# U.S. Route 36 in Missouri

U.S. Route 36 (US 36) in the state of Missouri is an expressway with many freeway sections, connecting Kansas to Illinois. From Cameron to the Illinois state line, it forms part of the principal route between Kansas City and Chicago, known as the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway.
All of US 36 in Missouri is named the V.F.W. Memorial Highway.

## Route description

U.S. Route 36 in Missouri runs from the Pony Express Bridge over the Missouri River in St. Joseph to the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River in Hannibal. After leaving the Missouri River valley, U.S. 36 then links major cities in Northern Missouri with Kansas City and cities in the east. From Cameron to the Illinois state line, it is overlapped with Route 110, also known as the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway. Starting in St. Joseph, it passes through the cities of Cameron, Hamilton, Chillicothe, Macon, Shelbina, Monroe City, and Brookfield. The final 2 miles (3.2 km) of US 36 in Missouri is concurrent with I-72. The route passes through mostly flat, fertile, productive farmland. Even though there are some surface intersections, U.S. 36 has many grade-separated interchanges and town bypasses that suggest a future extension of I-72 west from Hannibal.

## History

US 36 across Missouri parallels the route of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, which was the reason St. Joseph was selected for the Pony Express. The two towns were the second and third largest cities in the State of Missouri prior to the American Civil War. Prior to the establishment of the railroad in the late 1850s, the stagecoach route was called the "Hound Dog Trail."
The road was originally Route 8 from 1922 to 1926, before being designated as US 36. Over the years some busier sections were widened to four lanes. On August 3, 2005, residents of Macon, Marion, Monroe, Shelby, and Ralls counties approved Proposition 36B, which excluded Ralls County from the Transportation Development District, and allowed for a 4-lane US 36 to be constructed without Ralls County's participation. On July 10, 2010, work was completed and the route ceremonially opened making US 36 a four-lane highway across the entire state, saving considerable travel time.

## Future

Presently, I-72 ends at US 61 (Avenue of the Saints) in Hannibal and was planned to extend westward to St. Joseph along US 36, but the proposal was shelved for years. In the interim, further lengthening was proposed by Marion County who published a five-item transportation list that was finalized by the County Commission on February 16, 2016, adding US 36, from the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River to the split of US 24 and US 36 near Rocket Plaza, as a new priority. Citing potential benefits including economic development and marketing of Hannibal Lakeside Industrial Park, the Commission advocate extending I-72 west approximately seven miles (11 km). In May 2023, the extension plans of I-72 to St. Joseph were renewed under the belief it would relieve traffic off of I-70. However, in July 2023, a bill to run a $2.5 million study was vetoed by Governor Mike Parson who said that it was not the right time to run the study.

## Major intersections

All exits are unnumbered.
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Missouri River | Missouri River | 0.000 | 0.000 | US-36 west / California National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Elwood | Continuation into Kansas |
| Pony Express Bridges; Kansas–Missouri state line ||
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 0.195– 0.204 | 0.314– 0.328 | Route 759 to I-229 / US 59 north / 4th Street – Central Business District, Stockyards | Interchange; 4th St. not signed eastbound; westbound signed as Route 759/4th St. only |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 0.296– 0.489 | 0.476– 0.787 | I-229 / US 59 – Kansas City, Central Business District | Interchange; no access to northbound I-229 from eastbound US 36 and no access to westbound US 36 from southbound I-229; exit 4B on I-229; western end of freeway section at traffic light for I-229 NB entrance ramp |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 0.573– 0.670 | 0.922– 1.078 | I-29 BL north (10th Street) | Westbound entrance includes direct entrance ramp from 8th Street |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 1.440 | 2.317 | 22nd Street | |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 1.956 | 3.148 | 28th Street | |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 2.966– 3.456 | 4.773– 5.562 | US 169 (Belt Highway) | |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 3.580– 4.079 | 5.761– 6.565 | I-29 / US 71 – Kansas City, Council Bluffs | Exits 46A-B on I-29 |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 5.059 | 8.142 | Route AC (Riverside Road) | |
| Buchanan | St. Joseph | 6.032 | 9.708 | Ag Expo Way | |
| Buchanan | Marion Township | 11.743 | 18.899 | Route 31 south – Gower | Western end of Route 31 overlap |
| DeKalb | Washington Township | 15.925 | 25.629 | Route 31 north to Route 6 – King City | Eastern end of Route 31 overlap |
| DeKalb | Colfax Township | 24.787 | 39.891 | Route 33 south – Plattsburg | Western end of Route 33 overlap |
| DeKalb | Colfax Township | 27.186 | 43.752 | Route 33 north / Route M – Maysville, Lathrop | Eastern end of Route 33 overlap |
| DeKalb | Cameron | 32.892 | 52.935 | US 36 Bus. east (Grand Avenue) | |
| DeKalb | Cameron | 33.693– 34.056 | 54.224– 54.808 | US 69 / I-35 BL south / US 36 Bus. west (Walnut Street) | Western end of Loop 35 overlap |
| DeKalb | Cameron | 34.538– 34.700 | 55.584– 55.844 | I-35 / Route 110 (CKC) south / I-35 BL ends – Kansas City, Des Moines | Eastern end of Loop 35 overlap; western end of Route 110 overlap |
| Caldwell | Hamilton Township | 44.460 | 71.551 | US 36 Bus. east – Hamilton | |
| Caldwell | Hamilton | 46.603 | 75.000 | US 36 Bus. west / Route 13 – Gallatin, Kingston | Interchange |
| Livingston | Chillicothe | 71.594– 71.852 | 115.219– 115.635 | US 65 east / US 36 Bus. – Chillicothe, Carrollton | Interchange |
| Livingston | Chillicothe | 72.459 | 116.611 | US 36 Bus. west | |
| Linn | Parson Creek Township | 85.054 | 136.881 | Route 139 north / Route W south – Meadville | Western end of Route 139 overlap. Access to Fountain Grove Conservation Area |
| Linn | Jefferson Township | 89.952 | 144.764 | Route 130 south | Access to Pershing State Park |
| Linn | Laclede | 91.830 | 147.786 | Route 5 north / Route 139 south – Laclede, Linneus, Sumner | Eastern end of Route 139 overlap; western end of Route 5 overlap |
| Linn | Brookfield | 95.515 | 153.716 | US 36 Bus. east – Brookfield | |
| Linn | Brookfield | 97.359 | 156.684 | US 36 Bus. west / Route 11 – Brookfield, Mendon | |
| Linn | Marceline–Bucklin township line | 104.265– 104.717 | 167.798– 168.526 | Route U north / Route 5 south – Marceline | Interchange; eastern end of Route 5 overlap |
| Linn | Bucklin Township | 107.000 | 172.200 | Route 129 north – Bucklin | Western end of Route 129 overlap |
| Macon | Lingo Township | 112.553 | 181.136 | Route 129 south – Wien | Eastern end of Route 129 overlap |
| Macon | Lingo Township | 114.575– 115.042 | 184.391– 185.142 | Route 149 north / Route P south – New Cambria, Ethel | Interchange |
| Macon | Callao Township | 121.166– 121.731 | 194.998– 195.907 | Route 3 – Callao, Kaseyville | Interchange |
| Macon | Bevier Township | 124.603– 124.993 | 200.529– 201.157 | Route O north / Route C south – Bevier | Interchange |
| Macon | Hudson Township | 127.873– 128.316 | 205.792– 206.505 | Long Branch Lake Road | Interchange. Access to Long Branch State Park |
| Macon | Macon | 130.053– 130.356 | 209.300– 209.788 | US 63 – Kirksville, Moberly, Columbia | Interchange |
| Macon | Hudson Township | 132.978 | 214.007 | US 36 Bus. east – Macon | |
| Shelby | Clarence | 141.119– 141.645 | 227.109– 227.956 | US 36 Bus. east / Route 151 – Clarence | Interchange |
| Shelby | Clarence | 142.403 | 229.175 | US 36 Bus. west | |
| Shelby | Shelbina | 152.972 | 246.185 | US 36 Bus. east | |
| Shelby | Shelbina | 153.710– 154.120 | 247.372– 248.032 | Route 15 – Shelbina, Paris, Shelbyville | Interchange |
| Shelby | Shelbina | 154.792 | 249.114 | US 36 Bus. west | |
| Marion | Monroe City | 170.138 | 273.811 | US 36 Bus. east – Monroe City | |
| Ralls | Monroe City | 171.969– 172.490 | 276.757– 277.596 | US 24 west / US 36 Bus. west / Route Z – Monroe City | Interchange, western end of US 24 overlap; future western end of I-72. Access to Mark Twain State Park and Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site |
| Ralls | Saline Township | | | Route J – Perry | |
| Marion | Miller Township | 184.089– 184.442 | 296.263– 296.831 | US 24 east – Palmyra | Eastern end of US 24 overlap, west end of freeway section |
| Marion | Hannibal | 187.716– 188.111 | 302.100– 302.735 | Shinn Lane | |
| Marion | Hannibal | 189.141– 189.557 | 304.393– 305.062 | Veterans Road | |
| Marion | Hannibal | 190.604– 190.955 | 306.747– 307.312 | I-72 begins / US 61 (McMasters Avenue / Avenue of the Saints) / US 36 Bus. east / Great River Road – Palmyra, New London | Western end of I-72 overlap. Access to Hannibal-LaGrange University |
| Marion | Hannibal | 191.573– 192.123 | 308.307– 309.192 | US 36 Bus. west / Route 79 south / Great River Road – Louisiana, Downtown Hannibal | Exit 157 along I-72. Access to Mark Twain Historic District |
| Mississippi River | Mississippi River | 192.660 | 310.056 | Mark Twain Memorial Bridge; Missouri–Illinois state line | Mark Twain Memorial Bridge; Missouri–Illinois state line |
| Mississippi River | Mississippi River | 192.660 | 310.056 | I-72 east / US 36 east / IL 110 (CKC) north – Springfield, Chicago | Continuation into Illinois |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Incomplete access ||||||

## Special routes

| Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Formed | Removed | Notes |
| US 36 Bus. | 1.6 | 2.6 | US 36 near the Missouri River in St. Joseph | US 36 / US 59 Bus. / US 71 Bus. in St. Joseph | 01959-01-011959 | 01963-01-011963 | Served St. Joseph |
| US 36 Bus. | 1.504 | 2.420 | US 36 in western Cameron | US 36 / US 69 / Loop 35 in Cameron | 01964-01-011964 | current | Serves Cameron |
| US 36 Bus. | 2.807 | 4.517 | US 36 in Hamilton Township | US 36 / Route 13 in Hamilton | 01962-01-011962 | current | Serves Hamilton |
| US 36 Bus. | 1.042 | 1.677 | US 36 / US 65 in Chillicothe | US 36 in Chillicothe | — | — | Serves Chillicothe |
| US 36 Bus. | 2.769 | 4.456 | US 36 west of Brookfield | US 36 / Route 11 in Brookfield | 01955-01-011955 | current | Serves Brookfield |
| US 36 Bus. | 2.827 | 4.550 | US 63 in Macon | US 36 east of Macon | 01973-01-011973 | current | Serves Macon |
| US 36 Spur | 1.0 | 1.6 | US 36 west of Macon | Bourke Street in Macon | 01956-01-011956 | 01973-01-011973 | Former spur into Macon |
| US 36 Bus. | 1.498 | 2.411 | N. 1st Street in Clarence | US 36 east of Clarence | — | — | Serves Clarence |
| US 36 Bus. | 1.772 | 2.852 | US 36 west of Shelbina | US 36 in eastern Shelbina | 01968-01-011968 | current | Serves Shelbina |
| US 36 Bus. | 2.461 | 3.961 | US 36 in western Monroe City | US 24 / US 36 / Route Z in northeastern Monroe City | 01976-01-011976 | current | Serves Monroe City |
| US 36 City | 1.88 | 3.03 | — | — | — | 01960-01-241960 | Served Hannibal from 1940s to 1960s |
| US 36 Bus. | 3.6 | 5.8 | US 36 / US 61 in Hannibal | I-72 / US 36 / Route 79 in Hannibal | 01960-01-011960 | 02013-01-012013 | Served Hannibal |
| Former ||||||||