Route 66. Chicago to Kansas City

Hey all. The wife and i are planning a route 66 trip from KC to AZ next spring, was gonna do it this fall but building a garage and helping with harvest just won't let it happen.

So we have decided to take off a few extra days before the Greaserama. Was wondering what to do in KC then it hit me. Hey lets run Rt66 from Chicago to KC.

Now my question is where are some cool places to stop and or stay on or near the mother road?

Thanks
matt

 

Sorry Man,,Route 66 didn't go thru Kansas City ,,it went from Chicago to St Louis ,,thru Rolla ,Mo the thru Springfield & on to Oklahoma ,,there AIN'T no ROUTE 66 THRU K C ,,Sorry ,,
might wanna Google "Route 66 Route" ,

 

Route 66 was invented by a group of men in a Springfield ,Missouri Hotel ,they made sure it went thru their hometown ,Springfield ,Missouri ,,might wanna Google "Route 66 History" too ,

 

My parents and I drove Route 66 to Calfornia ,in '57 ,,in a brand new '57 Chevy and again in '59 in a brand new '59 Chevy ,,it was a trip to remember ,,for ever ,

 

Route 66 runs through an itty-bitty chunk of Kansas in the far South East corner...blink and it's done, but that Rainbow Bridge is kinda cool.

 

Ok so it doesnt go through KC. So at some point we will hop off it and head to KC.

Where are some cool places to stop and stay?? Any neat old motels along the way. Will probably stay in St Louis area the first night.

Thanks
matt

 

Yep ,,Route 66 goes within a couple miles south of MOKAN Drag Strip ,just north of Joplin,Missouri ,then tru a chunk of Kansas on thru Oklahoma ,,there's a great piece still a lot a fun to drive ,,jus 10 mile west of Springfield on I-44 ,,take MO Hi-Way 96 get off ,,,it is the old Route 66 ,,even still has all the hi-way signs ,,goes thru Carthedge ,Mo ,,past the old Route 66 Drive In Theater ,( Still in Operation,,will show Grafitti and Two Lane the nite before the HAMB Drags ,,open hedders are OK ) ,,and onto a couple miles south of MOKAN Drag Strip ,,that old "Two Lane" is still in great shape ,,i've driven it in my motor home several times ,,a GREAT TRIP for all you guys coming from the East to the HAMB Drags,

 

Tankwilson ;;; why not go on to St Louis ?? same distance ,,but more Route 66 to drive on ,,AND ,,there's a lot more to see & do in St Lous ,,

 

just do a search on the hamb or google Micheal Wallis and you will find what you seek...........

 

Tank; Heck ,,maybe the Cubs will be playin' the Cards when you get there ,,but then ,,the Cards will win anyway ,,lol,lol,

 

Come by my place of biz! (see signature)

 

Tank; there ya go ,,Ryans "Chuck-A-Burger" in St Louis ,,not any further than Kansas City ,,AND ,,St Louis has a lot more ,,the 'Arch",, the Mississippi ,the Hot Rod Boat and Kustom - Hot Rod Shops ,.,it's a GREAT City to see ,,

 

The Greaserama is over Labor Day weekend in the fall. The Goodguys show is also that same weekend. There is a lot of stuff to do in KC ( that I don't really take advantage of.) hopefully someone else will chime in here.

 

Thanks 4 the info guys. Yea we will head out from chicago go through stl and end up in KC. Looking 4 all the little cool stops along the way.

 

If you start at the Very beginning of rt66 in downtown chicago ya gotta hit Louie Mitchells coffee shop for good eats and some true chicago at***ude...love that place and have stopped there before every one of my end to end trips on the mother road...........

 

After Chuck-a-burger ya gotta hit Ted Drewes for ice cream--er, uh frozen custard

 

Teds rocks!!!!!!!!!

 

Tank, you should be able to find a Rt 66 guide book in a bookstore, or
order on line. As was said, Michael Wallis is an authority. I think maybe
Bob Moore of Route 66 Magazine is another. Might check the mag thru
this link: http://www.route66magazine.com/

Once at St Louis, you can go over to Kansas City on I70. Not so scenic,
but gets you there.

Link to a book by Michael W.........http://books.google.com/books?id=Ed...Q6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=route 66 magazine&f=false

 

The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield IL is a good place to eat. Right on the mother road and not much changed as far back as I can remember.

 

It is a must to hit up GREASERAMA labor day weekend in KC!! Check our web site www.GREASERAMA.com for more info!! You will be glad you did!! We are going to have bands and movies all weekend long!! 800 plus cars and all the fun you can handle!!


-COS

 

Depends on what you are looking for. For me, I enjoy looking at things that were features of Route 66, and are no longer "working" or open...but still exist as reminders. Or, some of the scenic features.

A couple of examples:

Just south of Rolla, there is an old tourist cabin layout, with log cabins, that has been closed and abandoned for years. Makes for some neat photography. I've not been by since 2007, but it's probably still there.

The Chain Of Rocks bridge, located in St. Louis over the Mississippi, has been reopened to foot traffic. Even if you don't want to spend the time to walk it, it is still neat to view from nearby I-55.

There are many rock cuts, which, in the 1940s, were impressive feats of road building/engineering. Don't even have to leave the comfort of your car. At one time the cut at ****** between Rolla and Waynesville was the deepest in the U.S....dunno if that is still true. Some other rock cuts are still found along the stretches of I-44 that originally were Route 66.

Close to Sullivan, Missouri (IIRC) is one of those giant "Paul Bunyan" fibergl*** statues.

In Wilmington, IL, there is a giant "Rocketman" statue, 28"' tall, by a dairy bar drive in. It's local tradition for the high schoolers to "steal" the rocket, though it always comes back. Actually I think the statue is called the Gemini Giant, or something like that.

The Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL....home of the original corn dog on a stick.

The original stretch of road from ******, MO., to Conway, MO., was said to be the most dangerous highway in the U.S. in its day, especially Devil's Elbow, which is located near ****** in the Fort Leonard Wood area. It was eventually moved and redone in the 1940s to facilitate war trucking, IIRC...and I-44 was relocated later on once again. This area is still very pretty to drive through with some little diners, shops, buildings, etc. left from those days, with some still open.

 

Thanks for the spots keepm coming. Yea i got all the books but want to know the cool spots that aren't in the books.

Greaserama ROCKS!! This will be our 4th year. Its our favorite show. Always a good time.

Thanks
matt

 

if thats what ya want find the 1926 alignment of RT66 after ya get out of chicago a ways it is very cool and very rarely driven,little longer but runs thru some cool farm country and little bergs and alotta cobble stone roads thru fields that look more like someones driveway...more than worth the time

 

Lou Mitchell's is truly delicious... and it's got a really cool old-school feel. Plus all the freebies you get. Definitely make that a stop if you're downtown!

 

Gardenway Motel

Write a review
2958 Highway 100, Villa Ridge, MO 63089
(636) 742-4388

This place has history. Been around from the old days of Rt 66. Used to be part of the Diamond Restuarant

 

hey guys getting close. Any more suggestions. Thinking about starting in STL.

 

Be sure to check out Pontiac, Ill. Neat town.

 

Hey Matt,
If you have the time, do a search on Route 66 on the HAMB, as there is lots of photos and places to see. I have posted many photos myself and this is one of the best websites to look through.. http://www.theroadwanderer.net/route66.htm Down below, click on the map or select each state, and then each town on the state.. Shows lots of the places to see and tells quite a bit about them... I just went to the HAMB Drags at Joplin and took Route 66 back from Joplin to Elks City, OK and photographed all day some neat stuff.. Found a lot of items that weren't mentioned before, such as Commerce, OK, where you drive by the baseball park, where the statue of Mickey Mantle is displayed (he grew up there).. I am planning a 3-4 week trip to do all remaining parts of Route 66, when my first street rod is on the road.. Have fun!...duane (NM Sandrail).. living 42 miles south of Santa Rosa, NM and Route 66!

 

thers a cool burger joint here in sedalia mo called eddies drive in we're about 20 miles off I 70 on 65 hwy. then you could take 50 hwy on into kc

 

I would not plan on staying in St Louis. But I've been there and don't consider it the very best place on the planet if you are not from there.

If I could pull it off I would try and get myself over to Hannibal. The jump on HWY 36 and cross over to I 35 and head south. Its a long way across 36 but its a pretty drive.

I'm out of town that weekend or I'd tell you to stop by for some grub.

Whatever you do have a nice trip.