Overview
Carthage is a city of about 15,500 (2020) in Southwest Missouri, It is known as "America's Maple Leaf City".
6 sights · 3 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 10 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Carthage
Battle of Carthage State Historic Site
The Battle of Carthage was one of the preliminary battles leading up to the much larger one at Wilson's Creek. Southern Missouri was fought over fiercely because of its rich lead and zinc deposits.
Jasper County Courthouse
Constructed with local Carthage marble in 1894, the building's grandiose architecture includes turrets, towers, and arches. The building remains the county seat today; museum and guided tours are open to the public.
Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum
Information and artifacts from the Civil War Battle of Carthage and the Civil War in southwest Missouri, including a wall-sized mural of the Battle of Carthage.
Kendrick House
Oldest surviving house in Jasper County (built 1849), believed to have served as a Civil War field hospital complete with slave quarters. Various events, ghost tours.
Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Shop
66 Drive-in Theatre
One of the few remaining drive-in cinemas on Route 66, with neon signage of the era. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, its original 1949 design closely matches the "Radiator Springs Drive-In" in 2006…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 28°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Tulsa)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- JLN Joplin Regional Airport, Joplin — 10 mi away. Directions
- SGF Springfield Branson National Airport, Springfield — 51 mi away. Directions
- TUL Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa — 110 mi away (major hub). Directions
Joplin Regional Airport (10 miles from Carthage) offers multiple round-trip flights daily to Kansas City (150 miles); transport is also available to Tulsa (110 miles).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $19–$63 a night (typical $52), from 6 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$60, mid-range ~$130, comfortable ~$230.
Options are grouped as Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast, Camping in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Jasper County Courthouse, Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum
- Lunch Iggy's Diner
- Afternoon Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Shop
- Dinner El Charro
- Evening Roscoe's Bar & Grill
Day 2
- Morning Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, Kendrick House
- Lunch Whisler's Drive-Up
- Afternoon 66 Drive-in Theatre
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Carthage was established in 1842 to serve as the county seat of Jasper County. As Missouri was sandwiched between the secessionist southern states and the abolitionist north, Carthage became a Civil War battlefield on July 5, 1861 and again in October 1863; pro-Confederate guerrillas burned much of the city in September 1864.
The current Jasper County Courthouse, built of Carthage stone in 1894, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The history of the Civil War sites in the Missouri-Kansas border region fills a book, "The Big Divide" ISBN 978-0976443414, published in 2013.
After the civil war, Carthage thrived as a rail town, a source for "Carthage marble" (a hard, polished limestone) and a highway crossroads when U.S. Highways 66 and 71 came to town in 1926.
Get in
Joplin Regional Airport (10 miles from Carthage) offers multiple round-trip flights daily to Kansas City (150 miles); transport is also available to Tulsa (110 miles).
By highway, Carthage is served by Interstate 44 (which bypasses Route 66 in the region) and by US Highway 71.
Get around
No public mass transit exists in Carthage, although the municipality operates City Taxi (8AM-6PM weekdays only, +1 417-623-5577). Conventional taxi service is provided by Martins Taxi (+1 417-726-2010).
See
See Jasper County Courthouse
Constructed with local Carthage marble in 1894, the building's grandiose architecture includes turrets, towers, and arches. The building remains the county seat today; museum and guided tours are open to the public.
Do
See 66 Drive-in Theatre
One of the few remaining drive-in cinemas on Route 66, with neon signage of the era. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, its original 1949 design closely matches the "Radiator Springs Drive-In" in 2006 film Cars.
Eat
Eat Iggy's Diner
Great diner style food
Eat El Charro
Tex-Mex steak house, great food, reasonably priced.
Eat Whisler's Drive-Up
Classic old-style hamburger stand.
Drink
Sleep
Hotels
Stay Best Budget Inn
Stay Quality Inn & Suites (url=https://www.choicehotels.com/missouri/carthage/quality-inn-hotels/mo391)
Motels
Stay Boots Court
Route 66 historic motel from 1939 streamline moderne era, hosted Clark Gable and other notables in its "radio in every room" heyday. Fully restored to the 1949 era (before TV came to Carthage). The first rooms reopened in 2012 (initially at $66 and $71 a night); the last of the thirteen rooms returned to service in 2023. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this property has many 1940s quirks like individual carports for some rooms in the original building. The rooms and showers are small by modern standards, the televisions have been removed, the original roof and architectural neon lighting were restored. A throwback to another era.
Stay Guest House Motel
Bed and breakfast
Camping
Nearby
Joplin
City / town · 17 listings · 12 mi away
Galena
City / town · 6 listings · 19 mi away
Neosho
City / town · 5 listings · 22 mi away
Lamar
City / town · 1 listings · 23 mi away
Baxter Springs
City / town · 12 listings · 25 mi away
Monett
City / town · 1 listings · 27 mi away
Wyandotte
City / town · 6 listings · 34 mi away
Aurora
City / town · 1 listings · 36 mi away
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