Get Your Kicks on Route 66 in Springfield
History, Art, and Dining in St. Joseph
A ROAD TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Missouri is gearing up to celebrate the centennial of our nation’s most storied highway
Stephen Foutes Director, Missouri Division of Tourism
Home to flourishing metropolitan areas with rich cultural scenes, and charming small towns with fascinating historical connections, Missouri’s versatility and world-class attractions make it the perfect place for a getaway.
Experience the sights (and heights) St. Louis has to offer by visiting the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch. Take a tram ride to the top for unparalleled views of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis. Once you’re back on the ground, explore an underground museum that celebrates 200 years of the city’s past and the Westward Expansion of the U.S.
Just west of St. Louis is the Historic District of St. Charles, the first permanent European settlement on the Missouri River. This area is known for being the starting point of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition. Today, its brick-lined streets and charming shops are popular for lively and unique festivals.
Across the state, Kansas City (yes, it’s in Missouri!) is a buzzing urban center offering history, sports and acclaimed barbecue. Travel to the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District to learn about the genre’s origins at the American Jazz Museum. While you’re there, visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to get a glimpse into the trailblazing history of Black baseball players who, based solely on race, were denied the opportunity to play in the major leagues. Missouri’s southwest region includes Springfield, the birthplace of Route 66. History Museum on the Square takes visitors back in time with neon signs and a 66-foot timeline and map of the iconic “Mother Road.”
About 50 minutes south of Springfield is Branson, a vibrant entertainment hub nestled in the stunning Ozark Mountains. Silver Dollar City provides history demonstrations and theme park thrills, while Aquarium at the Boardwalk takes guests under the sea to captivating, educational exhibits of marine life. Branch out from the larger cities and discover even more to love in Missouri. In Marceline, Walt Disney Hometown Museum highlights the life and legacy of the famed visionary. The state’s capital, Jefferson City, houses the eerie Missouri State Penitentiary. And at Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, guests can see the majestic Budweiser Clydesdales up close. With a wide array of activities sure to satisfy a variety of interests, the Show-Me State shines in its ability to cater to every type of traveler. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Welcome to Missouri. Thanks for coming, and travel safely.
Stephen Foutes Director www.VisitMO.com
Learn more about Missouri group travel opportunities!
MISSOURI Tour Guide
FEATURES
5 A Road Trip Down Memory Lane
Missouri is gearing up to celebrate the centennial of our nation’s most storied highway • By Randy Mink
ITINERARIES
11 Explore the City in the Ozarks
Route 66 is an iconic road and few places embrace the magic of Route 66 better than Springfield, Missouri
12 Savor Art, Dining Delights
There is no better way to explore the rich tapestry of Missouri than a captivating multi-day itinerary that weaves together history, art, and culinary experiences in St. Joseph.
A ROAD TRIP DOWN
MEMORY LANE
Missouri is gearing up to celebrate the centennial of our nation’s most storied highway
By Randy Mink
Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Photo courtesy of Missouri Division of Tourism
From the Mississippi River shoreline of St. Louis to the state’s southwestern corner in Joplin, doses of roadside memorabilia and other nods to the heyday of automobile travel propel tourism along historic Route 66. A true slice of Americana, the fabled east-to-west artery turns 100 in 2026.
In cooperation with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, Missouri and seven other states are planning projects and activities related to the big anniversary. Thanks to the magnetic appeal of Route 66 among domestic and international road trippers, 2026 looks to be a banner year for tourism in
communities that line the famous road. Missouri claims about 300 miles of the “Mother Road,” a nickname coined in John Steinbeck’s classic 1939 novel “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Though superhighways had replaced most portions of the iconic road by the 1970s, museums, neon signs, cozy motels, and mom-and-pop cafes across Missouri continue to intrigue nostalgia-minded travelers. With many original landmarks having vanished over the years, surviving treasures are all the more special.
Stops at these attractions can complement any group tour, whether the itinerary theme is Route 66 or not. Segments of the
Engaging, permanent displays and artifacts on view at History Museum on the Square tell the story of Route 66.
original road are marked with “Historic Byway” signs sporting the familiar 66 shield logo.
On Missouri’s eastern border with Illinois, reminders of days gone by captivate passionate Mother Road fans traveling through St. Louis – the largest Route 66 city between Chicago and Los Angeles.
The newest Route 66 development in Missouri is Chain of Rocks Park at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge – a steel landmark spanning the Mississippi River – located on the northern edge of St. Louis. The attractive park opened in April 2024 with an event space, a pavilion, restrooms, plaza for food trucks and parking lot with spaces for cars and buses.
Built as a private toll bridge in 1929, the mile-long bridge passes through wooded Chouteau Island and is now used for pedestrians and bicyclists, serving as a link to various trails. It was designed with a 30-degree bend in the middle – making it easier for boats to navigate the piers and castle-like water intake towers for the local pumping station. Besides, a straight line would have put the bridge over a section of the river where the bedrock was insufficient to support the weight of the piers.
The bridge started serving Route 66 travelers when the Mother Road was rerouted in 1936 and did so until 1965. In 1967, the New Chain of Rocks Bridge – that carries Interstate 270 – opened just 2,000 feet upstream of the old bridge, which officially closed in 1968.
Other Route 66 Sites in St. Louis and Beyond
A must-stop in St. Louis is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. The Chippewa Street location on old Route 66 has been in business for more than 80 years. Ted’s signature milkshake has earned the name “concrete” because of its thickness – you can turn it upside down without spilling a drop. Try the Fox Treat, a concrete or sundae with hot fudge, raspberries and macadamia
Eight-foot-tall Route 66 shield in Waynesville
The famous Ted Drewes frozen custard in St. Louis
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
Randy Mink photo
Photo
courtesy of Pulaski County Tourism
Photo courtesy of Missouri Division of Tourism
nuts, or All Shook Up, a blend of bananas and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The lines on a summer night look daunting but they go pretty fast.
The spirit of Route 66 also shines at St. Louis’ National Museum of Transportation, which – in addition to acres of railroad equipment – displays classic cars and features a replica facade of the 1941 Art Deco-style Coral Court Motel, an area landmark that met the wrecking ball in 1995.
For a memorable meal, whether you’re craving Ozark poutine or smoked pork steak, make a beeline to Big Chief Roadhouse in Wildwood. Before your entrée, grab a cocktail from the second-floor speakeasy, accessible via a stairway disguised as a phone booth. The location, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, began serving Route 66 travelers in 1929.
In Eureka, west of St. Louis, Interstate 44 (the highway that primarily replaced Route 66 in Missouri) takes you to Route 66 State Park, situated along the Meramec River. Take exit
266 and it leads to the visitor center, a former 1935 roadhouse where museum exhibits tell the stories of the famed highway and Times Beach, a Route 66 community that occupied the riverfront from 1925 until the early 1980s. The gift shop has an extensive variety of souvenirs – from games, puzzles and books to videos, T-shirts, metal signs, mugs and magnets.
Since the 1930s, motorists in Missouri have seen the name Meramec Caverns emblazoned on barns and billboards. An early fixture on Route 66, the quintessential show cave is located near Stanton, an hour or so outside of St. Louis.
The town of Cuba, famous for its outdoor murals reflecting local history, is home to the Wagon Wheel Motel, a restored tourist court that has hosted motorists in its stone cabins since the 1930s. Outside of town, don’t miss the Route 66 Rocker, a giant rocking chair (the world’s second-largest) at the Fanning 66 Outpost & Feedstore.
Thirty-three miles of historic Route 66 run through St.
The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis County displays classic cars and railroad equipment.
Randy Mink
photo
Robert, Waynesville and other towns in Pulaski County. The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau offers an illustrated driving tour brochure with turn-by-turn directions to 50-plus stops – motels, cafes, gas stations and many other businesses that flourished during 66’s prime – and the bureau can also provide a step-on guide for bus groups.
St. Robert is home to Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store, a wacky retail/amusement complex. Though Uranus was conceived long after the glory days of Route 66, its kitschy style reflects earlier times when quirky roadside attractions lured motorists to pull over and explore. The store’s signature item is fudge, dished out in 15 delicious flavors. With plenty of room for bus parking, Uranus makes a good comfort stop for groups traveling between St. Louis and Branson.
The nearby Route 66 Diner, though not original to old Route 66, salutes the spirit of the famed highway. Clad in shiny aluminum with a glass-block entrance, it serves comfort food favorites like meatloaf in molasses sauce and an open-face roast beef sandwich on Texas toast with mashed potatoes and gravy. Oldies music from the jukebox, along with pictures of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis Presley, evoke memories of life in the ’50s.
Just in time for the centennial, Pulaski County has been working on an exciting venture. The St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park, an open-air museum that will feature 15 retro signs, is set for completion this fall or next spring. Each installation will feature a storyboard and historical photo. Positioned among oak trees in an existing roadside park, the vintage neon artifacts will be lit at night.
Down the road in Waynesville, the 8-foot-tall Route 66 shield is the perfect selfie spot. Hoppers Pub, across the street, is decorated with the roadway’s memorabilia and other antiques. The restaurant offers 66 beers on tap, and a buffet lunch and speaker can be arranged for the group.
Continuing southwest on I-44 to Lebanon, Route 66 travelers will find the Munger Moss Motel with its classic neon sign and personalized rooms that showcase the highway’s history. In addition, the city’s library houses a freeadmission Route 66 Museum with exhibits on the area’s ties to the famous route.
Heading southwest, the trail’s next stop is Springfield, the Show-Me State’s third-largest city. It is considered the birthplace of Route 66 because Missouri and Oklahoma highway executives met there in 1926 and sent federal officials a telegram, proposing the new road be called U.S. Highway 66. The designation was approved several months later. Springfield is packed with Route 66 landmarks, including the historic Gillioz Theatre, Route 66 Car Museum, several vintage motels and a Steak ‘n Shake that has been serving hungry travelers since 1962. Engaging, permanent displays and artifacts on view at History Museum on the Square tell the story of Route 66. Leading up to the centennial, it will mount a rotating series of new, temporary exhibits on the roadway. The annual Birthplace of Route 66
Nostalgia abounds at Route 66 Diner in St. Robert.
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store in St. Robert, Missouri.
Meramec Caverns in Franklin County
Photo courtesy of Meramec Caverns Randy Mink photo
Photo courtesy of Pulaski County Tourism Bureau
Festival provides a true dose of nostalgia, from the car show featuring classic cars and hot rods to the authors, artists and collectors striking up conversations in the exhibit hall.
A popular stop continuing west is Gary’s Gay Parita in Ash Grove, a re-creation of a 1930’s Sinclair gas station. The community of Carthage has a number of highlights – Red Oak II, an art installation modeled after the original town of Red Oak that faded into obscurity, the historic Boots Court motel and the 66 Drive-In Theatre.
In Joplin, Mother Road enthusiasts flock to the Route 66 Mural Park. Located on Main Street, the murals have been part of downtown Joplin since 2013. Two large tile murals – “Cruisin’ Into Joplin” and “The American Ribbon” – and a mock 1964 red Corvette provide the perfect spot for a group photo.
To celebrate the Route 66 Centennial, Visit Joplin and the Netherlands-based World Street Painting Foundation have partnered to create a collection of Route 66-themed 3D street paintings by world-renowned street painting artists. The Route 66 World Street Painting Festival kicked off in June 2024 with three domestic artists who created works that can be viewed at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex. Ten artists will add to the Joplin canvas in 2025, building momentum for a five-day, June 2026 event in which 20 international artists will paint their visions of the Mother Road.
The 3D street paintings will captivate visitors and place them “in the painting.” The unique art style creates an optical illusion, resulting in a three-dimensional image that appears to pop right out of the pavement – works are best viewed by standing atop the footprints below each painting. Viewers are encouraged to photograph themselves in the artwork.
With over 300 miles to explore, there’s no shortage of excitement for groups along Missouri’s portion of Route 66. Travel down the road and see why this globally famous highway continues to inspire visitors – even well past its heyday.•
This Waynesville mural provides a great photo op.
Springfield’s Steak ‘n Shake has been around since 1962.
The Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield is home to dozens of vintage models.
Randy Mink photo
Photo courtesy of Springfield, MO
CVB
Photo courtesy of Pulaski County Tourism Bureau
Route 66 is an iconic road and few places embrace the magic of Route 66 better than Springfield, Missouri. Enjoy history, excellent food and a host of fun attractions in Springfield both on the fabled Route 66 and in other parts of the city.
SPRINGFIELD, MO
Explore the City in the Ozarks
A DAY ON ROUTE 66
Kick off your trip with a day centered around iconic Route 66 , which was born right here in Springfield, Missouri.
Begin the day on the earlier side in downtown Springfield at the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center . Here you’ll be provided with just about anything you’ll need for your adventure from directions and maps to souvenirs and fun facts.
Cruise on over to the Route 66 Car Museum
The car museum is Springfield’s only classic car collection located along Route 66. This showroom features over 75 classic cars, dating from the pre-war eras up to the present day.
SPRINGFIELD
MISSOURI CVB
Melissa Martelli
417-881-5300
melissa@springfieldmo.org www.springfieldmo.org
From there, you’ll take a scenic drive out about 23 miles along Route 66 to Gary’s Gay Parita , a ‘30s Sinclair gas station full of antiques and signs from that time.
This gem will not only offer you a unique blast from the past, but also give you the opportunity to take in the sights of Route 66 that you’ve been learning about all day.
Check into your hotel and freshen up then head out to dine at Civil Kitchen , a restaurant with a menu that is made entirely from scratch, right there in their kitchen.
ENJOY THE WILDLIFE
After a little breakfast at Aviary Cafe , get your blood pumping with a few swings over at BigShots Golf . BigShots offers 56 individual boxes equipped with virtual golf games with levels for every player’s skill level, from long
drive to knockout.
Once you’ve worked up your hunger, dine at Leongs Asian Diner, a famous place that is home of the original Springfield-style Cashew Chicken.
Wonders of Wildlife features an immersive educational experience with information on over 800 species of wildlife and aquatic life. Find yourself over at Lambert’s for dinner to indulge in some of their famous Hot Rolls. More than 2 million rolls were served last year from Lambert’s, and you’ll want to be sure you get in on the action this year.
After dinner, swing over to Hammons Field and catch a fun and exciting Springfield Cardinals baseball game.
EXPLORE SOME CAVERNS
Begin your day with breakfast at Gailey’s , kicking off the unique itinerary with a great start. Gailey’s was in operation as a fountain drug store since 1942 and a stand alone cafe for most of the 2000s.
Fantastic Caverns is the next ride in your day of fun, literally. The Fantastic Caverns is the only ride-through cave tour in the country. Guests will embark on a 55-minute, ride-along tour of the wondrous caverns of Missouri in a Jeep tram car. Explore the awe-inspiring caverns without ever having to leave your seat!
Fought in 1861, the Battle of Wilson’s Creek was a pivotal battle in Missouri and the second major battle of the Civil War. Wilson’s Creek Battlefield preserves the site of the battle.
There is no better way to explore the rich tapestry of Missouri than a captivating multi-day itinerary that weaves together history, art, and culinary experiences in St. Joseph. Your journey begins with a deep dive into the Pony Express Museum, where you can relive thrilling tales of the legendary mail service.
SAINT JOSEPH CVB
Mary Supple
816-233-6688
msupple@stjomo.com
stjomo.com
Savor Art, Dining Delights
DAY 1
Start your St. Joseph journey by stepping into the world of the Pony Express Museum , where the famous mail delivery service began over 150 years ago. This museum offers a personalized and engaging tour, detailing the inception, operation, and eventual decline of the Pony Express.
Adjacent to the museum grounds is the Pony School , a meticulously crafted replica of an 1860s one-room schoolhouse. This educational space transports visitors back in time to experience what schooling was like in the pioneer days. For lunch, enjoy a meal in the Pony Express Community Room , a charming spot offering a peaceful atmosphere where visitors can relax before continuing their day of exploration.
After eating, set out on a tour of St. Joseph’s historic districts . Later, head to Missouri Western State University to visit the Walter Cronkite Memorial. This impressive tribute honors the life and career of the legendary news anchor, who was born in St. Joseph in 1916. MWSU is also the home of the Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp.
For a true taste of Missouri, Fredrick Inn Steakhouse is a hometown favorite that features prime rib, hot beef, and fresh baked pies.
DAY 2
Begin your day by diving into St. Joseph’s rich cultural and historical heritage at the St.
Joseph Museum . This impressive institution showcases extensive exhibits on Native American cultures from 10 regions.
Art lovers can enjoy a visit to the AlbrechtKemper Museum of Art , where they will find an impressive collection of 18th- to 21stcentury American artwork.
History buffs should not miss the Patee House Museum , once a grand hotel and headquarters of the Pony Express, and the adjacent Jesse James Museum , where the infamous outlaw met his end. End your day by dining at the JC Wyatt House , an historic home with an elegant ambiance and gourmet meals. Wyatt House will round out your exploration of St. Joseph’s past with a taste of timeless hospitality.
DAY 3
Start Day 3 with a visit to the stunning Missouri Theater , a beautifully restored 1927 Paramount movie palace that now serves as the city’s cultural hub. With seating for 1,200, this architectural gem is decorated with intricate Assyrian and Persian motifs, providing a magnificent backdrop for a wide variety of performances and events.
Next, explore the Robidoux Row Museum , which was once a series of row houses built by the city’s founder, Joseph Robidoux.
This museum offers a unique look into early life in St. Joseph and the development of the town, including exhibits on fur trading and pioneer history.
ST. JOSEPH, MO
