Missouri Route 96

Route 96
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length:	52 mi (84 km)
Major junctions
West end:	Route 171/Route YY north of Carl Junction
East end:	Interstate 44 west of Halltown
Highway system
Missouri Highways Supplemental ← Route 95 Route 97 →

Route 96 is a state highway running between Interstate 44 at Halltown and Route 171 near Carl Junction. A large section of the highway between Halltown and Carthage served as U.S. Route 66 and is currently marked as Historic Route 66.

The road was numbered due to its being an extension of K-96 and its eastern terminus was in Carthage. When US 66 was deleted east of Joplin, Route 96 was extended to cover US 66. Route 96 was turned into Route YY west of Route 171 when Kansas deleted the eastern part of K-96.

Route of the highway

Route 96 exit from Interstate 44

Route 96 begins at a partial interchange with Interstate 44 just west of Halltown (there is no access to westbound I-44 or from eastbound I-44). The highway is a two-lane road and is relatively straight all the way to Carthage. About one mile (1.6 km) west of I-44 is the western terminus of Route 266. Three miles further west, Route 96 is joined by Historic Route 66.

At Albatross is an intersection with Route 39. Five miles further west is an intersection with Route 97. At Avilla there is a one mile (1.6 km) concurrency with Route 37. As the road approaches Carthage, the highway curves south, then curves west again to become Central Street. At Garrison Avenue the highway begins a concurrency with Route 571 and the road becomes a wide boulevard.

One mile west of Garrison Avenue is an interchange with U.S. Route 71. At this point, Route 571 ends and Route 171 and Business 71, both of which join Route 96 and the road is a freeway. The first exit west of US 71, Route 96 turns off and becomes a two-lane road again. North of Joplin, Route 96 intersects Route 43, and three miles (5 km) further west Route 96 ends at Route 171.

Originally, Route 96 continued across Route 171 and turned south, curving around the west side of Carl Junction. The road then ran two miles (3 km) further west and crossed the Kansas state line.