Route 66 in Missouri

Carthage: an overnight with character

Carthage brings together an older town center, roadside lodging and a drive-in cinema tradition. Boots Court is an example of restored motor-court accommodation; the 66 Drive-In, pictured here, is a separate evening attraction when its screening schedule allows. Choose one substantial evening experience instead of treating both as quick stops between dinner and bed.

Getting here

The map marks Boots Court at 107 South Garrison Avenue. Confirm accommodation or tour arrangements directly. Check the separate drive-in schedule before planning an evening around it.

Cuba: murals and motor-court architecture

Cuba is a good place to park and explore the street rather than rush between signs. Its murals provide a modern interpretation of local stories, while the Wagon Wheel’s stone buildings show an earlier approach to roadside hospitality. These are different layers of heritage. Let the town’s streets connect them, and give operating businesses the same consideration you would anywhere else.

Getting here

Use legal town parking for the murals. The map marks the Wagon Wheel on East Washington Street; respect guest areas and arrange a room directly if staying.

St. Louis and the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

The Mississippi gives the eastern end of Missouri a sense of arrival. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a chance to experience a former highway crossing at walking pace, noticing the structure and river rather than concentrating on traffic. It belongs alongside, not in place of, a visit to St. Louis itself. Leave time for neighborhoods, food and the riverfront according to your interests.

Getting here

Approach from Chain of Rocks Park, 10840 Riverview Drive, on the Missouri bank. As checked on 12 November 2026, the park operator reports the Illinois approach closed for canal-bridge construction. Check the linked park notice for reopening and road-access detours before visiting. Do not direct a vehicle across the pedestrian bridge; select a current road crossing for Illinois.