Missouri Route 8
{{short description|State highway in Missouri}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{redirect-synonym|MO 8|{{ushr|Missouri|8}}}}
{{Infobox road
|state=MO
|type=MO
|route=8
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=230|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Missouri Route 8}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|length_mi=72.061
|length_ref={{MoDOT Flex|accessdate=April 27, 2017}}
|direction_b=East
|direction_a=West
|terminus_b={{jct|state=MO|US|67|US-Bus|67|dab2=Desloge}} in Desloge
|junction={{jct|state=MO|MO|19}} in Steelville
|terminus_a={{jct|state=MO|I|44|MO|68}} in St. James
|counties=Phelps, Crawford, Washington, St. Francois
|previous_type=MO
|previous_route=7
|next_type=MO
|next_route=9
}}
Route 8 is a {{convert|69|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} state highway in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. It travels from Interstate 44 (I-44) in St. James to U.S. Route 67 (US 67) and US 67 Business in Desloge. It acts as a bypass, from I-44 in St. James, to US 67 in Desloge. Those who want to go to Ste. Genevieve can take US 67 Bus. through Park Hills to US 67, to Farmington, then take Route 32 to Ste. Genevieve.
Route description
Beginning at I-44 in St. James, Route 8 travels eastward through Phelps County, running concurrent with Route 68 for approximately four miles before Route 68 splits off toward Salem. Continuing east, Route 8 passes near Maramec Spring Park, a popular natural attraction, before entering Crawford County and reaching Steelville. In Steelville, the highway briefly overlaps with Route 19 before separating east of town.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
Leaving Steelville, Route 8 continues eastward through the Mark Twain National Forest, passing through rolling hills and wooded areas before entering Washington County. The highway reaches Potosi, where it intersects Route 21 and Route 185. East of Potosi, Route 8 continues through rural landscapes, crossing several small creeks and valleys as it approaches St. Francois County.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
In St. Francois County, Route 8 enters Desloge, where it runs concurrent with US 67 Bus. for a short distance before terminating at the interchange with US 67. The highway serves as a key east-west corridor in eastern Missouri, connecting several towns and providing access to major highways and scenic areas.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
History
Between Steelville and Potosi, Route 8 was initially Route 62 from 1922 to 1926. The route was renumbered because US 60 had been planned as US 62.{{cite web|url=https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/Maps/id/57/rec/5|title=Missouri's State Road System, 1924|website=The State Historical Society of Missouri|access-date=June 16, 2025}} Originally, it was an earthen road
{{cite web|url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~368049~90135308:Mileage-map-of-the-best-roads-of-Mi?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort&qvq=w4s:/where%2FMissouri;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=397|title=Best Roads of Missouri, 1926|website=David Rumsey Map Collection|publisher=Clason Map Co.|access-date=June 16, 2025}} but was improved to gravel by the 1930s.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1937}} The portion from Steelville to Potosi was first paved in the early 1940s{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1942}} with the rest of the route paved by the 1950s.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1953}}
Major intersections
{{jcttop|state=MO|length_ref=}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Phelps
|cspan=3
|location=St. James
|lspan=2
|mile=0.000
|road={{jct|state=MO|I|44|Route|68|dir2=west|US-Hist|66|dir3=west|city1=St. Louis|city2=Rolla}}
|notes=I-44 exit 195; western end of Route 68 / Historic US 66 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|mile=0.466
|road={{jct|state=MO|Supp|KK|county1=Phelps|US-Hist|66|dir2=east|name2=James Boulevard|city1=Rosati}}
|notes=Eastern end of Historic US 66 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=none
|mile=4.785
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|68|dir1=east|city1=Salem}}
|notes=Eastern end of Route 68 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Crawford
|cspan=2
|location=Steelville
|lspan=2
|mile=17.363
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|19|dir1=north|city1=Cuba}}
|notes=Western end of Route 19 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|mile=18.039
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|19|dir1=south}}
|notes=Eastern end of Route 19 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|county=Washington
|cspan=2
|location=Potosi
|lspan=2
|mile=53.132
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|185|dir1=north|city1=Sullivan}}
}}
{{MOint
|mile=54.610
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|21|city1=St. Louis|city2=Caledonia}}
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=St. Francois
|cspan=3
|location1=Park Hills
|location2=Desloge
|mile=70.048
|road={{jct|state=MO|US-Bus|67|dab1=Park Hills|dir1=south}}
|notes=Western end of US 67 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=Desloge
|lspan=2
|mile=72.031
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|67}}
|notes=Interchange; eastern end of US 67 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|mile=72.061
|road=Cedar Falls Road
|notes=Eastern end of state maintenance
}}
{{jctbtm}}
See also
- {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
References
{{reflist}}