Kansas contained Route 66’s shortest state segment, measuring about 13 miles.
The road entered Kansas near Galena in the southeast corner of the state, passed through Riverton, and left near Baxter Springs. Although the segment was brief, it was part of the main Chicago-to-Santa Monica highway and remains significant to Route 66 preservation efforts.
Kansas Route 66 is associated with several surviving landmarks, including the historic Marsh Arch Bridge near Riverton. The bridge once carried the road over Brush Creek and is commonly called the Rainbow Bridge because of its concrete arch design.
Travelers sometimes assume Arizona or California had the shortest section because portions of those states were bypassed or heavily realigned. Kansas, however, had the smallest official share of the original highway. Its compact corridor makes it possible to visit several historic sites in a short drive.