Earlier this year, we made a quick stop in St. Louis, and it ended up being one of the most memorable legs of our journey. Sometimes the best stops aren’t the ones you plan in detail—they’re the ones that surprise you with how perfectly everything just fits.

We camped at the St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, which made everything super easy. It’s just off I-44 and far enough from the city to be peaceful, but close enough to reach all the major attractions in under 30 minutes. With level sites and a friendly staff, it gave us the perfect home base for exploring.

One of the highlights was, of course, the Gateway Arch. The kids loved the tram ride to the top (even if a couple of us were a little nervous about the height). The museum under the Arch gave us a great hands-on history lesson, and the park grounds were open and beautiful—perfect for a picnic and some downtime.

But if we’re being honest, City Museum completely stole the show. It’s like someone took a junkyard, an art studio, and an amusement park and smashed them all together in the best way possible. The kids climbed through tunnels, slid down 10-story slides, and explored for hours. It’s chaotic, creative, and 100% worth it. If you’re headed that way, don’t miss it—citymuseum.org.

St. Louis might not have been a long stay, but it checked all the boxes: easy access, fun learning, and tons of play. For our full-time road life, it was the perfect mix of adventure and simplicity.

If you’re looking for some serious family fun, look no further than The City Museum!