Route 66 State Park

St Louis


From St Louis follow I-44 (the interstate is built over most of Route 66 in Missouri) 28 miles west to Route 66 State Park, with its visitor center and museum inside a 1935 roadhouse. Although the displays show vintage scenes from around St Louis, the real intrigue here concerns the town of Times Beach, which once stood on this very site. It was contaminated with dioxin and in the 1980s the government had to raze the entire area.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby St Louis attractions

1. Museum of Transportation

8.32 MILES

Huge railroad locomotives (including a Union Pacific Big Boy), historic cars cooler than your rental, and more that moves. Take I-270 west to exit 8.

2. Grant's Farm

13.29 MILES

A small-time theme park on the beer-brewing Busch family's rural retreat, Grant's Farm thrills kids with its Clydesdale horses and 1000 other animals from…

3. St Louis Zoo

18.44 MILES

Divided into themed zones, this vast park includes a fascinating River's Edge area with African critters. Don't leave without saying hello to the zoo's…

4. St Louis Art Museum

18.49 MILES

This grand beaux-arts palace (with a striking modern wing) was originally built for the World's Fair. Now housing this storied institution, its collection…

5. Forest Park

19.03 MILES

New York City may have Central Park, but St Louis has the bigger (by 528 acres) Forest Park. The superb, 1371-acre spread was the setting of the 1904…

6. Missouri History Museum

19.12 MILES

Presents the story of St Louis, starring such worthies as the World's Fair; a replica of Charles Lindbergh's plane, Spirit of St Louis; and a host of…

7. St Louis Science Center

19.32 MILES

The interactive exhibits at this three-story museum are geared toward kids (and the young at heart). Expect live demonstrations, dinosaurs, a planetarium…

8. Lewis & Clark Boat House & Museum

19.35 MILES

Explorers Lewis and Clark began their epic journey in St Charles on May 21, 1804, and their time here is reenacted annually on that date. This museum has…

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