Rolla
Around Rolla
Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Missouri · 45k people
Rolla
“The Middle of Everywhere”
Small-town charm at the crossroads of the Ozarks.
deep forest greengold
Welcome to Rolla, where the Ozarks meet Route 66. Expect friendly folks, great outdoor adventures, and a taste of small-town Missouri. Whether you're here for the caves, the floats, or the barbecue, you'll find a home in the heart of the hills.
Clubs for Rolla
No clubs for Rolla yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Rolla. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Rolla. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- University of Missouri S&T Historic engineering campus with a Stonehenge replica
- Mark Twain National Forest Sprawling public land for hiking, camping, and scenic drives
- Maramec Spring Park Public park with a natural spring and trout hatchery
- Route 66 The Mother Road runs through Cuba and Rolla, lined with murals and vintage stops
- World's Largest Rocking Chair A 42-foot roadside attraction in Fanning
- Cuba Mural City Over a dozen murals celebrating Route 66 and local history
- Outdoors Hike the Ozark Trail
- Outdoors Float the Meramec River
- With kids See the Route 66 murals in Cuba
- With kids Visit the Rolla Depot and its model trains
- Evenings Catch live music at a local brewery taproom
- Evenings Trivia nights at downtown bars
- Locals love Brewery taprooms
- Locals love Trout parks
Through the year
- Phelps County Fair July County fair with rides, livestock, and local food
- Cuba Route 66 Festival June Celebrates the Mother Road with music, cars, and murals
- Maramec Spring Trout Derby April Fishing derby at the spring park with prizes
- Steelville Bluegrass Festival August Weekend of bluegrass bands in the park
- Rolla First Friday monthly Monthly art walk and open galleries downtown
Humid subtropical with four distinct seasons. Expect hot, humid summers and chilly winters. The best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities with mild temperatures.
Getaways
- Jefferson City Tour the Missouri State Capitol and riverfront
- Columbia College town with shops, dining, and the Mizzou campus
- Lebanon Visit the Route 66 Museum and historic downtown
- Fort Leonard Wood See the John J. Pershing Memorial and military museum
Local flavour
Rooting for St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), St. Louis Blues (NHL), Missouri Tigers (NCAA DI)
Eat and drink
- Breadeaux Pizza Local chain that started in Rolla
- Ozark-style BBQ Smoked meats with a sweet and tangy sauce
- Fried catfish A regional staple, often served with hushpuppies
- Blackberry pie Wild blackberries are common in the Ozarks
Where people go
- Route 66 landmarks Historic highway passes through Rolla, with vintage motels and diners
- Caves and springs Onondaga Cave State Park and other karst features
- Mark Twain National Forest Vast forested areas for hiking and camping
- Breweries Local craft breweries like Public House Brewing Company
Heritage and traditions
Rolla and the surrounding Ozarks are proud of their small-town friendliness, deep mining and railroad heritage, and the frontier spirit of the Missouri S&T engineering community.
This time of year in Rolla
- Fall foliage drives October Scenic drives through the Ozarks in October.
- Missouri S&T Homecoming October Alumni weekend with football game, parade, and campus reunions.
Say it like a local: “holler” — hollow, a small valley
Festivals
- St. Pat's Celebration March Missouri S&T's annual St. Patrick's Day festival with a parade, green fountain dyeing, and campus events.
- St. James Grape Stomp September Winery event celebrating the grape harvest with stomping, tastings, and live music.
- Missouri S&T Homecoming October Alumni weekend with football game, parade, and campus reunions.
Landmarks with a story
- Phelps County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Rolla, built in the 1890s, with a distinctive clock tower.
- St. James Historic District Downtown St. James retains early 20th-century storefronts and a small-town feel.
- Cuba's Route 66 Motels Historic motor courts along Route 66 in Cuba, some still operating.
Food traditions
- Wine tasting and vineyard picnics St. James wineries offer tastings and picnic spots, part of Missouri's wine heritage.
- Fresh trout dinners Trout raised at Maramec Spring Hatchery are a local specialty, often grilled or fried.
- German-inspired sausages German settlers brought sausage-making traditions, seen at local festivals and butcher shops.
- Blackberry pie Ozark blackberries are picked in summer and baked into pies, a regional favorite.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass and old-time music The Ozarks have a strong bluegrass tradition, with local festivals and jam sessions.
- Route 66 murals Cuba's 'Mural City' features large murals depicting Route 66 history and Ozark life.
- Ozark crafts Quilting, woodworking, and basket weaving are traditional crafts in the region.
- Missouri S&T performing arts University theater and music performances open to the community.
A little history
- 1857 Rolla founded as a railroad town on the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway.
- 1861 Union troops occupied Rolla during the Civil War, making it a supply depot.
- 1870 Missouri School of Mines (now Missouri S&T) established, bringing engineering education.
- 1960s Lead mining boomed in the Viburnum Trend, one of the world's largest lead deposits.
- 1926 Route 66 brought travelers through Rolla and Cuba, shaping roadside culture.
Rivalries
- Rolla vs. St. James high school football Annual game that draws big crowds
- Missouri Tigers vs. Kansas Jayhawks Border rivalry in college football and basketball
- St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals In-state MLB rivalry
- St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks NHL rivalry with a nearby city
- Game day Missouri S&T football games
- Game day High school Friday night lights
- Outdoors Caving at Onondaga Cave State Park
- Outdoors Hunting in Mark Twain National Forest
- With kids Rolla City Park
- With kids Rolla Public Library
Ozark English blends Southern and Midwestern accents, with a drawl and Appalachian terms like 'crick' and 'holler'. Locals often use 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'.
Only here
- The World's Largest Rocking Chair in Cuba, a Route 66 landmark.
- The Stonehenge replica on Missouri S&T's campus, built by students.
- St. Pat's celebration where the campus fountain is dyed green.
- The Missouri S&T nuclear reactor, one of the few university research reactors in the US.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Rolla' as 'RAH-luh' (rhymes with 'dollar').
- Expect hot, humid summers and cold winters; spring brings tornado watches.
- I-44 is the main highway; watch for heavy truck traffic.
- Check Missouri S&T's event calendar for lectures, sports, and cultural events.
- Try the local wineries and BBQ spots early on.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaSalemMissouriClear rivers, deep woods, and warm smiles.Fort Leonard WoodMissouriSmall-town charm with a big Army heart.HermannMissouriWhere the Missouri River meets German heritage and wine.Jefferson CityMissouriMissouri's riverfront capital, where the heart of the state beats.Lake of the OzarksMissouriWhere the hills meet the water.LebanonMissouriSmall-town heart, lake-country soul.FarmingtonMissouriHeart of the Lead BeltColumbiaMissouriFriendly, lively, and full of tiger pride.
Rolla, MO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.