Route 66 runs 2,238 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles and just 13 of those miles run through Kansas. But that doesn’t mean you should speed through this state. At every turn you’ll find something new and fun to see. Whether it’s a piece of original road, a classic diner, a weird roadside attraction, or an informative museum,Kansas Route 66 attractions abound on the Mother Road.
Are you ready to get your kicks onKansas Route 66? Let’s check out the top 8Kansas Route 66 Attractions to see on this stretch of your road trip.
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Top 8 Kansas Route 66 Attractions
Cars on the Route
119 N Main St, Galena, KS 66739
Welcome to Radiator Springs. I mean, Kansas. Galena, Kansas. A town on Route 66 that partially inspired the Pixar movie Cars and where you can meet the inspiration behind the character of Tow Mater himself at Cars on the Route (the former Kan-O-Tex Service Station).
Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station
940 Military Ave, Baxter Springs, KS 66713
The Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station in Baxter Springs, Kansas has been a Route 66 attraction since 1930. It not serves as a Kansas Route 66 visitor Center where you can learn about the past, plan your future travels, and maybe even meet a local celebrity.
Frecs the Miner
205 Front St, Galena, Kansas, 66739
Located just over the border on the original alignment of Kansas Route 66 you’ll find this modern version of a classic muffler man: Frecs the Miner in Galena, Kansas.
Sadly Frecs burned down in 2022. They are looking to rebuild.
Galena Mining and Historical Museum
319 W 7th St, Galena, KS 66739
The Galena Mining and Historical Museum is housed in the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas train depot and showcases tools, equipment, specimens, photographs, and other artifacts and items from the town’s history in lead and zinc mining.
Greetings from Galena Mural
Route 66, Galena, KS 66739
The Greetings from Galena mural depicts some of the most popular Kansas Route 66 Attractions in the area. is made from over 400 15-inch ceramic tiles depicts a powder blue 1957 Chevrolet pulling onto Main Street alongside some of the famous stops in town.
Nelson’s Old Riverton Store
7109 KS-66, Riverton, KS 66770
Nelson’s Old Riverton Store in Riverton, Kansas (AKA The Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store) is a Route 66 institution that predates the Mother Road itself. The property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1925. You can find the red-brick facade and a pressed-tin ceiling billed tightly with wares.
Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum
740 East Ave, Baxter Springs, KS 66713
The Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum is “dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich regional history of Baxter Springs, Kansas.” Explore exhibits dedicated to various stages in the town’s history, including the days of the Osage Indians, the Civil War, and the zinc mining era.
Rainbow Bridge
SE Beasley Rd, Baxter Springs, KS 66713
The Rainbow Bridge is an old bridge that spans over Brush Creek just outside of Baxter Springs, Kansas on Route 66. Technically called a “single-span concrete Marsh arch bridge” it is more commonly referred to as the “rainbow bridge.”. The bridge is the only one of its style left on Route 66. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 10, 1983.
Want more? Check out our web story on the Best Things to See on Kansas Route 66.
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