Katy Trail Vacation Tour 2025

Highlights: Sunday morning at 7am, we'll board the shuttle and travel to Clinton in air-conditioned vans. Once we reach our destination, we'll have a trailside catered lunch.

Along the way, we'll pass by the Spirit of 76 caboose, and hopefully get a chance to peek inside this caboose, which was restored to its original beauty in 1990.

We'll then ride on to Sedalia, home of the Missouri State Fair. In Sedalia, we'll have the opportunity to visit the State Fair Grounds and see the Trails End Monument and self-guided tour there.

We'll then take in the interior views during our dinner and overnight stay at the historic Hotel Bothwell. Built in 1927, this hotel still has stylings of its era, including gold cornices, marble baseboards, and a breathtaking crystal chandelier. Some say that ghosts stay at the hotel and watch over the guests.

Fun Fact: Sedalia is the home of the Missouri State Fair - and home to Scott Joplin.

Highlights: Monday, we'll travel through Boone County, the stomping grounds of pioneer, Daniel Boone.

When we arrive in Boonville, we'll have the opportunity to tour the Rivers, Rails, & Trails Museum, as well as the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum.

We'll then dine and stay at the historic Hotel Frederick, built in 1905. Boonville boasts over 400 sites and structures on the National Register of Historic places, and you can learn about these during the town's Historic Walking Tour, which highlights 23 historic sites.

Fun Fact: Hotel Frederick was built in 1905 and cost just $40,000 to construct.

Highlights: Just a few miles into the day's ride, we'll see one of the cabooses situated along the trail in New Franklin. While there, also check out the Mother of Sante Fe Marker monument.

Tuesday's route will also take us through the Rocheport Tunnel. Be sure to spend some time in picturesque Rocheport, where you can also hike above the town on the Diana Bend boardwalk and nature trail, a scenic hike that's photo-worthy.

Along this portion of the trail, you can look up and see some of the highest bluffs of the trail towering above. Just outside of Rocheport, you might spot the MKT logo etched in to the side of these remarkable bluffs.

We'll cross the bike-friendly Roy Blunt Bridge as we arrive in the state capital of Jefferson City. There you can tour the state capitol and Missouri Capitol Museum or the governor's mansion. We also recommend the history-filled tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary. And you won't want to miss a scoop or two at Central Dairy ice cream parlor.

We'll spend the night at the iconic Capitol Plaza Hotel.

Fun Fact: The Missouri State Penitentiary was home to notable inmates, such as Pretty Boy Floyd, James Earl Ray, and Sonny Liston.

Highlights: Wednesday, you'll have a photo opportunity near Mokane, at Standing Rock, a giant boulder with the appearance of having been set there on its end by a giant.

We'll also travel through what is known as the Rhineland Region of Missouri, arriving in the historic German town of Hermann, also known as Little Germany.

There, you can tour Stone Hill or Hermanhoff Winery. You might have a taste at Fernweh Distilling, or a beer at Tin Mill Brewery.

You might just take a stroll through town to experience some of the history and architecture of Hermann, which has more than 150 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Nestled among these historic buildings is Captain Wohlt Inn, where we'll spend the evening enjoying dinner and live music. After dinner, we'll reminisce about the day in the courtyard of the inn before heading to one of the inn's newly remodeled rooms.

Fun Fact: German immigrants from Pennsylvania settled in Hermann in the mid-1800s, where the terrain reminded them of Rhineland.

Highlights: Thursday, we'll pass through the quaint town of Marthasville, Daniel Boone's original resting place, on our way to Augusta.

Enjoy a beer at Good News Brewing or a glass of wine from Augusta Winery before boarding the shuttle that takes us to our host hotel across the river, in Washington.

After dining at the historic Old Dutch Tavern, you can take a stroll along the riverfront to take in the views, stop at the visitor center, or get a photo of the red caboose that sits along the riverfront. There are also some shops and spots to stop in for a drink.

Fun Fact: Daniel Boone died in Defiance, Missouri, not far from the Katy Trail. However it is uncertain whether he is buried in Defiance or back in his home state of Kentucky.

Highlights: Friday, we'll make our way back to St. Charles. You can't miss the Sunflower Silos near Matson. Stop for a picture on the way.

If you don't mind a bit of a climb on the bike, Klondike Park is worth stopping to see as well with some paved and unpaved trails, along with a white sand lake.

When we arrive, we plan to meet at Frontier Park for a picnic lunch, celebration, and photo opportunities of monuments, architecture, and the two cabooses at the park. Showers will be available upon arrival as well.

Feel free to tour the Lewis Boat House and Museum, which includes a plethora of pioneer history, as well as a replica of the Lewis and Clark keelboat.

We highly recommend booking an extra night to explore the countless sights to see in downtown St. Charles!

Fun Fact: Just before setting out, Lewis and Clark bought all of the tobacco that was available for sale in St. Charles.