VanLifeCrisis
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Ive thought this before, you guys should publish a travel book!
Route 66 Road Trip
- Thread starter rvwandering
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Queen
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VanLifeCrisis said:
Totally agree with you! One of the best travel books we ever bought was about New Mexico and it was written in that similar slow travel, away from the hustle bustle style. We followed along and found some of our favorite places ever that way.
highdesertranger
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I do enjoy reading this thread. thanks for taking the time to share with us. highdesertranger
Thanks Jay and Margie, Martin, Queen and Highdesrtraanger! I'm not much of an author so don't expect a book anytime soon. :-D
One thing that I really like about slow traveling is that almost anyone can do it because it doesn't cost much. We're almost to week 3 of our Route 66 journey and except for gas and whatever we would need anyway, like food, we've spent very little and been totally entertained. We've stayed in Walmart lots the whole way but now that we're getting farther west, we should be able to find boondocking spots. Our biggest entertainment expense was Meramac Caverns. I think, with the exception of two, all of the museums have been free. And if you go even slower it really cuts down on expenses!
One thing that I really like about slow traveling is that almost anyone can do it because it doesn't cost much. We're almost to week 3 of our Route 66 journey and except for gas and whatever we would need anyway, like food, we've spent very little and been totally entertained. We've stayed in Walmart lots the whole way but now that we're getting farther west, we should be able to find boondocking spots. Our biggest entertainment expense was Meramac Caverns. I think, with the exception of two, all of the museums have been free. And if you go even slower it really cuts down on expenses!
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
Karen, I like the short explanations you write with the pics. They give a bit of a preview and allow the reader to follow along easily and to know what to watch for.
I think this gives a reader the opportunity to form their own travel log based on what they see rather than on what you saw.
(Hope that makes sense).
Kinda like you guide them there and they see the whole story.
I think you could do a very nice book.
I think this gives a reader the opportunity to form their own travel log based on what they see rather than on what you saw.
(Hope that makes sense).
Kinda like you guide them there and they see the whole story.
I think you could do a very nice book.
Thanks Jay, I'm glad that's how you see it because that's exactly my intention but I didn't know if it was really coming through that way. Sometimes I give longer explanations on my blog but even then I try to leave my opinions out unless something is really spectacular or truly awful. :-D
Springfield, Missouri
Route 66 has several paths through Springfield so keep your eyes opened for old motels. On the way into town we spotted the ruins of Luvrey’s Court built in 1930. A little way down the road Rest Haven Court and Rancho Motel are still in business but a bit rundown. The Rest Haven Sign is almost an exact copy of the Munger Moss sign.
Shamrock Court has a great sign but it doesn’t appear to still be a motel.
The stone cabins of Rock Fountain Court were arranged in a semi-circle around a fountain (long gone). The cabins are now apartments.
Springfield doesn't promote their 66 connection very much but a Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park is in the works. So far it’s just a pull off with one sign and plans to add more in the future. The Giant Hamburg sign is from Red's Giant Hamburg Cafe, opened from 1947-1984 and the site of the first drive through. The sign should have read Hamburger but it was too tall to fit under the power lines so Red cut the last two letters off. The pull off which loops back to the road is very narrow with tight bends so large RVs should not attempt driving on it.
If you can spend some time in Springfield there are a few free and inexpensive things to do.
The Springfield Art Museum is free and they're constantly rotating their collection of almost 9,000 pieces of artwork.
The Springfield-Greene Botanical Center is another very nice free attraction.
The first Bass Pro store opened in Springfield. It’s the largest one and even has a museum which I think is still under construction. The inside of the store is decorated with hunting lodge facades, waterfalls, ponds, giant trees used as posts and beams, large aquariums and many, many stuffed animals and fish.
We stayed in the lot overnight in 2012. To get to the RV parking area follow the oversized vehicle signs. It’s located in the far southwest corner, butting against a residential neighborhood so it’s relatively quiet. Very fast, free WiFi!
The History Museum for Springfield-Greene County
has a $5.00 admission fee.
Route 66 has several paths through Springfield so keep your eyes opened for old motels. On the way into town we spotted the ruins of Luvrey’s Court built in 1930. A little way down the road Rest Haven Court and Rancho Motel are still in business but a bit rundown. The Rest Haven Sign is almost an exact copy of the Munger Moss sign.
Shamrock Court has a great sign but it doesn’t appear to still be a motel.
The stone cabins of Rock Fountain Court were arranged in a semi-circle around a fountain (long gone). The cabins are now apartments.
Springfield doesn't promote their 66 connection very much but a Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park is in the works. So far it’s just a pull off with one sign and plans to add more in the future. The Giant Hamburg sign is from Red's Giant Hamburg Cafe, opened from 1947-1984 and the site of the first drive through. The sign should have read Hamburger but it was too tall to fit under the power lines so Red cut the last two letters off. The pull off which loops back to the road is very narrow with tight bends so large RVs should not attempt driving on it.
If you can spend some time in Springfield there are a few free and inexpensive things to do.
The Springfield Art Museum is free and they're constantly rotating their collection of almost 9,000 pieces of artwork.
The Springfield-Greene Botanical Center is another very nice free attraction.
The first Bass Pro store opened in Springfield. It’s the largest one and even has a museum which I think is still under construction. The inside of the store is decorated with hunting lodge facades, waterfalls, ponds, giant trees used as posts and beams, large aquariums and many, many stuffed animals and fish.
We stayed in the lot overnight in 2012. To get to the RV parking area follow the oversized vehicle signs. It’s located in the far southwest corner, butting against a residential neighborhood so it’s relatively quiet. Very fast, free WiFi!
The History Museum for Springfield-Greene County
has a $5.00 admission fee.
Attachments
Springfield to Carthage - this segment is about 50 miles through rural scenery with a lot of cool stuff to see
Whitehall Mercantile started it’s life as a general store and post office and now is packed with antiques and Route 66 souvenirs.
Paris Springs Junction isn’t even a dot on the map but it’s the home of a favorite 66 stop the Gay Parita Sinclair Station. The original station, built in the 1930s, was owned by Gay and Fred Mason until it burned down in 1955. Gary Turner and his wife, Lena bought the property, rebuilt the gas station and filled it with a collection of old cars and signs.
Gary, who from all accounts warmly welcomed visitors and could tell stories for hours, passed away in January and Lena followed just a few months later, so the future of the station is in jeopardy. At the moment the station looks unchanged but the gate is locked. There’s enough room on the side of the road to pull over.
The little town of Spenser had a grocery store, a Phillips 66 station and a garage, a dry goods store and a barbershop, all abandoned when I-44 was finished. The buildings have been beautifully restored by Francis and Marie Lynn Ryan. There’s enough room in the parking lot for RVs.
For convenience we’ve spent almost every night in a Walmart parking lot so this little free camping spot in the Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area was a nice change. It’s bit more than a mile south of Route 66. The four sites are close together but the area is very quiet.
Red Oak II is a side trip of a few miles but it’s definitely worth seeing. Lowell Davis grew up 23 miles away in the town of Red Oak. After spending some time in Texas as an art director for an advertising agency he came back to Missouri and started making figurines of farm animals and country life. The figurines were a bit hit with collectors giving Lowell the money he needed to move buildings from the dying town of Red Oak and other locations to his new village of Red Oak II. This is more than a restored village. It’s a giant art project full of marvelous creations.
We had a chance to meet and talk a while with Lowell. His house is the green one with the fountain made of water pipes.
The buildings in the village have been sold and are carefully tended by their owners but that means none are opened to the public. Visitors are free to walk or drive the loop road but must stay off of the private property.
There isn’t a place anywhere to park a large RV. Smaller RVs will fit in the wide section of the road just inside the entrance but do not drive down the dirt road as the wooden bridge does not look sturdy enough to support a heavy vehicle.
Whitehall Mercantile started it’s life as a general store and post office and now is packed with antiques and Route 66 souvenirs.
Paris Springs Junction isn’t even a dot on the map but it’s the home of a favorite 66 stop the Gay Parita Sinclair Station. The original station, built in the 1930s, was owned by Gay and Fred Mason until it burned down in 1955. Gary Turner and his wife, Lena bought the property, rebuilt the gas station and filled it with a collection of old cars and signs.
Gary, who from all accounts warmly welcomed visitors and could tell stories for hours, passed away in January and Lena followed just a few months later, so the future of the station is in jeopardy. At the moment the station looks unchanged but the gate is locked. There’s enough room on the side of the road to pull over.
The little town of Spenser had a grocery store, a Phillips 66 station and a garage, a dry goods store and a barbershop, all abandoned when I-44 was finished. The buildings have been beautifully restored by Francis and Marie Lynn Ryan. There’s enough room in the parking lot for RVs.
For convenience we’ve spent almost every night in a Walmart parking lot so this little free camping spot in the Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area was a nice change. It’s bit more than a mile south of Route 66. The four sites are close together but the area is very quiet.
Red Oak II is a side trip of a few miles but it’s definitely worth seeing. Lowell Davis grew up 23 miles away in the town of Red Oak. After spending some time in Texas as an art director for an advertising agency he came back to Missouri and started making figurines of farm animals and country life. The figurines were a bit hit with collectors giving Lowell the money he needed to move buildings from the dying town of Red Oak and other locations to his new village of Red Oak II. This is more than a restored village. It’s a giant art project full of marvelous creations.
We had a chance to meet and talk a while with Lowell. His house is the green one with the fountain made of water pipes.
The buildings in the village have been sold and are carefully tended by their owners but that means none are opened to the public. Visitors are free to walk or drive the loop road but must stay off of the private property.
There isn’t a place anywhere to park a large RV. Smaller RVs will fit in the wide section of the road just inside the entrance but do not drive down the dirt road as the wooden bridge does not look sturdy enough to support a heavy vehicle.
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rvpopeye
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Once again .
Thanks for bringing us all along on this Rt 66 trip.
Really just like being there , well almost !
I think that if you just placed all of these posts in book form it would be as good and even better than a lot of books on Amazon. No extra work needed at all.
Thanks for bringing us all along on this Rt 66 trip.
Really just like being there , well almost !
I think that if you just placed all of these posts in book form it would be as good and even better than a lot of books on Amazon. No extra work needed at all.
Carthage and Joplin
Two more folk art sculptures by Lowell Davis are located at businesses on the east side of Carthage. This one is at a tire shop.
Carthage claims that the very first battle of the Civil War was fought in the streets of their little town. Missouri was a border state with it’s citizens pledging allegiance to both sides in the conflict. The governor, against the wishes of a majority of the Missourians, declared Missouri a free republic and sided with the south. Using the Missouri Volunteer Militia, he planned to keep Federal troops out of Missouri. The Battle of Carthage was fought on July 5, 1861 against Union forces led by Colonel Franz Sigel and was the beginning of conflicts that left Carthage a near ghost town for the duration of the war. Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is a flat, grassy park with an interpretive kiosk and a picnic table. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
If you want to learn more about the battle and Carthage during the Civil War visit the Carthage Civil War Museum. Admission is free. RVs can be parked on the street.
The little Powers Museum has more local history. Admission is free. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Kiwanis Kiddieland located across the street from the Powers Museum opened in 1951. It has only five rides but is the largest non-profit amusement park in the US. The “diesel” engine is unique for a little amusement park train. It’s located in a big city park with plenty of parking.
The most famous Route 66 site in Carthage is the art deco styled Boot Court built in 1939.
The Whee Bridge may not be around much longer. It was built in 1920 to span the railroad tracks. The wood construction and high hump makes it unusable for heavy vehicles like fire engines. It reminds me of the arched bridges found in Japanese gardens.
Don’t leave town without driving around the downtown square to see the magnificent Jasper County Courthouse which was built in the late 1900s and looks like a castle. We skipped the free tour of the interior and now I wish we hadn't - it's probably just as ornate as the exterior.
The 66 Drive-In was built in 1949, restored in 1996 and shows films during the summer.
Little Webb City has a restored gas station which is a combination chamber of commerce and Route 66 visitor center. There is very little information about Route 66 inside but the exterior is cool.
The Joplin Museum Complex is a fairly standard small city museum with collections donated by local citizens and exhibits about local history, businesses and noteworthy citizens. $2.00 admission.The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Side trip - Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center protects the ecosystem of the chert glades which are very dry places with thin soils and specialized plants. Six miles of trail lead to overlooks of the glades, along the bluffs and the creek and through the woods. The Audubon Nature Center has interactive displays. Most are geared towards middle school or younger children. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Two more folk art sculptures by Lowell Davis are located at businesses on the east side of Carthage. This one is at a tire shop.
Carthage claims that the very first battle of the Civil War was fought in the streets of their little town. Missouri was a border state with it’s citizens pledging allegiance to both sides in the conflict. The governor, against the wishes of a majority of the Missourians, declared Missouri a free republic and sided with the south. Using the Missouri Volunteer Militia, he planned to keep Federal troops out of Missouri. The Battle of Carthage was fought on July 5, 1861 against Union forces led by Colonel Franz Sigel and was the beginning of conflicts that left Carthage a near ghost town for the duration of the war. Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is a flat, grassy park with an interpretive kiosk and a picnic table. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
If you want to learn more about the battle and Carthage during the Civil War visit the Carthage Civil War Museum. Admission is free. RVs can be parked on the street.
The little Powers Museum has more local history. Admission is free. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Kiwanis Kiddieland located across the street from the Powers Museum opened in 1951. It has only five rides but is the largest non-profit amusement park in the US. The “diesel” engine is unique for a little amusement park train. It’s located in a big city park with plenty of parking.
The most famous Route 66 site in Carthage is the art deco styled Boot Court built in 1939.
The Whee Bridge may not be around much longer. It was built in 1920 to span the railroad tracks. The wood construction and high hump makes it unusable for heavy vehicles like fire engines. It reminds me of the arched bridges found in Japanese gardens.
Don’t leave town without driving around the downtown square to see the magnificent Jasper County Courthouse which was built in the late 1900s and looks like a castle. We skipped the free tour of the interior and now I wish we hadn't - it's probably just as ornate as the exterior.
The 66 Drive-In was built in 1949, restored in 1996 and shows films during the summer.
Little Webb City has a restored gas station which is a combination chamber of commerce and Route 66 visitor center. There is very little information about Route 66 inside but the exterior is cool.
The Joplin Museum Complex is a fairly standard small city museum with collections donated by local citizens and exhibits about local history, businesses and noteworthy citizens. $2.00 admission.The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Side trip - Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center protects the ecosystem of the chert glades which are very dry places with thin soils and specialized plants. Six miles of trail lead to overlooks of the glades, along the bluffs and the creek and through the woods. The Audubon Nature Center has interactive displays. Most are geared towards middle school or younger children. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Attachments
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
As usual, wonderful photos and interesting text.
Often I like following the links too.
Often I like following the links too.
We have been having wonderful weather Queen. I think autumn is probably the best time because of the tornadoes in spring, heat in summer and snow in winter but even so it's been exceptionally nice with highs in the 70s and sunshine most days. It rained last night and is cloudy today - not good photo weather I afraid.
rvpopeye
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Sunshine isn't required for good photos.
They will look different but it's all about subject matter and composition.
Snap away and sort 'em out later , no wasting film in these days of digital.
The only bad part about following along with you guys on your 66 trip is I won't be where you are when you end the trip !!
They will look different but it's all about subject matter and composition.
Snap away and sort 'em out later , no wasting film in these days of digital.
The only bad part about following along with you guys on your 66 trip is I won't be where you are when you end the trip !!
Kansas
Thirteen miles of Route 66 cuts through a tiny corner of southeast Kansas making this the shortest section in any state. Just before entering Kansas the State Line Liquor Store, a remnant of the days of strict liquor laws in Kansas, displays a couple of old gas pumps.
This is not the Kansas of endless corn and sunflowers fields. The three towns along the route sit on top of the 2,500 square miles tri-state lead and zinc deposit. The mines closed in 1960s devastating the economies of the towns and leaving a legacy of sinkholes and polluted soil, water and air. Picher and Cardin, just across the border in Oklahoma, are now ghost towns, evacuated as part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site cleanup.
Cars on the Route at the north end of Galena is a little gift and snack bar in a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station. An old tow truck, the inspiration for Tow Tater from the movie Cars, is parked beside the building.
Empty buildings line the north end of Main Street.
The east to west crossroad of Hwy 66 is faring a little better. The Galena Mining and Historical Museum looks interesting but it was already closed for the day when we arrived. :-(
The tiny town of Riverton is the location of the Old Riverton Store which has been in operation since 1925. They sell made to order sandwiches, canned goods, staples, fruit, plants and gifts.
This little roadside park is a good place to spend the night but the traffic along 69A means it’s noisy. A few spots are wide enough to pull off. Large RVs will fit in just one spot.
The Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge, designed by architect James Marsh is made with reinforced concrete. Although hundreds of these bridges were built during the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, few remain today. This is the only one left along Route 66.
Baxter Springs got it’s start as a cattle market town and the population doubled with the discovery of lead and zinc. Because this was where most of the mine owners and operators chose to live city ordinances greatly limited any mining within city limits and saved the area from most of the pollution. The Baxter Springs Museum has many artifacts and good displays covering Civil War action in the area, Native Americans, mining and other local history. Don’t miss the 1,145’ hand carved chain.
![023_thumb[1].jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/vanlivingforum/data/attachments/24/24916-2fabb1ceacbf75c8c0c6bbbad6e815ce.jpg "023_thumb[1].jpg")
![020_thumb[1].jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/vanlivingforum/data/attachments/24/24917-76b49feccf92ae74f065f16998c9fae0.jpg "020_thumb[1].jpg")
The city has renovated a 1930 gas station to serve as their Visitor Center. We didn’t see the inside because it was closed. Short RVs will fit in the lot.
Thirteen miles of Route 66 cuts through a tiny corner of southeast Kansas making this the shortest section in any state. Just before entering Kansas the State Line Liquor Store, a remnant of the days of strict liquor laws in Kansas, displays a couple of old gas pumps.
This is not the Kansas of endless corn and sunflowers fields. The three towns along the route sit on top of the 2,500 square miles tri-state lead and zinc deposit. The mines closed in 1960s devastating the economies of the towns and leaving a legacy of sinkholes and polluted soil, water and air. Picher and Cardin, just across the border in Oklahoma, are now ghost towns, evacuated as part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site cleanup.
Cars on the Route at the north end of Galena is a little gift and snack bar in a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station. An old tow truck, the inspiration for Tow Tater from the movie Cars, is parked beside the building.
Empty buildings line the north end of Main Street.
The east to west crossroad of Hwy 66 is faring a little better. The Galena Mining and Historical Museum looks interesting but it was already closed for the day when we arrived. :-(
The tiny town of Riverton is the location of the Old Riverton Store which has been in operation since 1925. They sell made to order sandwiches, canned goods, staples, fruit, plants and gifts.
This little roadside park is a good place to spend the night but the traffic along 69A means it’s noisy. A few spots are wide enough to pull off. Large RVs will fit in just one spot.
The Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge, designed by architect James Marsh is made with reinforced concrete. Although hundreds of these bridges were built during the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, few remain today. This is the only one left along Route 66.
Baxter Springs got it’s start as a cattle market town and the population doubled with the discovery of lead and zinc. Because this was where most of the mine owners and operators chose to live city ordinances greatly limited any mining within city limits and saved the area from most of the pollution. The Baxter Springs Museum has many artifacts and good displays covering Civil War action in the area, Native Americans, mining and other local history. Don’t miss the 1,145’ hand carved chain.
The city has renovated a 1930 gas station to serve as their Visitor Center. We didn’t see the inside because it was closed. Short RVs will fit in the lot.
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jimindenver
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Wonderful and thank you for taking us along for the ride.
Quapaw to Afton
While most casinos allow overnight RV parking, this is something we don’t find often. The Quapaw Casino has a free RV park with hookups and grass between the sites! It’s free for 3 days then $10.00 a day if you want to stay longer. A cow pasture and a train track are along the back. The cows aren’t a problem but the train whistle might be if you’re a light sleeper.
Crossing the border into Oklahoma has brought us back into farm country with small towns every five or ten miles along the route. Commerce was Mickey Mantle’s hometown and a little park with a statue is located near the high school. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
The town also has a couple of cute little former gas stations. The Dairy King which serves hamburgers, ice cream and Route 66 cookies is housed in a 1925 era Marathon station. There’s room for RVs in the side lot.
Right across the street from Dairy King is the tiny Allen's Fillin' Station. It was built in 1930. The new owners, who restored it, open it on weekends and sell souvenirs and candy.
It was a surprise to see the Newell factory in such a tiny out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere town. I knew these were expensive motorhomes but I didn’t know how expensive until I looked at their website. Each of these RVs is worth somewhere between 1 and 2 million dollars!
Ku-Ku Burger was a fast food chain in the 1960s and now Waylan’s in Miami is the sole survivor. The little bird at the peak of the building used to pop in and out but remodeling has made that impossible.
The fancy Coleman Theatre was built by mining magnate George Coleman in 1929. It was owned by the Coleman family until 1989 when they donated it to the city. Check out the four way stop sign in the middle of the street.
Miami also has a small museum of local history. It’s mostly assorted collections with little historic information. There’s no admission charge. RVs will fit in the lots on the opposite side of the street.
The Miami Marathon Station, built in 1929 has been completely restored.
In the tiny town of Afton the Afton Station Packard Museum, formerly a D-X filling station, now houses 18 restored Packards and Route 66 memorabilia. Unfortunately it was closed and so we had to satisfy our curiosity by peeking in the windows.
Afton population has never reached much over 1,000 people but during the years when it’s main street was Route 66 there were five motels, two cafes, two stores and two bars. I-44 bypassed the town in 1957 and except for the Packard Museum and a couple of antique stores the street is lined with empty buildings.
While most casinos allow overnight RV parking, this is something we don’t find often. The Quapaw Casino has a free RV park with hookups and grass between the sites! It’s free for 3 days then $10.00 a day if you want to stay longer. A cow pasture and a train track are along the back. The cows aren’t a problem but the train whistle might be if you’re a light sleeper.
Crossing the border into Oklahoma has brought us back into farm country with small towns every five or ten miles along the route. Commerce was Mickey Mantle’s hometown and a little park with a statue is located near the high school. The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
The town also has a couple of cute little former gas stations. The Dairy King which serves hamburgers, ice cream and Route 66 cookies is housed in a 1925 era Marathon station. There’s room for RVs in the side lot.
Right across the street from Dairy King is the tiny Allen's Fillin' Station. It was built in 1930. The new owners, who restored it, open it on weekends and sell souvenirs and candy.
It was a surprise to see the Newell factory in such a tiny out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere town. I knew these were expensive motorhomes but I didn’t know how expensive until I looked at their website. Each of these RVs is worth somewhere between 1 and 2 million dollars!
Ku-Ku Burger was a fast food chain in the 1960s and now Waylan’s in Miami is the sole survivor. The little bird at the peak of the building used to pop in and out but remodeling has made that impossible.
The fancy Coleman Theatre was built by mining magnate George Coleman in 1929. It was owned by the Coleman family until 1989 when they donated it to the city. Check out the four way stop sign in the middle of the street.
Miami also has a small museum of local history. It’s mostly assorted collections with little historic information. There’s no admission charge. RVs will fit in the lots on the opposite side of the street.
The Miami Marathon Station, built in 1929 has been completely restored.
In the tiny town of Afton the Afton Station Packard Museum, formerly a D-X filling station, now houses 18 restored Packards and Route 66 memorabilia. Unfortunately it was closed and so we had to satisfy our curiosity by peeking in the windows.
Afton population has never reached much over 1,000 people but during the years when it’s main street was Route 66 there were five motels, two cafes, two stores and two bars. I-44 bypassed the town in 1957 and except for the Packard Museum and a couple of antique stores the street is lined with empty buildings.
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highdesertranger
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I love those old gas stations. highdesertranger
It's nice that there are so many still left in such good original condition that they can be restored. They're all different too!
