Okay, Kansas folks. Step up to the plate

I'm driving cross-country next week. We'll stop either in St. Louis, Columbia or Kansas City.

We're traveling with a pup. I have a printout of the LaQuintas along that stretch of road.

Do you have any suggestions? Better hotel options? Which LaQuinta may be a better stop? Any suggestions welcomed!

Well, STL, Columbia, and half of KC are in Missouri. (I'm assuming you mean the larger, University town in MO vs. the small one in KS).

Anyway, I love Kansas City. I've stayed at this Residence Inn on the Plaza before, and it is in a good location and quite nice.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/MCIKC

They do allow pets for a fee.

I'm not aware of any La Quinta's in the plaza area, but there may be some. That is the best area in which to stay in KC.

STL is a fun city too, but I can't help with pet-friendly hotels there.

Topping

There is a LaQuinta at I-35 & 95th St. in Lenexa, KS (west side sub of KC). I think they've done quite a bit of remodeling since we stayed there about 5 years ago. Seems there is a new one in Olathe, I'll have to check that out for sure. Olathe is a nice town and good shopping, hotels & restaurants all right together. It's just south of KC area, pretty much a suburb anymore.

Starrs, how long will you have when you are there, if you go to KC. I'd love to meet you for lunch or dinner if it would work out. I'd drive the 2 hrs to see you in a heartbeat! What day do you think you would be there? email me.

It's about 3 hours from St. Louis to KC, depending on traffic on the Inter-state.

I was right, there is a fairly new LaQuinta in Olathe, but it's SW part of town, near the Mall of the Great Plains, along I-35 south. That is very near where my son used to live.

Yep, dexter. It was a friendly taunt to the KS Fodorites who have complained that no one asks about their state. The last time we stopped twice - in St. Louis and in Hays. This trip is going to be a marathon drive. We're having to squeeze the trip in between the movers' pick-up of DF's stuff and my flight back to get to the Savannah GTG.

I used the "route" option on the LQ website and we have a printout of the 12 to 14 LaQuintas stretched out from St. Louis to Kansas City. We know we can make it to St. Louis and would like to make it to Kansas City. I'm thinking we'll land in Columbia. DF has pulled his back and is in pain and on a routine to try to get vertical (without pain) before the drive. I've driven the drive before several times (once non-stop switching off drivers - NOT recommended) but it's been a few years.

PG, I'm not sure it's going to work out. We'll probably have to just wait until Savannah. I could call about 4 hours out to let you know where we are, but we've opted to drive as much as possible so I can help shop for a house when we get there. There would be more time if I weren't trying to get back in time for the fun in Savannah

Thanks all!