For Westbound Travelers: follow Route 66 Blvd. out of Carthage, until you reach Pine Street. Turn left, heading south, until you reach Main Street, then turn right for the drive through Carterville. Downtown Carterville is small and quiet. With Joplin, Webb City, and Carthage all nearby, there’s not much left of the commerce pie. Downtown business consists of the Triple K Saddle Shop (complete with horse out front, and a nice sign hanging above the door), and that’s about it. Most other buildings on the short downtown stretch are empty. Note: This trip was first published in 2008.