Route 266 is a section of former U.S. Route 66 (US 66) with termini between Interstate 44 (I-44) at Springfield and Route 96 west of Halltown. The road runs as a two-lane highway its entire length of 16 miles (26 km) and is marked as Historic Route 66.

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Quick Facts Route 266, Route information ...

Route 266
Route 266 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length	16.237 mi[1] (26.131 km)
Major junctions
West end	Route 96 west of Halltown
East end	I-44 / I-44 BL at Springfield
Location
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Highway system
Missouri State Highway System Interstate US State Supplemental
← Route 265 → Route 267

Close

Route 266 starts at its intersection of Missouri Route 96 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of I-44.^[2] At Halltown, the Route meets Route Z. In 12.5 miles (20.1 km), Route 266 deviates from old Route 66 in a project to improve access to Springfield-Branson Regional Airport.^{[clarification needed]} For 1 mile (1.6 km), the route follows the new roadway. At the Partial cloverleaf interchange at Interstate 44, the road continues as Interstate 44 Business.

Route 266 was originally assigned to a new expressway built through downtown Springfield (specifically, Chestnut Expressway between College Street and Glenstone Avenue). As Interstate 44 was constructed, and US 66 was assigned concurrently with it, the now former US 66 from Springfield to Route 96 was added to Route 266. The westernmost section (which passed through Paris Springs Junction and Spencer) would be turned into county roads. Eventually, Chestnut Expressway would be designated Interstate 44 Business, and Route 266 would have its current route.