US 50 Eastern Missouri

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My 2-day trip on US 50 continues through Eastern Missouri beginning in the state capital of Jefferson City and ending just south of St Louis crossing the Mississippi River. There are more great small towns and interesting scenery in this part of Missouri! US 50 also combines with the iconic Route 66 as we near St Louis. US 50 continues east into Illinois (but I didn't). Fun trip!
T-shirt: Old Glory, Texas
Part 107 certified drone operator
0:00 Jefferson City to Mount Sterling
5:00 Mount Sterling to Union
7:38 Union to Eureka
11:42 Eureka to St Louis
Music
Station 22 - The 126ers
Easy Breezy - Silent Partner
Pickup Truck - Silent Partner
Hiiltop - Dan Lebowitz
Natural Light - Chris Haugen

[@tinman7130]

With Missouri being the show me state John certainly did a good job of being not only in Useful, but allowed us a more perfect view of Union and granted us some Freedom. All in 15 minutes as he got to the big muddy. Kinda makes you want to shout Eureka.

[@TiredMomma]

😂 That was good!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That might be one of your all-time top-5 comments Tinman 😂😂

[@renegadetenor]

Nice....

[@SusanHL]

It recently occurred to me that the reason I enjoy your channel so much is that it reinforces (for me, anyway) the ideas that newer and bigger are not always better, and that in order to truly appreciate something - a town or community - it's helpful to understand its origins, plus the how and why of it's evolution. I may like the odd fashion "haul" video as much as the next person, but your content is far more stimulating and thought-provoking, so thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Aww that’s very nice of you to say. And I agree 100% - I’m often amazed at how well constructed the older buildings are, and in my opinion, more attractive!

[@sueelliott3206]

Great video! Always love the easy, peaceful drive of a 2 lane highway with small towns. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Me too! So great - thank you!

[@Muddeth63]

Used to take some classes at State Tech MO, and this was my drive, from Linn to south of St Louis. For anyone wanting to take the drive there is a pretty good winery on the side of the highway called White Mule winery, they’re also a bed and breakfast too I believe.

[@denniscook9032]

Just north of Linn is an unincorporated township of Frankenstein, Missouri. Maybe for a future video. Other towns of interest in Missouri include Hermann and Fulton.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Frankenstein sounds interesting 😂

[@locotuss]

Family is from Frankenstein,

[@jr2no160]

Hopefully you'll get to do that route during the Fall. The colors are dazzling across Missouri.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Would love to - so many great places in the fall to go!

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I've learned from your videos what a beautiful state Missouri is! Lots of nice small towns and interesting buildings. Thank you for the trip.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

For sure! Missouri has a lot of interesting history!

[@CindyinArizona]

I love your videos, so well put together. I live in AZ and am getting tired of the heat and everything being brown. Eastern MO, with the hills and green summers, sounds like someplace I need to look into.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Really kind of you to say! I’m definitely self critical of my videos but it’s nice to hear that! 😊 It’s a nice area to explore around!

[@pamelacrowe4971]

Thanks for the video of my home state. Enjoyed it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Always a fun state to explore 😊

[@janserventi]

Yes! We have water, trees, snow, lakes, roads bridges, industry, great schools, 4 Beautiful seasons, agriculture, jobs, music, affordable housing, Cities, farms. Whatcha doin anywhere else?

[@cindycrockettbradley5058]

Love the towns ! Thank you for sharing! God bless and Happy New Year! Safe travels!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Happy new year! Thanks so much 😊

[@alerobabes01]

Love the old buildings in the towns and names of the town.

[@iansutton3176]

Another great video John, and so good to see that most of the places you passed through had increased their populations for a change!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely! US 50 is still a very important road and hopefully it connects people with these small towns long into the future!

[@juliogonzales5441]

Thanks Coach...or Wiseguy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Either is good 😊

[@Homer2q]

Love that drive and I drive it whenever I can. Stop in Linn Mo at the Casey’s and pick up a copy of the newspaper, The Terrified Democrat. Also out of Eureka if you go south on W you can find where the Merrimac and Big River join near House Springs. Used to be good for canoeing but I haven’t been there for years.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Awesome video and trip!!! Traveled US HWY 50 in Missouri between KS-Jeff City bunches of times. Do not recall traveling that route between Jeff Cit-Union ever before. Have traveled the route between Union-St Louis bunches of times, especially when I was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, about 1.5-hour drive west on I-44. Last time I was out that way was around 2011-2012 when was travelling Route 66 through Missouri and -yep - that Route 66 visitor center is always CLOSED no matter time of year whenever I visited!! THANKS!! for the memories.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Maybe someday I’ll get to see that visitor center 😂😂

[@seanirby8838]

I think the new 50 construction that bypassed Loose Creek was finished about a decade ago. Certainly, I remember Highway 50 passed through Loose Creek until quite recently. **Edit: Also, the general store in Mt. Sterling is a fun place to stop. They have groceries and farm supplies in addition to the usual food, drinks, and other items. They also tend to have a few snacks and sodas that are hard to find elsewhere.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I almost missed the historic section of Loose Creek!

[@pamgaines970]

thank you it’s always nice traveling with you 🥰

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@carlhunt6891]

Thank you as always.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure!

[@billiegutierrez2506]

I love the old buildings in the towns along the way such character and the history wow there neat little towns thank you for all the adventures your one in million doing this seeing places I’d never dream of visiting. Stay safe until the next one.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@jasonmanley5287]

It’s ok that you didn’t come here in summer….you didn’t have to sweat, and late fall/early winter is better for long views, especially while hiking. Just a different kind of fine! 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@sherriganske4292]

Useful mo interresting name

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I like it 😂

[@xploration1437]

I’m from Jefferson City. The two bridges across the Missouri were not built in 1955. There was only one until the 90’s, then a second was added.

[@nikkilt9818]

You stopped in my town, Union!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice town!!

[@lifewithjosef]

Coach, you are a journalist, you're gathering content for a story. I consider myself just that as well. That said, I thought this had been decided by case law, but in my dive down the rabbit's hole, I couldn’t find a definitive decision on if KZbin hosts are journalists or not, under the law. Anyway, another banger of a vlog! As always...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Interesting about the journalist vs non-journalist. There’s a a lot of “journalists” on major tv networks that shouldn’t be called that 😂😂

[@ronfullerton3162]

Such a beautiful drive. And thise older homes are so stately and well kept, just adds to the beauty of the land. So good to have a disciplined drive on a drive like this one. I know old Harley and I would of been making too many stops.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was hard for me to be disciplined 😂😂

[@aliceevans3357]

Love going through Missouri, the landscape is varied, certainly makes for an interesting drive. I'm wondering what those caves were before you got to Allentown. I would have loved to check those out, some of them looked big. You had beautiful weather for your adventure. Praying you have a safe, prosperous New Year filled with many blessings and adventures. GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah they were a very interesting area to check out. I guess part is natural and part man made. Thank you and same to you!

[@brendacejda7069]

Missouri is a "best kept secret!" Lucky us in the Midwest, that we are so close with access in mere hours! Thank you for sharing. Wonderful video!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much! I love exploring these hidden gems in the Midwest 😊

[@lindastepp9842]

We have vacationed in Hannibal, Mo. home of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemons) we had two of our grandkids with us. Nice video as always. Tag along 71, 😎

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach.Good dash cam.Sparkling clean windshield.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It’s actually a new GoPro that was on my car hood 😂

[@agoodlife2]

Saint Louis has Hwy 66, 61, 67 crossing each other

[@onrycodger]

I got distracted, so I watched it again. It's another Good video. It's sad seeing the unfinished bridge near the end. 🎵 Bridge over troubled water.🎶 As always, Thumbs up 👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much! I believe that bridge used to be finished and was the old Route 66/US 50. Interesting!

[@TiredMomma]

Beaufort was rumored to have once been spelled Beauford if I recall right, but the T got added. There are some maps that mispronounce it with the D sound, even weather radios say it wrong, or like ours only partially say the name. Please note, they are wrong. I figured you might get tricked. Lots of travelers do. Pacific and Union was affected by the floods of late December 2015, into the new year of January 2016, and then hit again in 2017. More businesses in Pacific were affected though. They bounced back well, the same can't be said of Union, for flood plain insurance struggles.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the info! I didn’t know about Beaufort/Beauford interesting!

[@UMtiger311]

great video! way hillier than I expected..

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Some really cool areas to drive through!

[@Barley150]

I thought I heard you say 50 ends at the Mississippi River, but, as you know, the highway runs from Sacramento, California, to Ocean City, Maryland. There's a sign here in Sacramento that says so -- 3,073 miles. I didn't see a sign for Sacramento when I was in Ocean City, but I think the signs get stolen. I wish you'd do a video of US 20, the country's longest highway, from Newport, Oregon, to Kendall Square in Boston. Make that your 2024 resolution. Love your videos. -- charlie, sacramento

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I meant to say it ends in Missouri at the Mississippi River. I mentioned in the previous video how the road goes all the way to Maryland (and obviously this summer I documented it to Sacramento). Would love to do US 20 someday - unfortunately it won't be in 2024!

[@bertholini2810]

Hope you had a nice visit down south. Very nice video. Would not be so bad if the stores started "Christmas" a little later, but running it for 2 and 1/2 months is very odd. Be good, be safe !!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s been good! Thank you!

[@daniellilienkamp5202]

I drove Highway 50 through Loose Creek in the mid 1980s. I don’t know when the four lane bypass was built, but it was definitely after that. I think the long range plan of the Missouri Department of Transportation is to make 50 a four lane road across the stare, bypassing all the towns, as an alternative to the heavily congested I70. Thanks for the great video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I almost missed Loose Creek and didn’t realize the old town was up above the current version of US 50. Just happened to double back and find it!

[@TiredMomma]

They can't add 2 more lanes along Hwy 50 in several areas. Hwy 50 through downtown Rosebud can't be expanded at all. In Beaufort at the intersection of 50 and 185 also can't be widened. I've mentioned an alternative solution where passing lanes could be added, kinda like along 55 has a passing lane for like a mile, and then the other side has a passing lane. But Hwy 50 can never have 4 lanes. Many businesses, homes and 2 schools would be lost.

[@daniellilienkamp5202]

@@TiredMomma they will just build bypasses around the towns like they did in the western part of the state.

[@joelee259]

You need to remember that St Louis mo and St Louis County mo are two different individual places the city is an independent from County in government and judiciation

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

I really have to question the use of the term ghost town. Especially when I see flags flying on the Poles and modern vehicles in driveways. And occasionally people

[@elizabethmurray3221]

Great Roadtrip. When you do the Illinois 50 roadtrip you are driving through my hometown of Lebanon.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Would love to someday!

[@elizabethmurray3221]

If you get a chance to drive up W St Louis Street, that would be wonderful. I haven’t been in years. My friend talked me into joining the track team with her my freshman year of High school . While the rest of the team was at the track the coach made me run around Horner Park and back the entire season. The things you do for best friends!

[@papabear562]

That was a great and interesting video. I noticed the dates those towns were established kept going further back in time as you went along. Are you going to be going into Illinios, Indiana, etc, or are you done with the US 50 tour?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! And not this trip, just the Missouri section.

[@dboutier5636]

The past several years I’ve driven up to Illinois through Missouri. I’ve done route 66. I’ve done the Great river road. I’ve done two of the major highways one diagonal went straight across. Can’t remember the numbers right now now I have a new route for next year. Thank you. What was the name of the town you took a detour right outside of Jefferson City, thanks stay safe

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Cedar City was right across the bridge from Jefferson City.

[@dboutier5636]

Thanks and treat it into my travel, plan book

[@jljordan1]

Silly goose, it’s St Louis Bread Co when you’re in the vicinity of STL. You do not speak of that other company name 😂 (I made the mistake once myself, trust me 😅)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha oops! I had no idea - sorry St Louis peeps 😊

[@travis303]

Was there a tourist attraction at the rocks just outside of Pacific? It looked like a rock face with a bunch of columns carved out of it with a walkway beneath, fence and maybe a parking spot starting around 10:25 mark?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s very striking! Here’s some info about it: www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/54773

[@travis303]

oh wow, thanks for the link!@@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@travis303]

I love those little notes "Named after the local Potts family, named after the local Fitzgerald family." Makes me think I'm sure glad it's not named after the national Potts family or national Fitzgerald family 🤣🤣 oh that was terrible I apologize

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@charlesyell6318]

When going through the downtown areas could you slow down so I can get a better look. You have to love what you do, to stay motaved

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you I do enjoy it a lot!

[@renegadetenor]

Hey again, I use all sorts of videos like this, to help decide where to relocate to. Does Gray Summit still feel remote from St.L, or is it more of an 'exurb'?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m not sure - not from that area. Hopefully someone around there can answer!

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

About 8 or 10 years ago interstate 44 was expanded to 3 lanes in both directions to Just Past Gray Summit Through to Washington. So that expanded accessibility from the St. Louis area through to Washington has obviously Increase the opportunity to commute for those who want to migrate out to the country life And still keep their city jobs. Well I can't say for certain I hope that information helps you to make your own decision about it

[@thebeardedbuffoon2611]

Too bad you missed Frankenstein. You actually didn’t miss anything other than a chance to say you’ve been to Frankenstein. 😂

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂

[@travis303]

oh Allenton ceased existing recently!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes it did! It was because of some shopping areas that were supposed to be built there and the deal fell through or something. Kind of sad end to the town.

[@travis303]

Really? lack of shopping centers? That ended it? That doesn't make sense. What did they get scammed and lose a bunch of money or something? I was expecting catastrophic flood or something not "meh, we didn't get our shopping centers so it's over." @@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

So I remembered the story incorrectly (lots of town get mixed up in my head haha). Here’s the story: www.seeaghost.com/ghost-town-of-allenton

[@travis303]

oh wow, that is interesting, especially the ghost story. Did you see the "defiant lady"? So it was annexed and then condemned and people were forced to leave. That place actually holds new intrigue for me to visit now. Thank you for the links and the added info. I have never heard of that site before. That's sad for those people. I hate that, that another town just swoops on in and takes away everything those people spent their lives building. You think you have your own house and suddenly a town nearby comes in and says "nope, we're forcing you to move out now" @@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Definitely a sad situation and I didn’t see anyone 😂 was drawn to it by the one lane bridge separating it and the main road. Hope that remains for a long time!

[@chump4952]

did you just run a stop sign?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was in double speed so it just looked like it 😊

[@mathewhephill8686]

Did you go on devil's corner?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I don’t think so. Where was that located?

[@rosalindalay4499]

Lol

[@jeffmyers4979]

Stay away from East St Louis🙏👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I did 😊