Did Route 66 go through Joplin?

Yes. Route 66 ran through downtown Joplin; Route 66 Park sits right on the old road, and the downtown historic district is about a tenth of a mile from it.

What is there to see on Route 66 in Joplin?

We list 19 stops in and around Joplin, mostly historic buildings, historic districts and historic hotels. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Middle West Hotel, Joplin History and Mineral Museum and Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.

How far is Joplin from the next towns on Route 66?

Joplin sits at about mile 648 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Carthage, MO, about 15 miles back. Heading west, Galena, KS is about 14 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.

Is Joplin a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?

Yes. Our trip planner uses Joplin as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.

Route 66 town guide · Missouri

Route 66 in Joplin, Missouri

Joplin is the last Missouri town on Route 66, about 648 miles from Chicago and only a few miles from the Kansas line. It grew rich on lead and zinc mining, and its downtown still shows it.

About mile 648 of 2,448 from Chicago
19 stops in and around Joplin
Main overnight town

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop. Open Joplin on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.

Start at Route 66 Park, a downtown park with giant Route 66 tile murals and a half-car photo prop. The mining story is told at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum in Schifferdecker Park, with lead and zinc ore and old mining gear under one roof. Outlaw history fans look for the Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment, a modest late-1920s garage apartment whose name recalls the famous pair.

Most of our stops here are historic buildings and districts. The Joplin Downtown Historic District counts 48 buildings in styles from Mission Revival to Art Deco, the nine-story 1913 railroad building still anchors downtown, and the Murphysburg district holds 185 historic homes and early churches. Next door in Webb City, the Middle West Hotel began as an 1883 opera house, and the town's own historic downtown keeps old theaters and banks. One loss is worth knowing: the grand Connor Hotel downtown collapsed without warning in 1978.

Practical note: downtown Joplin is walkable, and Webb City is a short drive east. Joplin is a main overnight town on our planner, handy before the short Kansas stretch; Galena, Kansas, is about 16 miles west, and Miami, Oklahoma, about 27.

Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Joplin

Middle West HotelAn 1883 opera house building, remodeled in 1902, with brick pilasters and limestone trim.
Joplin History and Mineral MuseumLead and zinc ore, old mining gear and Joplin history under one roof in Schifferdecker Park.
Bonnie & Clyde Garage ApartmentA modest late-1920s garage apartment in Joplin whose name recalls the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.
Joplin Downtown Historic DistrictForty-eight historic buildings in Joplin's old business core, from Mission Revival to Art Deco.
Murphysburg Historic District185 historic buildings, from Queen Anne houses to early churches, in a residential corner of Joplin.
Fifth and Main Historic DistrictThree connected early-1900s buildings on a downtown Joplin corner, now part of a larger district.
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church and RectoryA 1906 Gothic Revival church and a 1917 Prairie-style rectory, both built of Carthage limestone.
Elijah Thomas Webb ResidenceA towered Queen Anne brick mansion from about 1891, one of Webb City's rare survivors of its kind.
Newman Brothers BuildingA Chicago School department store building in downtown Joplin, now home to city offices.
St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad BuildingA nine-story railroad station and office tower from 1913 that still anchors downtown Joplin.

Route 66 sites (1)

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Route 66 Park

Joplin, Missouri · on Route 66

A downtown Joplin park with giant Route 66 tile murals and a half-car photo prop.

Route 66 site

Historic hotels (2)

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Middle West Hotel

Webb City, Missouri · on Route 66

An 1883 opera house building, remodeled in 1902, with brick pilasters and limestone trim.

Historic hotelPhoto credit

Connor Hotel

Joplin, Missouri · on Route 66

Site of Joplin's 1908 hotel, which collapsed without warning a day before its planned demolition in 1978.

Historic hotelPhoto credit

Museums (1)

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Joplin History and Mineral Museum

Joplin, Missouri · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Lead and zinc ore, old mining gear and Joplin history under one roof in Schifferdecker Park.

Museum

Historic buildings (11)

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Downtown Webb City Historic District

Webb City, Missouri · on Route 66

Forty-three historic buildings, including old theaters, banks and an opera house, in Webb City.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Elijah Thomas Webb Residence

Webb City, Missouri · on Route 66

A towered Queen Anne brick mansion from about 1891, one of Webb City's rare survivors of its kind.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

South Main Street Historic District

Joplin, Missouri · on Route 66

Eight early-1900s commercial buildings on a short stretch of South Main in Joplin.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Joplin Supply Company

Joplin, Missouri · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A sturdy five-story 1922 commercial block of concrete and brick on the edge of downtown Joplin.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Newman Brothers Building

Joplin, Missouri · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A Chicago School department store building in downtown Joplin, now home to city offices.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Building

Joplin, Missouri · on Route 66

A nine-story railroad station and office tower from 1913 that still anchors downtown Joplin.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Rains Brothers Building

Joplin, Missouri · 0.2 mi from Route 66

A lost Joplin landmark: this three-story commercial building burned down in 2012.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Main and Eighth Streets Historic District

Joplin, Missouri · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Twenty early-1900s buildings, several of them old hotels, cluster around a downtown Joplin corner.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Gentry Apartments

Joplin, Missouri · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A six-story buff brick apartment block from 1918 that still has its original storefront.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Ridgway Apartments

Joplin, Missouri · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Twin 1918 brick apartment buildings with pedimented doorways and stepped parapets in Joplin.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment

Joplin, Missouri · 2.2 mi from Route 66

A modest late-1920s garage apartment in Joplin whose name recalls the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Historic districts (4)

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Joplin Downtown Historic District

Joplin, Missouri · on Route 66

Forty-eight historic buildings in Joplin's old business core, from Mission Revival to Art Deco.

Historic districtPhoto credit

Fifth and Main Historic District

Joplin, Missouri · 0.1 mi from Route 66

Three connected early-1900s buildings on a downtown Joplin corner, now part of a larger district.

Historic districtPhoto credit

Murphysburg Historic District

Joplin, Missouri · 0.1 mi from Route 66

185 historic buildings, from Queen Anne houses to early churches, in a residential corner of Joplin.

Historic district

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory

Joplin, Missouri · 1.2 mi from Route 66

A 1906 Gothic Revival church and a 1917 Prairie-style rectory, both built of Carthage limestone.

Historic districtPhoto credit

Next towns on Route 66

Route 66 in Joplin: questions

Did Route 66 go through Joplin?: Yes. Route 66 ran through downtown Joplin; Route 66 Park sits right on the old road, and the downtown historic district is about a tenth of a mile from it.
What is there to see on Route 66 in Joplin?: We list 19 stops in and around Joplin, mostly historic buildings, historic districts and historic hotels. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Middle West Hotel, Joplin History and Mineral Museum and Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
How far is Joplin from the next towns on Route 66?: Joplin sits at about mile 648 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Carthage, MO, about 15 miles back. Heading west, Galena, KS is about 14 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
Is Joplin a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?: Yes. Our trip planner uses Joplin as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.