Being cooped up in a car on a road trip can make even the best travelers a little antsy. So it’s always a good idea to plan some time out of the car and in the great outdoors. Luckily there are plenty of Route 66 outdoor activities to add to your road trip itinerary.
Route 66 is filled with beautiful natural wonders: there are National Parks, National monuments, state parks, roadside parks, animal farms, and more. Whether you want to stretch your legs at a scenic outlook, feed an alpaca, ride a zip line, or take a multi-day hike, there are plenty of options to fit your wants and needs. You can even take a short detour to The Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Looking for the best Route 66 outdoor activities to add to your road trip itinerary? Use the filters below to search our outdoor directory by location, type, or keyword to fill your travel plan. Whether you’re visiting just one of the eight states on The Mother Road (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California) or driving the entire journey from Chicago to Los Angeles (or vice versa), there are plenty of opportunities to park your car and explore the brilliant nature of Route 66.
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Search Route 66 Outdoor Activities
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Roubidoux Spring at Laughlin Park in Waynesville, Missouri
Roubidoux Spring at Laughlin Park in Waynesville, Missouri is a scenic slice of Ozark beauty that blends natural wonder, cultural history, and a touch of aquatic adventure. Roubidoux Spring is a second-magnitude spring that gushes an average of 37 million gallons of crystal-clear water each day.
Howard “Pappy” Litch Park in Galena, Kansas
Howard "Pappy" Litch Park in Galena, Kansas is a gathering place for locals and Route 66 travelers to spend time, stretch their legs, and honor a local historian who was dedicated to the community. In 2001 the Galena Chamber of Commerce and members of the Galena community joined together to donate a downtown block to use as a park.
Must SeeRed Oak II, Missoura in Carthage, Missouri
Red Oak II, Missoura in Carthage, Missouri is seemingly a ghost town, but actually is so much more. It is an open-air museum, historical landmark, art project, and roadside attraction in one. Located just off of Route 66 it’s a must-see road trip stop. Red Oak II was the vision of artist Lowell Davis.
Missouri Route 66 Welcome Center Rest Area in Conway, Missouri
Travel old Route 66 without leaving Missouri…and get some snacks and a bathroom break while you’re there. The Missouri Route 66 Welcome Center Rest Area in Conway has a definitive theme alongside its amenities. When you exit your car at this Route 66-themed rest stop in Missouri you’ll first be greeted with a light-up sign.
Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri is officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66. It was via telegram at a 1926 meeting of highway officials at the Colonial Hotel that Springfield businessman John T. Woodruff and Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery first proposed U.S. 66 as the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. The Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park in Springfield, Missouri pays respects to the city's roots.
Cunningham Park Tornado Memorial in Joplin, Missouri
On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, leaving a 13.8-mile path of destruction up to a mile wide. It was one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history, claiming 161 lives and destroying large parts of the city, including neighborhoods, schools, and Cunningham Park.
Grand Falls in Joplin, Missouri
Just a stone’s throw from downtown Joplin (and not far off the historic Mother Road) Grand Falls offers a natural detour worth pulling over for. As Missouri’s largest continuously flowing natural waterfall, this scenic spot on Shoal Creek drops 12 feet over a 163-foot-wide ledge of solid chert.
Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri
Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri, is a ride-through cave where visitors tour the underground formations aboard a Jeep-drawn tram. The 55-minute guided tour passes through an ancient riverbed filled with columns, mineral formations, and other cave features.
Park Central Square in Springfield, Missouri
Park Central Square is the central gathering place in downtown Springfield, Missouri. The area has a long history, from its role in the Trail of Tears and a famous Wild Bill Hickok shootout to its place along the Mother Road, and it was redesigned in the 1970s as a pedestrian-focused public space.
Route 66 Ribbon Road in Miami, Oklahoma
Tucked just outside of Miami, Oklahoma lies a stretch of pavement unlike any other on Route 66. Known as the Ribbon Road or the Sidewalk Highway, this narrow, nine-foot-wide roadway is the last surviving segment of its kind from the entire 2,400-mile span of the Mother Road.
