Route 66 State Park ended up being one of the most unexpectedly interesting stops during our time exploring Missouri’s stretch of Route 66. At first glance, it seems like a quiet state park near St. Louis with hiking trails and river access, but there’s a lot more history here than we expected.
The park preserves an original section of Route 66, a historic bridge over the Meramec River, and a former roadside roadhouse that now serves as the visitor center and Route 66 museum. But it also sits on the former site of Times Beach, Missouri, a town that was permanently evacuated after one of the most infamous environmental disasters in U.S. history. If you’re driving Route 66 through Missouri, this is one of the more unique stops along the Mother Road. In this guide, we’re covering the history of Route 66 State Park, the story behind Times Beach, what to see at the visitor center, and things to do in the park today.
How to Visit Route 66 State Park
Visitor Center Address: 96 N Outer Rd, Eureka, MO 63025
Park Address: 97 N Outer Rd, Eureka, MO 63025
Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/route-66-state-park
Visitor Center Hours: March-October 9am-4:30pm daily
Park Hours: Grounds open 7am to one half hour after sunset daily
The History of Route 66 State Park
Route 66 was officially designated as a federal highway in 1926 and quickly became one of the most important roads in the United States. Stretching from Chicago to California, the highway served both as a migration route for people seeking new opportunities and as a symbol of American road trip culture. Missouri played a major role in Route 66 history, and an original section of the highway still runs directly through Route 66 State Park today.
The Historic Route 66 Bridge
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the park is the historic Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River.
Built between 1931 and 1932, it was the first bridge over the Meramec River designed for vehicle traffic. The bridge is especially significant because of its rare Warren deck truss design. Only four bridges of this type remain standing in Missouri, and this is the only three-span rigid deck structure left in the state.
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places and carried Route 66 traffic for decades before eventually closing to vehicles in 2009. In 2012, the bridge decking was removed because of deterioration concerns. At one point, the bridge was nearly demolished entirely in 2017, but Missouri State Parks ultimately took ownership from the Department of Transportation to preserve it.
There are now plans to restore the bridge so it can eventually reconnect both sides of the park and become part of the Meramec River Greenway trail system. Even in its current condition, the bridge is one of the coolest parts of the park to see and is a popular sight for all kinds of Route 66 tourists.
The Route 66 Visitor Center and Former Roadhouse
The Route 66 visitor center is housed inside the former Bridgehead Inn, a roadhouse built along Route 66 in 1935.
Over the years, the building operated under several different names and owners, but it became a well-known restaurant and stop for travelers along the highway. Today, the building serves as both the park visitor center and a small Route 66 museum with exhibits about the history of the Mother Road.
Inside, you’ll find Route 66 memorabilia, historical displays, and a gift shop specializing in Route 66 souvenirs. It’s also an official stop on the Route 66 passport program. The visitor center is only open from March through October. We visited during the off-season, but there was still a box outside with passport stamps available, which was a nice touch for Route 66 travelers.
Another fun detail near the visitor center is the restored neon key sign from the former Keys Cafe, another historic Route 66 business started by Noble and Nellie Key. The sign has been restored, although it’s a little hard to fully appreciate during the daytime.
The Story of Times Beach
Another major part of Route 66 State Park’s history is the former town of Times Beach.
The community began in 1926 as a planned resort town created by the St. Louis Times newspaper. Lots were sold through a promotion offering land with a six-month newspaper subscription and an additional payment of $67. While the area never became the resort destination originally envisioned, it gradually developed into a small middle-class town with around 2,000 residents at its peak.
In the early 1970s, oil was sprayed on the town’s dirt roads for dust control, which was a fairly common practice at the time. Unfortunately, the oil used in Times Beach was contaminated with dioxin. After flooding from the Meramec River in 1982 spread the contamination further, the EPA confirmed dangerous levels of dioxin in the soil.
In 1983, the federal government began buying out residents and clearing the town as part of a massive cleanup effort. Times Beach was officially disincorporated in 1985 and later became an EPA Superfund site. After years of remediation, the land was eventually cleaned and removed from the Superfund list in 2001 before being turned over to the state for use as a park.
Standing in the park today, it’s honestly difficult to imagine that an entire town once existed here. Most of the area now just looks like open fields and peaceful green space along the river. The story also connected in an unexpected way to our earlier visit to the Weldon Spring Site. This part of Missouri carries multiple layers of environmental history that have shaped the landscape in ways most visitors would probably never realize.
Things to Do at Route 66 State Park
Visit the Route 66 Visitor Center
The visitor center is worth stopping at even if you’re only making a quick visit to the park. The exhibits focus on the history of Route 66 in Missouri, and the building itself is part of that history as a former 1930s roadside roadhouse. If you’re collecting Route 66 passport stamps, this is also one of the official stops along the route. Just remember that the visitor center doesn’t actually connect to the rest of the park.
Hiking, Biking, and Equestrian Trails
Route 66 State Park has several multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Trail options include:
- 2-mile Inner Loop Trail
- 3.2-mile Outer Loop Trail
- 1.5-mile South Loop Trail
- Additional connector trails
Fishing & Boating on the Meramec River
Fishing is allowed on the Meramec River from sunrise to sunset. More than half of Missouri’s fish species can be found in the river, including black bass, catfish, panfish, and trout. Fishing is not allowed in the park ponds.
The park also has a free public boat ramp providing access to the Meramec River. The boat ramp is open daily from 7 a.m. until half an hour before sunset, and the gates are closed outside of these hours, so make sure you’re off the river in time.
Picnic Area and Playground
There’s also a picnic area with a playground, making this an easy stop for families or anyone looking for a relaxing break during a Route 66 road trip.
Is Route 66 State Park Worth Visiting?
Route 66 State Park ended up being much more interesting than we originally expected. It’s not a huge attraction, but the combination of Route 66 history, abandoned infrastructure, and the story of Times Beach makes it one of the more unique stops along Missouri’s section of the Mother Road.
If you enjoy roadside history, historic bridges, or lesser-known Route 66 sites, it’s definitely worth taking the time to explore.
More to Do on Route 66 Missouri
Make sure to check out our full recap of visiting Eureka and Pacific, Missouri: Route 66 Missouri: Unexpected Stops from Pacific to Eureka
And find all our Route 66 trip recaps, activity guides, and campground reviews at:
