Missouri Route 21

Route 21
Tesson Ferry Road
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length188 mi (303 km)
Existed1922–present
Major junctions
South end AR 115 at the Arkansas state line
Major intersections
North end Route 30 in Affton
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CountiesRipley, Carter, Reynolds, Iron, Washington, Jefferson, St. Louis
Highway system
← Route 20→ Route 22

Route 21 is a highway in eastern Missouri. Its northern terminus is at Route 30 in Affton. Its southern terminus is at the Arkansas-Missouri state line (where it continues as Highway 115). In the St. Louis area, it is known as Tesson Ferry Road, which was named after the 19th century proprietor of the ferry across the Meramec River.[1] Route 21 from the Meramec River to Route B, along with Route M, make up the Jefferson County Scenic Byway.[2][3]

Improvements

The section through northern Jefferson County, Missouri was considered dangerous. As a result, the road was rerouted and built to freeway standards. Construction to reroute the highway to just south of Hillsboro was completed on December 15, 2008 and Route 21 is currently freeway standard from Route 141 to Highway B. Plans to extend the freeway south to De Soto have been approved, but funds are lacking to complete this part of the project.[4]

Route description

Missouri Route 21 begins at the Arkansas state line, where it continues southward as Highway 115. As the highway enters Ripley County, it passes through the city of Doniphan, where it intersects US 160 and Route 142. Route 21 runs concurrent with US 160 for a short distance before separating east of Doniphan.[5]

Continuing northward, Route 21 enters Carter County, where it meets US 60 near Van Buren. The highway briefly overlaps with US 60 before diverging and heading northeast into Reynolds County. In Reynolds County, Route 21 passes through Ellington, where it intersects Route 72 and continues northward toward Iron County.[6]

Upon reaching Iron County, Route 21 enters Arcadia and Pilot Knob, where it intersects Route 221. The highway then continues northward, passing through Washington County and reaching Potosi, where it meets Route 8. Further north, Route 21 intersects Route 47 near Old Mines before entering Jefferson County.[7]

In Jefferson County, Route 21 passes through De Soto, where it intersects Route 110. The highway continues northward, reaching Barnhart, where it meets Route M and Route MM. As Route 21 enters the St. Louis metropolitan area, it becomes a major arterial road known as Tesson Ferry Road, and passes through Concord and intersecting I-270. The highway then reaches its northern terminus at Route 30 in Affton.[8]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Ripley​0.0000.000
 AR 115 south – Pocahontas		Arkansas state line
​8.57813.805
 Route 142 west – Gatewood		Southern end of Route 142 overlap
​9.82515.812
 US 160 west – Alton		Southern end of US 160 overlap
Doniphan11.71418.852
 Route 142 east – Business District		Northern end of Route 142 overlap
​13.67722.011
 US 160 east – Poplar Bluff		Northern end of US 160 overlap
Carter​36.03157.986
 US 60 east – Poplar Bluff		Southern end of US 60 overlap
​45.60873.399

 US 60 west / Route 34 begins – Van Buren		Northern end of US 60 overlap; Southern end of Route 34 overlap
Reynolds​48.95978.792
 Route 34 east – Clearwater Dam, Piedmont		Northern end of Route 34 overlap
Ellington65.112104.788
 Route 106 west – Owls Bend, Eminence, Business District
​77.088124.061
 Route 72 west – Bunker		Southern end of Route 72 overlap
​85.027136.838
 Route 49 north – Black, Oates		Southern end of Route 49 overlap
Iron​98.252158.121
 Route 49 south – Annapolis		Northern end of Route 49 overlap
Arcadia107.967173.756
 Route 72 east		Northern end of Route 72 overlap
Pilot Knob110.072177.144
 Route 221 north
​119.405192.164
 Route 32 west		Southern end of Route 32 overlap
WashingtonCaledonia123.672199.031
 Route 32 east – Bismarck		Northern end of Route 32 overlap
Potosi135.913218.731 Route 8 – Potosi, Leadwood
Old Mines142.085228.664
 Route 47 south – Bonne Terre		Southern end of Route 47 overlap
​147.011236.591
 Route 47 north – Richwoods		Northern end of Route 47 overlap
Washington State Park149.523240.634
 Route 104 east
150.912242.869
 Route 104 west
Jefferson​161.379259.714
 Route 110 east
Hillsboro165.177265.827
 Route B begins / Business 21		Southern end of Route B overlap
​165.547266.422
 Route B north		Northern end of Route B overlap; southern end of freeway
Hillsboro167.854270.135 Route A / Business 21
​169.236272.359Hayden Road
​172.575277.733Old Route 21 - Goldman
​175.162281.896Old Route 21 / Schenk Road
Otto177.733286.034 Route MM / Route M – House Springs, Barnhart
​180.341290.231Old Route 21 - Shady Valley
​184.555297.012Old Route 21 - Meramec HeightsSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
​185.469298.483 Route 141 – Fenton, ArnoldInterchange; northern end of freeway
​185.864299.119Meramec Bottom Road
St. LouisConcord190.517306.607 I-270 – Chicago, MemphisI-270 exit 2
191.717308.539 US 50 / US 61 / US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard)
Affton194.126312.416 Route 30 (Gravois Road)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Hillsboro Business Spur

Route 21 Business
LocationHillsboro, Jefferson County

Business 21 follows the old alignment of Route 21 through the city of Hillsboro. It begins at the intersection of Route 21 and Highway B on the southern edge of the city, and continues north to the intersection of Route A and Old Route 21, where it ends. Business 21 is the only way one can now reach Route BB, as the rerouting of Route 21 bypasses the road.

See also

References

  1. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
  2. ^ "Scenic Byway Plan". Jefferson County, Missouri. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  3. ^ Jefferson County examines 'scenic byways' designation for routes 21 and M Archived 15 July 2012(Date mismatch) at archive.today
  4. ^ "ROUTE 21 IMPROVEMENTS (ROUTE B TO DESOTO)". Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
  6. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
  7. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
  8. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.

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