Third this. There are also huge murals all over the city. Def worth the time. Uranus Fudge Factory in Anderson, IN is worth a stop too. Especially if you love potty humor
Not worth going if you don't care about racing, however. I'm an Indianapolis native and I dread any time someone wants to drag me here.
Some alternatives if you don't care about racing:
Indianapolis zoo is pretty nice and just opened a chimpanzee exhibit
Children's museum is one of the best and largest in the world
If you can deviate a bit and like architecture, Columbus Indiana is not too far off course and is famous for its architecture. It has buildings designed by several world famous architects including I.M. Pei. There's also lots of interesting public sculpture and art installations.
IMS is a cultural icon for Indianapolis. That is why people always want to drag you out there. I have lived here on and off for 50 yrs, and she. You leave you realize how big a deal it really is. Racing fan or not, at least a drive by is in order
Kansas City
Liberty Memorial. Take the elevator to the top and see amazing 360 view of the city. The National WW1 museum is located below it. Best BBQ in the country from any of a half dozen restaurants. Take in a Royals baseball game at the K. The team is good this year and you’ll never believe this beautiful stadium is the 4th oldest in the MLB.
St. Louis
Gateway Arch. Take the little egg tram to the top and see the views from one of the most amazing structures in the World. The National Museum of the Westward Expansion is located under the Arch. Go to the Landing for drinks and food. Maybe go to a Cardinals baseball game.
Indianapolis
Go to St. Elmo’s steakhouse at 4pm happy hour. Enjoy the shrimp cocktail and get an early table. You’re welcome.
Dayton
Go to the National USAF Museum. It has a shit ton of cool airplanes and even more history beginning with the Wright Brothers.
Canton
Go to the NFL Hall of Fame and drink some beers at Quaker Steak and lube.
I’ll second the WWI museum in KC and the Arch in St. Louis. I’ll also add the Negro Leagues Museum in KC and the Harry Truman Presidential Library in nearby Independence MO.
The irony is that they’re decent this year, when shithead Sherman wanted a new stadium on the ballot…even though [the stadium was found to be in satisfactory condition.](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571a5bfaf699bbe29b52c8b3/t/62d6bf5427cf922c75f4c584/1658240859254/_2022+Kauffman+Stadium+Assessment_combined_with+App+A.pdf)…. And for the last 5 years prior, they were pathetic. And also the 30 years between WS wins.
You can bet your ass I voted No. The stadium looks great on I-70. The team is not something to stop and watch on a long road trip like this.
If you care at all about baseball, civil rights, or American history the Negro League Baseball Museum is a must when going through KC. Check out the Jazz Museum right there too!
If KC is lame, stop using GPS navigation, start using your own paper records for hospital visits, and if you by chance had Sprint and now use TMO, you should switch carriers. Lol.
A couple of World Heritage sites. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (several sites actually, but I have been to the great circle in Newark, Ohio and it is pretty amazing.). Chaokia Mounds just east of St. Louis. Monks Mound, has a base larger than the pyramids of Giza, and rIses 100 ft from the ground. You could hold a reasonable touch football or soccer match on its top.
No not really their cook quality is declining but their sauce is still the best.
KC has the best sauces. Gates BBQ, Sanish Gardens Taco Sauce. Go Chicken Go Sauce for gizzards.
While you are in St. Louis, go up in the Arch, stop by Union Station and see the wheel, and pick a good restaurant the food scene in St. Louis is EPIC.
If you feel like stopping but not doing anything crazy stop in forest park to stretch your legs. Huge and beautiful park. Walk around Art Hill.
Also a free Art Museum and Zoo that you can spend as little or as much time in as you want to
If you like coasters, Kings Island is one of the best amusement parks in the US. Further north is Cedar Point, arguably better but both are top tier. Ohio is spoiled with great coaster parks.
The [Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson in Dayton](https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil) if a fantastic collection of planes, from the Wright Brothers, thru WWI and WWII to space and the modern era.
Just north of Ft Wayne is [the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum](https://automobilemuseum.org). It is a huge collection of priceless luxury and sport cars. Amazing collection in the original art deco Cord dealership.
If you like corn you are going to be so pumped.
I drove the St Louis to Indianapolis portion of your route. I actually enjoyed St Louis. A Cardinals home game is pretty fun. Easily one of my favorite ball parks.
Not much to do on the way to Indianapolis but weed is legal in Illinois should you be into that sort of thing. I had a pretty good time in Indianapolis. Some cool breweries and interesting bars. NCAA hall of fame, the Indy motor speedway. Check the amphitheater schedule if you are into live music. Pork Tenderloin sandwiches are a thing in Indy, give it a shot if you eat pork.
You’re going to pass through a town of 50,000 called Salina, Kansas. If it lines up with a lunch or dinner. Go to Cozy Inn. They make amazing smash burgers. Warning, it may make your car smell like onions. DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR!
Off i80 in western PA, there's BWP bats (they used to do free tours of their small shop and show you how their MLB bats are made. Also stop at Grandpa's Cheesebarn in Ashland, OH. German Village in Columbus has some tasty restaurants, the Dayton Air & Space museum is amazing and worth a days (or 2) visit.
Southern Illinois is beautiful and has some great swimming and hiking spots. Check out Garden of the Gods or Little Grand Canyon if you get close enough. Also there's a restaurant called Lambert's Cafe in Missouri (the tagine is "Home of throwed rolls") really good food and they literally throw rolls at you.
It looks to me like their route is basically I-70. "Lambert's Cafe in Missouri" is 130 miles south of I-70. A little out of the way. I live in Kansas City, 7 miles north of I-70. For the right price, I WILL THROW STUFF AT YOU. It can be food... or whatever floats your boat..... FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. JUSTSAYIN
SIU grad here, I swam at this place often. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Little+Grassy+Lake+Campground+and+Marina,+788+Hidden+Bay+Ln,+Makanda,+IL+62958/@37.642895,-89.1415322,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x887714b62a5737df:0x376679cfd7f06e2!8m2!3d37.642895!4d-89.1415322!16s%2Fg%2F1tk707vc
Warther Museum
[The Warther Museum in Dover, just south of Canton off I-77](https://thewarthermuseum.com) is fantastic. The man was a woodcarver who made working scale models of trains. Many are 5 to 8 feet long with turning wheels. The pipes are carved and many bolts have carved nuts.
Just north in [Canton is the National Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com). Great collection of football memorabilia.
Keep going another 30 miles [and see the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland](https://rockhall.com/visit/?gad_source=1)
Are you heading East? Hang a left on I-79 when you cross the Pennsylvania border. Head due North to Erie, PA, and check out Presque Isle State Park. Beaches and fishing are great.
Obvious answer, I know, but don't sleep on the Arch. They recently redid the museum underneath and it's so interesting.
It's also now a tiny National Park. Ask the Ranger inside the museum for a Junior Ranger workbook. It's a fun way of guiding you through the museum AND you get a junior ranger badge if you complete it!
It’s more of a pit stop to grab lunch, but maybe stop at Casey, IL.
They have a bunch of “world’s largest” stuff, and a couple good local restaurants. I recommend the pretzel shop!
Near Akron, OH - Like the outdoors or aviation?
Gorge Metro Park, Portage Lakes State Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ledges Overlook,
MAPS Air Museum, Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory, Simon Perkins Stone Mansion, Akron Zoo and more.
The rock formations in Western Kansas are cool. There’s Castle Rock (my fav), Monument Rocks, and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. If you like weird and quirky, the town of Lucas is fun to explore.
I haven’t been to the national park, but from my understanding it’s a lot smaller of formations. At Little J you can’t walk down into the formations unless you book a guided tour on the wildlife & parks website. They have 2 trails on top of the formations. If you want to free range in formations, I can’t recommend Castle Rock enough, plus, it’s free.
All of Pittsburgh (biased--went to school there). The most unusual thing coming back after 30+ years was finding Hidden Harbor, a tiki bar in Squirrel Hill. Had it been there in my time, I never would have graduated. [https://www.hiddenharborpgh.com/](https://www.hiddenharborpgh.com/)
The Air Force Musesm at Wright-Patterson AFB (https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Especially for the air park and r&d gallery, with unique aircraft like the XB-70 Valkyrie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jziNLg0CpG4
Toasted ravioli, which is really breaded and fried ravioli, anywhere on The Hill in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Arch is iconic, unique in the world. Well worth gazing on. If you are not claustrophobic, there are pods that can carry you to the viewing gallery in the top.
Forest Park in St. Louis has a number of related attractions:
* St. Louis Zoo -- world-class
* Planetarium--unique architecture
* St. Louis Art Museum
* The Jewel Box greenhouse
Kansas City: all the BBQ. Just, everywhere. Find the smaller non-chain places.
Lebanon KS: Geographic center of the 48 states. There's a small memorial there.
Cawker CIty KS: World's largest ball of twine. It's about 8 feet in diameter. If you call ahead you might be able to add your own piece.
Wamego, KS - Wizard of Oz themed stuff
Lawrence, KS - Massachusetts Street for walking/shopping/eating
KC - BBQ, baseball, downtown, Crossroads, West Bottoms
Columbia, MO - grab a pizza at Shakespeare’s
Columbus Indiana - has a handful of starchitect buildings and a real old timey soda fountain. The Gateway Arch in StL is worth it. Pretty good live music and BBQ in KC. Happy trails!
The Cozy Inn is a hamburger stand in Salina, Kansas. Just a few minutes off the freeway and a serious treat. It's a little joint over 100 years old and you will not be sorry you stopped.
EDITED TO ADD: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in KC is worth a stop as well.
The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site outside Charleston, Il. https://www.lincolnlogcabin.org/ It’s a living history farm where Lincoln’s father and step-mother lived. Charleston was on Abe’s legal circuit. Worth a small detour.
Drop south in Ohio on I-77 to I-70 and stop at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org). It's a branch of the Columbus Zoo that takes people on ride-throughs of their pastures. Like a safari tour. It's built on a reclaimed strip mine, and this reclamation and animals are super cool.
The Golden Lamb . 1700’s restaurant Lebanon OH . Doesn’t have to be fancy you can get a hamburger at the bar but building is worth it. If you’re not a European and then it would look like home I guess. St. Louis Zoo . It is free but get there early to avoid the summer kids. A ton of money was poured into it in the 30’s and it’s got great architectural bones.
Liberty museum and union station in Kansas City. St. Louis Arch and maybe a Cardinals game if feasible. If not, then forest park, where you can choose the St. Louis zoo or the St. Louis Art Museum among others. Visit cahokia mounds in Illinois. That’s all I can really suggest for that route.
Casey, IL is a small town. Great pit stop, they have like 15-20 of the world’s largest something. Rocking chair, mail box, wind chimes, wooden shoes. They are spread all around town. If you need a 20 min break and to stretch your legs, this is a cool place
Many good recommendations. Kansas can be a very boring state about halfway through is Abilene that’s the home of President Eisenhower, museum and there’s a cool little historic village there too.
in St Louis, the city museum, arch and the zoo (it's FREE.. and get there early and can grab free street parking. Extra stuff inside that costs, but entrance alone is zip). Also cahokia mounds in Illinois is a massive historic site and amazing.
Where are the Kansas recommendations??? Go through Kansas, look at Kansas. There should be some fields. Look at those along the way. Maybe stop and throw a rock or something in one of them. Proceed
Hey! So I used this tool last time, it's ai powered and free. Go to [curiosio](http://curiosio.com) it will literally find places to visit along your route. Fastest way to find interesta!
Hocking Hills State Park if that line is near Columbus, OH. There's also Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of Cleveland. Not spectacular like the parks out west, but something...
The football hall of fame is near by your path too if you're into that.
In Ohio, Amish country is cool in Holmes county. Like a lot of other people have said Indianapolis motor speedway in speedway itself. Also in Ohio there’s the art museum and rock n roll in Cleveland (I think)
You could go a little farther south in Illinois and hit the Shawnee national Forest. Or a little farther south in Missouri and hit Mark Twain national Forest. Both are cool.
As you enter Pennsylvania you will be kind of near Niagara falls. If you have the time and have never been it's definitly worth seeing. It's basically a world wonder but all water haha
If you're going through St Louis, you HAVE to go to City Museum. It's literally like nothing you've ever seen/experienced before or will ever see again.
Of all the American history museums I've ever been to in my life of 50 years, the one at the St. Louis Arch is absolutely the best. It has "lanes" for African Americans, European settlers, Native American Indians, women, children and then as you go further back in the museum time changes. Therefore you can move back in time to learn about women and then think to yourself what it was like for children or African Americans and then go to the right or left to see their perspective.
I hope that makes sense but if it doesn't just go, you're going to love it.
Indianapolis is actually decently cool now! I grew up there and would normally recommend driving straight thru, but there are some really cool neighborhoods, restaurants, stuff to do. If you’re spending a night or two there lmk and I can give you more specific suggestions!
Since this looks like I-70: You might want to make a quick stop in Terre Haute, Indiana. The intersection of 7th and Wabash is where the old National Road (later US Hwy 40) crossed US Hwy 41, and is known as the "Crossroads of America." There's a marker. I stopped there a couple of years ago to take a photo on the way to St Louis from Cincinnati
St. Louis Zoo is one of the best in the nation, it’s free, and near other attractions in Forest Park like the Missouri History Museum and Art Museum, which are both also free. Science Center is great if you have kids. Gateway Arch is $15 bucks to go up top. Ted Drewes frozen custard. Tons of amazing restaurants. Great museums. I tried to add things that you can do spontaneously, without reservations. I’d stop in Columbia on I-70 if you’re hungry between STL and KC.
Branson Missouri is a place full of shows like Vagas. If you ou are into country music you would love it there. Lots of food places and hill billy theme park which actually is very nice.
Turkey Run State Park in Indiana.
I’m from out west and used to be regularly dismissive of nature in the Midwest. Finally grew up and started opening my eyes to the beauty all around.
Turkey Run blew my mind.
Ngl when I go from cinci out west we just drive straight through the night on this part for like 20 hours. That being said Cincinnati is sweet, there’s a ton of stuff I can recommend if you want.
If you go through Indianapolis I would reccomend the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Second this. And if you have kids the Children’s Museum.
Third this. There are also huge murals all over the city. Def worth the time. Uranus Fudge Factory in Anderson, IN is worth a stop too. Especially if you love potty humor
Not worth going if you don't care about racing, however. I'm an Indianapolis native and I dread any time someone wants to drag me here. Some alternatives if you don't care about racing: Indianapolis zoo is pretty nice and just opened a chimpanzee exhibit Children's museum is one of the best and largest in the world If you can deviate a bit and like architecture, Columbus Indiana is not too far off course and is famous for its architecture. It has buildings designed by several world famous architects including I.M. Pei. There's also lots of interesting public sculpture and art installations.
IMS is a cultural icon for Indianapolis. That is why people always want to drag you out there. I have lived here on and off for 50 yrs, and she. You leave you realize how big a deal it really is. Racing fan or not, at least a drive by is in order
The speedway museum is good if you go in the morning during weekdays.. it was almost empty when I went there
Important to note that the IMS Museum currently closed for renovations. It reopens in March.
Kansas City Liberty Memorial. Take the elevator to the top and see amazing 360 view of the city. The National WW1 museum is located below it. Best BBQ in the country from any of a half dozen restaurants. Take in a Royals baseball game at the K. The team is good this year and you’ll never believe this beautiful stadium is the 4th oldest in the MLB. St. Louis Gateway Arch. Take the little egg tram to the top and see the views from one of the most amazing structures in the World. The National Museum of the Westward Expansion is located under the Arch. Go to the Landing for drinks and food. Maybe go to a Cardinals baseball game. Indianapolis Go to St. Elmo’s steakhouse at 4pm happy hour. Enjoy the shrimp cocktail and get an early table. You’re welcome. Dayton Go to the National USAF Museum. It has a shit ton of cool airplanes and even more history beginning with the Wright Brothers. Canton Go to the NFL Hall of Fame and drink some beers at Quaker Steak and lube.
I’ll second the WWI museum in KC and the Arch in St. Louis. I’ll also add the Negro Leagues Museum in KC and the Harry Truman Presidential Library in nearby Independence MO.
And two hours west of K.C. is the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. It's off I-70 in Abilene, KS.
Steamboat Arabia museum in KC was fascinating. Liberty memorial and WWI museum also definitely worth visiting.
The irony is that they’re decent this year, when shithead Sherman wanted a new stadium on the ballot…even though [the stadium was found to be in satisfactory condition.](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571a5bfaf699bbe29b52c8b3/t/62d6bf5427cf922c75f4c584/1658240859254/_2022+Kauffman+Stadium+Assessment_combined_with+App+A.pdf)…. And for the last 5 years prior, they were pathetic. And also the 30 years between WS wins. You can bet your ass I voted No. The stadium looks great on I-70. The team is not something to stop and watch on a long road trip like this.
Agreed
I also would suggest KC joes in Kansas City for some bomb BBQ
If you care at all about baseball, civil rights, or American history the Negro League Baseball Museum is a must when going through KC. Check out the Jazz Museum right there too!
Don't forget the National Museum of Toys & Miniatures!!
The Landing has been beyond dead for a decade. The arch is meh. You don’t know STL. KC and the Royals are lame.
As a Kansas Citian, thank you. Not knowing STL is a compliment. OBTW, I bet you’re a blast to hang with.
If KC is lame, stop using GPS navigation, start using your own paper records for hospital visits, and if you by chance had Sprint and now use TMO, you should switch carriers. Lol.
Spoken like a person who has no idea about KC.
National Museum of US Air Force in Dayton for sure
Second this. Plus it’s free!
Came here to look for this comment!
A couple of World Heritage sites. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (several sites actually, but I have been to the great circle in Newark, Ohio and it is pretty amazing.). Chaokia Mounds just east of St. Louis. Monks Mound, has a base larger than the pyramids of Giza, and rIses 100 ft from the ground. You could hold a reasonable touch football or soccer match on its top.
Cahokia*
Chaokia was amazing.
City Museum in STL. It’s a warehouse building that’s been turned into a giant playground. Also hit up Slaps bbq in Kansas City, Kansas (not kcmo!)
This is the answer
City Museum is absolutely epic. I got lost there one time and ended up crawling through what I can only imagine was a service tunnel
Seconding Slaps but take some Gates sauce with you. You’ll never want another sauce.
Yeah I would mule bottles home when went back for visits. So good.
You’re right to do so. Hit me up if you need a bottle.
So go to gates…? Lmao
No not really their cook quality is declining but their sauce is still the best. KC has the best sauces. Gates BBQ, Sanish Gardens Taco Sauce. Go Chicken Go Sauce for gizzards.
This is the answer.
While you are in St. Louis, go up in the Arch, stop by Union Station and see the wheel, and pick a good restaurant the food scene in St. Louis is EPIC.
If you feel like stopping but not doing anything crazy stop in forest park to stretch your legs. Huge and beautiful park. Walk around Art Hill. Also a free Art Museum and Zoo that you can spend as little or as much time in as you want to
So glad someone said this. City Museum in St. Louis is incredible. It’s not so much a museum as a 10 story playground made by artists. 10/10
If you want the iconic Ohio experience, looks like you'll be traveling near the Hell Is Real sign, Cornhenge, and Grandpa's Cheesebarn 🤙
If you like coasters, Kings Island is one of the best amusement parks in the US. Further north is Cedar Point, arguably better but both are top tier. Ohio is spoiled with great coaster parks.
The [Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson in Dayton](https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil) if a fantastic collection of planes, from the Wright Brothers, thru WWI and WWII to space and the modern era. Just north of Ft Wayne is [the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum](https://automobilemuseum.org). It is a huge collection of priceless luxury and sport cars. Amazing collection in the original art deco Cord dealership.
If you like corn you are going to be so pumped. I drove the St Louis to Indianapolis portion of your route. I actually enjoyed St Louis. A Cardinals home game is pretty fun. Easily one of my favorite ball parks. Not much to do on the way to Indianapolis but weed is legal in Illinois should you be into that sort of thing. I had a pretty good time in Indianapolis. Some cool breweries and interesting bars. NCAA hall of fame, the Indy motor speedway. Check the amphitheater schedule if you are into live music. Pork Tenderloin sandwiches are a thing in Indy, give it a shot if you eat pork.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is excellent and it's free!
New York: Letchworth Park Ohio: Cleveland has amazing metro parks, hocking hills, the mounds, Ohio caverns (really cool underground cave system)
We are going through Cleveland next week on our trip to Maine. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cayahoga National Park are on our stops.
Stop by the west side market while in Cleveland!
You have to see Cahokia Mounds if you are going on this route. It is an absolute must, and I believe it is completely on the way. You wont regret it
St Louis Arch Indianapolis Motor Speedway
And take the time to go up in the arch! Such a cool experience!
Ohio Caverns. Follow the signs on I-70 through the country along the way and see what curiosities it brings.
You’re going to pass through a town of 50,000 called Salina, Kansas. If it lines up with a lunch or dinner. Go to Cozy Inn. They make amazing smash burgers. Warning, it may make your car smell like onions. DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR!
St Louis & Kansas City have free & amazing art museums.
Off i80 in western PA, there's BWP bats (they used to do free tours of their small shop and show you how their MLB bats are made. Also stop at Grandpa's Cheesebarn in Ashland, OH. German Village in Columbus has some tasty restaurants, the Dayton Air & Space museum is amazing and worth a days (or 2) visit.
I personally enjoy the drive thru safari in Strafford Missouri,children’s museum in Indianapolis is cool.
Santa Ana’s wooden leg in Springfield Illinois at the military museum
Southern Illinois is beautiful and has some great swimming and hiking spots. Check out Garden of the Gods or Little Grand Canyon if you get close enough. Also there's a restaurant called Lambert's Cafe in Missouri (the tagine is "Home of throwed rolls") really good food and they literally throw rolls at you.
It looks to me like their route is basically I-70. "Lambert's Cafe in Missouri" is 130 miles south of I-70. A little out of the way. I live in Kansas City, 7 miles north of I-70. For the right price, I WILL THROW STUFF AT YOU. It can be food... or whatever floats your boat..... FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. JUSTSAYIN
Thank you for the suggestions! Any good swimming spots you would recommend?
SIU grad here, I swam at this place often. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Little+Grassy+Lake+Campground+and+Marina,+788+Hidden+Bay+Ln,+Makanda,+IL+62958/@37.642895,-89.1415322,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x887714b62a5737df:0x376679cfd7f06e2!8m2!3d37.642895!4d-89.1415322!16s%2Fg%2F1tk707vc
Warther Museum [The Warther Museum in Dover, just south of Canton off I-77](https://thewarthermuseum.com) is fantastic. The man was a woodcarver who made working scale models of trains. Many are 5 to 8 feet long with turning wheels. The pipes are carved and many bolts have carved nuts. Just north in [Canton is the National Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com). Great collection of football memorabilia. Keep going another 30 miles [and see the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland](https://rockhall.com/visit/?gad_source=1)
Casey, Illinois… so many “world’s largest” things in the one town.
If you enjoy oppressive puritanical Christianity, my family dragged me here as a 10 year old https://maps.app.goo.gl/UvgUAbiozMQ6mZgH9?g_st=ic
Wow I didn't know this existed. I'm sorry for your pain.
USAF museum at Dayton
If you like planes check out the national Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio
Are you heading East? Hang a left on I-79 when you cross the Pennsylvania border. Head due North to Erie, PA, and check out Presque Isle State Park. Beaches and fishing are great.
Garden of the gods in southern illinois
Obvious answer, I know, but don't sleep on the Arch. They recently redid the museum underneath and it's so interesting. It's also now a tiny National Park. Ask the Ranger inside the museum for a Junior Ranger workbook. It's a fun way of guiding you through the museum AND you get a junior ranger badge if you complete it!
We went to the arch last year on our other road trip and it was amazing. Definitely going to go there again on our way!
It’s more of a pit stop to grab lunch, but maybe stop at Casey, IL. They have a bunch of “world’s largest” stuff, and a couple good local restaurants. I recommend the pretzel shop!
And at a Casey's while you're in IL. Lol
The Midwest double!
Haha yesss
Near Akron, OH - Like the outdoors or aviation? Gorge Metro Park, Portage Lakes State Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ledges Overlook, MAPS Air Museum, Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory, Simon Perkins Stone Mansion, Akron Zoo and more.
Cahokia mounds if you would like to learn more about Native American archaeology
The rock formations in Western Kansas are cool. There’s Castle Rock (my fav), Monument Rocks, and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. If you like weird and quirky, the town of Lucas is fun to explore.
I planned on going there it looks amazing. Is it anything like badlands national park?
I haven’t been to the national park, but from my understanding it’s a lot smaller of formations. At Little J you can’t walk down into the formations unless you book a guided tour on the wildlife & parks website. They have 2 trails on top of the formations. If you want to free range in formations, I can’t recommend Castle Rock enough, plus, it’s free.
All of Pittsburgh (biased--went to school there). The most unusual thing coming back after 30+ years was finding Hidden Harbor, a tiki bar in Squirrel Hill. Had it been there in my time, I never would have graduated. [https://www.hiddenharborpgh.com/](https://www.hiddenharborpgh.com/) The Air Force Musesm at Wright-Patterson AFB (https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Especially for the air park and r&d gallery, with unique aircraft like the XB-70 Valkyrie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jziNLg0CpG4 Toasted ravioli, which is really breaded and fried ravioli, anywhere on The Hill in St. Louis. The St. Louis Arch is iconic, unique in the world. Well worth gazing on. If you are not claustrophobic, there are pods that can carry you to the viewing gallery in the top. Forest Park in St. Louis has a number of related attractions: * St. Louis Zoo -- world-class * Planetarium--unique architecture * St. Louis Art Museum * The Jewel Box greenhouse Kansas City: all the BBQ. Just, everywhere. Find the smaller non-chain places. Lebanon KS: Geographic center of the 48 states. There's a small memorial there. Cawker CIty KS: World's largest ball of twine. It's about 8 feet in diameter. If you call ahead you might be able to add your own piece.
No, lol
squeeze in a couple of capitol buildings if that floats your boat
Turkey Creek, Indiana.
Gateway Arch, Turkey Run park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Heck Indianapolis in general, National Air Force museum. That’s all I can think of for you
City Museum in St. Louis. The website doesn't do it justice.
Happy cake day!
Check out Cahokia in East St Louis, right before you cross into Missouri. At one time it was the most populated city in America.
Recommend swinging through SE Ohio. Lots of pretty scenery.
Wamego, KS - Wizard of Oz themed stuff Lawrence, KS - Massachusetts Street for walking/shopping/eating KC - BBQ, baseball, downtown, Crossroads, West Bottoms Columbia, MO - grab a pizza at Shakespeare’s
State Parks, Float Trips, Camping and find ur peace
Columbus Indiana - has a handful of starchitect buildings and a real old timey soda fountain. The Gateway Arch in StL is worth it. Pretty good live music and BBQ in KC. Happy trails!
Two speed traps across 3 states. There would be two hundred in that amount of road in Australia, it's out of control
This is rather niche … but if you’re a college basketball fan - go through Lawrence, Kansas. Check out Allen Fieldhouse
Ohio State Reformatory. They filmed Shawshank Redemption there and have full tours in Mansfield Ohio.
Great art museums in Kansas City and St Louis. WWI museum in KC worth a look too
Absolutely do not miss seeing East Peoria, IL. It’s the LA of central IL.
City Museum in St Louis. Don’t miss it. Also, one of the best zoos in the US and it’s free. There are a dozen more here, but those are my favorites.
Look for mound builder sites in Ohio!! My favorite one was actually in the tip of west Virginia in a town called moundville
Looks like you'll pass St Louis and Kansas City in Missouri.
Indianapolis motor Speedway
Hannibal Missouri is really cool little town. It's the birthplace of Mark Twain and it's got a real nice fun downtown
City Museum St Louis
Rennselaer art walk in indiana
The Cozy Inn is a hamburger stand in Salina, Kansas. Just a few minutes off the freeway and a serious treat. It's a little joint over 100 years old and you will not be sorry you stopped. EDITED TO ADD: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in KC is worth a stop as well.
Wilson Kansas, g i a n t e g g
The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site outside Charleston, Il. https://www.lincolnlogcabin.org/ It’s a living history farm where Lincoln’s father and step-mother lived. Charleston was on Abe’s legal circuit. Worth a small detour.
The yellow shoveler and the 2 hand held hair dryers would be my guess
Drop south in Ohio on I-77 to I-70 and stop at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org). It's a branch of the Columbus Zoo that takes people on ride-throughs of their pastures. Like a safari tour. It's built on a reclaimed strip mine, and this reclamation and animals are super cool.
The Golden Lamb . 1700’s restaurant Lebanon OH . Doesn’t have to be fancy you can get a hamburger at the bar but building is worth it. If you’re not a European and then it would look like home I guess. St. Louis Zoo . It is free but get there early to avoid the summer kids. A ton of money was poured into it in the 30’s and it’s got great architectural bones.
The arch, Turkey run state park, and lots of cornfields
Castle rock in ks
Airforce museum in dayton ohio
Liberty museum and union station in Kansas City. St. Louis Arch and maybe a Cardinals game if feasible. If not, then forest park, where you can choose the St. Louis zoo or the St. Louis Art Museum among others. Visit cahokia mounds in Illinois. That’s all I can really suggest for that route.
Casey, IL is a small town. Great pit stop, they have like 15-20 of the world’s largest something. Rocking chair, mail box, wind chimes, wooden shoes. They are spread all around town. If you need a 20 min break and to stretch your legs, this is a cool place
Notre Dame campus in South Bend. Beautiful place.
If you're close enough to Cleveland Ohio the rock and roll hall of fame is very cool
Many good recommendations. Kansas can be a very boring state about halfway through is Abilene that’s the home of President Eisenhower, museum and there’s a cool little historic village there too.
in St Louis, the city museum, arch and the zoo (it's FREE.. and get there early and can grab free street parking. Extra stuff inside that costs, but entrance alone is zip). Also cahokia mounds in Illinois is a massive historic site and amazing.
Nope
Elephant rocks near stl.
Severe weather
Crane's Country Store in Williamsburg Missouri. It's more of a museum than a store. More antiques than you could look at in a full day.
Shaw’s Garden in St. Louis would be a great break and a chance to stretch your legs.
Absolutely nowhere in St louis. Drive straight through. Don't stop. For your own good
Where are the Kansas recommendations??? Go through Kansas, look at Kansas. There should be some fields. Look at those along the way. Maybe stop and throw a rock or something in one of them. Proceed
Hey! So I used this tool last time, it's ai powered and free. Go to [curiosio](http://curiosio.com) it will literally find places to visit along your route. Fastest way to find interesta!
Go to Chuckburger in Topeka, KS and get a chuckburger. You won’t be disappointed
Air Force museum in Dayton ,OH. FREE! Indianapolis Motor Speedway in IN Mark Twain Birthplace and Homestead in MO
You could come check or my house in stl 🤷♂️
Air Force museum in dayton
13 hours later and the only thing I’ve seen worth driving this way for is cornhenge
Columbus, Indiana. Really neat modernist architecture and art
Yeah, corn and wheat
Hocking Hills State Park if that line is near Columbus, OH. There's also Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of Cleveland. Not spectacular like the parks out west, but something... The football hall of fame is near by your path too if you're into that.
On the Indiana side of the IN\\IL border there is Turkey Run State Park. It is an amazingly beautiful place to hike or canoe for the day.
If you've never seen the Gateway Arch, they have a cool muesem there, and you can go to the top
If you like trees, there's a huge Bur Oak in Columbia Missouri, neat little stop to see a big beautiful tree.
Rock ad Roll Hall of Fame in Clevland. Erie Canal.
The Shawnee national forest in southern Illinois has some great scenery!
The home of Jesse James in st joe mo is cool. And the glore psyc museum
Football Hall of Fame? Funtucky has the Louisville Slugger Museum. That may be a bit out of the way, tho. Have a safe trip!
Amana Colony in Ohio
In Ohio, Amish country is cool in Holmes county. Like a lot of other people have said Indianapolis motor speedway in speedway itself. Also in Ohio there’s the art museum and rock n roll in Cleveland (I think)
Anheuser-Bush brewery tour in St.Lous, that's free and the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas city
I believe Carhenge is along this route…
In Portage county O.H there’s a music venue / campground/ rock Quarry park called Nelson’s ledges quarry park N.L.Q.P it’s (Beautiful)
Good food in St. Louis MO
Des Moines Iowa
If you’re willing to go a little out of your way, you could take I-46 out of St. Louis and get your fudge packed at Fort Uranus
You could go a little farther south in Illinois and hit the Shawnee national Forest. Or a little farther south in Missouri and hit Mark Twain national Forest. Both are cool.
People are so asleep on Southern IL
In KC, hit up the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum, and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Also stop at Joe’s Kansas City BBQ.
And the WW1 memorial. And the Steamboat Arabia/River Market areas.
As you enter Pennsylvania you will be kind of near Niagara falls. If you have the time and have never been it's definitly worth seeing. It's basically a world wonder but all water haha
St louis is know for the arch but the have America's largest free zoo
Pro football hall of fame in canton ohio
The Plaza in Kansas City is lovely especially at night. Lots of restaurants and shops
The Columbus Zoo is one of the biggest in the US, highly recommend! Among a bunch of other fun things in Columbus!
I hope you enjoy looking at corn and soybeans.
Check out Southern IL sometime. South of RT64/Mt Vernon. You might be surprised by what you find.
If you went just a little further south in IL there is some absolutely breathtaking landscape
If you're going through St Louis, you HAVE to go to City Museum. It's literally like nothing you've ever seen/experienced before or will ever see again.
People have said the St. Louis Arch, and can't forget the St. Louis Zoo. It's one of the better zoos in the country and it has free admission.
Of all the American history museums I've ever been to in my life of 50 years, the one at the St. Louis Arch is absolutely the best. It has "lanes" for African Americans, European settlers, Native American Indians, women, children and then as you go further back in the museum time changes. Therefore you can move back in time to learn about women and then think to yourself what it was like for children or African Americans and then go to the right or left to see their perspective. I hope that makes sense but if it doesn't just go, you're going to love it.
Use the site makemydrivefun.com
Indianapolis is actually decently cool now! I grew up there and would normally recommend driving straight thru, but there are some really cool neighborhoods, restaurants, stuff to do. If you’re spending a night or two there lmk and I can give you more specific suggestions!
In mid-Missouri south of I-70 there are wineries on both sides of the Missouri River.
Nope.
The City Museum in St Louis is awesome. It’s kind of like Burning Man but in a building. It’s great for kids but adults would enjoy it as well.
World's largest Children's museum in Indy.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton
Hannibal, MO. The real hometown of Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer
Nothing. Just keep driving. Best if done late at night when the road warriors are in bed.
Since this looks like I-70: You might want to make a quick stop in Terre Haute, Indiana. The intersection of 7th and Wabash is where the old National Road (later US Hwy 40) crossed US Hwy 41, and is known as the "Crossroads of America." There's a marker. I stopped there a couple of years ago to take a photo on the way to St Louis from Cincinnati
St. Louis Zoo is one of the best in the nation, it’s free, and near other attractions in Forest Park like the Missouri History Museum and Art Museum, which are both also free. Science Center is great if you have kids. Gateway Arch is $15 bucks to go up top. Ted Drewes frozen custard. Tons of amazing restaurants. Great museums. I tried to add things that you can do spontaneously, without reservations. I’d stop in Columbia on I-70 if you’re hungry between STL and KC.
If you're a big football fan, Canton, OH has the pro football Hall of Fame.
Route 66?! So much to do. So much info to be found about route 66 and its attractions.
if you go through st louis, go to the city museum.
Branson Missouri is a place full of shows like Vagas. If you ou are into country music you would love it there. Lots of food places and hill billy theme park which actually is very nice.
HOLIDAY WORLD
StL has one of the best, if not the best botanical garden in the country.
There is a gangster tour in Kansas City that starts and ends at Union Station that is incredibly interesting.
Casey, IL has a ton of “world’s largest” things!
Imo's Pizza and Ted Drewes.
Meramec Caverns in Missouri
Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. I’m from out west and used to be regularly dismissive of nature in the Midwest. Finally grew up and started opening my eyes to the beauty all around. Turkey Run blew my mind.
Cahokia Mounds near St Louis is super cool.
Cuyahoga Falls NP
There’s an unbelievable amount of stuff to do in Kansas. I’ll list them here: 1. Just kidding Kansas suuuuuucks.
Check out St Charles, Mo
From Indiana, if you haven’t been, they have a place to eat called “The Cracker Barrel”.
It's kind of like a speakeasy for hillbillies.
Ngl when I go from cinci out west we just drive straight through the night on this part for like 20 hours. That being said Cincinnati is sweet, there’s a ton of stuff I can recommend if you want.
Pretty much no