U.S. Route 69 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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US 69 highlighted in red
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| Route information | ||||
| Length | 1,136 mi (1,828 km) | |||
| Existed | 1926 (extended north 1934, south 1935)–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |    US 96 / US 287 / SH 87 at Port Arthur, TX |
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| North end |  MN 13 at Albert Lea, MN |
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| Location | ||||
| States: | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced
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U.S. Route 69 (US 69) is a very long highway that goes from the southern part of the United States all the way to the north. It stretches from Port Arthur, Texas, to Albert Lea, Minnesota. This road helps people travel across six different states! When it was first built, it was only about 150 miles long. But over time, it grew much longer to connect many important cities and towns.
Contents
Traveling Along US 69
US 69 in Texas
US 69 starts in Port Arthur, Texas. Here, it shares the road with US 96 and US 287. These highways travel together for a while. They head northwest and then west.
In Beaumont, US 69, US 96, and US 287 join up with Interstate 10 (I-10). They all travel north through Beaumont. After passing US 90, I-10 leaves the group. US 69, US 96, and US 287 continue northwest. This part of US 69 is also called the Eastex Freeway. It is an important route for people to leave the area safely during emergencies.
In Lumberton, US 96 turns off to the northeast. US 69 and US 287 keep going northwest towards Woodville. In Woodville, US 69 and US 287 split up. US 69 then heads north towards Lufkin. This section of US 69 is part of the Texas Forest Trail.
In Lufkin, US 69 travels with US 59 and State Loop 287. They go around the east side of Lufkin. Later, US 59 separates, and US 69 continues with State Loop 287. US 69 then leaves Lufkin and heads northwest.
US 69 continues through towns like Alto, Rusk, Jacksonville, and Bullard. It then goes north into Tyler. In Tyler, US 69 joins with State Highway 110 and State Highway 155 for a short distance. After some turns, US 69 continues north on its own.
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US 69 crosses Interstate 20 in Lindale. Here, it is known as "Main Street." It then continues north to Mineola, where it crosses US 80. US 69 then turns northwest, passing through small towns like Emory, on its way to Greenville.
In Greenville, a special "Business" route of US 69 goes through the downtown area. US 69 itself joins with US 380 near Interstate 30. They travel together around the south and west sides of Greenville. After US 380 turns west, US 69 continues north. It then turns northwest from Greenville to Leonard.
In Whitewright, US 69 briefly travels with State Highway 11. After they split, US 69 continues north through Whitewright. US 69 then goes north to Denison. In Denison, US 69 turns north through downtown. On the north side of town, US 69 joins with US 75. Both highways then cross the Red River into Oklahoma.
US 69 in Oklahoma
US 69 and US 75 enter Oklahoma together. They stay together until Atoka, where US 69 turns northeast and US 75 goes northwest. US 69 passes by the McAlester Ammunitions Depot. It also crosses over Eufaula Lake six times!
Near Muskogee, US 69 joins with US 64 and State Highway 2. Later, US 64 turns west, while US 69 and State Highway 2 continue north. South of Pryor Creek, US 69 runs along the edge of the MidAmerica Industrial Park, which is a very large industrial area.
Near Vinita, US 69 meets Historic Route 66 and US 60. These highways travel together for a while. In downtown Vinita, US 69, US 60, and Historic Route 66 head east, passing Interstate 44. They then turn north and briefly join US 59. Eventually, US 69 splits from Historic Route 66 and heads north through Picher.
US 69 in Kansas
When US 69 enters Kansas, it is joined by K-7. In Columbus, K-7 continues north, while US 69 turns east and joins US 160. US 69 and US 160 then meet US 69 Alternate and US 400. US 69 and US 400 travel together. East of Cherokee, US 400 splits off. US 69 and US 160 continue north.
North of Frontenac, US 160 turns east. US 69 continues north. South of Fort Scott, US 69 joins K-7 again. In Fort Scott, US 54 also joins them. The three highways travel north together. North of town, US 54 and K-7 split off, and US 69 continues north.
South of Pleasanton, US 69 joins K-52. Northeast of Trading Post, K-52 splits off. In the Kansas City suburbs, US 69 joins Interstate 35 (I-35), US 56, and US 169. US 56, US 69, and US 169 then split from I-35 and head east. US 69 then turns north on Metcalf Avenue, rejoining I-35.
A short while later, US 69 leaves I-35 and heads north on the 18th Street Expressway into Kansas City, Kansas. The highway then joins I-70, US 24, and US 40, heading east. At the intersection with US 169, US 69 splits off and heads north. Just before reaching I-635, US 69 crosses into Missouri.
US 69 in Missouri
US 69 enters Riverside, Missouri. It briefly joins I-635, then quickly exits and joins MO-9, heading east. A short distance later, US 69 leaves MO-9 and heads north. US 69 passes through several towns like Riverside, Northmoor, Gladstone, and Claycomo.
It then joins Interstate 35 (I-35) for a second time near Liberty. US 69 stays with I-35 for about 7 miles before exiting. After exiting, US 69 immediately joins MO-33 and heads northeast. Later, MO-33 heads north-northeast, and US 69 continues northeast. US 69 stays somewhat parallel to I-35 as it travels through Missouri.
West of Altamont, US 69 joins MO-6. The highways turn north, and then MO-6 splits off. US 69 continues north. Southwest of Bethany, US 69 joins US 136 and heads east into Bethany. In downtown Bethany, US 136 heads east, while US 69 heads north. US 69 continues north, still near I-35, and then crosses into Iowa.
US 69 in Iowa
In Lamoni, Iowa, US 69 makes a sharp turn to the east. West of Leon, US 69 joins Iowa Highway 2. In downtown Leon, US 69 heads north, while Iowa 2 heads east. East of Lake Ahquabi State Park, US 69 joins US 65. The two highways continue north.
At the intersection with Iowa Highway 5, US 65 heads east, and US 69 continues north. It travels through Des Moines and Ankeny. In Ames, US 69 makes a left turn, then a right turn, and continues heading north. East of Clarion, US 69 briefly joins Iowa Highway 3. They soon split, with US 69 heading north through Belmond.
Near Garner, US 69 briefly heads west with US 18. But it soon splits off and heads north. North of Forest City, US 69 joins Iowa Highway 9 and continues north. Iowa 9 soon turns west. Just south of Emmons, US 69 crosses into Minnesota.
US 69 in Minnesota
US 69 enters Minnesota at Emmons. It travels north-northeast through southern Minnesota, passing through Twin Lakes. The road runs along the eastern shore of Pickerel Lake. It then enters Albert Lea, where the highway ends at State Highway 13. This part of the highway in Minnesota is about 12.5 miles long.
History of US 69
When US 69 was first created in 1926, it was much shorter. It only went from Leon, Iowa, to Kansas City, Missouri. The part in Missouri was known as Route 11 before 1926.
The highway was made longer in 1934. It was extended north into Minnesota, mostly following what was then State Highway 13. It ended at US 16 in Albert Lea. At that time, it entered Minnesota at Emmons and turned east along Lake Street. It even briefly went back into Iowa to go around State Line Lake. In 1940, the route was changed to go directly north-northeast to Twin Lakes. The entire road in Minnesota was paved by 1941.
Major Road Connections
Here are some of the main highways that US 69 connects with:
- Texas
- US 96 / US 287 in Port Arthur. US 69 travels with US 96 to Lumberton. US 69 travels with US 287 to Woodville.
I-10 in Beaumont. They travel together through Beaumont.
US 90 in Beaumont
US 190 in Woodville
Future I-69 / US 59 in Lufkin. They travel together through Lufkin.
US 84 in Rusk
US 79 in Jacksonville
US 175 in Jacksonville
I-20 in Lindale
US 80 in Mineola
I-30 / US 67 / US 380 in Greenville. US 69 travels with US 380 through Greenville.
US 82 in Bells
US 75 in Denison. They travel together to Atoka, Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma
US 70 in Durant
US 270 on the McAlester–Krebs city line
I-40 southwest of Checotah
US 266 in Checotah
US 64 in Muskogee. They travel together through Muskogee.
US 62 in Muskogee. They travel together through Muskogee.
US 412 in Chouteau
I-44 in Big Cabin
US 60 west-southwest of Vinita. They travel together to northeast of Afton.- I-44 in Vinita
- US 59 northeast of Afton. They travel together to north of Dotyville.
- I-44 / US 60 northeast of Afton
- Kansas
US 166 in Baxter Springs
US 160 northeast of Columbus. They travel together to Frontenac.
US 400 north of Crestline. They travel together to south of Pittsburg.
US 54 in Fort Scott. They travel together to north of Fort Scott.
I-435 / US 50 in Overland Park
I-35 / US 56 / US 169 in Lenexa. I-35 and US 69 travel together to Merriam. US 56, US 69, and US 169 travel together to the Overland Park–Mission city line.
I-35 / I-635 in Mission. I-35 and US 69 travel together to Kansas City.
I-70 / US 24 / US 40 in Kansas City.
I-670 in Kansas City- I-70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 in Kansas City
- Missouri
- I-635 in Riverside. They travel together through Riverside.
- US 169 southeast of Northmoor
I-29 / US 71 in Gladstone- I-35 in Kansas City, Missouri
- I-435 in Claycomo
- I-35 in Pleasant Valley. They travel together to Liberty.
- I-35 south of Cameron
Future I-72 / US 36 in Cameron- I-35 southwest of Winston
- I-35 north-northwest of Altamont
US 136 southwest of Bethany. They travel together to Bethany.
- Iowa
- I-35 on the Iowa state line south of Lamoni
- I-35 east of Lamoni
US 34 in Osceola
US 65 south of Indianola. They travel together to Des Moines.
I-235 in Des Moines
I-35 / I-80 in Des Moines
US 30 in Ames
US 20 south of Blairsburg
US 18 in Garner. They travel together to west-northwest of Garner.
- Minnesota
MN 13 / CR 46 in Albert Lea
Special Routes of US 69
Sometimes, main highways have special routes that branch off. These are often called "Alternate" routes or "Business" loops.
US 69 Alternate Route
| Location: | Ottawa County, Oklahoma– Cherokee County, Kansas |
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| Length: | 20.3 mi (32.7 km) |
U.S. Route 69 Alternate is a special path that US 69 takes for about 20 miles. It runs between areas east of Commerce, Oklahoma, and north of Crestline, Kansas.
This alternate route, also known as Historic Route 66, splits from the main US 69 south of Picher, Oklahoma. It heads northeast through towns like Quapaw, Oklahoma, and Baxter Springs, Kansas. North of Baxter Springs, US 400 joins this route. West of Riverton, Kansas, Historic Route 66 turns east. US 69 Alternate and US 400 continue north.
North of Crestline, US 69 Alternate and US 400 meet the main US 69 and US 160. At this point, US 69 Alternate ends. The main US 69, US 400, and US 160 then continue traveling north together.
US 69 Business Loops and Spurs
Business loops are shorter routes that go through the center of a town or city. The main highway usually goes around the city. Here are some places that have or had Business US 69 routes:
- 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
- McAlester, Oklahoma
- Checotah, Oklahoma
- Eufaula, Oklahoma
- Greenville, Texas
- Lufkin, Texas
There was also a Business US 69 in Fort Scott, Kansas, from about 1965 to 1990. You might still see old signs for it, but it's not an official route anymore.
