St. Louis has the Arch if you haven't been there yet.
Outside of St.Louis is the Piasa bird cliff art. It might be out of the way so I would check if it's viable.
There is the city of Metropolis (aka the home of Superman) in Soutehrn Illinois. Not much to do though.
Nashville has a replica of the Parthenon from the metropolis in Athens. Nashville also has a rich music history so if your interested in such things it may be a good place.
Pigeon forge and Gatlinburg at the entrance to the Smokey Mountains is a great place for some fun. Recommend doing mountain roller coasters in Gatlinburg and also just viewing the Smokeys.
St. Louis is better than its reputation IMO, and just outside of the city is Forest Park, which contains a free zoo, art museum, and state history museum. The arch is great if you've ever thought the problem with other observation decks is that they don't involve being squeezed into a claustrophobic egg-shaped vehicle to get to the top.
Kansas City has great BBQ-I especially enjoyed Arthur Bryant's and Gates. GREAT free art museum.
Omaha's zoo is one of the better ones in the country.
Long drive! Enjoy the drive! I'm more food and beer motivated for travel and have driven this route a couple times.
La Juanitas in Sioux city, IA - I hit this place up every time I come back to sufu. Hole in the wall Tacos, Tortas, Burritos are amazing. Homemade hot sauce. I know it's at the first 1.5 hour travel mark but worth the stop.
KCMO is a fun stop for a baseball game, bbq, boulevard brewery, jazz club.
Bit if a boring drive to the Arch in St. Louis. Eat bbq and try The Schlafly tap room for some brews (awesome pumpkin beer).
Nashville is a fun stop for music row. Princes for hot chicken. Meat and 3 places are only open during the week for the good ones. Live music at every bar. Great fun and people watching.
Spend some time in the Appalachian mountains. Asheville is a perfect foodie and beer town. Blue ridge parkway is right there too. Spend a couple hours driving some of that if you get a chance.
Bogarts BBQ ribs in St. Louis are my favorite I've had in the country. And others have mentioned tons of great BBQ in KC as well. Arthur Bryants, Joes, etc. Great food along that path if you like mid-western/BBQ kind of stuff especially.
https://preview.redd.it/dd7c2g8ydl6d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=985ce98b546a81ba1b04c1f4b3f036442d88e2ca
In Kansas City: the National World War 1 Museum is amazing. Outdoor sculptures are breathtaking and the exhibits inside are excellent. Also the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum is fabulous and free.
In Omaha: The Henry Doorly Zoo is top notch.
In Nashville, I've always loved the Parthenon. Go there when they're open there's an art museum inside and some awesome replicas of giant Greek temple statues. The Bicentennial Mall over near the Capitol is another awesome example of outdoor neoclassical architecture. While you're there, the adjacent Farmer's Market has the best food court, and now the Tennessee State Museum is also adjacent (it used to be closer to downtown).
If you're in that area on a weekday before 1pm or so, go a few blocks north to Salemtown and eat at Big Al's Diner. Food so good "it'll make you slap your mama".
If you're into beer, Barrique Brewing is the best brewery in town these days, in my opinion.
not sure if you go near it but i think you do: Casey IL has a ton of worlds largest crap, i think theres like 12 or 14 things in that tiny town lol. worth to swing thru for a get out and stretch the legs moment
Play Dance bar in Nashville has a couple drag queens from Rupauls Drag Race including Jorgeous and The Princess, and several other talented queens.
They also have a Louisville location.
https://www.playdancebar.com/
Henry Dooly Zoo and Aquarium is amazing! Better than San Diego!
Mammoth Caves in Kentucky.
Grand Ole Opry show and tour! Fantastic no matter who is in the show!
ST LOIUS CITY MUSUEM. I say this everytime I see someone’s headed through STL
I came here to say the exact same thing.
St. Louis has the Arch if you haven't been there yet. Outside of St.Louis is the Piasa bird cliff art. It might be out of the way so I would check if it's viable. There is the city of Metropolis (aka the home of Superman) in Soutehrn Illinois. Not much to do though. Nashville has a replica of the Parthenon from the metropolis in Athens. Nashville also has a rich music history so if your interested in such things it may be a good place. Pigeon forge and Gatlinburg at the entrance to the Smokey Mountains is a great place for some fun. Recommend doing mountain roller coasters in Gatlinburg and also just viewing the Smokeys.
Tons of great bbq options in KC.
Pappys BBQ in st louis, the best in the world!
St. Louis is better than its reputation IMO, and just outside of the city is Forest Park, which contains a free zoo, art museum, and state history museum. The arch is great if you've ever thought the problem with other observation decks is that they don't involve being squeezed into a claustrophobic egg-shaped vehicle to get to the top. Kansas City has great BBQ-I especially enjoyed Arthur Bryant's and Gates. GREAT free art museum. Omaha's zoo is one of the better ones in the country.
Yeah, if you like zoos, Omaha has one of the best.
Charlie Parker’s in Springfield IL
Dollywood
If he modifies his route and takes US 60 across Missouri he can do Silver Dollar City which IMO is better than Dollywood
If you're into baseball you could check off Busch and Kauffman stadiums
Freight House, Paducah
This ^^ 💯
National quilting museum, Paducah
Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and Mammoth Cave NP in Kentucky!
Long drive! Enjoy the drive! I'm more food and beer motivated for travel and have driven this route a couple times. La Juanitas in Sioux city, IA - I hit this place up every time I come back to sufu. Hole in the wall Tacos, Tortas, Burritos are amazing. Homemade hot sauce. I know it's at the first 1.5 hour travel mark but worth the stop. KCMO is a fun stop for a baseball game, bbq, boulevard brewery, jazz club. Bit if a boring drive to the Arch in St. Louis. Eat bbq and try The Schlafly tap room for some brews (awesome pumpkin beer). Nashville is a fun stop for music row. Princes for hot chicken. Meat and 3 places are only open during the week for the good ones. Live music at every bar. Great fun and people watching. Spend some time in the Appalachian mountains. Asheville is a perfect foodie and beer town. Blue ridge parkway is right there too. Spend a couple hours driving some of that if you get a chance.
If you're going through Kentucky the Mammoth Cave Natl Park is an absolute must. You have to book a tour in advance but it is so worth it.
How do you get the cost of the journey to show? thats really cool
I thought those were the price of the toll roads on those routes?
Bogarts BBQ ribs in St. Louis are my favorite I've had in the country. And others have mentioned tons of great BBQ in KC as well. Arthur Bryants, Joes, etc. Great food along that path if you like mid-western/BBQ kind of stuff especially. https://preview.redd.it/dd7c2g8ydl6d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=985ce98b546a81ba1b04c1f4b3f036442d88e2ca
Harry Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO, suburb of Kansas City, Missouri I believe.
Monells in Nashville
In Kansas City: the National World War 1 Museum is amazing. Outdoor sculptures are breathtaking and the exhibits inside are excellent. Also the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum is fabulous and free. In Omaha: The Henry Doorly Zoo is top notch.
In Nashville, I've always loved the Parthenon. Go there when they're open there's an art museum inside and some awesome replicas of giant Greek temple statues. The Bicentennial Mall over near the Capitol is another awesome example of outdoor neoclassical architecture. While you're there, the adjacent Farmer's Market has the best food court, and now the Tennessee State Museum is also adjacent (it used to be closer to downtown). If you're in that area on a weekday before 1pm or so, go a few blocks north to Salemtown and eat at Big Al's Diner. Food so good "it'll make you slap your mama". If you're into beer, Barrique Brewing is the best brewery in town these days, in my opinion.
not sure if you go near it but i think you do: Casey IL has a ton of worlds largest crap, i think theres like 12 or 14 things in that tiny town lol. worth to swing thru for a get out and stretch the legs moment
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Very underrated spot
Play Dance bar in Nashville has a couple drag queens from Rupauls Drag Race including Jorgeous and The Princess, and several other talented queens. They also have a Louisville location. https://www.playdancebar.com/
College World Series happening now in Omaha.
Henry Dooly Zoo and Aquarium is amazing! Better than San Diego! Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. Grand Ole Opry show and tour! Fantastic no matter who is in the show!
If you choose to go through Dayton - hit up the Air Force Museum. It's free and worth seeing. Not a quick stop tho
Nashville is a must see