Sites Between Dallas and St. Louis MO

I have taken this drive a number of times (as my family is from Dallas and I live in St. Louis). I'm going to warn you, from my experiences, there is a lot of nothing! Oklahoma is somewhat boring to drive through. Lake Eufala is really pretty, personally I like the giant star as you enter into Texas, and there is a McDonald's outside of Tulsa that crosses over the highway. For the most part though, I think this drive is kind of boring :-/

Sorry, but there isn't a whole lot of sites between there and STL. However, there are a ton of cool things in STL to see and do.

I would personally take I-35W to I-44. We make the trip from Roanoke to Tulsa ALL the time, and if you take 75 up to 69 you will drive through nothing but small towns with low speed limits.
Either direction - OK is pretty void of "fun" sights (grew up there), but if you do take the route through OKC, you HAVE to see the Murrah Bombing Memorial. Fun is the wrong word to describe it, but it is the most amazing, breath-taking sight you can imagine. Everyone needs to see it at lease once!

I'm a native St Louisian who now lives in Allen, TX, so I'm extremely familiar with the 2 routes. One route takes Hwy 35, while the other takes Hwy 75. Take Hwy 75 which is much more scenic. Along the way, there are lots of things to see while driving in the car...nature type things and small roadside shops along the way. Rather eclectic & townie. Hwy 35 is pretty much just highway. You'll go thru Tulsa which has lots to see by itself. Between Tulsa & Springfield, MO, there's the famous McDonald's over-the-highway...a must see for all! Kinda cool, really. Then there's Springfield, MO...historic. There are small towns just off Hwy 44 with touristy things that your daughter might like. And, of course, St Louis is filled with things to see and do.

Do some Google searches & you'll find plenty! (i.e. Tulsa, OK attractions) Here are a few sites:
www.springfieldmo.org, www.explorebranson.com, and /www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11683 (McDonald's).
NOTE: Lake of the Ozarks is nowhere near your route.

Good luck! And I hope you enjoy the ride!

I believe there are a lot of things along 44 but couldn't for the life of me tell you where. Sorry. 44 used to be route 66 so there are these pull offs or scenic overlook areas here and there. They are just so overgrown you have to know what you are looking for or you will miss them.

There are a lot of cool things here in StL but since I live here they are all boring to me. It would help if we had an idea what you are in to. We have some amazing blues clubs, microbreweries (which are my haunts), we have children's museum down town and the Magic House in Kirkwood for the kids.....okay so maybe I am not completely bored. :p

My in-laws are in St. Louis. The shortest route is up 75, take the Will Rodgers turnpike into Missouri. Sometimes we stop in Springfield to see the nature museum and the original Bass Pro Shop (they are next door). Last summer we stopped at the Meramac cave on the way back. It is not very far out of town but we loved it. Sometimes we go the Branson way. It's a much longer trip but we stay the night in Branson and see a show. Enjoy!

There is not a whole lot to see. Once you are on the turnpike,It is miles of nothing. If you find something please post. I will have to make that trip again this summer and I am dreading it!

Branson MO. It's just across the border of Arkansas. search Branson on Google and you'll see there's a lot to do. Have fun.

G. M.

I would check out websites like this: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

More of what all the others have said. My family is in the Lou and not a lot to see, BUT I do agree that the Lake Eufala area is nice (good place to pull off at the state park for a picnic, but you'll just have started your trip and my not be ready for a break).
69 is THE way to go. I hate I-35 and all the one lane traffic for construction, etc. after 10 years of traveling I keep thinking "they must be finished" alas - they never are LOL!
Movies, snacks, car games travel overnight if possible. have fun - as you know STL is worth the drive:)

I think a 4-year old would enjoy going up in the Arch and a paddleboat ride on the Mississippi. Somewhere in MO there is Six Flags over Mid-America I think. Lake of the Ozarks is beautiful. Get on the Missouri website and have them send you a travel brochure.

I did this exact drive last summer. There really isn't a whole lot to see between here and there. Lots of small towns in Oklahoma and the speed limits drop dramatically and lots and lots of cops so WATCH YOUR SPEED on 69 up to I-44. Once you get to 44, the speed limit is 75 or 80 (I distinctly remember this b/c I've never seen a speed limit that high) so that was a nice change!! Have fun.

Yea, I agree...not much to see or do on that trip!! We make it several times a year and it never gets any better! You'll have to make you're own fun. Have a safe trip!!

Look up the Precious Moments Chapel ~ we made the drive from Dallas with a stop in Kansas City, MO over spring break. We drove up through Tulsa and if I remember correctly took 44 to 71 in MO . On our way through Carthage, MO we saw a sign for the chapel. We ended up stopping and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The chapel is free to visit (with a great gift shop). I don't think it's that far off of 44.

Oh, and as I was driving alone with a 4yo and 8yo "goody bags" were my best friend. Every so often they'd get to open one and it had a new movie, coloring book, cheapie toy, snack, or whatever but it kept things fresh. Good luck and have fun!

Boy this brings back memories! My family is from St. Louis so when we moved down to Dallas guess what my childhood consisted of? Trips back and forth all the time. It was fun but I am sorry to tell you we didn't find much to stop and do on the way. Just the fun we made ourselves in the car....and the fact that dad would stop and each and every drive through for snacks, ice cream etc but going potty? No time for that!