The Midwest is the crossroads of America—a region where long, open highways meet friendly towns, rolling farmland, and Great Lakes shorelines. Covering Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the Midwest offers a rich blend of rural charm, industrial heritage, and natural beauty. Whether you’re navigating the wide cornfields of Iowa or hugging the rocky shores of Lake Superior, the region’s roads are built for exploration.
This is where iconic byways like Historic Route 66 and the Great River Road converge with scenic loops around glacial lakes and wooded hills. In places like southern Missouri and northern Wisconsin, the terrain becomes unexpectedly dramatic—filled with bluffs, rivers, and forested stretches. Meanwhile, cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Cleveland serve as vibrant urban hubs offering cultural detours, architectural wonders, and food scenes worth the stop.
From Michigan’s winding coastal routes and ferry-linked peninsulas to Ohio’s Amish country and Indiana’s covered bridge trails, the Midwest is full of surprises. It’s a region best experienced slowly, with the windows down and a cooler in the backseat. These are the roads that define the heartland—and they’re ready for your next great American drive.
Take a peaceful drive along Interstate 55 from Blytheville to Sikeston, crossing the Arkansas Delta into Missouri’s Bootheel. Follow key junctions like Hayti, Portageville, and Sikeston while exploring the flat, agricultural landscapes of the Mid-South.
Take a scenic 95-mile journey along Interstate 64 from Louisville to Interstate 69 in Indiana, passing through New Albany, Corydon, and the forests of southern Indiana. This drive offers wooded landscapes, historic towns, and peaceful rural stretches perfect for a relax…
Cruise 16 miles east on Interstate 70 through Columbus, Ohio—from the I-270 Outerbelt on the west side to the Jack Nicklaus Freeway on the east. Explore key interchanges, downtown views, and ongoing construction along this busy urban corridor.
Cruise 33 miles west along U.S. Highway 412 from Kennett, Missouri to Paragould, Arkansas. This drive passes through the rural Bootheel, skirts small farming towns, and finishes in the industrial heart of northeast Arkansas.
![Interstate 155: Dyersburg, Tennessee to Hayti, Missouri [Revisited]](https://mail.openroadarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dcbfmcfwp-wmaxresdefault.jpg)
Drive 27 miles west along Interstate 155 from Dyersburg, Tennessee to Hayti, Missouri. This key east-west connector crosses the Mississippi River, linking west Tennessee with the Missouri Bootheel via I-55 and US-412.
Take a 37-mile drive along Interstate 49 from Pineville to Joplin, Missouri. Pass through Anderson, Goodman, Neosho, and Tipton Ford as you cruise through southwest Missouri’s hills and farmland before reaching I-44 in Joplin.
Take a scenic drive along Kentucky Route 91 from Marion to the Cave-In-Rock Ferry crossing into Illinois. Explore wooded hills, rural backroads, and the historic Ohio River ferry at the heart of this 12-mile journey.
Travel 91 miles across northern Indiana on the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/I-90) from Elkhart to Gary. This route passes through South Bend, near Notre Dame, skirts Lake Michigan’s southern shore, and connects to major interstates like I-65 and I-94 before ending near Chi…
Take a scenic 14-mile ride along Missouri Route 248 from Reeds Spring to Branson, passing through the Ozark hills, rural landscapes, and into the heart of Branson’s entertainment district.
Cruise 24 miles of Historic Route 66 from Sullivan to Fanning, Missouri — featuring small towns, classic roadside stops, Missouri Hick BBQ, the Murals of Cuba, and the World’s Largest Rocking Chair. A nostalgic slice of America’s Mother Road.
Cruise 17 scenic miles along Missouri Highway 266 from Springfield to Halltown, following a historic alignment of Route 66. Discover antique shops, farmland views, and the famous Gay Parita Sinclair Station on this short but memorable stretch of road.
Take a 6-mile ride east along U.S. Route 35 from downtown Dayton to Beavercreek, Ohio. This urban-to-suburban stretch links major interchanges, local neighborhoods, and key routes like I-75 and I-675, all while offering views of Dayton’s skyline and access to nearby a…