By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: 8/26/26 | Last updated: 8/26/26

Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store sits at the geographic center of Missouri — halfway between St. Louis and Springfield on I-44, in the heart of the Ozarks, on Historic Route 66. That central location makes St. Robert one of the best bases for day trips in the state. Here’s where to go when you’ve done Uranus, done Waynesville, done Devil’s Elbow, and want to see what else is within reach.

Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store: 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO 65584 | Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST) | Exit 163 off I-44

Under 30 Minutes

Waynesville — 10 Minutes East

The Pulaski County seat is the closest day trip from Uranus and one of the most rewarding. The 1903 Courthouse Museum, the Old Stagecoach Stop Museum, Roubidoux Park and Spring, Hoppers Pub (66 beers on tap), and a walkable historic downtown square with local boutiques and restaurants. It’s not quite a day trip — more of a half-day — but it pairs well with Uranus as a full day in Pulaski County.

Best for: History, walking, local dining, anyone who wants the county seat experience.

Devil’s Elbow — 20 Minutes West

The most scenic stretch of Route 66 in Pulaski County. The 1923 steel truss bridge over the Big Piney River — the only curved bridge on Missouri’s Route 66 still open to traffic — sits at the sharpest bend of the Big Piney, hemmed in by 200-foot limestone bluffs. Drive it, park, walk back across it, and understand why Jack D. Rittenhouse called this “one of the most beautiful sections of the Ozarks.”

From Devil’s Elbow, the Big Piney River floats run through the most scenic section of the river. BSC Outdoors is 14 miles from Fort Leonard Wood’s main gate and handles all float logistics.

Best for: Route 66 history, scenic photography, river floats, anyone who wants the quintessential Ozark river experience.

Gasconade & Big Piney River Floats — 20–30 Minutes

Multiple outfitters in Pulaski County run canoe, kayak, tube, and raft trips on both rivers. The 3-mile Gasconade tube float at BSC Outdoors is the easy afternoon option. The 5-mile Big Piney float through Devil’s Elbow is the one most people come back for.

BSC Outdoors: bscoutdoors.com | 14 miles from Fort Leonard Wood’s main gate Best for: Families, outdoor enthusiasts, anyone who wants to spend a day on the water.

30–60 Minutes

Rolla — 35 Minutes East on I-44

A college town on the Route 66 alignment with a surprising density of worthwhile stops. The Totem Pole Trading Post is the classic Route 66 roadside trading post, in continuous operation and looking much as it did in 1955. Slice of Pie bakery is one of the most recommended stops on the Missouri stretch of the Mother Road. The Route 66 Museum in the Rolla Public Library has a solid collection of Route 66 memorabilia and context for the highway’s history through this part of Missouri.

Missouri University of Science and Technology is in Rolla, which means the town has a good food scene for its size.

Best for: Route 66 enthusiasts, food stops, anyone who wants a college town energy.

Lebanon — 45 Minutes West on I-44

The Munger Moss Motel — one of the most photographed motels on Route 66 — is the anchor stop in Lebanon. The 1940s motor court is still operating with the original neon signage and roadside aesthetic intact. Dowd’s Catfish and BBQ is the local food institution. The Lebanon Route 66 Museum has a well-organized collection of highway history.

Best for: Classic Route 66 motor court photography, overnight stops, catfish.

Meramec Caverns — 55 Minutes East on I-44

One of Missouri’s most visited caves, in continuous operation as a tourist attraction since 1933. The guided tour hits massive limestone formations that took 400 million years to build, and the Jesse James hideout legend has been drawing visitors for decades regardless of historical accuracy. Budget about an hour for the tour.

Best for: Families, cave enthusiasts, anyone who wants a genuine Missouri Ozarks underground experience.

1–2 Hours

Springfield — 1 Hour West on I-44

Missouri’s third-largest city and the birthplace of Route 66. The Route 66 Car Museum on West College Street has over 100 vintage vehicles and is one of the better car museums in the region. The Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park at Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street marks the spot where the highway was named. The History Museum on the Square gives full context for Springfield’s role in the Mother Road’s origin.

Beyond Route 66: Springfield has a genuine food scene, the Bass Pro Shops flagship store (the largest in the world), and enough to fill a full day.

Best for: Route 66 history, car enthusiasts, full-day city visits, Bass Pro Shops pilgrims.

St. James Wine Region — 1 Hour East on I-44

Missouri is one of America’s oldest wine-producing states, and the St. James area in Phelps County — about an hour east of Uranus on I-44 — is the heart of the Ozark Highlands wine region. Several wineries in the area offer tastings, tours, and food. The St. James Winery is the largest and most visited; Ferrigno Vineyards and Heinrichshaus Vineyard are worth the short detour off I-44 for a quieter experience.

This is the day trip most people who stay near Uranus don’t know about. Missouri wine country is genuinely good, and the drive through the Ozark hills between St. Robert and St. James is one of the better scenic drives in the state.

Best for: Wine enthusiasts, couples, anyone who wants a day trip that feels genuinely different from Route 66 history.

Joplin — 2 Hours West on I-44

The western terminus of Missouri’s Route 66. The Route 66 Mural Park in downtown Joplin — large tile murals, the replica 1964 red Corvette embedded in a wall — is the traditional endpoint photo stop for Missouri Route 66 drivers. Joplin is a real city with good food and a laid-back energy. Worth a full day if you’re combining it with stops in Carthage (the Munger Moss Motel, the 66 Drive-In) and Cuba (Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q, the Mural City).

Best for: Completing the Missouri Route 66 drive, anyone who wants the western endpoint experience.

Branson — 2 Hours South on US-65

Missouri’s entertainment capital is about 121 miles south of St. Robert on US-65 through the Ozark hills. The drive is scenic; the destination is its own thing — live music shows, Table Rock Lake, Silver Dollar City, and the kind of concentrated family entertainment that fills a full day easily.

It’s a long day trip rather than a casual half-day, but if you’re staying multiple nights near Uranus and have exhausted the closer options, Branson is a genuine destination rather than a drive-by.

Best for: Families, entertainment-focused visitors, anyone who wants to see what Branson is about.

Planning Your Day Trip

Start at Uranus. Whatever you’re doing for the day, start with fudge. The General Store opens at 8 AM — you can be stocked and on the road before most day-trip destinations are even open.

Use the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau. The Visitors Center at 137 St Robert Blvd A has brochures, maps, and staff who know current conditions and hours for everything in the region. Pick up the Route 66 Driving Tour brochure before heading out. visitpulaskicounty.org

Come back for the Neon Park. Whatever day trip you do, time your return for dusk. The Route 66 Neon Park in George M. Reed Roadside Park is right next to Uranus, lit from dusk to midnight, and free. It’s the best ending to any Pulaski County day.

Last week, an entire family came back to Uranus for an annual trip through Pulaski County.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best day trips from Uranus Missouri? Within 30 minutes: Waynesville, Devil’s Elbow, and river floats on the Big Piney and Gasconade. Within an hour: Rolla (Route 66 stops), Lebanon (Munger Moss Motel), and Meramec Caverns. Within 2 hours: Springfield (birthplace of Route 66), the St. James Wine Region, and Joplin (western Route 66 terminus).

How far is Branson from Uranus Missouri? About 121 miles south on US-65 — roughly 2 hours. A long day trip but a genuine destination. The drive through the Ozark hills is scenic.

How far is Springfield from Uranus Missouri? About 1 hour west on I-44. Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66 and has the Route 66 Car Museum, the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park, and a solid food scene.

Is there wine country near Uranus Missouri? Yes — the St. James Wine Region in Phelps County is about 1 hour east on I-44. Several wineries offer tastings and tours; St. James Winery is the largest, Ferrigno Vineyards and Heinrichshaus Vineyard are the more intimate alternatives.

How far is Meramec Caverns from Uranus Missouri? About 55 minutes east on I-44, near Sullivan/Stanton. One of Missouri’s most visited caves, with a guided tour that runs about an hour.

What is the closest day trip from Uranus Missouri? Waynesville is 10 minutes east — the Pulaski County seat with two Route 66 museums, Roubidoux Park and Spring, and Hoppers Pub. Devil’s Elbow is 20 minutes west, with the only curved bridge on Missouri’s Route 66 still open to traffic.

For more on things to do in the immediate area, see A Weekend in Pulaski County: What Locals Actually Do and the Complete Visitor’s Guide to Uranus Missouri.

Alex Bradford Cobb is a strapping young man who works for the Mayor in a semi-legal indentured servitude arrangement, similar to how Dubai was built, and possibly the pyramids. What works, works, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.

By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: 7-9-26 | Last updated: 7-9-26

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Pulaski County sits in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, bisected by Historic Route 66 and home to Fort Leonard Wood, the Roubidoux River, Devil’s Elbow, and more history per square mile than most counties twice its size. It’s not a place most people plan a weekend around. It should be.

This is the guide I’d give a friend who asked what to do here — not the tourism brochure version, but the honest one. Two days, covering St. Robert, Waynesville, and the surrounding Ozark landscape that most road-trippers miss because they’re too busy following I-44.

Useful resource before you go: The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau offers a free Getaway Guide and a Historic Waynesville Walking Tour brochure available at the Visitors Center in St. Robert and at shops throughout downtown Waynesville.

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Friday Evening: Arrive, Eat, Get Your Bearings

The county has over 20 hotels and motels in the St. Robert area — more options than you’d expect, largely because Fort Leonard Wood generates steady traffic year-round.

For dinner, head into Waynesville’s downtown square. Hoppers Pub on Historic Route 66 is the local favorite — 66 draft beers on tap, Route 66 memorabilia covering the walls, and food that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. It’s the kind of place that turns a Friday night stop into a three-hour visit.

After dinner, walk the square. Waynesville’s downtown is compact and genuinely charming — vintage buildings, local boutiques, and the kind of lived-in character that comes from a community that’s been here since 1832.

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Saturday Morning: History in Waynesville

 

Start Saturday at the 1903 Courthouse Museum on the Waynesville square. The building is one of only two remaining period courthouses on the Missouri Route 66 alignment, designed by architect Henry H. Hohenschild, and the upstairs courtroom is exceptionally well-preserved. Exhibits cover Pulaski County history from pioneer life through Fort Leonard Wood’s World War II-era construction. Open Saturdays, May through September, 10 AM – 2 PM. Free admission; donations welcome.

Right next door, the Old Stagecoach Stop Museum is the oldest building in Pulaski County — an 1850s stagecoach way station that was commandeered by Union forces as a hospital during the Civil War and later served as a Route 66 hotel. Both museums are on the National Register of Historic Places. Open Saturdays, April through September, 10 AM – 4 PM.

The 8-foot Route 66 shield on the courthouse grounds is Waynesville’s most-photographed spot and worth the photo before you leave the square.

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Saturday Late Morning: Roubidoux Park & the Spring

From the square, it’s a short walk to Roubidoux Park on the banks of the Roubidoux River. The park is connected by a paved trail to Laughlin Park, which is home to the Roubidoux Spring — a genuine Ozarks gem and a favorite local swimming hole in the summer months. Local legend says that if you dip your toes in the spring water, you’ll return to Waynesville. Whether that’s true or not, the spring is cold, clear, and beautiful.

Along the trail between the parks, look for the National Park Service interpretive panels marking the Trail of Tears Cherokee Campsite. The five-span concrete arch bridge built in 1923 is worth a photo too — it’s the kind of detail that makes a walking trail feel like a history lesson.

Saturday morning tip: If you’re here between May and October, the Pulaski County Farmers Market runs Saturdays 8 AM – noon at the Farmers Market Pavilion near the Roubidoux Spring Campground. Fresh produce, locally roasted coffee, baked goods, food trucks, and local crafts. Worth building your morning around if you can.

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Saturday Afternoon: Devil’s Elbow & the Gasconade

After lunch, take the scenic drive out to Devil’s Elbow — one of the most beautiful stretches of original Route 66 in Missouri and the kind of stop that makes you understand what the Mother Road was actually about before the interstates made it irrelevant.

Devil’s Elbow gets its name from the sharp bend in the Big Piney River here, hemmed in by 200-foot limestone bluffs. The 1923 steel truss bridge over the Big Piney is one of the most photographed Route 66 landmarks in Pulaski County — narrow, atmospheric, and still standing after more than 100 years. Pull over and walk it if you can.

From Devil’s Elbow, the Gasconade River is a short drive and one of the best float rivers in Missouri. Several outfitters in the area run canoe and kayak trips down the Gasconade and the Big Piney. The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau can point you to current operators at visitpulaskicounty.org

For the afternoon, choose your own adventure:

• Float the Gasconade or Big Piney
• Drive the full 33-mile stretch of Historic Route 66 through Pulaski County with the county’s illustrated driving tour brochure
• Hike the trails near Devil’s Elbow

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Saturday Evening: Uranus & the Neon Park

Head back toward St. Robert for the evening. Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store is at 14400 Hwy Z — open until 8 PM (CST) — and it’s the right way to close a day of Ozarks history: fudge made fresh in our on-site kitchen in 19 flavors, the Sideshow Museum, Putt Pirates Mini Golf, and Uranus Ice Cream Co.

Then walk across to George M. Reed Roadside Park and the Route 66 Neon Park — a growing collection of restored vintage neon signs from defunct motels and businesses along Missouri’s Route 66, lit up in the evening oak trees along the historic alignment. Come at dusk. The signs look exactly like they did in 1958 and it’s one of the better free things to do in Pulaski County.

An entire busload of kids from a church camp came by on June 30th and they all bought fudge and souvenirs.

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Sunday Morning: Fort Leonard Wood & the Mahaffey Museums

Fort Leonard Wood is one of the largest Army training bases in the United States, and it has something most bases don’t: three excellent museums in one building, all free to visit.

The John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex houses the U.S. Army Military Police Corps Museum, the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Museum, and the U.S. Army Engineer Museum side by side — the only place in the country where you can tour all three Army branch museums in a single visit. The MP Museum’s exhibit on the Iraq War is particularly well-regarded for its first-hand accounts and detail. The Engineer Museum has working models and a realistic immersive experience of Army engineering.

Practical note: Bring a photo ID for base access.

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Sunday Afternoon: Before You Go

If you have a couple of hours before heading out:

Historic Talbot House in Waynesville — a fully restored 19th-century home run by a guide who, by all accounts, is loaded with information and humor. The hand-cranked drum piano inside is a highlight.

Frog Rock — a granite boulder on the roadside in Waynesville that someone decided looked like a frog and painted accordingly. The townspeople maintain it and there’s an annual Frogtoberfest celebration. It’s genuinely not a big thing, but it’s the kind of small local detail that makes a town feel like a place rather than a stop. October 1-4, 2026

Theatre on the Square — if something’s playing during your visit, Waynesville’s community playhouse is worth an afternoon matinee. Find current season schedule at visitpulaskicounty.org

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Practical Notes

Getting here: St. Robert and Waynesville are both just off I-44, roughly midway across Missouri. From St. Louis, about 2 hours west. From Springfield, about 1 hour east.

Accommodations: Over 20 hotels and motels in the St. Robert area, concentrated near the Fort Leonard Wood gates.

For military families: Fort Leonard Wood brings a steady flow of families new to Pulaski County. The museums are free, Roubidoux Park is excellent for kids, and Uranus is less than ten miles from the main gate — a quick and easy afternoon outing for families on the post.

Events worth timing your visit around:

• Hogs & Frogs Festival — Waynesville, annual Route 66 motorcycle event with three days of activities
• Frogtoberfest — annual celebration of Frog Rock: October 1-4, 2026
• Pulaski County Farmers Market — every Saturday, 8 AM – noon, May through October
• Free Donut 5K — every third Saturday in Waynesville

For the full events calendar: visitpulaskicounty.org/events

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pulaski County Missouri known for? Fort Leonard Wood, Historic Route 66, the Roubidoux River, and Devil’s Elbow. The county has 33 miles of Route 66 alignment, one of the largest Army training bases in the country, and some of the most scenic Ozark river country in Missouri.

What is there to do in Waynesville Missouri? The 1903 Courthouse Museum, Old Stagecoach Stop Museum, Roubidoux Park and Spring, Historic Talbot House, Hoppers Pub, Theatre on the Square, and the Waynesville downtown square with local boutiques, antiques, and restaurants.

What is there to do in St. Robert Missouri? Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store, the Route 66 Neon Park, Tiger Typhoon Water Park, and easy access to Fort Leonard Wood’s Mahaffey Museum Complex. St. Robert is the county’s main commercial hub with over 20 hotels and a wide range of restaurants.

How far is Uranus from Fort Leonard Wood? About 10 minutes from the main gate on Hwy Z. Uranus is at 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO 65584. Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST).

Is Devil’s Elbow worth visiting? Yes — it’s one of the most scenic stretches of original Route 66 in Missouri. The 1923 steel truss bridge over the Big Piney River is one of the most photographed Route 66 landmarks in the state. It’s about 10 miles and worth the drive.

Can you float the Gasconade River in Pulaski County? Yes — the Gasconade and Big Piney Rivers both run through Pulaski County and are popular float rivers in summer. Several local outfitters offer canoe and kayak rentals; check visitpulaskicounty.org for current operators.

What is the best time to visit Pulaski County? Summer for floating, the Farmers Market, and Roubidoux Spring. Fall for the Ozark scenery and Hogs & Frogs Festival. The Route 66 Centennial in 2026 makes this year particularly good for a visit.

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For more on Uranus and its place on Route 66, see the Complete Visitor’s Guide to Uranus Missouri and the Route 66 Centennial Road Trip itinerary.

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Alex Bradford Cobb is a strapping young man who works for the Mayor in a semi-legal indentured servitude arrangement, similar to how Dubai was built, and possibly the pyramids. What works, works, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.