Next up is St. Louis, Missouri, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, a stretch that some travelers consider the heart of Route 66. It’s where east meets west, linking up the Midwest with the West Coast. Much of this stretch is on I-44, which means lots of exits and county roads, but the scenery is often beautiful. When possible, we’ll point out places where you can hop on and off the original parts of Route 66.
The Jesse James Wax Museum in Stanton is an interactive walking museum that takes visitors through the life and mysterious death of the notorious outlaw. The gift shop is loaded with kitschy James memorabilia. The nearby Riverside Wildlife Center, full of snakes and alligators, is also worth a visit.
Onondaga Cave State Park is less famous—and less crowded—than Meramec Caverns, but equally impressive. Massive stalagmites and stalactites drip from the ceiling and rise up from the floor, and guided tours take visitors throughout the underground labyrinth. Don’t miss the panoramic vista points where you can see views of the Meramec River.
In Cuba you’ll find the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel, a 19-room historic Route 66 motel in operation since 1936. Don’t miss nearby vintage gas stations such as the Old Conoco Service Station and a Phillips 66 station.
On the southwest corner of Prairie Street and South Main Street, you’ll find a concrete block that served as the town’s jail from 1908 to 1954. Today, the building is furnished with traditional prison furniture, including a wood cot, desk, and stove.
There are so many Route 66 icons to see and experience while in Cuba, but it’s absolutely essential to take a tour of the famous Route 66 Viva Cuba Murals. Take a journey through the town’s history via 12 outdoor murals. For a more in-depth look, a narrated bus tour departs from the Cuba Visitor Center. A self-guided map is available at cubamomurals.com.
The 40-feet-tall rocking chair in Fanning, Missouri, was once Guinness-certified as the World's Largest Rocker. In 2015, it was bumped down to second place by an even larger chair in Casey, Illinois.
In Waynesville you’ll find the Pulaski County Courthouse, a beautiful two-story Romanesque Revival-style building built in 1903. Today, the courthouse serves as a museum, and is a favorite photo op for history and architecture buffs.
The Route 66 Museum is a fun stop where visitors can view a reconstructed retro motel room, a gas station, and a diner. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
If you need a sugar fix, stop in at Redmon’s Candy Factory in Phillipsburg. They make more than 20 flavors of fudge and 70 flavors of taffy in the on-site candy kitchen.
Edwin Powell Hubble was born in Marshfield in 1889. To commemorate the famous astronomer, there’s a Hubble Telescope Replica Statue on the west side of the town square. It weighs a whopping 1,200 pounds and is one-quarter the size of the actual Hubble Space Telescope. The town itself is cute, too, so if you have time, spend a day strolling around.
The Wild Animal Safari in Strafford is a drive-through safari park with more than 65 different types of exotic animals. You can also take a bus tour through the park or stretch your legs and visit the park’s petting zoo, a fun way to break up the trip (and a big hit with kids).
If you need a break from driving, pull over at the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield and explore an underground world. North America's only completely ride-through cave tour is absolutely worth the 55-minute tram ride.
Pythian Castle is frequently listed as one of the best kept secrets in Missouri. Built in 1913 by the mysterious Knights of Pythias, the castle was ultimately purchased by the U.S. military and even housed some POWs during World War II. Today, it’s privately owned and used for historic tours, ghost hunts, escape room events, and murder mysteries.
Don’t miss the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven hotel in Springfield. This classic roadside hotel has been a Mother Road fixture since 1938. There are several great photo ops around the hotel, including an old-school fire truck and vintage gas pumps. One of the hotel’s claims to fame is that Elvis Presley stayed here, and if it’s good enough for The King, it’s good enough for all of us.
Ending this leg at the Blue Whale makes for a Route 66 highlight, but you’ve still got plenty of attractions—and more than half of the Mother Road—ahead of you. No longer the road of desperation as described by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath, you’ll nonetheless be following in the footsteps (or rather, wheel ruts) of thousands of Okies who once traveled West along Route 66 in search of greener pastures. There are more driveable portions of the old Mother Road in Oklahoma than in any other state, so get comfortable and don’t forget to stick your hand (or head) out the window to enjoy the wind as it comes sweeping down the plain.
Banner Photo Credit: Flickr/Nicolas Henderson