Photo: Wikimedia Commons — see author and license on the file page.

Route 66 Steak 'n Shake

Retro roadside
In Springfield, Missouri
0.6 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Route 66 Steak 'n Shake in Springfield, MO, is a restaurant from the well-known burger chain with an unusual honor: it holds a National Register of Historic Places listing. It is also called the St. Louis Street Steak 'n Shake, after the street it stands on, part of the old Route 66 path through the city. It is a chance to eat a meal inside a piece of highway history.

What is Route 66 Steak 'n Shake?

This is a working restaurant that also counts as a historic building. That double life is what makes it worth a stop: it shows how an everyday roadside eatery can become part of the story of the highway it served.

Its two names point to its setting. "Route 66" links it to the old road, and "St. Louis Street" names the street through Springfield that the highway once followed.

It is a reminder that Route 66 history is not only neon motels and old gas stations; it also includes the places where travellers simply pulled in to eat.

History of Route 66 Steak 'n Shake

Route 66 brought a steady flow of travellers through Springfield, and restaurants along its streets fed them. This Steak 'n Shake is a survivor of that roadside food scene, and its National Register listing marks it as a recognized historic building rather than just another chain outlet.

Visiting Route 66 Steak 'n Shake: tips

The restaurant sits close to the old alignment in Springfield. It is listed as wheelchair accessible. Unlike most historic buildings on the route, this one invites you inside for a meal, so plan it as a lunch or dinner stop rather than a quick photo. Check the hours shown on this page before you go.

Route 66 Stadium is just 0.2 mile away, so a ballgame and a burger pair easily. The Rail Haven Motel is under a mile off, and Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium is about 2 miles.