Roadside Attractions in Missouri

Worth the detour in Missouri

Glore Psychiatric Museum

St Joseph, Missouri

Chronicling the 140-year history of the adjacent state mental hospital, this museum offers a fascinating look at the evolution of mental health treatment. Visitors can explore replica treatment devices, patient artwork, and bizarre items swallowed by patients, including a famous collection of over 1,400 safety pins.

Leila's Hair Museum

Independence, Missouri

This unique museum is the only one of its kind in the world, dedicated entirely to the historic art of hair wreaths and jewelry. Visitors can marvel at over 2,000 intricate items dating back to the Victorian era, including pieces containing locks from historical figures like Daniel Webster.

City Museum

St Louis, Missouri

Housed in a former shoe warehouse, this surreal playground is an architectural marvel made from repurposed industrial and urban objects. It features a ten-story slide, an outdoor climbing cage, and a school bus hanging off the roof. It is an unforgettable artistic wonderland built for visitors of all ages to explore.

Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store

St. Robert, MO

This delightfully tacky Route 66 roadside stop leans heavily into puns with its famous slogan, 'The best fudge comes from Uranus.' Visitors can watch fudge being made, explore a giant general store, and visit an on-site sideshow museum featuring two-headed animals and oddities.

Meramec Caverns

Stanton, Missouri

This massive 4.6-mile cave system along Route 66 is famous for its stunning mineral formations and its history as a legendary Jesse James hideout. The highlight is the spectacular 'Stage Curtain' wet-wall, dramatically illuminated in a classic light show. It's a quintessential American roadside wonder.

Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail

Weldon Spring, Missouri

Climb to the top of a giant, 75-foot-tall mound containing 1.5 million cubic yards of encapsulated radioactive waste. This unique destination features panoramic views of St. Charles County alongside an educational interpretive center. It is one of the only places in the world where you can hike directly over a nuclear disposal cell.

Browse by town in Missouri

Every listing has photos, opening hours, admission and directions, and the directory grows whenever somebody searches for a stop that isn't in it yet.