U.S. Route 69 (US 69) is a major north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus (as well as those of

US 287 U.S. Route 287 (US 287) is a north–south (physically northwest–southeast) United States highway. At long, it is the second longest three-digit U.S. Route, behind US 281. It serves as the major truck route between Fort Worth and Am ...

and

US 96 U.S. Highway 96 (US 96) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs for about entirely in the U.S state of Texas. Its number is a violation of the standard numbering convention, as even-numbered two-digit highways are east– ...

) is in

Port Arthur, Texas Port Arthur is a city in Jefferson County within the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Texas. A small, uninhabited portion extends into Orange County; it is east of Houston. The largest oil refinery in the United Sta ...

at an intersection with State Highway 87. Its northern terminus is in Albert Lea, Minnesota at Minnesota State Highway 13.

Route description

Texas

US 69 begins at its southern terminus with SH 87 in Port Arthur. This intersection is also the southern terminus for

and

, which are concurrent with US 69. US 69, US 96, and US 287 continue in a northwest, then west, route until its intersection with

Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

in southern Beaumont. At this intersection, US 69, US 96, and US 287 merge with I-10. I-10/US 69/US 96/US 287 continue in a northerly direction through Beaumont for several miles. Just after the intersection with US 90, I-10 splits from the multiplex and resumes its easterly course, leaving US 69, US 96, and US 287 heading northwest through Beaumont. US 69 north of I-10 is also known officially known as Eastex Freeway, and is an official evacuation route, just as

Interstate 69 Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, at ...

/ US 59 heading north from Houston is known as Eastex Freeway as well. In Lumberton,

splits from US 69 and

and heads northeast towards Jasper, while US 69 and US 287 continue on a northwest path towards Woodville. In Woodville, US 69 splits from

a few blocks north of US 190. US 287 continues northwest towards Corrigan while US 69 proceed north towards

Lufkin Lufkin is the largest city in Angelina County, Texas and the county seat. The city is situated in Deep East Texas and about 60 miles west of the Texas-Louisiana border. Its estimated population is 35,021 as of July 1, 2019. Lufkin was founded ...

. In this area, between US 190 in Woodville and FM 256 in Colmesneil, US 69 is a part of the Texas Forest Trail. Before reaching Lufkin, US 69 forms another segment of the Texas Forest Trail between SH 63 in Zavalla and FM 1818 northwest of Zavalla. In Lufkin, US 69 is concurrent with US 59 and State Loop 287 while the route through the city is named Business US 69. US 69, State Loop 287, and US 59 continue around the east side of Lufkin until US 59 separates at the intersection with US 59 Business northeast of Lufkin. US 69 and State Loop 287 continue until the intersection of SH 103 and Business US 69 on the northwest section of Lufkin. At that point, US 69 is concurrent for a short distance with SH 103 and State Loop 287. At the intersection of US 69, State Loop 287 and SH 103, US 69 departs Lufkin and heads northwest while SH 103 and State Loop 287 head south. US 69 continues on a north to northwest path through the towns of

Alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: ''altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by ...

, Rusk, Jacksonville and

Bullard Bullard is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alan Bullard (born 1947), British composer * Bill Bullard Jr. (1943-2020), American politician * Charles W. Bullard, 19th-century American criminal * David Bullard (born 1952), Sout ...

. Just south of Bullard, US 69 has a short concurrency with FM 2493. US 69 continues northward into

Tyler Tyler may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tyler (name), an English name; with lists of people with the surname or given name * Tyler, the Creator (born 1991), American rap artist and producer * John Tyler, 10th president of the United ...

. In Tyler, US 69 continues northward through the city until the intersection of SH 110 and SH 155, where US 69 heads west and merges with SH 110 and SH 155 through Tyler. Around seven blocks from the intersection of US 69, SH 110, and SH 155, SH 155 separates from the concurrency and travels in a southwesterly direction, leaving US 69 and SH 110 traveling in a northwesterly direction. This continues until SH 110 separates from US 69 on the northwest side of Tyler. At this intersection, SH 110 heads west while US 69 continues north. Lindale May 2018 08 (N Main Street)

US 69 crosses

Interstate 20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with Interstate 10, I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with Interstate 95, I-95 in Flo ...

at Lindale where it is signed as "Main Street". At FM 16 in Lindale, US 69 begins its third and last segment as part of the Texas Forest Trail. US 69 continues north to northwest to Mineola, crossing US 80 there. Before leaving town, at its intersection with SH 37, the Texas Forest Trail turns off of US 69 to share a segment with SH 37. US 69 takes a more northwest turn on its way through several small towns, including

Emory Emory may refer to: Places * Emory, Texas, U.S. * Emory (crater), on the moon * Emory Peak, in Texas, U.S. * Emory River, in Tennessee, U.S. Education * Emory and Henry College, or simply Emory, in Emory, Virginia, U.S. * Emory University ...

, on its way to Greenville. There, as it begins to enter the city, a Business route of US 69 turns off to the right to serve the downtown Greenville area, and then on to a junction with Interstate 30. At the intersection with I-30, US 69 becomes concurrent with US 380 at its terminus. The concurrency continues around the southern and western sides of Greenville until an intersection with Spur 302. At that intersection, US 380 heads west while US 69 continues north, until it reaches the northern end of its Business route, which has passed through the downtown Greenville area, then US 69 turns northwest, from Greenville to Leonard, where it encounters a brief concurrency with SH 78. In

Whitewright Whitewright is a town in Fannin and Grayson Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 1,604 at the 2010 census, down from 1,740 at the 2000 census. The Grayson County portion of Whitewright is part of the Sherman– Denison ...

, SH 11 intersects and becomes concurrent with US 69 southeast of town. This continues until the intersection with SH 160, at which time SH 11 continues on a northwestward route and US 69 continues north through Whitewright. US 69 continues north, then northwest until Denison, where it turns right to go north, at an intersection with

Spur 503 Spur 503, also known locally as Eisenhower Parkway is state highway spur route in southern Denison, Texas. The highway is a limited access freeway from US 75 to SH 91. The rest of the route is a surface street to its terminus at US 69. The entire ...

. US 69 goes north through downtown Denison, then at the north side of town, US 69 intersects and merges with US 75, at which time US 69 becomes concurrent with US 75. Both head northeast across the Oklahoma/Texas border at the Red River.

Oklahoma

US 69 and US 75 pass the Oklahoma border near the tiny town of Staley. They remain concurrent all the way to Atoka, where US 69 heads northeast and US 75 heads northwest. US 69 and US 75 briefly merge with SH-3 in Atoka but SH-3 remains concurrent with US 75 instead of US 69 when they split. In Stringtown, US 69 merges with SH-43. SH-43 splits from US 69 near the Atoka Reservoir and crosses it. US 69 passes right by the McAlester Ammunitions Depot. US 69 passes over

Eufaula Lake Lake Eufaula, sometimes referred to as Eufaula Lake, is a reservoir in Oklahoma. It is located on the Canadian River, upstream from its confluence with the Arkansas River and near the town of Eufaula. The lake covers parts of McIntosh County, ...

6 times. Near Muskogee, US 69 merges with US 64 and SH-2. At an intersection with US 62, US 64 heads west concurrent with US 62 while US 69 and SH-2 continue to head north. South of Pryor Creek, US 69 is the westerly boundary of the MidAmerica Industrial Park, one of the largest industrial park in the nation. Near Vinita, US 69 and SH-2 interchange with

Historic Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

and US 60. The two highways turn east and merge with HR-66 and US 60. In Downtown Vinita, SH-2 heads north while US 69, US 60 and HR-66 head east, passing I-44 a short while later. At SH-85, the three highways make an unexpected northward turn. The three highways merge with US 59 just south of I-44. Still south of I-44, US 60 heads northeast, paralleling I-44, while HR-66, US 69, and US 59 continue heading north, passing I-44. At SH-10, US 59 heads west concurrent with SH-10, while HR-66 and US 69 head north concurrent with SH-10. In Downtown Miami, SH-10 continues heading east, while HR-66 and US 69 turn northward. South of Picher and west of Quapaw, US 69 meets US-69 Alternate. US 69 splits from HR-66 and heads north through the town of Picher.

Kansas

At the Oklahoma-Kansas state line, US 69 is joined by K-7. In

Columbus Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

, K-7 continues heading north, while US 69 turns east and merges with US 160. US 69 and US 160 meet US-69 Alternate and US 400 near Crestline, and merges with US 400. East of Cherokee, US 400 splits from the concurrency and heads west toward Cherokee. US 69 and US 160 continue heading north. North of Frontenac, US 160 splits from US 69 and heads east towards Lamar and Springfield, Missouri. US 69 continues heading north. South of Fort Scott, US 69 merges with K-7 again. In Fort Scott, US 54 merges with US 69 and K-7. The three highways continue heading north. North of town, US 54 and K-7 split from US 69 and head west; US 69 continues to head north. South of

Pleasanton Pleasanton may refer to: Places * Pleasanton, California * Pleasanton, Iowa * Pleasanton, Kansas * Pleasanton, Nebraska * Pleasanton, New Mexico * Pleasanton, Ohio * Pleasanton, Texas * Pleasanton Township, Michigan Other * Pleasanton High School ...

, US 69 merges with K-52. Northeast of Trading Point K-52 splits from US 69 and heads east. In the

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

suburbs, US 69 merges with

I-35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

and

US 56 U.S. Route 56 (US 56) is an east–west United States highway that runs for approximately in the Midwestern United States. US 56's western terminus is at Interstate 25 Business (I-25 Bus.), US 412 and New Mexico State Road 21 (NM 21) in Springe ...

/ US 169. US 56, US 69, and US 169 split off from I-35 and heads east on Shawnee Mission Parkway. US 69 then heads north on

Metcalf Avenue Metcalf may refer to: __NOTOC__ People and fictional characters * Metcalf (surname) Places in the United States * Metcalf, Georgia, a village * Metcalf, Illinois, a village * Metcalfe County, Kentucky * Metcalf, Holliston, Massachusetts, a distr ...

, rejoining I-35 and heading north. A short while later US 69 breaks off from I-35 and heads north on the

18th Street Expressway The 18th Street Expressway (often shortened to 18th Street in everyday speech) is a freeway in Kansas City, Kansas that runs from Interstate 35 north to Interstate 70/U.S. Route 24/ U.S. Route 40. It carries the U.S. Route 69 designation its enti ...

into

Kansas City, Kansas Kansas City, abbreviated as "KCK", is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As of the ...

. The highway then splits off and merges with I-70, US 24, and US 40 and heads east. At the intersection with US 169 at the 7th Street Trafficway, US 69 splits off and heads north. Just before reaching

I-635 Interstate 635 may refer to: * Interstate 635 (Kansas–Missouri), a connector highway between Interstate 35 in Overland Park, Kansas and Interstate 29 in Kansas City, Missouri, signed as the Harry Darby Memorial Highway * Interstate 635 (Texas), ...

, US 69 crosses into Missouri.

Missouri

US 69 enters

Riverside Riverside may refer to: Places Australia * Riverside, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania Canada * Riverside (electoral district), in the Yukon * Riverside, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Alberta * Riverside, Manitoba, a former rural m ...

, merges with

, then almost immediately exits and merges with MO-9, heading east. A half-mile later, US 69 exits from MO-9 and heads north. US-69 passes through Riverside, Northmoor,

Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...

, Claycomo, Pleasant Valley and parts of Kansas City proper before merging with

for a second time, near Liberty. US 69 stays merged with I-35 for before it exits. After exiting the highway, US 69 immediately merges with MO-33 and heads northeast. At State Route B, in rural Liberty, MO-33 heads north-northeast and US 69 continues northeast. US 69 stays somewhat parallel to I-35 as it heads through Missouri, sometimes passing under it. West of Altamont, US 69 merges with MO-6. The highways turn north and a short while later MO-6 splits from US 69 and heads west, while US 69 continues heading north. Southwest of Bethany, US 69 merges with US 136 and heads east into Bethany. In downtown Bethany, US 136 heads east, while US 69 heads north. Still paralleling I-35, US 69 passes into Iowa from Missouri later.

Iowa

Lamoni In the Book of Mormon, Lamoni (; believed to mean "Lamanite" or "of Laman") is a Lamanite king. The missionary Ammon converts him back to the Law of Moses. After this, Lamoni becomes righteous again. Lamoni was a lesser king of part of the gr ...

, US 69 makes a sharp turn toward the east. West of Leon, US 69 merges with Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2). In downtown Leon, US 69 heads north, while Iowa 2 heads east. East of Lake Ahquabi State Park, US 69 merges with US 65. The two highways continue to head north. At the intersection with Iowa 5, US 65 heads east concurrent Iowa 5 and US 69 continues to head north through Des Moines and Ankeny. In Ames, US 69 makes a left turn, then a right turn, and continues heading north. East of

Clarion Clarion may refer to: Music * Clarion (instrument), a type of trumpet used in the Middle Ages * The register of a clarinet that ranges from B4 to C6 * A trumpet organ stop that usually plays an octave above unison pitch * "Clarion" (song), a 2 ...

, US 69 briefly merges with Iowa 3. The two highways soon split with Iowa 3 heading east and US 69 heading north through

Belmond, Iowa Belmond is a city in Wright County, Iowa, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 69, by road from Clarion, the county seat. The population was 2,463 in the 2020 census, a decline from 2,560 in 2000. History On October 14, 1966, an F5 to ...

. Near

Garner Garner may refer to: Places United States * Garner, Arkansas * Garner, Iowa * Garner, Missouri * Garner, North Carolina Other uses * Garner (surname), a surname * Granary, a grain store * ''Tennessee v. Garner'', a United States Supreme Court cas ...

, US 69 briefly heads west concurrent with US 18, but soon splits off from it and heads north. North of Forest City, US 69 merges with

Iowa 9 Iowa Highway 9 is the most northern of Iowa's east–west highways, traversing the entire northern tier of counties. It runs from the eastern terminus of South Dakota Highway 42 at the South Dakota border east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota nea ...

and continues heading north. Iowa 9 soon branches off to the west. Just south of Emmons, US 69 crosses into Minnesota.

Minnesota

US 69 enters the state at Emmons and travels north-northeast through southern Minnesota, passing through Twin Lakes. The roadway runs along the eastern shore of Pickerel Lake before entering Albert Lea, where the highway terminates at State Highway 13, formerly US 16. The Minnesota portion of the highway is in length.

History

When it was first commissioned in 1926, US 69 extended only from Leon, Iowa to

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

. The part in Missouri had been Route 11 since 1922. The route was extended north into Minnesota in 1934, mostly along what had previously been marked State Highway 13, ending at U.S. 16 in Albert Lea. At this time, it entered the state at Emmons and turned eastward along Lake Street and State Line Road, briefly re-entering Iowa to curve around the south shore of

State Line Lake Freeborn County is a county in the state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 30,895. Its county seat is Albert Lea. Freeborn County comprises the Albert Lea Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Freeborn Coun ...

. In 1940, it was realigned to run north-northeast directly to Twin Lakes. The full extent of the roadway in Minnesota was paved in 1941.

Major intersections

;Texas : in Port Arthur. US 69/US 96 travels concurrently to south of Lumberton. US 69/US 287 travels concurrently to Woodville. : in Beaumont. The highways travel concurrently through Beaumont. : in Beaumont : in Woodville : in

. The highways travel concurrently through Lufkin. : in Rusk : in Jacksonville : in Jacksonville : in Lindale : in Mineola : in Greenville. US 69/US 380 travels concurrently through Greenville. : in Bells : in Denison. The highways travel concurrently to Atoka, Oklahoma. ;Oklahoma : in

Durant Durant may refer to: People * Durant (surname) Fictional characters * Durant (Pokémon), a species in ''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'' * ''John Durant'' (General Hospital), a character on the soap opera ''General Hospital'' Places * Durant, ...

: on the McAlester– Krebs city line : southwest of Checotah : in Checotah : in Muskogee. The highways travel concurrently through Muskogee. : in Muskogee. The highways travel concurrently through Muskogee. : in

Chouteau Chouteau was the name of a highly successful, ethnically French fur-trading family based in Saint Louis, Missouri, which they helped found. Their ancestors Chouteau and Laclède initially settled in New Orleans. They then moved-up the Mississipp ...

: in Big Cabin : west-southwest of Vinita. The highways travel concurrently to northeast of Afton. : in Vinita : northeast of Afton. The highways travel concurrently to north of Dotyville. : northeast of Afton ;Kansas : in

Baxter Springs Baxter Springs is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, and located along Spring River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,888. History For thousands of years, indigenous peoples had lived along the waterwa ...

: northeast of

. The highways travel concurrently to Frontenac. : north of Crestline. The highways travel concurrently to south of Pittsburg. : in Fort Scott. The highways travel concurrently to north of Fort Scott. : in Overland Park : in Lenexa. I-35/US 69 travels concurrently to

Merriam Merriam can refer to: People * Alan P. Merriam (1923–1980), American ethnomusicologist * Charles Edward Merriam (1874–1953), American political scientist * Charles W. Merriam (1877–1961), American insurance businessman and politician * Clinto ...

. US 56/US 69/US 169 travels concurrently to the Overland Park– Mission city line. : in Mission. I-35/US 69 travels concurrently to

. : in Kansas City. : in Kansas City : in Kansas City ;Missouri : in

. The highways travel concurrently through Riverside. : southeast of Northmoor : in

: in

: in Claycomo : in Pleasant Valley. The highways travel concurrently to Liberty. : south of

Cameron Cameron may refer to: People * Clan Cameron, a Scottish clan * Cameron (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Cameron (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) ;Mononym * Cam'ron (born 197 ...

: in Cameron : southwest of Winston : north-northwest of Altamont : southwest of Bethany. The highways travel concurrently to Bethany. ;Iowa : on the Iowa state line south of

: east of Lamoni : in Osceola : south of

Indianola Indianola may refer to: Places in the United States * Indianola, California (disambiguation) ** Indianola (Eureka), California * Indianola, Florida * Indianola, Georgia * Indianola, Illinois * Indianola, Iowa * Indianola, Kansas, a former settleme ...

. The highways travel concurrently to

Des Moines Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

. : in Des Moines : in Des Moines : in Ames : south of Blairsburg : in

. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of Garner. ;Minnesota : in Albert Lea

Special routes

Alternate route

U.S. Route 69 Alternate is a special route of U.S. Highway 69, traveling between junctions east of

Commerce, Oklahoma Commerce is a city in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,473 at the 2010 census, down 6.5 percent from the figure of 2,645 in 2000, and lower than the 2,555 residents it had in 1920. Commerce is included in the Joplin ...

and north of

Crestline, Kansas Crestline is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the community and nearby areas was 116. Crestline is located on U.S. Route 400 east of Columbus. Crestline has a post ...

. US-69 Alt., cosigned with

, splits from mainline US 69 south of Picher and west of Quapaw. US-69 Alt. and HR-66 head ENE through the towns of Quapaw and Baxter Springs, Kansas. North of Baxter Springs, US 400 joins the concurrency. West of Riverton, HR-66 heads east along K-66, while US-69 Alt. and US 400 head north. North of Crestline, US-69 Alt. and US 400 meet US 69 and US 160 from the west. US-69 Alt. terminates as US 69 and US 160 merge with US 400. The concurrency of US 69, US 400, and US 160 continues north.

Business loops and spurs

* Bethany, Missouri *Overland Park, Kansas * Fort Scott, Kansas * Arma, Kansas * Frontenac, Kansas * Pittsburg, Kansas * Baxter Springs, Kansas * Columbus, Kansas * Miami, Oklahoma * Durant, Oklahoma * Vinita, Oklahoma * Mc Alester, Oklahoma * Checotah, Oklahoma * Eufaula, Oklahoma * Greenville, Texas * Lufkin, Texas There was also a Business U.S. 69 in Fort Scott, Kansas (about 25 minutes north of the Frontenac, Kansas area), from about 1965 to 1990. Signs from the former Business Route still exist today; however, it no longer officially exists.

References

External links

Endpoints of U.S. Highway 69
{{DEFAULTSORT:69 United States Numbered Highway System U.S. Highways in Missouri U.S. Highways in Minnesota U.S. Highways in Iowa