend Rd, Pacific
While You’re in St. Louis
Worth extra time
St. Louis is a world-class city that deserves more than a quick pass-through. These stops anchor the eastern end of Missouri Route 66 and are worth building a full day around — especially the Gateway Arch and Ted Drewes, two of the most iconic stops on the entire Mother Road.
The 630-foot stainless steel arch is the tallest man-made monument in the United States and the symbol of St. Louis as the 'Gateway to the West.' Ride the iconic tram to the top for jaw-dropping views of the Mississippi River, or explore the underground museum tracing westward expansion and Route 66 history.
11 N 4th St, St. Louis
A St. Louis institution since 1929, Ted Drewes serves what they call a 'concrete' — frozen custard so thick it doesn't fall out when held upside down. Located right on the historic Route 66 alignment on Chippewa Street. Come for the custard, stay for the nostalgia.
6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis
Open since 1952, this retro walk-up stand serves handcrafted donuts and features one of the finest surviving neon signs on the entire Missouri stretch of Route 66. The classic glazed donuts are an institution — arrive early before they sell out.
6525 Chippewa St, St. Louis
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CENTRAL MISSOURI
Rolla · Devil's Elbow · Hooker · St. Robert · Waynesville · Lebanon · Bourbon · Paris Springs · Springfield
12 stops
All stops, east to west
A sprawling roadside trading post that has anchored Rolla's stretch of Route 66 for decades. Famous for its towering 'Hillbilly' neon sign — a grinning painted figure holding a rifle — and the adjacent Totem Pole Antiques, the complex offers local art, Missouri pecans, hot sauce, and deep Route 66 memorabilia.
1000 Kingshighway, Rolla
Named for a sharp, treacherous bend in the Big Piney River that gave early river drivers fits. The original 1923 Route 66 bridge here still stands and can be crossed on foot — a rare, intact piece of very early Mother Road engineering in a hauntingly beautiful Ozarks setting.
MO-Z near Big Piney River, Devil's Elbow
When dynamited and carved in the 1940s, Hooker Cut was the deepest highway road cut in the entire United States — 90 feet of solid Ozark limestone. The four-lane divided highway through the cut was itself a marvel of engineering. Still drivable and impressive today as the old Route 66 alignment.
MO-Z near Hooker, Hooker
Missouri's most intentionally ridiculous roadside stop — a cluster of quirky shops, a fudge factory, and the 'Mega Mayor' Muffler Man holding a golf ball. The entire complex leans hard into its location name with shameless puns and endless photo opportunities. Bring the kids and your sense of humor.
Outer Rd, I-44 Exit 163, St. Robert
One of the most iconic neon signs on all of Route 66 — a blazing mid-century masterpiece that has been glowing outside this beloved motel since 1946. Owned and lovingly operated by Bob and Ramona Lehman for decades, the Munger Moss is a living piece of Route 66 history with clean, affordable rooms.
1336 E Route 66, Lebanon
A perfectly preserved 1950s-style malt shop that has been serving hand-dipped ice cream, malts, shakes, and burgers to Route 66 travelers since the Mother Road's golden age. The classic neon sign, counter stools, and friendly service make this one of the most authentic diners on the Missouri stretch.
627 W Mt Vernon St, Bourbon
A faithfully restored 1930s Sinclair station that Gary Turner spent years filling with pumps, memorabilia, and vintage automotive artifacts. Now managed by his family after Gary's passing, the station is free to visit and remains one of the most photographed stops on all of Missouri Route 66. Don't miss the vintage Dino dinosaur.
14225 MO-96, Paris Springs / Ash Grove
While You’re in Springfield — Birthplace of Route 66
Worth extra time
Springfield is where the highway got its name on April 30, 1926 — making it the literal birthplace of the Mother Road. It’s the largest city on Missouri Route 66 and deserves at least half a day. These stops are the essential Springfield experience.
America's only ride-through cave — visitors are transported on a Jeep-drawn tram through stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations without ever leaving their seat. Used as a speakeasy during Prohibition and later a live music venue, the cave has a colorful history as rich as its geology.
4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield
Springfield is where the highway officially got its name on April 30, 1926. This small roadside park with historical markers and interpretive signage commemorates the moment that changed American road culture forever. The Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center is nearby at 815 E St. Louis St.
1053 W College St, Springfield
Over 60 rare and meticulously restored classic American and European automobiles from the Route 66 era, displayed in a beautifully curated setting. Every car has a story — and a window into the decades when Route 66 was the main artery of American mobility.
1634 W College St, Springfield
A spectacular 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival theater that opened the same year as Route 66 itself. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Gillioz hosts live performances year-round and offers tours of its ornate interior. The restoration is remarkable — everything from the lobby tile to the ceiling plasterwork.
325 Park Central E, Springfield
Located on the historic Park Central Square where Route 66 was born, this museum brings Springfield's history alive with interactive exhibits, a Wild Bill Hickok shootout experience, a passenger train, and deep dives into the Ozarks' Native American heritage and Civil War history.
154 Park Central Sq, Springfield
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WESTERN MISSOURI
Carthage · Carterville · Webb City · Joplin
9 stops
All stops, east to west
A beautifully restored 1939 Art Moderne motel that is one of the finest examples of classic Route 66 motor court architecture still in operation. The iconic Boots Court neon sign — blazing red and white — is among the most photographed on the entire Mother Road. Rooms are lovingly updated while preserving every original detail.
107 S Garrison Ave, Carthage
One of only a handful of original drive-in theaters still operating on Route 66 and the only one in Missouri. Open since 1949, the 66 Drive-In screens double features on weekend nights from spring through fall. Bring lawn chairs, tune to the FM station, and relive a golden age of American entertainment.
17231 Old 66 Blvd, Carthage
Artist Lowell Davis spent years moving and reconstructing an entire 1930s Missouri farming village piece by piece to this site near Carthage — complete with period storefronts, a gas station, church, and blacksmith shop. A surreal, moving, and utterly unique stop. Free to visit and completely unlike anything else on Route 66.
1 Red Oak Rd, Carthage
Carthage's stunning 1894 courthouse anchors a beautifully preserved Victorian-era square filled with local shops, cafes, and Route 66 stops. The town has some of the finest 19th-century architecture in the Midwest — and the Boots Court neon sign glowing just off the square completes the picture.
302 S Main St, Carthage
A series of striking outdoor murals covering buildings throughout downtown Joplin, including a spectacular 3-D Corvette replica embedded in a wall. The murals celebrate Route 66 culture, local history, and the city's remarkable recovery after the 2011 tornado. One of the best urban mural collections on the entire Mother Road.
S Main St, Joplin
The notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow hid out in this ordinary brick garage apartment in April 1933 after a Joplin police raid. They left behind cameras with developed film that produced the iconic 'Bonnie and Clyde' photos now recognized worldwide. The building still stands — an eerie, authentic piece of American outlaw history.
3347 Oak Ridge Dr, Joplin
For over a century, witnesses have reported a mysterious glowing ball of light floating along this stretch of road on the Missouri-Oklahoma border. Scientists have never explained it. Drive out after dark and watch — the 'Tri-State Spook Light' has been documented since the 1880s and remains one of Route 66's most genuinely unexplained phenomena.
E50 Rd (Devil's Promenade), Joplin
A cluster of three museums in beautiful Schifferdecker Park: the Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum (dolls, toys, Victorian history), the Tri-State Mineral Museum (the area's lead and zinc mining heritage), and the Children's Museum of Joplin. A worthwhile stop especially for families.
Schifferdecker Park, 504 Schifferdecker Ave, Joplin
Also in this region
The original 1926 alignment from Carthage through Carterville and Webb City to Joplin is still largely drivable and passes through the old lead and zinc mining district. The rusted headframes, chat piles, and small-town main streets make for a haunting and beautiful stretch of original Mother Road not on many tourist maps.
Old 66 Blvd, Carterville / Webb City
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