Things to do in Missouri
13 places worth stopping for and 7 places to stay on a road trip through Missouri.
See and do
- Walk
Walk · BelleviewHidden gem
Elephant Rocks State Park
Giant pink granite boulders lined up like elephants, with a braille trail.
- History
History · CamdentonHidden gem
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Castle ruins above a spring and sinkholes on the Lake of the Ozarks.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · Middle BrookHidden gem
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
Natural water slides through volcanic rock on the Black River.
- Lake
Lake · Van BurenHidden gem
Big Spring
One of the largest springs in the country, glowing blue-green.
- History
History · Carthage
66 Drive-In Theatre
1949 drive-in near Carthage that still shows movies under the stars.
- Lake
Lake · St. JamesHidden gem
Maramec Spring Park
A big spring pouring out of a limestone hillside beside old iron works.
- Cave
Cave · Stanton
Meramec Caverns
A big show cave, once a hideout, with Route 66 billboards.
- Walk
Walk · SullivanHidden gem
Meramec State Park
Caves, river bluffs and Missouri's float country in one park.
- Town
Town · CubaHidden gem
Cuba murals
The "Mural City" of Route 66, with a dozen painted walls.
State park · Eureka
Route 66 State Park
State park on the old Times Beach town site, with a small Route 66 museum.
- History
History · Devils ElbowHidden gem
Devils Elbow Bridge
Old Route 66 bridge over the Big Piney River in a tiny Ozarks community.
- Museum
Museum · WaynesvilleHidden gem
Pulaski County Courthouse museum, Waynesville
1903 red-brick courthouse now used as a local history museum.
- History
History · SpringfieldHidden gem
Gillioz Theatre
Steel-and-concrete 1926 theatre in downtown Springfield, restored for shows.
Food stops
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Sikeston
Lambert's Cafe
The home of throwed rolls, where the staff toss hot bread across the dining room.
Ice cream · St. Louis
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
A frozen custard stand on Route 66, famous for its thick concretes.
Restaurant · Kansas City
Arthur Bryant's Barbeque
The Kansas City barbecue legend credited with the burnt end, on Brooklyn Avenue.
Restaurant · St. Louis
Pappy's Smokehouse
Dry-rubbed ribs smoked over apple and cherry wood, with queues that form before opening.
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Kansas City
Stroud's Oak Ridge Manor
Pan-fried chicken dinners at the Oak Ridge Manor branch of a Kansas City fried chicken institution.
Places to stay
- History
History · EminenceHidden gem
Alley Spring Mill
Red mill by a blue spring, with camping beside the Jacks Fork river.
- Motel
Motel · Carthage
Boots Court Motel
1939 Art Deco motor court with green neon and a radio in every room.
- Motel
Motel · Cuba
Wagon Wheel Motel
A 1936 stone cabin motel with a neon sign, still taking guests on Route 66.
- Motel
Motel · Springfield
Rail Haven Motel
1938 motor court, one of the oldest on the highway, with a pool and courtyard rooms.
- Campground
Campground · Lebanon
Bennett Spring State Park
A spring pushing about 100 million gallons a day, with trout fishing and a campground.
- Campground
Campground · Leasburg
Onondaga Cave State Park
Cave tours, Meramec River swimming and camping near Cuba.
- Motel
Motel · Lebanon
Munger Moss Motel
A Route 66 motel with a neon sign and retro rooms in the Ozarks.
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Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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