Route 66 in Galena, Kansas
Kansas has the shortest stretch of Route 66 of the eight states, only about 13 miles across the southeast corner of Cherokee County, and Galena is where it begins coming from Joplin, Missouri. The stops we group here cover the whole Kansas stretch: Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs, plus an old mining camp just over the Oklahoma line.
- About mile 662 of 2,448 from Chicago
- 8 stops in and around Galena
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop. Open Galena on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.
Galena grew up as a lead and zinc mining town, and its Route 66 landmark is the Kan-O-Tex Service Station, a 1934 filling station turned souvenir shop and snack bar with ties to the Pixar film Cars. A block or so away, the Edgar Backus Schermerhorn House is a mining-era home listed on the National Register.
West of Galena the road reaches Riverton, where Williams' Store, a general store from the 1920s still selling groceries and souvenirs under a newer name, has served travelers for about a century. Just beyond it, the Rainbow Bridge carries the old road over Brush Creek; it is a white concrete arch bridge from the 1920s, the last of its kind on the Kansas stretch.
Baxter Springs is the last Kansas town before Oklahoma. The Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station, a 1930 cottage-style station, is now the visitor center for Route 66 in Kansas, and the Johnston Library is a small historic library building a short walk from the main street.
Practical note: the whole Kansas section takes well under an hour to drive, so most travelers see it on the way between Joplin and Miami, Oklahoma, about 13 miles apart on either side.
Top 8 Route 66 attractions in and around Galena
Retro roadside (3)
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Ghost towns (1)
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Historic bridges (1)
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Historic buildings (3)
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Next towns on Route 66
Route 66 in Galena: questions
- Did Route 66 go through Galena?
- Yes. Route 66 runs straight through Galena on Main Street and then on through Riverton and Baxter Springs. These three towns make up the entire Kansas stretch of the old road, about 13 miles long.
- What is there to see on Route 66 in Galena?
- We list 8 stops in and around Galena, mostly historic buildings, retro roadside stops and ghost towns. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Kan-O-Tex Service Station, Williams' Store and Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
- How far is Galena from the next towns on Route 66?
- Galena sits at about mile 662 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Joplin, MO, about 14 miles back. Heading west, Miami, OK is about 13 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
- Is Galena a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?
- Our trip planner does not end days here; the nearest bigger towns make better overnight stops.