Springfield, MO - the birthplace of Route 66
Springfield, Missouri - the birthplace of the Mother Road
If you’re planning a classic Route 66 road trip, Springfield, Missouri, deserves a spot on your itinerary. Known as the “Birthplace of Route 66,” Springfield played an important role in the history of America’s most famous highway. Today, the city offers travelers a wonderful combination of historic landmarks, vintage roadside attractions, local restaurants, museums, and nostalgic Americana.
Whether you’re traveling in an RV, towing a travel trailer, or cruising in a classic car, exploring Route 66 through Springfield is a chance to experience the Mother Road much as generations of travelers have before you.
Why Is Springfield, Missouri, Called the Birthplace of Route 66?
Route 66 became one of America’s original numbered highways in 1926, connecting Chicago, Illinois, with Los Angeles, California. But Springfield holds a special place in the highway’s story.
On April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent from Springfield proposing the number 66 for the new highway running through the city. That helped establish the name of a road that would eventually become an American cultural icon.
The highway brought travelers, tourists, and commerce through Springfield, helping local businesses thrive. Gas stations, motels, cafes, and roadside attractions developed to serve motorists making their way across the country.
Today, Springfield celebrates that heritage with historic sites and Route 66 attractions that help visitors understand why this highway became so much more than a way to get from one place to another.
Things to See Along Route 66 in Springfield
Musical Road
There is a sudden renewed interest in musical roads and there’s one newly installed in Springfield! This one plays America the Beautiful if you traverse it at about 30 miles per hour. We tried several passes (who was counting all those illegal u-turns?) and stuck a GoPro to the fender of the truck as well as having iPhone cameras inside.
Turns out the interior cameras won and we got an okay recording of the experience.
Route 66 Inception Marker
In downtown Springfield there had been a marker that cited the place where Route 66 was signed into being but now that has been replaced by a huge set of keys which is fine. There is also a marker downtown denoting that Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66 and a sculpture paying tribute to the hotel where the road was signed into being, but the hotel is long gone.
Just outside the city, though, is a beautiful sunburst called the Queens Gate which is a popular spot for photo taking. The musical road also starts just a short distance from here.
And, across from that, is the Rail Haven which is now a Best Western. It was named for the split rail fence around it and is one of the places where Elvis Presley reportedly spent the night on his own drive down Route 66.
Discover the History at the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center
A visit to Springfield's Route 66 visitor resources can help you get oriented before heading out to explore the historic highway.
Look for information about the original road alignments, historic businesses, local attractions, and nearby communities with their own Route 66 stories. Because the highway has changed over time, historical maps can be especially helpful when you're trying to follow the older route rather than simply drive the fastest modern road.
The visitor information available in Springfield can also help you identify photo opportunities and decide which historic sites deserve extra time.
Look for Historic Route 66 Roadside Architecture
One of the pleasures of traveling Route 66 is discovering the buildings that once served motorists during the highway's heyday.
Springfield and the surrounding area have a long connection with roadside businesses, including service stations, motor courts, restaurants, and automobile-related establishments. Some buildings have been repurposed, while others survive as reminders of a different era of American travel.
Keep an eye out for vintage signage, old brick commercial buildings, and architectural details that tell the story of how businesses adapted to the automobile age.
Remember that some historic properties are privately owned, so enjoy them from public areas unless access is specifically permitted.
Explore Springfield's Historic Downtown
Although not every downtown attraction sits directly on the original Route 66 alignment, Springfield's historic downtown is a worthwhile addition to your road trip.
You'll find local restaurants, shops, historic buildings, and opportunities to take a break from driving. Downtown is also a good place to experience the modern city that grew alongside the highway's legacy.
Consider spending a few hours walking around, enjoying a meal, and looking for local businesses that celebrate Springfield's connection to the Mother Road.
Lambert’s Cafe is not on Route 66
One of the places we’ve been to before and had to return to is not on Route 66 at all, although it is sorta close to Springfield. That’s Lambert’s Café and we’ve known about this place for some time and have visited several times in the past.
We’ve talked about Lambert’s in the past in our article on Eating America.
This place has been here since 1942 and, since Kate hadn’t been here before, we had to go. The food is great, the prices fair but the best part is that they throw rolls that have been just baked. They’re delicious and, quite literally, they’re flying off the shelves.
By throwing rolls we mean it - Lambert’s rolls come out on a cart and one of their team stands in the middle of the restaurant fulfilling requests for another dinner roll by literally throwing it across the dining room. It’s quite a spectacle and is what makes Lambert’s so uniquely special.
Another unique thing is that side dishes are brought around to your table by more of the team. As you sit there enjoying whatever you ordered team members are bringing bowls of side dishes around. For example I saw sliced potatoes, black-eyed peas (which were outstanding), turnip greens and fried okra.
The main course itself was also very tasty. In the past I’ve had fried chicken but this time I enjoyed a hamburger steak and it was enough that it became breakfast and lunch the next day.
