Things to Do in Waynesville, Missouri: A Local’s Guide to the County Seat
By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: 9/2/26 | Last updated: 9/2/26
Waynesville is the Pulaski County seat — a small Route 66 town on the banks of the Roubidoux River with more history per block than most Missouri cities ten times its size. The 1903 courthouse is one of only two period courthouses left on Missouri’s Route 66 alignment. The Old Stagecoach Stop predates the Civil War. The Roubidoux Spring has been a local gathering place since the town was founded in 1832. And Frog Rock — a granite boulder painted to look like a frog — has its own annual festival.
Waynesville is 10 minutes east of Uranus on Historic Route 66. Here’s what’s worth your time.
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store: 14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO 65584 | Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST) | 10 minutes west of Waynesville on Hwy Z
The Historic Square
The Waynesville downtown square is the anchor of any visit — compact, walkable, and dense with history and local character. Everything below is within easy walking distance of the square.
1903 Courthouse Museum
The cannon still works. You can just shoot it. No one can stop you; you have a cannon!
One of only two remaining period courthouses on the Missouri Route 66 alignment, designed by architect Henry H. Hohenschild. The upstairs courtroom is exceptionally well-preserved. Exhibits cover Pulaski County history from pioneer life through the Route 66 era and Fort Leonard Wood’s World War II construction. The 8-foot Route 66 shield on the courthouse grounds — installed for the 2026 Centennial — is the most photographed landmark on the square.
Open Saturdays, May through September, 10 AM – 2 PM | Free admission; donations welcome
Old Stagecoach Stop Museum
So this is where people learn to coach performers on stage! The more you know.
The oldest building in Pulaski County, built in 1853 as a stagecoach way station when the road through Waynesville was the main route west. It was commandeered by Union forces as a hospital during the Civil War, then served as a Route 66 hotel in the highway’s early decades. The building itself — the oldest structure on the Missouri Route 66 alignment — is the exhibit.
Open Saturdays, April through September, 10 AM – 4 PM | Free admission
Roubidoux Park and the Spring
Roubidoux Spring
Take a dip, just watch out for those Amoebas I keep hearing about.
The cold, clear freshwater spring at the heart of Waynesville’s outdoor identity. Local legend: dip your toes in the spring water and you’ll return to Waynesville. The spring feeds Roubidoux Creek, which runs through the town and into Laughlin Park. In summer it’s a favorite swimming hole; in any season it’s one of the most genuinely beautiful natural features in Pulaski County.
The spring is accessible via a paved trail from Roubidoux Park — the trail passes interpretive signs detailing the region’s Native American history and the Trail of Tears Cherokee Campsite, a National Park Service site marking the route forced upon the Cherokee Nation in the 1830s.
Free | Open year-round
Roubidoux City Park and the Little Heroes Playground
You can get away with whatever crimes you want here because the cops are all six years old.
The largest park in Waynesville’s park system, set in the heart of downtown. A splash pad and the Little Heroes Playground — a fully accessible playground — make this the family anchor of any Waynesville visit. The park hosts community events throughout the year and is within walking distance of the square’s restaurants and shops.
Free | Open year-round
Waynesville Splash Park
If you love water, this is the place for you. If you’re an extraterrestrial whose skin is burned by water, BUZZ OFF!
A dedicated splash pad park — a step up from the splash pad at Roubidoux Park. Good for families with younger children on hot Missouri summer days.
Eating and Drinking in Waynesville
Hoppers Pub
A great place to grab a bite to eat. Or multiple bites!
The definitive Waynesville dining and drinking experience. 66 beers on tap — one for each mile of historic Route 66 in Missouri — Route 66 memorabilia covering every surface, and food that makes you want to stay for another round. The local favorite for an evening out in Pulaski County, and the place most Fort Leonard Wood families end up when they want a real bar rather than a chain restaurant.
Piney River Taproom
Don’t try to enter thru this window. They get really upset about it for some reason.
A craft beer taproom in downtown Waynesville with a basket of games at the bar and a family-friendly enough atmosphere to bring kids. Ozark-inspired beers, pizza, and the kind of unpretentious local bar energy that’s hard to manufacture and harder to find. Reviewers consistently describe it as one of the best places to hang out in the Fort Leonard Wood area.
Waynesville’s Dining Scene
Beyond Hoppers and the Piney River Taproom, Waynesville has a solid range of options for a town its size — Mexican, Korean BBQ, sushi, and standard American comfort food all within reach of the square. Glassico Sushi and Koba Korean Stone BBQ both appear as perennial local favorites.
Route 66 Landmarks in and Around Waynesville
Frog Rock — W.H. Croaker
Don’t bother trying to play leap frog with him. When it’s his turn, he refuses to jump.
A granite boulder on Historic Route 66 between St. Robert and Waynesville that someone, at some point, decided looked like a frog and painted accordingly. The townspeople of Waynesville maintain it. W.H. Croaker — the frog’s name — has become a genuine local mascot. The annual Frogtoberfest celebrates him every fall.
Note: there’s no safe pull-off for photos. Drive slowly and enjoy it as you pass — don’t stop in traffic for the photo op.
Historic Route 66, between St. Robert and Waynesville | Free | Always there
Route 66 Shield — Courthouse Grounds
This is a shield, which means if you’re strong enough, it should technically keep you safe from a battleaxe.
The 8-foot Route 66 shield installed on the courthouse grounds for the 2026 Centennial is Waynesville’s most-photographed landmark. Directly on the square, easy to find, and the right photo to prove you were actually on the Mother Road.
The Roubidoux Bridge
I have a friend who spends some time under this bridge…
A multi-span concrete arch bridge built in 1923 over Roubidoux Creek. One of the earliest concrete bridges in Pulaski County and a quiet Route 66 landmark that most visitors walk past without realizing what they’re looking at. Worth a photo if you’re on the creek trail.
Outdoor Activities Near Waynesville
Gasconade & Big Piney River Floats
This is one of those rivers that flows North-to-South, AKA most of them!
Multiple outfitters in Pulaski County run canoe, kayak, tube, and raft trips on both rivers. The Big Piney runs through Devil’s Elbow — the most scenic stretch of Route 66 in the county — before joining the Gasconade north of Fort Leonard Wood. BSC Outdoors handles float logistics for both rivers and is about 20 minutes from Waynesville.
BSC Outdoors: bscoutdoors.com Best for: Families, outdoor enthusiasts, summer half-day and full-day trips
Devil’s Elbow — 20 Minutes West
I love bridges. The indomitable human spirit overcoming rivers.
The 1923 steel truss bridge over the Big Piney River at the sharpest bend in the river’s course through Pulaski County. The only curved bridge on Missouri’s Route 66 still open to traffic. 200-foot limestone bluffs above. The most scenic Route 66 landmark in the county and worth the short drive from Waynesville.
Visiting Uranus from Waynesville
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store is 10 minutes west of Waynesville on Hwy Z — a natural addition to any Waynesville day or the anchor of a full Pulaski County visit.
14400 Hwy Z, St. Robert, MO 65584 | Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST)
Fudge in nineteen flavors made fresh daily. Putt Pirates mini golf (with a secret river shortcut on certain holes — we’re not telling which ones). Uranus Ice Cream Co. The Sideshow Museum. The gift shop. And the Route 66 Neon Park right next door, lit from dusk to midnight.
We have people come to Uranus from Waynesville all the time, including just last week!
Practical Notes
Getting here: Waynesville is about 5 miles east of St. Robert on Historic Route 66/Hwy Z. From I-44, take Exit 161 and head east. From Fort Leonard Wood, about 10 minutes east of the main gate.
Best time to visit: The museums on the square are open Saturdays May through September. Roubidoux Spring and the parks are year-round. Frogtoberfest is in fall.
Events: The Hogs & Frogs Festival (annual Route 66 motorcycle event), Frogtoberfest, and the Farmers Market (Saturdays 8 AM – noon, May through October) are the anchors of the Waynesville event calendar. For current listings: visitpulaskicounty.org/events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Waynesville Missouri known for? Waynesville is known for its Route 66 history — it’s called the “Birthplace of the Byway” — and for the 1903 Courthouse Museum, the Old Stagecoach Stop Museum, the Roubidoux Spring, and Frog Rock (W.H. Croaker), which has its own annual festival. It’s also one of the closest towns to Fort Leonard Wood and a natural base for exploring Pulaski County.
Is Waynesville Missouri on Route 66? Yes — Historic Route 66 runs directly through Waynesville. The 1903 Courthouse Museum is one of only two period courthouses remaining on Missouri’s Route 66 alignment. The Route 66 shield on the courthouse grounds is a Centennial landmark.
How far is Waynesville from Uranus Missouri? About 10 minutes east on Hwy Z — roughly 5 miles. Waynesville and St. Robert are essentially adjacent, and most visitors cover both in the same trip.
How far is Waynesville from Fort Leonard Wood? About 10 minutes east of Fort Leonard Wood’s main gate on Hwy Z. Waynesville is one of the most popular off-post destinations for military families in Pulaski County.
What are the best restaurants in Waynesville Missouri? Hoppers Pub (66 beers on tap, Route 66 memorabilia, best bar atmosphere in the county) and the Piney River Taproom (craft beer, pizza, family-friendly) are the top picks.
Is Roubidoux Spring worth visiting in Waynesville? Yes — the cold, clear freshwater spring is one of the most genuinely beautiful natural features in Pulaski County. The paved trail from Roubidoux Park to the spring passes the Trail of Tears Cherokee Campsite, a National Park Service site. Free and open year-round.
For more on the broader Pulaski County 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.
