Travel Missouri Route Z from Powellville to St. Robert and discover Hooker Cut, Devils Elbow, and classic Route 66 charm. This short but scenic drive offers engineering history, river views, and quirky roadside attractions.
![Missouri Supplemental Route Z: Powellville to St. Robert [Hooker Cut – Rt 66]](https://media.openroadarchive.com/file/ora-media/uploads/2025/06/d5kfdgt7weomaxresdefault.jpg)
State highways form the backbone of regional travel across the United States, offering essential connections between cities, rural communities, and major national routes. Managed by individual state departments of transportation, these highways vary widely in scale—from narrow rural byways to multi-lane expressways rivaling interstates in traffic and speed. While numbering systems and signage conventions differ from state to state, each network plays a critical role in local mobility and economic development.
Unlike the federally designated Interstate and U.S. Highway systems, state highways are developed and maintained at the state level, giving them a unique character and flexibility. Some follow historic paths and scenic corridors, while others serve as modern commuter routes or urban spurs. Many are vital links to state parks, natural attractions, and lesser-known destinations that don't fall within the national systems.
On this site, we highlight a growing collection of notable state highways, organized by region and state. Whether you're tracing a scenic loop through the mountains, navigating a fast-moving corridor through a metro area, or exploring forgotten rural routes, our guides offer detailed overviews, and video journeys to help you plan your next adventure.
State Departments of Transportation use different terminology for their designated road systems, with some states using "state highway," others "state road," and still others "state route." These distinctions, though seemingly minor, often reflect historical and legislative traditions within each state. The choice of a particular term can be tied to the legal language used when the road network was first established or expanded. For example, a state might have initially defined its network as a "system of highways" for commerce and travel, while another may have focused on creating a "system of roads" for local and inter-city connections. The term "state route" is often a more modern designation that emphasizes a specific numbered path for navigation rather than the physical characteristics or purpose of the road itself. While the exact reasoning for each state's choice is complex and rooted in its unique history, the map on the right provides a visual guide to which term is used where.
![Missouri Supplemental Route Z: Powellville to St. Robert [Hooker Cut – Rt 66]](https://media.openroadarchive.com/file/ora-media/uploads/2025/06/d5kfdgt7weomaxresdefault.jpg)
Travel Missouri Route Z from Powellville to St. Robert and discover Hooker Cut, Devils Elbow, and classic Route 66 charm. This short but scenic drive offers engineering history, river views, and quirky roadside attractions.

Follow Missouri Route 185 north from Meramec State Park to Sullivan in this short, scenic drive that bridges quiet forest roads with Historic Route 66. A perfect slice of Ozark charm.

Take a peaceful drive through Meramec State Park via Missouri Highway 185 Spur, a 6-mile loop featuring forested hollows, deer sightings, river access, and Fisher Cave. Explore the natural beauty of this scenic Ozark retreat near Sullivan, Missouri.

Explore Missouri Route 185 from Sullivan to Meramec State Park on this short but scenic 3.5-mile drive through the Ozarks. From historic Route 66 to forested parkland, discover a gateway to nature and relaxation.

Take a short but significant drive along Oklahoma Highway 51 from Tulsa to Broken Arrow. This 7-mile journey highlights a key commuter route through suburban Tulsa, ending at the Muskogee Turnpike.

Take a short but essential drive along OK-51 from Broken Arrow to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This 7-mile suburban expressway connects the Muskogee Turnpike with US-64, revealing Tulsa’s rapid suburban expansion and key interchanges.

Explore the scenic and historic Kansas Highway K-7 from Troy to the Nebraska state line. Travel past farmland, wooded hills, and the Four State Lookout along the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway.

Drive Missouri Route 152 through northern Kansas City on a 5-mile westbound stretch from I-29 to I-435. Explore this key suburban corridor past Zona Rosa and Tiffany Springs Park.

Travel the historic Route 66 along New Mexico State Road 333 from Albuquerque to Tijeras. Explore the Musical Highway, scenic views of the Sandia Mountains, and remnants of Americana in this short but memorable desert drive.

Take a scenic and historic drive down California Route 110’s Arroyo Seco Parkway from Pasadena to Los Angeles. Once part of Route 66, this iconic 10-mile freeway was the first in the western U.S. and offers vintage charm and classic LA views.

Drive 19 miles west on California Route 210 from Rancho Cucamonga to San Dimas. This Foothill Freeway segment passes through the Inland Empire and Claremont before meeting Historic Route 66 and ending near the iconic town of San Dimas.

Explore Tennessee Route 385 from Millington to Arlington with this 17-mile drive through suburban Shelby County. Follow this high-speed corridor past Millington’s Navy base, rolling hills, and the eastern edge of Memphis.