The scenery comes into focus the shape of the land, the plants, the farms, the industry, the communities, the people, the life. The road follows the natural topography of the land, which makes the horizon appear closer and more intimate. Distance is measured by the number of towns, sights, and people encountered. The driver is both spectator and participant, ready for the road. Driving through the woodlands of Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas is like driving through a continuous rural community, punctuated periodically by small towns.
Travelers can almost always see houses and barns.
Settlements, towns, and cities blend into one another across wooded and gently rolling hills and valleys. In rural areas there is a feeling of being surrounded by lush green foliage. Creek and river crossings are commonplace, and many noteworthy bridges are still in use. Park In Theater, Abbylee Court, Tri-County Truck Stop, and Funk's Grove, to name a few. Cultivated fields and pastures, occasionally separated by hedgerows, line many of the rural road sections for as far as the eye can see.