Route 66 in Kansas is a very short drive. From the Missouri border to the Oklahoma border, it is less than 15 miles. When it comes to iconic Route 66, the Sunflower State may be short on miles but it is long on smiles.

Route 66 in Kansas

Personally, I have driven Route 66 in Kansas more times than I can count. But on the April 7, 2024 episode of Coffee With Jim, Pamela Mitchell, chairperson for the tourism board at the Baxter Springs chamber of commerce, lit a fire. Now I need to REALLY explore US 66 in Kansas, and have time for a detour or two.

In our road trip inspiring, smile inducing discussion we talked about history, attractions, detours, and time capsule lodging. And we also talked about sports trivia (Mickey Mantle launched his career in Baxter Springs), and of course, venerable old cafes that serve up great pie.

Mitchell’s passion and enthusiasm was infectious. It was obvious that she enjoyed her job, and loved her adopted hometown. Did I mention that she made the move to Baxter Springs from Santa Monica?

Road Trip

As promised in the podcast from Jim Hinckley’s America, here is information about a few of the places we discussed.

• Big Brutus in West Mineral, Kansas is the centerpiece for a fascinating museum that preserves the areas rich mining history. Built in 1962 by the Bucyrus Erie company for the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, Brutus is an electric shovel that stands an astounding 16 stories tall. It weighs a jaw dropping 11 million pounds. With its 150-foot boom and a shovel capacity of 90 cubic yards this monster revolutionized the efficiency of coal mining.
• The Little Brick Inn in Baxter Springs is a delightful botique hotel on Route 66 in the historic heart of Baxter Springs.
• Van’s Steak House in Baxter Springs, 2447 Military Avenue, is acclaimed for country fried steak, a special gravy, and of course, delicious fresh pie.
• Don’t rush a visit to the Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum, 740 East Avenue. You may plan on just spending an hour or two, but three and even four hours will vanish faster than snow in Lake Havasu City on the Fourth of July. I won’t spoil the surprise. But I will say that this museum is amazing!

Added Incentive

If need added incentive to visit Baxter Springs, add the 2024 Cowtown Days celebration to the calendar. Scheduled for May 3 and May 4, This event is quintessential small town America. It’s a craft show and car show, and its a celebration ot the town’s heritage as the first cow town in Kansas.  Previous festivals often had more than 75 vendors, and this year might be even larger. There is even a BBQ smoke-off competition, and a pie eating contests.

As added incentive I will leave you with htis thought. In our discussion, Pamela initially suggested spening two or tree days in Baxter Springs. But the more we talked about the many attractions and events in the area, she boosted that to a week.

Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. Sharing America’s story. It’s what we do. Become a subscriber of the Coffee With Jim podcast or the Jim Hnckley’s America blog, and never miss a shared adventure.