Trip on Route 66 to Rolla, Missouri
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Route 66 across Missouri features a variety of large cities and small towns, connected by roadways over rolling hills and valleys. The Mother Road followed much of the Kickapoo, or Osage, Trail, an Indian trail that later became the Old Wire Road.
Like other Route 66 segments, the actual alignment varied over the years as engineering improvements were constructed.
We've driven much of Route 66, including multiple segments across Missouri.
One of our favorite stops along Route 66 in Missouri is the City of Rolla. It is centrally located within Missouri, at the intersection of I-44 and State Highway 63. The city lies less than 100 miles from St. Louis, Jefferson City, Columbia and Springfield. The city has about 20,000 residents, and is the county seat of Phelps County.
Nestled in the south central Ozarks Highland region, the Rolla is home to Missouri University of Science and Technology, Missouri’s premier technological research university.
Its parks system boasts over 304 acres including over 10 miles of walking trails, outdoor water park and state of the art indoor fitness complex. Rolla boasts a history that predates the Civil War, and has strong influences from U.S. Route 66 which traversed the city.
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Attractions and Things to Do
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Fugitive Beach
- Route 66 Museum of Phelps County - in the Mule Trading Post
- Ozark Actors Theatre
- Route 66 Summerfest
- Rolla Lions Club Den & Park
- Edward Clark Museum of Missouri Geology
- Leach Theatre
- Stonehenge at Missouri S&T
- Dillon Log House Museum
- Historic Phelps County Courthouse
- Historic Main Street Footbridge
- Frisco Engine 1501
Map showing the location of Rolla, Missouri on Historic Route 66, between Cuba and Lebanon
Earlier Days of Route 66 Around Rolla
Route 66 through Phelps County replaced Route 14, a graveled "all weather" road. Paving work began in 1928, and the final section to be paved was between Rolla and Lebanon, near the town of Arlington.
The "classic" period of Highway 66 lasted barely two decades before realignments, lane additions, and other improvements in the 1950s left the highway looking much like Interstate 44, which was completed in the 1960s.
On Federal Highway 66 |
U.S. Highway 66 Through Rolla |
Hooker Cut on U.S. Highway 66 |
Highway 66 Crossing Big Piney River |
Route 66 Alignments and By-Pass in Rolla
The original 1926 alignment of U.S. Highway 66 in downtown Rolla was on Pine Street, with two-way traffic flowing in both directions. As traffic levels increased over time, westbound traffic on Route 66 was moved to North Rolla Street, and Pine Street was changed to one-way traffic. This alignment is commonly called "City 66".
Pine Street, early years, two-way traffic  |
After Pine Street was switched to one-way traffic  |
Highway service in Rolla was provided by U.S. Routes 63 and 66 and Missouri Route 72, together with a network of state supplementary highways and county roads.
U.S. Route 66 passed through the northern and western portions of the city. Rapidly increasing traffic on this route, the usual ribbon development of business along the highway, and its obsolete alignment and construction features created critical traffic and safety conditions. Studies were made of the various possibilities for relieving the condition, and new construction of a by-pass was deemed the best solution.
The by-pass around the central business district was thus built in the 1940s, along the Bishop Avenue corridor.
This new location by-passed the city to the north and west, touching the city limits for a short distance in the extreme north corner. The by-pass, also known today as the "Old Route U.S. 66," was shared with U.S. Route 63 for a major portion of the distance through the city.
Eventually I-44 replaced previous Route 66 alignments, overpaving some sections.
| Map of Route 66 Alignments in Rolla, Missouri (courtesy of Missouri DOT) |
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Scenes Around Rolla Today
Downtown Rolla Mural |
Fugitive Beach |
Stonehenge at Missouri S&T  |
Havener Center  |
Frisco Steam Engine 1501 ... Schuman Park at 16th & Walnut |
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Mule Trading Post & Museum |
Lions Club Park  |
Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla ... Missouri's Oldest Business on Historic Route 66 Open since 1933, Totem Pole Trading Post doors closing September 30, 2024 |
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Lodging & Travel Options in Rolla, Missouri
Hotels in Rolla with Traveler Reviews Rolla Restaurant Listings & Reviews Attractions & Things to Do in Rolla |
Interactive Map of Rolla, Missouri
Earlier Times in Rolla
We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Rolla and Route 66.
What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove around Rolla? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new? What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today.
Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades.
These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today in Rolla.
Bypass Motel & Cafe |
Hotel Edwin Long |
Rolla Rancho Motel |
Carney Manor Inn |
The Mule Trading Post |
Pennant Hotel |
Hull's Colonial Village |
Toky's Bar-B-Q |
Schuman's Tourist City |
More Information & Resources about Rolla |
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