U.S. Route 54 (US 54) in Missouri is a west-east highway that starts from the Kansas state line in Nevada to the Illinois state line in Louisiana.

Route description

In Missouri, US 54 runs from the southwest portion of the state to the northeast. It is a major conduit through the Ozarks and is the primary access road to Pomme de Terre Lake and Lake of the Ozarks. After entering the state from neighboring Kansas, the route moves eastward through many rural towns and communities. It passes through Nevada, where it serves as the main access road to the town's business market. In Nevada, the route intersects with

I-49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway that exists in multiple segments: the original portion entirely within the state of Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from Interstate 220 (Louisiana), I-220 in S ...

and US 71 as exits 102A and 102B on I-49/US 71. Here, it also passes by the Nevada Municipal Airport. Moving eastward, the route continues through El Dorado Springs,

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, Weaubleau, and Wheatland where Lucas Oil Speedway is located. It passes through Hermitage and

Preston Preston is a place name, surname and given name that may refer to: Places England *Preston, Lancashire, an urban settlement **The City of Preston, Lancashire, a borough and non-metropolitan district which contains the settlement **County Boro ...

, where it intersects with US 65 at a four way stop. It then passes through Macks Creek. Lake of the Ozarks - Missouri (40533516433)

The route continues eastward and begins to enter the areas surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks, a popular tourist destination and lake. It first crosses over the lake's Niangua Branch near Ha Ha Tonka State Park. It then passes through

Camdenton Camdenton is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, Missouri, United States. Its population was 3,718 at the 2010 census. The city is enveloped by the Lower Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks and serves as a popular trade point for ...

. In Camdenton, the road intersects with MO 5 and MO 7 at an interchange. These routes provide access to Lebanon and I-44. After leaving Camdenton, the route becomes a four-lane divided highway and remains that way to Mexico. US 54 then passes through

Linn Creek Linn Creek is a city in Camden County, Missouri, United States. The population was 216 at the 2020 census. The original Linn Creek, which was the original county seat of Camden County, Missouri, is now under water, in the Lake of the Ozarks. ...

and enters Osage Beach. The route continues on a new expressway path initially built in 2010 and 2011. It crosses Lake of the Ozarks a second time on the

Grand Glaize Bridge The Grand Glaize Bridge is the name of two girder bridges that carry U.S. Route 54 over the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in the city of Osage Beach, Missouri. The bridge on official maps is called the "Grandglaize" (one word) as i ...

. The route then briefly enters Lake Ozark and Lakeland, although access to these towns is only provided by exits from the highway. The route then leaves the Lake of the Ozarks area before bypassing Eldon. US 54 then goes through Jefferson City, where it crosses US 50 and crosses the Missouri River via the

Jefferson City Bridge The Jefferson City Bridge is the name for two continuous through arch truss bridges over the Missouri River at Jefferson City, Missouri, over which U.S. Routes 54 (US 54) and 63 travel between Cole and Callaway Counties. Southbound bri ...

and briefly overlaps US 63. Just north of the bridge, it splits then leaves the Ozark Plateau before passing through Fulton, crossing I-70 and US 40 at

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, passes through Auxvasse, then bypassing Mexico where it turns into a two-lane highway. US 54 then turns right and continues on. At a

roundabout A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...

, US 54 picks up a concurrency with Route 19 and then passes through Laddonia. North of Laddonia, US 54 splits from Route 19 before passing just north of Vandalia, bypasses Bowling Green crossing US 61, and ultimately crossing the Mississippi River via the Champ Clark Bridge into Illinois at Louisiana. US 54 is a part of the National Highway System, a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.

History

US 54 was originally formed in Missouri after changing from US 26, however the routing went from Cedar County to Polk County, then Dallas County, ''then'' into Camden County. In 1932, the highway was rerouted into Saint Clair County and then Hickory County, and paved over. In the Lake of the Ozarks area, US 54 be rerouted onto a new 4 lane highway in 2010 and another part of US 54 was rerouted in 2011 in the Lake of the Ozarks area. The old US 54 was renamed "Osage Beach Parkway." The original Champ Clark Bridge opened in 1928. In 2019, a replacement bridge opened and the old one was torn down.

Junction list

References

External links