Did Route 66 go through Springfield?

Yes. Route 66 ran through Springfield, and the city is known as the birthplace of the highway because the number 66 was proposed here in 1926. The Route 66 Steak 'n Shake sits on the old path through town.

What is there to see on Route 66 in Springfield?

We list 12 stops in and around Springfield, mostly retro roadside stops, historic buildings and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Route 66 Steak 'n Shake, Gary's Gay Parita and Holman. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.

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

Springfield sits at about mile 563 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Rolla, MO, about 108 miles back. Heading west, Carthage, MO is about 69 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.

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

Yes. Our trip planner uses Springfield 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 Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri, sits about 562 miles from Chicago and calls itself the birthplace of Route 66, because the highway's number was proposed here in 1926. It is the biggest city in the Missouri Ozarks and a main overnight stop on our planner.

About mile 563 of 2,448 from Chicago
12 stops in and around Springfield
Main overnight town

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

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

The Route 66 name is all over town. The Route 66 Steak 'n Shake, on the old Route 66 path, earned a spot on the National Register, and Springfield's minor league ballpark is Route 66 Stadium, just off the old road. For a period night's sleep, the Rail Haven Motel is a 1938 motor court, since grown into an L-shaped complex, where you can still spend the night.

The biggest attraction is not about cars at all. The Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium is a huge wildlife museum and aquarium with dioramas, big game mounts and 35,000 live animals, and the Dickerson Park Zoo, founded in 1922, has more than 500 animals. East of the city the old road passes through farm country: the 1883 Wommack Mill in Fair Grove ground grain until 1969, and Missouri State University runs an observatory in the countryside just off the road. Near Marshfield, the Hosmer Dairy Farm keeps a stone-footed bank barn and twin silos from the turn of the century.

Practical note: our list here is shorter than in the other big cities, and the city's sights are spread out, so allow time for driving between them. Carthage and its streamline motor court are about 70 miles further west, with Joplin just beyond.

Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Springfield

Route 66 Steak 'n ShakeA Springfield Steak 'n Shake on the old Route 66 path that earned a spot on the National Register.
Gary's Gay ParitaA rebuilt 1930s Sinclair station in the Ozark countryside, where the welcome counts more than the pumps.
HolmanA short-lived Webster County post-office town that once had its own schoolhouse, northeast of Springfield.
Rail Haven MotelA 1938 Springfield motor court, grown into an L-shaped complex, where you can still spend the night.
Baker ObservatoryA Missouri State University observatory set in the countryside just off the old road near Marshfield.
Wonders of Wildlife Museum & AquariumA huge Springfield wildlife museum and aquarium with dioramas, big game mounts and 35,000 live animals.
Route 66 Car MuseumAbout 70 cars from one owner's collection, a Batmobile among them, on Route 66 in Springfield, MO.
Dickerson Park ZooSpringfield's zoo, founded in 1922, with more than 500 animals from about 160 species.
Hosmer Dairy Farm Historic DistrictA turn-of-the-century Ozark dairy farm near Marshfield, with a stone-footed bank barn and twin silos.
Boegel and Hine Flour Mill-Wommack MillAn 1883 timber-frame grist mill in Fair Grove that ground grain until 1969, with twin gravel-concrete silos.

Retro roadside (3)

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Rail Haven Motel

Springfield, Missouri · 1.1 mi from Route 66

A 1938 Springfield motor court, grown into an L-shaped complex, where you can still spend the night.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Route 66 Steak 'n Shake

Springfield, Missouri · 0.6 mi from Route 66

A Springfield Steak 'n Shake on the old Route 66 path that earned a spot on the National Register.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Gary's Gay Parita

Paris Springs, Missouri · on Route 66

A rebuilt 1930s Sinclair station in the Ozark countryside, where the welcome counts more than the pumps.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Route 66 sites (1)

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Route 66 Stadium

Springfield, Missouri · 0.4 mi from Route 66

Springfield's minor league ballpark, called Hammons Field until 2026, about a block from St. Louis Street.

Route 66 sitePhoto credit

Ghost towns (1)

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Holman

Holman, Missouri · on Route 66

A short-lived Webster County post-office town that once had its own schoolhouse, northeast of Springfield.

Ghost town

Art & landmarks (1)

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Baker Observatory

Fair Grove, Missouri · 7.1 mi from Route 66

A Missouri State University observatory set in the countryside just off the old road near Marshfield.

Art & landmarks

Nature & parks (2)

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Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield, Missouri · 1.0 mi from Route 66

Springfield's zoo, founded in 1922, with more than 500 animals from about 160 species.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium

Springfield, Missouri · 1.9 mi from Route 66

A huge Springfield wildlife museum and aquarium with dioramas, big game mounts and 35,000 live animals.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Museums (1)

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Route 66 Car Museum

Springfield, Missouri · on Route 66

About 70 cars from one owner's collection, a Batmobile among them, on Route 66 in Springfield, MO.

Museum

Historic districts (1)

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Hosmer Dairy Farm Historic District

Marshfield, Missouri · 4.2 mi from Route 66

A turn-of-the-century Ozark dairy farm near Marshfield, with a stone-footed bank barn and twin silos.

Historic district

Historic buildings (2)

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Boegel and Hine Flour Mill-Wommack Mill

Fair Grove, Missouri · 8.1 mi from Route 66

An 1883 timber-frame grist mill in Fair Grove that ground grain until 1969, with twin gravel-concrete silos.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Elijah Teague Anderson House

Republic, Missouri · 5.8 mi from Route 66

An 1885 Queen Anne home in Republic, trimmed with fishscale shingles and Stick style details.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

Next towns on Route 66

Route 66 in Springfield: questions

Did Route 66 go through Springfield?: Yes. Route 66 ran through Springfield, and the city is known as the birthplace of the highway because the number 66 was proposed here in 1926. The Route 66 Steak 'n Shake sits on the old path through town.
What is there to see on Route 66 in Springfield?: We list 12 stops in and around Springfield, mostly retro roadside stops, historic buildings and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Route 66 Steak 'n Shake, Gary's Gay Parita and Holman. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
How far is Springfield from the next towns on Route 66?: Springfield sits at about mile 563 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Rolla, MO, about 108 miles back. Heading west, Carthage, MO is about 69 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
Is Springfield a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?: Yes. Our trip planner uses Springfield 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.