One of the most legendary highways on Earth unfolds over 300 Missouri miles, and bears a name that’s the highest tribute ever bestowed a route: the Mother Road. But it’s a mother with multiple personalities. Before it bore children west, the Mother Road was the Wire Road. And before that it was a Native American trail. It’s a great road, but not my favorite…

Great road names match their purpose. The Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail and the California Trail symbolize hope for people who found themselves in a rut. Great routes, but not my favorite…

The Avenue of the Saints stretches from St. Paul to St. Louis, and rolls south as Blues Alley. The Great River Road runs beside the Mighty Mississippi. Highways 94 and 100 frame the Missouri River, and share the Lewis & Clark Trail. Maybe one should be the Lewis Road, the other the Clark. Beautiful scenery, but not my favorite…

My personal favorite remains Highway 17 south of Waynesville that leads to a tiny little Ozark town. It’s The Road to Success.