The Most Unforgettable Stops Along Route 66

The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, has welcomed Route 66 travelers since the late 1930s. Built as a stone cabin court with a restaurant and service-station feel, it grew into one of the most recognizable overnight stops on the Missouri stretch of the highway.

What makes it special is its staying power. Many old motor courts disappeared when interstate travel changed the country, but the Wagon Wheel survived and was carefully restored. For travelers, it offers a patriotic little reminder that America’s road culture was built one family-owned motel, one parked car, and one night’s rest at a time.