Take a scenic ride along Kansas’s short but unforgettable stretch of Historic Route 66, as we follow the Mother Road from Galena to Baxter Springs. This 13-mile journey winds through small-town Americana, mining heritage, and roadside nostalgia, offering a compact but richly layered taste of Route 66 history and culture.
We begin at the Missouri state line on the outskirts of Galena, where a narrow two-lane road curves westward—this is Front Street, a 1923 alignment of Route 66 that predates the more modern path. Almost immediately, we’re greeted by Cars on the Route, a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station made famous by its link to Tow Mater from Pixar’s Cars. Beside the old pumps, vintage trucks and Route 66 memorabilia stand guard as a testament to Galena’s revival through tourism and Route 66 pride. The road here is tight and close to the tracks, a relic of its mining-era layout. Just past the old smelter ruins, we reach 7th Street, where the route joins its later alignment, cutting through Galena’s modest downtown—one of the oldest mining towns in southeastern Kansas.
Heading westward, the scenery opens to wooded corridors and rolling farmland. The route crosses the Spring River and bends gently into Riverton, a quiet community with a big claim to fame: the Rainbow Bridge, also known as the Marsh Arch Bridge. Built in 1923 and now lovingly preserved, this concrete single-arch span is the only one of its kind remaining on the entire length of Route 66. It’s a true photographic gem and a living piece of engineering history. After admiring the bridge and perhaps stopping at the nearby Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store for souvenirs or a bite, we continue southwest through open meadows dotted with wildflowers and grazing cattle—a serene contrast to the bustle of modern highways just a few miles away.
As we approach Baxter Springs, Route 66 takes the form of Willow Avenue, bringing us into a town that once claimed to be the first “cow town” in Kansas. Baxter Springs has a deeper history than many travelers realize: it was once a booming frontier town with ties to the Civil War and the Baxter Springs Massacre. Today, its Main Street is lined with historic buildings, quirky murals, and Route 66 signage. We turn right onto US-69 ALT, passing through the heart of town. At the western edge of Baxter Springs, one final treat awaits—a turn onto another original 1923 alignment just before leaving Kansas. This last stretch, now a quiet rural road, delivers us to the Oklahoma line with little fanfare but plenty of character. Here, the landscape flattens into the Grand Prairie and the short Kansas chapter of Route 66 ends as abruptly as it began.
Despite its brevity, this 13-mile journey is packed with history, nostalgia, and Americana. Kansas may hold the shortest stretch of Route 66, but it delivers some of the most iconic scenes and stories of the entire route. From historic bridges and mining towns to neon dreams and Pixar cameos, the Galena-to-Baxter Springs leg is a must-see for any Route 66 enthusiast. In a way, its condensed nature makes it even more memorable—proof that sometimes, the best experiences come in small packages.
🎵 Music:
Inner Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300021
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
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