Day 2: Springfield IL to Cuba MO
Postcard from Cuba, Missouri
The weatherman said to expect heavy rains but today I drove 204 miles mostly with blue sky and a beautiful although pretty hot sun.
Notable: never-ending corn fields, long smooth roads, abandoned bars, gas stations and motels, the mighty Mississippi river and me, walking on the Chain of Rocks Bridge, leaving Illinois for the first time in 18 months.
Driving from Springfield to Cuba Cheat Sheet
Accommodation in Cuba:
- Super 8 by Wyndham Cuba, 28 Highway P, Cuba, MO, 65453
Where to eat and what to see between Springfield IL and Cuba MO
- Gateway Arch Monument, Downtown East, St Louis. The most recognizable monument in St. Louis.
- Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Chain of Rocks Bridge (Route 66) St Louis, MO A beautiful bridge over the mighty Mississippi which thanks to the previous days weeks was scary, majestic and impressive.
- Frisco’s Grill & Pub, 121 S Smith St Cuba, MO 65453 Old-school American joint with a decent variety of booze and honest pub food.
Driving from Springfield to Cuba FAQ
The shortest route between Springfield and Cuba is 181mile long but trying to stay on the Historic Route 66 and visiting a few attractions I’ve ended up driving for 204 miles.
You can drive from Springfield to Cuba in less than 3 hours. It took me longer due to some stops for pictures and sightseeing along the route.
Driving on the historic Route 66 from Springfield to Cuba you meet a number of memorabilia. It’s an easy, chill drive.
The Chain of Rocks Bridge, the Mississippi river and the city of St. Louis, especially the riverfront and the Gateway Arch Monument.
It depends on the season. In summer you can drive from Springfield to Cuba with any car. In coldest months a mid size SUV is more practical cause the weather can get pretty nasty.
Route 66 pictures: photos taken from Springfield to Cuba
My itinerary on the Route 66
- Route 66 the ultimate American road trip
- Day 1: Chicago to Springfield
- Day 2: Springfield to Cuba
- Day 3: Cuba to Carthage
- Day 4: Carthage to Oklahoma City
- Day 5: Oklahoma City to Amarillo
- Day 6: Amarillo to Tucumcari
- Day 7: Tucumcari to Santa Fe
- Day 8: Santa Fe to Gallup
- Day 9: Gallup to Bluff
- Day 10: Bluff to Chambers
- Day 11: Chambers to Sedona
- Day 12: Sedona to Kingman
- Day 13: Kingman to Barstow
- Day 14: Barstow to Santa Monica
