Stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, the legendary Route 66 covers more than 2,400 miles of classic Americana. But tucked between Missouri and Oklahoma lies its smallest—and perhaps most surprising—stretch. With just around thirteen miles to explore, Kansas may have the shortest section of the Mother Road, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in charm.
From quirky roadside attractions and vintage service stations to historic bridges and soda fountains straight out of the 1950s, Route 66 in Kansas packs a full road trip experience into just a few memorable miles. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia, hunting for photo ops, or simply looking to say you’ve driven every inch of the Mother Road, this tiny stretch delivers big personality.
Here are the top ten things to do on Route 66 in Kansas and why you shouldn’t just drive straight through.
Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Kansas
1. Enjoy the Shortest Stretch of Route 66
Route 66 traverses eight states between Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. But not all of those states are created equal. Kansas contains fewer miles than any other state on the Mother Road. With only around thirteen miles to explore, it might be tempting to cruise right through as you travel from Missouri to Oklahoma. But one of the best things to do on Route 66 in Kansas is explore every mile of it.
Bonus!
While you’re driving look for fun Route 66 signs to take photos of, like the traditional brown signposts and the ones painted right on the road as you cross the border.
2. See the Cars That Inspired Cars
Cars is a Pixar movie set in a world where anthropomorphic talking cars populate the world. A racer, Lightning McQueen, gets lost and finds himself in Radiator Springs, a location that was once a bustling stop on Route 66 that had since fallen from maps due to highway expansion. Many of the characters and locations featured in the film were based on real-life Route 66 attractions. And one of the most famous examples of that can be found right in Galena. The character of Tow Mater, a beat-up tow truck who befriends and supports McQueen, was partially based on an old 1951 International Harvester Tow Truck that still stands outside Cars on the Route, a former Kan-O-Tex gas station in Galena, Kansas.
Bonus!
While many locations in Cars were inspired by real Route 66 attractions, just as many Route 66 attractions have been inspired by Cars. While in Galena you can also stop by Luigi’s Pit Stop to see replicas of Luigi, the Sheriff, and Lightning McQueen.
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3. Drive Through a Route 66 Shield
Route 66 Drive Through Signs offer fun, interactive photo ops for road trippers to take selfies with their cars. While you can find signs like this across the Mother Road, the double-sided Drive-Through Route 66 Sign iversion in Galena offers an only-in-Kansas twist. Right across from Luigi’s Pit Stop in Galena, Kansas—where fans of Cars can pose with characters from the Pixar movie—you’ll find a towering 16-foot-tall Route 66 shield complete with a 10-by-10-foot drive-through cutout. This interactive piece of public art is perfect for cars, motorcycles, or small trucks looking to roll through for a one-of-a-kind photo.
Bonus!
As you drive through this drive through sign, check out the new Centennial Arch that spans over the roadway.
4. Eat Deli Sandwich at Nelson’s Old Riverton Store
Hungry on Route 66? You might be tempted to grab a meal in Joplin, Missouri, or Miami, Oklahoma. But don’t miss your chance to dig into a classic deli sandwich at Nelson’s Old Riverton Store. The Kansas store has been in operation since 1925, before Route 66 was even designated and the deli is stocked with everything you need for a filling lunch. Choose from a variety of meats alike Bologna, Chopped Ham, Pickle Loaf, Roast Beef, Turkey, Genoa Salami, Smoked Salami, top it with American Cheese, Munster, Cheddar, Swiss, or Marble Jack, and build your own custom sandwich to go.
Bonus!
With only around 13 miles of the Mother Road, there aren’t too many restaurants on Kansas Route 66 to choose from. But if you’re looking for more of the best things to eat in Kansas, try a Philly Cheesesteak at Cars on the Route, Kick Ass Wings at Kicks Bar and Grill on Route 66, Country Fried Steak at Sweet Creek Diner & Bakery, or a Classic Pizza at Bricks & Brews Woodfire Grill & Pub.
5. Find Out Why Galena is Called Galena
Galena, Kansas, is a town named after the lead ore “galena” that once thrived there. The Galena Mining and Historical Museum stands as a tribute to the town’s mining heritage was well as its Route 66 legacy. Housed in the charming old Missouri-Kansas-Texas (“KATY”) Railroad Company train depot, the museum has been a beloved community fixture since it opened in 1984. Inside, you’ll find an array of artifacts, photos, and memorabilia that tell the story of Galena’s mining heyday. Explore displays featuring mineral samples, mining tools, antique dresses, a model of the Grand Central Mine, vintage cars (including an elegant old-fashioned hearse), oil paintings, and even life-size dioramas.
Bonus!
Continue your travels and local knowledge at the Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum. Housed in a two-story, 23,000-square-foot building, this museum takes visitors on a journey through time, uncovering the stories, struggles, and successes that shaped this corner of the Ozarks.
6. Appreciate the Past at a Vintage Service Station
The Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station has been a Route 66 attraction since 1930. It now serves as a Kansas Route 66 Visitor Center where you can learn about the past and plan your future travels. Since the business stopped fueling gasoline in the 1970s, the property had been used for a variety of businesses: from a gift store to a dog-groomer’s shop to a chiropractor’s office. In 2003 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was later acquired by the Baxter Springs Heritage Society. A series of grants along with volunteer labor allowed them to refurbish the building and reopen as a Kansas Route 66 Visitor Center in 2007.
Bonus!
Stop inside and you may even meet one of the most famous characters on Route 66: Dean “Crazy Legs” Walker. Crazy Legs is known for two things: his ability to turn his legs completely backward and being partial inspiration for the character of Tow Matter in the Pixar movie Cars.
7. Take a Selfie with the Kansas Route 66 Shield Sign
Interactive signs have become a popular addition in small towns across Route 66. This Kansas Route 66 Shield Sign in Galena was unveiled in May 2024 to entice visitors to stop for some souvenir selfies. Find this sign at Mural Park in Galena, right next to the Greetings from Galena mural.
Bonus!
There are more Route 66 signs to pull over for photos for! While driving Kansas Route 66 also look for the FFA Route 66 Sign in Riverton and the Route 66 Sunflower Sign in Baxter Springs.
8. Use the Most Photographed Restroom on Route 66
Housed in a historic 1939 Texaco gas station in Galena, Gearhead Curios is a vintage service station, souvenir shop, and roadside attraction rolled into one. While you might stop in to grab a soda, t-shirt, or keychain or to visit one of the many fun oddities outside, the one thing that visitors talk about for miles after Kansas is the bathroom. Said to be the “most photographed restroom on Route 66,” the lavatory features a pink toilet and a funnel urinal.
Bonus!
Stop for the bathroom, but stay for the roadside attractions! Outside find an impressive neon sign, a Cars Doc Hudson car, a Big Boy statue, a Betty Boop statue, and a 22-foot-tall Big A Texaco Giant Muffler Man.
9. Drink a Black Cow at Pharmacy and Soda Fountain
While in Kansas, stop by Monarch Pharmacy & Soda Fountain in Baxter Springs for a blast from the past experience. This stop is a real, working pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain inside. Slide into a stool at the counter (or swing through the drive-thru) for a taste of the past. The menu features soda fountain staples like hand-dipped shakes and malts, Brown Cows (chocolate syrup, Coca-Cola, and vanilla ice cream), Black Cows (the root beer version), egg creams, root beer floats, phosphates, lime and cherry rickeys, Green Rivers, and scoops of creamy Anderson Ice Cream. Whether you’re filling a prescription or just looking for a sweet treat, this place delivers a little Route 66 nostalgia.
Bonus!
For more sweet treats in Kansas, grab a homemade cinnamon roll at Streetcar Station Coffee Shop or a hand-dipper scoop at Carlene’s Ice Cream and Deli.
10. Cross The Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge in Baxter Springs, Kansas, is an old bridge that spans over Brush Creek on Route 66. Technically called a “single-span concrete Marsh arch bridge” the more common moniker “rainbow bridge” is both prettier and simpler to say. This type of bridge was designed by James Barney Marsh who patented the concrete and steel truss design in 1912. Many similar bridges were built across the country, but the Rainbow Bridge in Baxter Springs is the only one of its type that has survived on the former Route 66. Drive across the bridge then pull over onto the gravel on the far end to take photos of this unique Kansas attraction.
Bonus!
On Kansas Route 66, you can also drive over the Front Street Bridge, a 216-foot long bridge in Galena that lifted Route 66 over the railroad tracks.
Kansas may have the shortest stretch of Route 66, but the adventure doesn’t end at the state line. Keep cruising the Mother Road and discover the top things to do in every state along the way. Each stretch offers its own flavor of Americana, from neon lights and roadside diners to wide-open desert views and historic small towns, proving that Route 66 is best experienced one state at a time.
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Illinois
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Missouri
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Oklahoma
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Texas
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in New Mexico
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Arizona
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in California.
