What are the Deadliest Roads in Missouri?

February 23, 2026

Originally posted February 21, 2022. Updated February 23, 2026.

Driving anywhere presents a risk, but your chances of getting into an accident may increase on Missouri roads compared to in other states. According to the latest Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) statistics, the motor vehicle fatality rate in Missouri was 16.0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (987 fatalities in total in a year). That’s 30% higher than the national average (11.7 per 100,000)!

However, the fatalities are not distributed evenly across the state, and specific roads have gained a reputation for being deadlier than others. Learn about the top deadliest roads in Missouri and find out where they rank compared to the rest of the nation.

1. HIGHWAY 63

US Route 63, better known as US 63 or Highway 63, is a non-interstate highway created in 1926, starting in Ashland, Wisconsin, and ending in Ruston, Louisiana. This route spans six states, including the entirety of Missouri, which it bisects from north to south.

In 2019, the fleet tracking and management company Geotab analyzed and compiled two years of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). They found that the 337-mile stretch of Highway 63 in Missouri saw 158 crashes and 179 fatalities from 2009 to 2019, or just over 1 death every 2 miles. Consequently, Highway 63 was named the deadliest route in Missouri.

One recent tragedy on Highway 63 involved a November 2025 crash between two teen drivers, resulting in the death of an unborn child.

2. INTERSTATE 70

Interstate 70 (I-70) is one of the interstate network’s longest and most important highways. I-70 spans 2,151 miles from Cove Fort, Utah, to Hagerstown, Maryland, and crosses 10 states.

The Missouri section of I-70 is about 250 miles long and crosses the entirety of the state from Kansas City to St. Louis. Most of the accidents and fatalities on the Missouri I-70 occur in these two cities.

I-70 is infamous nationwide for being one of the deadliest highways in the United States, with 134 fatalities in 2020. It frequently ranks as one of the most dangerous highways in the states it traverses.

December 2025 saw a cyclist killed by a semi-truck, as well as a pedestrian killed while outside their own vehicle after a previous crash on I-70.

3. HIGHWAY 71

US Route 71 (US 71, Highway 71) is a 1,500 mile stretch of non-interstate highway. It spans the entire contiguous United States from Bemidji, Minnesota, in the north, to Krotz Springs, Louisiana, in the south.

Highway 71 crosses 6 states, and the Missouri section is one of the longest, spanning almost 377 miles and passing through Kansas City. The Kansas City sections are among the deadliest in the state, with a single 7.8 mile stretch (located on the Bruce R. Watkins Drive) being the site of numerous fatalities.

In December 2025, a Kansas City driver died after crashing into a metal barrier near the I-70 and 71 Highway. Later in the same month, a concrete truck driver passed away after a rollover crash on  US 71.

4. HIGHWAY 21

Missouri Route 21 (MO 21), often called Highway 21 by locals, is a relatively short north-south non-interstate highway. Highway 21 starts in Affton (south of St. Louis) and ends at the Arkansas state line, continuing as Arkansas Highway 115.

Although it is only 188 miles long, Highway 21 is one of the deadliest roads in Missouri, due in part to what is historically and popularly known as the “Missouri Blood Alley.” The name references other routes in the United States that have received similar nicknames (e.g., the infamous California State Route 37).

The Missouri Blood Alley is a 28-mile stretch of Highway 21, beginning just past the Meramec River and the St. Louis county line and ending in De Soto, MO and has a historically high fatality rate.

Despite efforts to modernize the highway and bring it up to multi-lane freeway standards, MO 21 remains known as the “Blood Alley.” Accidents in the past year on this ominous stretch of road include a fatal, head-on crash between a car and a dump truck in April 2025, as well as another head-on crash that resulted in one dead and three injured in October 2025.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO MISSOURI’S DANGEROUS ROADS

Several elements make Missouri’s highways particularly hazardous:

• Poor Road Design and Infrastructure: Many stretches feature minimal safety barriers or limited shoulders. These older road designs increase collision risks and leave little room for error when drivers need to take evasive action.
• Heavy Commercial Traffic: Many of these routes serve as major commercial corridors, meaning passenger vehicles frequently share the road with large trucks and tractor-trailers. The size and weight disparity between commercial vehicles and passenger cars can result in catastrophic injuries.
• High-Risk Driver Behaviors: The combination of high speed limits, driver fatigue on long rural stretches, distracted driving, and impaired driving further compounds the dangers outlined above.
• Weather Conditions: Missouri’s variable climate, including rain, storms, and year-round fog, can reduce visibility and traction on roads. These conditions are especially treacherous on routes like Highway 21’s “Blood Alley,” where curves and elevation changes become even more dangerous when roads are slick.

At Cofman Townsley, our attorneys understand the unique challenges posed by these dangerous roads. We’ve represented clients injured on every route mentioned in this article and know firsthand how devastating these crashes can be for families across the state.

INJURED IN A SERIOUS CRASH? CONTACT OUR MISSOURI PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS 

Since 1973, Cofman Townsley has helped countless families in Missouri and Southern Illinois obtain the compensation they need after serious and even deadly motor vehicle crashes. Our team of Missouri car accident lawyers has been proudly representing the interests of our clients for over four decades. If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident and needs legal help, contact us today for a free initial case review.