Marked by its mining history and brush with outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, Joplin, Missouri, is more than a Route 66 stopover. It’s a resilient town whose abundant history and nostalgia make it a hidden gem along the Mother Road.
A whisper of the Wild West, Midwestern hospitality and Missouri’s beautiful scenery make Joplin a great place for groups to spend a day or two. It’s not far from Kansas City, Tulsa, Oklahoma, or Springfield, Missouri. Throw in the fact that most Joplin attractions are extremely affordable, and it’s too good of a bargain to pass up.
“The great thing about Joplin is that 99% of the stuff to do in Joplin is free,” said Kersten Landwer, assistant director/director of sales at Visit Joplin. “And if it’s not free, it’s very low cost, less than $10 a person. Joplin is a great bang for your buck.”
Route 66
“Joplin is best known for Route 66, and Route 66 will be turning 100 years old in 2026,” Landwer said. “So that’s been a key part of the development of our city.”
In celebration of the Mother Road’s centennial, Joplin will be hosting the International 3D Street Art Festival for the next three years. During the festival, artists paint Route 66-themed three-dimensional art on the sidewalks and parking lots of Joplin’s Main Street, which is Route 66. The festival will be held the first week of June all three years, but if groups can’t make it during the festival, the street art is usually visible for a while afterward.
In addition to the festivities, Route 66 is an attraction in and of itself. The Visit Joplin Route 66 Visitor Center is a great way to experience the route’s history and its significance to Joplin. Groups can arrange for a free tour of the visitor center, which acts as a Joplin history museum.
There’s also a historic Joplin-themed mural on the visitor center that makes for a wonderful photo-op, in addition to the nearby Route 66 Mural Park. The center’s designated bus parking and two floors of multi-stall bathrooms are a bonus for large groups.
Historic Joplin
“We were founded on lead and zinc mining, and at one point were the largest producer of lead and zinc in the world,” Landwer said. “And we’ve got that mining history, which was very interesting on the border of the Wild West, so to speak, even though we’re not a Wild West town.”
Groups can explore the mining history of the town at the Joplin History and Mineral Museum, which includes exhibits like fossils, Native American arrowheads and fluorescent minerals.
Another historic attraction that appeals to visitors is the Bonnie and Clyde Hideout Apartment. This apartment, where the two outlaws and the Barrow Gang stayed for 13 days, was the site of a 1936 shootout between the gang and local law enforcement that resulted in the death of two Joplin officers. The gang fled hastily, leaving behind personal artifacts, including a camera and undeveloped film with the first images of Bonnie the public had ever seen. The photographs helped identify the pair and led to their eventual capture 10 months later. Groups can drive by to see the hideout and then drop by the Joplin History and Mineral Museum to see the jewelry the gang left behind.
Outdoor Attractions
Joplin enjoys an abundance of outdoor beauty that shines in all four seasons. The city has plenty of parks and green spaces throughout, and natural attractions abound just outside of town.
One must-see in Joplin is Grand Falls, Missouri’s largest continuously running waterfall. The 163-foot-wide falls are one of the area’s most beautiful outdoor attractions and make for a stunning photo-op.
There’s also Wildcat Park, home to a unique habitat in the state of Missouri known as Chert Glades. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center can be found here, giving visitors information on the area’s flora and fauna. It’s a great place to enjoy nature, take a peaceful walk and view wildlife.
Another key part of Joplin’s story is its resilience in the face of disaster. The deadly 2011 tornado that devastated the city is commemorated at several outdoor parks. Mercy Park was previously the site of St. John’s Hospital, which was destroyed by the tornado. It’s now home to a sculpture garden, murals and nature trails. Nearby Cunningham Park also pays tribute to the tragedy.
“There’s a tornado memorial there with a lot of different installations representing different facets of the recovery and the loss,” Landwer said. “It’s very, very meaningful.”
Group Dining
Joplin combines the comfort of Midwestern cuisine with the innovative flavors of local restaurants.
Granny Schaeffer’s serves classic comfort food in a casual atmosphere, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Groups can stop in for a breakfast of fluffy buttermilk pancakes or omelets, or wait until lunch and dinner for hearty burgers, country-fried steak and fried chicken. Hearty, Southern-style sides perfectly complement each plate and homemade pie awaits for dessert.
Another local favorite right on Route 66 in downtown Joplin is Hackett Hot Wings, which brought Memphis-style barbecue and wings to Joplin in 2003. Its large upstairs banquet space can seat up to 60 people for a delicious, buffet-style meal. There restaurant’s homemade signature flavored wing sauces and dry rubs will suit any sweet- or spice-loving palette. Catfish, pulled pork and burgers join hot wings and scrumptious sides to please any group.
Groups can also split up to enjoy a dine-around at one of Joplin’s many restaurants along Route 66: Club 609, a chic restaurant and bar; Downtown Burgers, a casual stop that’s notorious for its burgers; and Wilder’s Steakhouse, an upscale option for hand cut steaks and seafood entrees.
