Carl's Drive-In
Carl's Drive-In at 9033 Manchester Road in Brentwood sits on the historic Route 66 alignment west of St. Louis. The small carhop-style stand dates to a 1918 service station footprint and has operated as a restaurant since the 1940s; Carl Meyer bought and renamed it in 1959. The menu centers on burgers, hot dogs, onion rings, and root beer floats from a hand-dipped soft-serve machine. The retro stand is routinely featured in Route 66 guides as one of the few genuinely intact mid-century carhop experiences still operating in Missouri.
A functioning piece of Route 66 history — same footprint as the original 1918 station, same carhop-adjacent vibe. The root beer float and thin-patty burgers are the draw. The stand is small and cash-friendly; riders congregate in the adjacent parking lot. Pairs naturally with the Ted Drewes stop as a St. Louis Route 66 day loop.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.