Last month, the Adventure Cycling Association announced plans to create Bicycle Route 66, which will generally follow the historic Route 66. About the same time, I wrote about how Illinois has a bit of a head start with the Route 66 Trail Concept Plan.
The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation has been working on a potential Route 66 route through the Show-Me State. The MoBikeFed has posted the proposal as a Google map.
Let’s take a look at Missouri’s from east to west. Missouri’s Route 66 would tie into Illinois’ section at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River.
MoBikeFed is considering at least two options for navigating through the St. Louis. the largest city on Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles, and the rest of the metropolitan area.
The first plan would take the Riverfront Trail to downtown St. Louis, pass the Gateway Arch, then take Manchester Road (Missouri Highway 100) to Gray Summit, where it would connect with Route 66 alignments than generally align with Interstate 44. One major issue with that proposal is that Highway 100 — an early alignment of Route 66 — is a busy road in St. Louis city and St. Louis County.
Another proposal would bypass the busy section of Highway 100 in St. Louis. It would use Hampton Avenue, Clayton Road and Clarkson Road to navigate through much of the St. Louis area before rejoining Highway 100 in Ellisville.
Personally, I’m disappointed the St. Louis options under consideration so far bypass my favorite Route 66 attraction, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa Avenue in St. Louis. Chippewa also was on an old Route 66 alignment the remains a busy thoroughfare (Missouri Highway 366).
The MoBikeFed also is concerned the safety of Highway 96 between Halltown and Webb City, a suburb of Joplin, in southwest Missouri and is looking at nearby country roads to bypass that highway.
Much of historic Route 66 in Missouri has been preserved as frontage roads to I-44. Many bear the ubiquitous letter names, such as Highway T, that are common in Missouri.
No matter what, you will get your kicks on Route 66 attractions that are kitschy, like the Precious Moments Inspiration Park in Carthage; scenic, such as the Devil’s Elbow Bridge near Fort Leonard Wood; or both, such as Meramec Caverns near Stanton.
Note: On the MoBikeFed’s Facebook page, the organization thanked the Gateway Council of Hostelling International for allowing the MoBikeFed to use its maps for Route 66 rides. Tim Almstadt and Mark Cockson did the bulk of the scouting work for those rides, and I used their notes to draw the maps for the ride. I’m happy I’ve indirectly played a role in the development of Missouri routes.
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Missouri bicycle advocates are hoping that the Show-Me State will join 
