Katy Trail: Rail-Trail Ride Across Missouri

Ride the Longest Rail-Trail in America!

Spend six glorious days pedaling from inn to inn on car-free, crushed limestone paths. The KATY Trail travels through the most scenic areas of Missouri. Most of the journey finds us intertwined with the Missouri River. The scenery changes often: quaint midwestern towns, limestone bluffs, and leafy green forests are your companions on this 6-day journey through the “Show-Me State.”

 

What started as an incredible railroad endeavor is now an amazing way to cycle in Missouri! Just you, your bike and your fellow riders cruising through lush forest and open fields alongside the Missouri River.

 

Request a Tour Itinerary for more detailed information and logistics.  Custom bike tour departures available for groups of 6 or more.

Tour Highlights

Car-free riding from start to finish

Longest Rail-Trail in the United States!

Cozy inns for post-ride relaxing

Breathtaking limestone cliffs

Spectacular views of the Missouri River

Great little towns bursting with character

Lodging Options

Hotel Bothwell

Schoolhouse B&B

Courtyard by Marriott

Hermann Crown Suites

Inn at Elijah McLean's

Day 1: After a shuttle from the trip gathering location and end point in St. Charles, we begin the first leg of the trail in Clinton, Missouri.  The ride passes through pasture and prairie first settled by European pioneers by way of wagon trains. Spend the night where Harry S. Truman once slept, the Hotel Bothwell.

 

Day 2: Visit the Katy Depot & Museum, a restored Victorian train station that serves as the official Katy Trail welcome center, and ride until you meet up with the Missouri River. “Boonelick Country” was the first permanent American settlement west of St. Louis.

 

Day 3: Begin riding beneath the Manitou Bluffs, towering limestone cliffs that were once held sacred by Native American tribes. Pedal through pumpkin, soy and corn fields to Jefferson City State Capitol.

 

Day 4: Cycle through the “Rhineland Region,” settled by Germans attracted by fertile soil and wild grapes, and spend the night in Hermann, which is still home to four outstanding wineries.

 

Day 5: Observe even more European influence as you travel through the farthest settlements west of the Mississippi River, the most prevalent of which were French and Native American. Travel through Marthasville, the original resting place of Daniel Boone, and where he “possibly” still resides.

 

Day 6: Watch the landscape morph from farmland to suburbia as you draw closer to historic St. Charles, a trading post town. A final lunch at Trail Head Brewery concludes your journey on the Katy! We will ride right back to guests’ vehicles at the conclusion of our tour.

 

Psst, over here, we have some sweet Katy Trail Jerseys in our web store

“We loved this biking trip, and meeting such wonderful fellow bikers and excellent guides was a great biking experience.”

~Joe Torello

Top Blog Posts for Katy Trail Bike Tour

It would be impossible to go bike touring on the Katy Trail across Missouri without encountering historical places. These spots tell the story of the settlers who traveled across and explored the land… Read More.

When the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) rail line joined forces in 1870, it became the very first rail line connecting the state of Texas with other states. Its inaugural roll into Denison, Texas, on Christmas Day in 1872 launched a decades-long role as a major interstate route for commerce… Read More.

Trip Information

6

Trip Length - Days

bike-rail
Tour Type
Rail Trail
Active-Difficulty
Tour Rating
Active
Bike Tour Routes with Elevation gain and loss
Route Overview
E-bikes Allowed

Required Specifications

  • 50 pounds or less weight limit
  • Pedal assist only
  • Removable battery
  • 5+ hour battery capacity
27-50

Daily Mileage

Check In Location
St. Charles, MO
Katy Bike Tour Locator map
Tour Area
SAG Vehicle New York Finger Lakes Bike Tour
Support & Gear Vehicle
18

Minimum Age

Meals

5 Breakfasts | 6 Lunches
3 Dinners

*This is required if you are traveling solo or if you are traveling with someone but require separate beds.

2024 Pricing
  • PP Double Occupancy

    $2375
  • Single Supplement*

    $490
  • Standard Bike Rental

    $210

*This is required if you are traveling solo or if you are traveling with someone but require separate beds.

RESERVE ONLINE BY DATE

Select your departure date and click to reserve your bike tour!

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