Route 66 Daily Journal: May 1, 2026

Our day included two coffeeshops, George Washington Carver National Monument, exploring more of Springfield, MO; and some Route 66 Centennial Kickoff events.

We started our day with coffee at Echelon Coffee in Republic, MO.

At George Washington Carver National Monument, we learned about his early life here as we walked the trail and leaned more about his later life in the exhibits inside the visitor's center.

As we headed back to Springfield, we stopped at Joplin Greenhouse Outpost Coffee.

In Springfield, we drove to find a few of the Springfield 66 Statues.

We made an unplanned stop at an Andy’s Frozen Custard because Dad had to try it (and I wasn't going to say no to some frozen custard).

Next we visited Queen’s Gate 66, which is now complete, but the road around it was still closed.

We then went and found the new location for the Springfield Visitor Center/Route 66 Welcome Center and collected the stickers and pin we earned from checking into places on the Ozarks Coffee Trail, Springfield 66 Sculpture Series Route, and Birthplace of Route 66 Passport.

Across the street, we checked out the Route 66 Traveling Exhibit at the Gillioz Theatre.

We then checked out the new Route 66 Birthplace Plaza.

We then went down St. Louis Street to find a place to watch the Celebrate America on Route 66 Parade. I walked and Dad went back to move the car nearer to the parade start so that we could be done watching the parade sooner and get to the drone show.

After the parade, we headed over to the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge Lighting & Drone Show as our last thing of the day.

Our Koffee Trail: Joplin Greenhouse Outpost Coffee

Date of Visit: May 1, 2026

Location: Joplin Greenhouse Outpost Coffee, Diamond, MO

Rating: ❤️ (Love)

We almost missed checking out the Joplin Greenhouse Outpost Coffee. We noticed it on our way to George Washington Carver National Monument and then almost did not stop on the way back to Springfield as Dad was more focused on looking for a place to stop for lunch than just getting coffee. As we passed it, I told him it might also have food, so he turned around. We also almost missed trying it out because it was only about half an hour before they closed for the day. Glad we didn't miss it as we really enjoyed it and got a bag of decaf coffee for home.

Dad had a Spring Flat White (blueberry, lavender). I had a Blueberry Cobbler Latte (blueberry, white mocha, brown sugar).

Dad also enjoyed the Brunch Wrap.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Echelon Coffee

Date of Visit: May 1, 2026

Location: Echelon Coffee, Republic, MO

Rating: 👍 (Like)

As we drove from Springfield to George Washington Carver National Monument, we stopped at Echelon Coffee in Republic, MO (they also have a location in Springfield).

Dad got a pour over of the Columbia Huila.

I had a the Rosemary Latte from their spring seasonal menu.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Check out some of our other Springfield area posts:

• Brick & Mortar Coffee 👍
• Trailer Perk Coffee ❤️

Route 66 Daily Journal: April 30, 2026

We did Route 66 in Springfield, MO, including the National Route 66 Centennial Centennial Kickoff Concert.

We started our day getting coffee at Trailer Perk Coffee, which even had a Route 66 Centennial menu.

Next we planned to go to Springfield Visitor Center, but it was too early for it to be open, so we drove over to the Birthplace of 66 Roadside Park. Not much there, but there is a replica of the famous Gaint Hamburg sign.

Next we headed to the Springfield Visitor Center, which turns out to have recently moved to near the Gillioz Theatre, but because the square was shut down for The Today Show filming, the staff was there and had the stamp for The Mother Road passport.

Our next stop was the Route 66 Car Museum, which I hear is closing next year as the owner is retiring and selling his collection.

For lunch, Dad was confused why I choose Steak 'n Shake. He understood once we got there as it has been there from 1962 and has not modernized its look.

After lunch, it was late enough for The Today Show filming to be done and the square reopened so we could go to the History Museum on the Square. They have a good exhibit about Route 66 along with local history exhibits.

Next we took a little side trip from Route 66 to find the World's "Largest" Fork. Apparently, it is not actually the largest, but maybe is largest by mass or something.

We finished our day with the Route 66 Centennial Kick-off Concert, which included a Fan Fest outside before. The performers included The Haygoods, Sixwire, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Janson, Gary Levox from Rascall Flatts, and Little Big Town.

After the concert, we drove by The History Museum on the Square to see it lit up at night.

Our Koffee Trail & Route 66: Trailer Perk Coffee

Date of Visit: April 30, 2026

Location: Trailer Perk Coffee, Springfield, MO

Rating: ❤️ (Love)

We started our day of Route 66 in Springfield with coffee at Trailer Perk Coffee. They even had a Route 66 Centennial Limited Edition Road Trip Drinks menu.

I got the Cruise Control Latte (Almond Roca) from the Route 66 Centennial menu.

Dad had one of their signature drinks, Flamingo, which is a white coffee white chocolate, raspberry mocha.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail & Route 66: Rise & Grind Coffee Station

Date of Visit: April 29, 2026

Location: Rise & Grind Coffee Station, Miller, MO

Rating: 👎 (Never Again)

Rise & Grind Coffee Station was one of our stops on our day exploring Route 66 from Springfield, MO to Joplin, MO. This was one place we wish we had skipped. For one, they did not have decaf. I do not mind having regular coffee every once in a while, but it ended up being served burning tongue and too hot to hold and did not even taste good (hot or when cooled off).

Dad had the Hot Mess Espresso (White Mocha, Vanilla, Toasted Marshmallow, Sweet Cream Foam).

I had the Pretty Little Poison (Brown Sugar Syrup, Cinnamon, Cold Foam). There are coffees I like more than others, but very rare that I do not even want to finish the coffee. Not sure if it was the coffee or the cold foam, which I am not sure I have ever had before, but cannot imagine it was the flavor I choose because I have had brown sugar syrup and cinnamon before and liked it.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Route 66 Daily Journal: April 29, 2026

Today we did Route 66 from Springfield, MO to Joplin, MO.

We started our day walking over to Brick & Mortar Coffee. It was only a block from the hotel and the road was closed between it and the hotel as the new Queen’s Gate 66 monument wasn’t quite finished, so driving would have taken longer.

Once back to the car, we took one of the Route 66 alignments through Springfield and continued on Route 66 to Gay Parita Filing Station in Ash Grove, MO.

On our way to our next stop, we made an unplanned photo stop at Spencer’s Station.

Next we got coffee at Rise & Grind Coffee Station.

Nearby we found a Lawerence County, Missouri Route 66 sculpture.

Our next stop was Red Oak II, where we spent about an hour exploring.

We made a quick stop at the Webb City Visitor Center for the Mother Road Passport Stamp.

Our next planned stop was Supertam 66, but it wasn’t open, so we continued on to Joplin to the Joplin History & Mineral Museum, which also has the National Cookie Cutter Collection.

In the park nearby, we also really enjoyed the Route 66 World Street Painting Gallery.

As we headed back through Joplin, we stopped at the Route 66 Mural Park.

We also went in to the Joplin Visitor Center and enjoyed their local history and art exhibits.

On our way back through Webb City, we stopped at the Praying Hands sculpture.

Next we were able to visit Supertam 66 to check out their Superman Museum and have some ice cream as it was open in the late afternoon/evening.

Our last stop on our way back to Springfield was the Boots Court Motel in Carthage.

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here.