U.S. Route 67: Neelyville to Poplar Bluff ~ Missouri

Take a quiet northbound drive through the Missouri Bootheel as we follow U.S. Route 67 from Neelyville to Poplar Bluff, covering a short but revealing 16-mile segment that captures a corridor very much in transition. This is not yet the finished highway Missouri is ultimately building here, and that in-between character defines the experience—part traditional rural roadway, part future interstate taking shape in plain view.

We begin just north of Neelyville, near the junction with State Route MM, where U.S. Route 67 is still a two-lane highway. Traffic flows in both directions on a single carriageway, with narrow shoulders and opposing vehicles passing close by. The surrounding landscape is unmistakably agricultural, with flat fields, drainage ditches, and distant tree lines stretching across the Bootheel. Almost immediately, the future of the corridor announces itself. Off to the left, earthwork, graded embankments, and newly poured pavement mark the advancing footprint of Interstate 57. For much of the drive, this parallel construction runs alongside us, a constant visual reminder that today’s road is living alongside tomorrow’s.

Northbound, the drive remains calm and steady. Long sightlines and gentle terrain define the roadway, and intersections are few and predictable. Farm access roads and occasional cross streets punctuate the rhythm, but traffic remains manageable and unhurried. The contrast between the modest two-lane highway and the wide, unfinished interstate lanes nearby creates a unique sense of motion through time—traveling the present alignment while watching the next iteration of the route take shape just beyond the shoulder.

As we approach the southern outskirts of Poplar Bluff, the corridor undergoes a noticeable shift. At the junction with U.S. Route 160, U.S. Route 67 transitions from a two-lane roadway into a four-lane expressway built to future Interstate 57 standards. From this point forward, the drive opens up into a divided highway with improved geometry, wider shoulders, and controlled access. The character of the road changes immediately, signaling that we are now on the modernized portion of the corridor—and it remains this way for the rest of the video. Traffic flows more freely here, and the highway begins to feel less rural connector and more regional artery.

With the road now fully four lanes, the approach into Poplar Bluff becomes more structured and deliberate. Commercial development, fuel stations, and service roads appear more frequently, and truck traffic increases as local circulation blends with through travel. Clear signage and modern interchange spacing reinforce the expressway’s role as a primary gateway into the city, handling rising volumes without friction. The surrounding farmland gradually gives way to infrastructure and development tied to Poplar Bluff’s position as a transportation and service hub for southeast Missouri.

The drive reaches its defining point on the northwest side of Poplar Bluff at the interchange with U.S. Route 60. This is a directional split rather than a simple crossing. Here, the northbound mainline of U.S. 67 curves east and becomes U.S. Route 60 eastbound, while distinct ramps branch away for U.S. 60 westbound and for travelers continuing north on U.S. 67. The design emphasizes continuous movement, asking drivers to choose their direction without treating the interchange as an endpoint. Our video concludes at this junction, capturing the precise moment where north–south and east–west travel diverge.

In just 16 miles, this stretch of U.S. Route 67 captures a corridor caught mid-evolution. We move from a modest two-lane highway through open Bootheel farmland, run parallel to the rising footprint of Interstate 57, and finish on a modern four-lane expressway at one of southeast Missouri’s most important directional splits. It is a drive defined less by distance than by transition, showing how today’s road carries current traffic even as tomorrow’s alignment takes shape beside it. Whether this segment is part of a longer north–south journey or simply a short passage into Poplar Bluff, it reflects the quiet efficiency of America’s highway system—always moving forward, always adapting, and rarely calling attention to the work it does along the way.

🎵 Music: Track List

Music from this video may be available for purchase at https://theopenroadcollective.com