Missouri has 317 miles of Route 66 — more than any other state — and I've driven all of them more times than I can count. I live here. I work here. My shop is on the road. So when I tell you these are the 15 best stops on Missouri's stretch of the Mother Road, I'm not pulling from a listicle I found online. I'm telling you what I'd tell a friend who called me from St. Louis and asked where to stop before hitting Oklahoma.
Uranus is on this list. It's not at the top. That's how you know I'm being straight with you.
A Note on the Route
Missouri's Route 66 runs from St. Louis in the east to Joplin in the west, roughly parallel to I-44. In most places you can take the interstate and pop off at exits to hit the historic alignment — which is what I'd recommend. The old road is where the good stuff is. Download a dedicated Route 66 navigation app or grab the Missouri Route 66 Association's turn-by-turn guide before you leave St. Louis. The Missouri Route 66 Association has current resources.
1. Old Chain of Rocks Bridge — St. Louis
The starting gun. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was Route 66's original crossing of the Mississippi River — a mile-long steel span with a notorious 22-degree bend in the middle that gave drivers a genuine jolt when it was open to traffic. Today it's a pedestrian and cycling bridge, and it's the right way to begin a Missouri Route 66 trip: on foot, over the river, with the whole state ahead of you.
The bend is real and still disorienting. The views of the Mississippi are excellent. Go at sunrise if you can.
2. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard — St. Louis
Ted Drewes has been on Chippewa Street in St. Louis since 1941 and invented the "concrete" — a custard so thick it's served upside down without spilling. It's not a gimmick. The custard is genuinely excellent, and the line on a summer evening is its own St. Louis experience. In the Centennial year, watch for special "Centennial Concrete" flavors representing each of the eight Route 66 states.
Get the concrete. Don't skip this. You can diet in Oklahoma.
3. Meramec Caverns — Stanton/Sullivan
The most visited cave in Missouri, and it earns it. Meramec Caverns is a 4.6-mile limestone cavern system that's been pulling in road-trippers since 1933. The guided tour hits natural formations that took 400 million years to build, a patriotic light show that sounds cheesy and somehow works, and the persistent legend that Jesse James used the caverns as a hideout. Whether that's true or not, the cave is spectacular.
Budget an hour for the tour. It's worth every minute of it.
4. Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center — Pacific
Built in 1934 from logs cut on a nearby family farm, the Red Cedar Inn was a beloved Route 66 restaurant for decades. It's now a museum and visitor center dedicated to the history of the road and the town of Pacific. Small, well-done, and the kind of stop that gives context to everything else you'll see on the drive.
5. Route 66 State Park — Eureka
Most people don't know the backstory of this one, and they should: Route 66 State Park sits on the site of Times Beach, Missouri — a town that was entirely evacuated in 1982 due to dioxin contamination from a chemical spraying program that coated its roads. The town was demolished. Nature moved back in. Today it's a peaceful river valley park with trails, wildlife, and a visitor center in the 1935 Bridgehead Inn. It's one of the more haunting stops on the route — a ghost town that became a nature preserve.
6. Cuba: The Mural City
Cuba has committed to its identity as the Mural City of Route 66, and the 14 large-scale murals covering downtown buildings make a slow cruise through town essential. The Route 66 Rocker — a giant rocking chair — is the photo op everyone stops for. The Wagon Wheel Motel, one of the oldest continuously operating motels on Route 66, has neon worth seeing at dusk. And Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que is a legitimate lunch stop if your timing works out.
7. Fanning 66 Outpost & Route 66 Rocker
Technically near Cuba, the Fanning 66 Outpost is a gas station and general store that's become famous for the giant rocking chair out front — the Route 66 Rocker, which held the Guinness World Record for largest rocking chair for a period. Fresh-made popcorn inside. A genuinely fun photo stop. The kind of place that's easy to drive past and immediately regret not stopping at.
8. Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store — St. Robert
This is us. I'm ranking Uranus eighth because the stops above it genuinely earned their spots, and because if I put myself at number one you'd rightfully stop trusting everything else on this list.
We're at 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO — Exit 163 off I-44, right on the historic Route 66 alignment through Pulaski County. We opened in 2015 and have been the loudest thing on this stretch of the Mother Road ever since.
What's here: the Fudge Factory (fresh fudge made daily on-site in our kitchen in 19 flavors), the Uranus Sideshow Museum, Putt Pirates Mini Golf, Uranus Ice Cream Co., and a gift shop that has caused more double-takes than anything else on this road. In 2026, there may be a "100 Years of Humor" event series running through the summer — check uranusgeneralstore.com or call ahead to confirm what's happening when you visit.
We're less than ten miles from the Fort Leonard Wood main gate and a natural lunch stop on the westbound drive. Budget at least 30 minutes. Get the fudge sampler. Last week, a woman named Cathy came in an got it and raved about it all week to her family.
Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST). 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO 65584 | 573-336-8758
9. Route 66 Neon Park — St. Robert
Right next door to Uranus, in George M. Reed Roadside Park, the Route 66 Neon Park is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of restored vintage neon signs from defunct motels, diners, and garages along Missouri's Route 66 alignment, glowing just like they did in their heyday. It's the first park of its kind in the state and growing.
Come at sunset. The signs come to life as the light fades and it's genuinely beautiful — the kind of stop that makes you understand why people were so taken with Route 66 in the first place.
10. Munger Moss Motel — Lebanon
One of the most photographed motels on all of Route 66. The Munger Moss opened in 1946 as a classic motor court and has been meticulously maintained — the neon sign, the layout, the atmosphere are all intact in a way that most vintage motels aren't. It's currently undergoing some renovation work; call ahead if you're planning to stay the night. Even if you're just passing through, the exterior at dusk is a must-photograph stop.
Lebanon also has the Route 66 Museum worth a quick visit, and Dowd's Catfish & BBQ if you're hungry.
11. Gary's Gay Parita — Ash Grove
A lovingly recreated 1930s Sinclair gas station that looks like it was teleported directly from 1937. Vintage pumps, classic cars, Route 66 memorabilia from every decade of the highway's history. Gary Capshaw built Gay Parita as a tribute to the original station — named for his parents, Gay and Parita — that stood on this spot decades ago. It's staffed by volunteers and free to visit.
Mon-Sun 8 am-6:30 pm
12. Birthplace of Route 66 — Springfield
Springfield is where Route 66 got its name. On April 30, 1926, officials gathered here and sent the telegram proposing "U.S. Route 66" for the new highway. The Birthplace Plaza at Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street marks the spot, with a new commemorative sculpture installed for the 2026 Centennial.
While you're in Springfield: the Route 66 Car Museum on West College has 100-plus vintage vehicles and is one of the better car museums I've seen anywhere. The History Museum on the Square has the full Route 66 origin story. And if you like live music, the Gillioz Theatre — a 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival gem — usually has something worth seeing.
Springfield is the biggest city on the Missouri stretch. It rewards a longer stop.
13. 66 Drive-In Theatre — Carthage
One of the last remaining drive-in theaters on Route 66, and it's still operating. The 66 Drive-In opened in 1949 and screens double features on summer weekends — classic Americana that's become genuinely rare. In 2026, it's running a Centennial Film Festival screening Route 66 movies including The Grapes of Wrath and Cars throughout the summer. Arrive an hour before showtime for a good spot; the retro intermission reels are part of the experience.
14. Boots Court Motel — Carthage
A 1939 art deco motor court that's been so carefully preserved it looks like a movie set. The curved facade, the original room layout, the restored neon — all of it is intact. Boots Court is the most architecturally striking motel on Missouri's Route 66 and one of the finest examples of 1930s motor court design anywhere in the country. Even if you're not staying the night, pull over and look at it properly. It deserves the time.
15. Route 66 Mural Park — Joplin
The western terminus of Missouri's Route 66, and the right way to end the drive. Downtown Joplin's Mural Park features large tile murals depicting the highway's history and a replica 1964 red Corvette embedded in a wall that's become one of Route 66's most photographed spots. Joplin has a real downtown with good food and a laid-back energy that makes it a natural place to decompress after 317 miles.
From here, Route 66 continues into Kansas — 13 miles of the shortest state stretch on the entire road — and then Oklahoma.
Practical Notes
Drive time: St. Louis to Joplin non-stop is about 4.5 to 5 hours on I-44. With all 15 stops, plan two full days minimum. Three is comfortable.
Best season: Summer and fall. The Centennial means 2026 has more events and more traffic than usual — check local event calendars before you go.
Fuel: Plentiful on I-44. On the historic alignment, less reliable. Fill up in larger towns.
The Centennial Passport: The official U.S. Route 66 Centennial Passport is available for 2026 — check route66centennial.org for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Route 66 stop in Missouri? For history, the Birthplace of Route 66 in Springfield is the essential stop. For natural wonder, Meramec Caverns. For atmosphere, the Munger Moss Motel at dusk. For fudge and a laugh, that's us at Exit 163.
How many Route 66 stops are in Missouri? Missouri has 317 miles of Route 66 with stops in roughly 18 towns from St. Louis to Joplin. The 15 above are the ones I'd prioritize on a first trip.
How long does it take to drive Route 66 across Missouri? Non-stop on I-44, about 4.5 to 5 hours. With serious stops at all 15 locations above, plan two full days minimum.
What is the most visited Route 66 attraction in Missouri? The Gateway Arch in St. Louis draws the most visitors overall. Among dedicated Route 66 stops, Meramec Caverns attracts around 150,000 visitors annually, making it the most visited cave on the route.
Is Uranus Missouri on Route 66? Yes — Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store is at 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, Missouri, on the historic Route 66 alignment through Pulaski County, off I-44 Exit 163.
What towns does Route 66 go through in Missouri? St. Louis, Pacific, Sullivan, Cuba, Rolla, St. Robert, Waynesville, Lebanon, Marshfield, Springfield, Carthage, and Joplin are the main towns on Missouri's stretch of the Mother Road.
For a routable itinerary with drive times and mile markers between stops, see [Route 66 Centennial Road Trip: The Missouri Stretch, Stop by Stop] over at UranusMissouri.com.
Louie Keen, Mayor of Uranus Louie Keen is the founder and Mayor of Uranus, Missouri, the famously funny stop on historic Route 66 in St. Robert. When he's not welcoming road-trippers to the Mother Road, he's dreaming up the next ridiculous reason to pull off at Exit 163.
