2026 Katy Trail Cycling Vacation
The 2026 Katy Trail Cycling Vacation, hosted by Padre's Cycle Inn, invites cycling enthusiasts to explore the scenic beauty of the Katy Trail.
Event Dates: September 13-19, 2026
Six Days, Six Nights
Lodging Provided the Nights of September 13-18
“Padre’s is a first class organization and the size of the group is ideal. Padre’s had our route to the tents well marked and provided a comfortable shady area to congregate and chat. I will definitely use Padre’s in the future if I do another RAGBRAI.”
Very friendly & organized. Loved the HOT coffee in the morning while other cyclists are scrambling to find coffee. Tents & mattresses clean. Shade was always a welcome site along with all the snacks when you arrive at the end of the day. Great, great service!!!”
“This was my first time using a full service tent service. From the time I checked in at the start town to the time I exited it was a great experience. Each person went out of their way to make every detail and every rider’s week a great one. I’ll be back.”
“Padre’s Cycle Inn was our first experience with “glamping” or what my husband and I called “Sherpa Camping”. We loved it! Ben was skeptical at first, but he’s been won over. The convenience can’t be beat, but the thing that really made it great was the hospitality. Dave, Suzie, and Matt were awesome hosts and a lot of fun. It was great getting to know them and spend our vacation with them. The first day of riding my husband blew a tire. The ride was not prepared to support bike maintenance, so Dave gave him a ride back into Lafayette to get the supplies he needed. That was truly above and beyond. Thanks to the whole team!”
"I used Padre’s Cycle Inn for the first time at the 2017 Cycle Zydeco. It was my first experience using a tent service and I was very happy with the quality of the tents & air mattresses, friendliness of staff, and the chairs provided. It was so nice to finish the day’s ride and walk to my tent and see my bags right there! Keep up the great work!”
“This was my third consecutive year RAGBRAI with Padre Cycle Inn. The service is great, I had a great tent, air mattress, and my bags were moved. I did not miss being in a motel at all. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy and being accommodated.”
“Padre’s Cycle Inn, during the 2017 Cycle Zydeco bike ride, did an exceptional job. Tent and mattress, towels, refreshments – it was all there when we needed it. Extremely friendly staff eager to make the ride enjoyable. I highly recommend Padre’s.”
Padre’s Cycle Inn provides excellent hospitality service for your bicycling adventure. Full tent service with your bags in your tent, awesome charging station, canopy tents and chairs to get you out of any weather and a wide assortment of snacks at the end of your ride. All a cyclist has to do is ride and enjoy the daily route.
Padre’s did an excellent job of caring for their guests. They have a Great staff that will care for you
Padre’s is the element that makes doing RAGBRAI possible and successful for me every year. They take on the planning and organizing. They think of details and the uniqueness of navigating each overnight town. They treat us like family and we are connected to all our riders. We enjoy each other’s company in camp and out on the ride. There is a cohesiveness that wouldn’t happen without Padre’s. I look forward to the reunion every year as we all come back
This Event is Limited to 30 Guests!
You don't want to miss this all-inclusive, fully supported, hotel based cycling vacation. Explore 239 scenic miles across the iconic Katy Trail! This vacation package includes six nights of lodging at inns and hotels, six days of cycling, and six days of meals. Also included are digital maps and navigation, SAG support, tour guidance, luggage transport, and more!
Tour Includes:
- Shuttle with bike and baggage transport from St. Charles to Clinton
- Free long-term parking
- Six nights of lodging at inns and hotels along the Katy Trail
- Baggage transport each day, directly to your hotel room
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners!
- Ride With GPS navigation and/or printable cue sheets
- Online tour guidance with points of interest and suggested activities
- SAG service and a route sweeper
- Multiple rest stops with nutrition and hydration
- Shuttle service to and from points of interest in towns
- Katy Trail souvenir jersey by Primal
- Available bike rental (additional cost)
- A friendly, helpful staff at your service!
Book Now, Before we Sell Out!
Tour Itinerary: 6 Days, 239 Miles
Select to View Each Days Itinerary
Sunday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Event Check-In
Country Inn & Suites
St. Charles, MO
3:00-5:00 pm
Lodging:
Country Inn & SuitesMeals:
Dinner: Lewis and Clark's
6:00 pm
Points of Interest:
Frontier Park
Lewis Boat House
Historic Main Street
Lewis and Clark Monument
Highlights: Check-in and bike loading will be at our host hotel, Country Inn & Suites, followed by an orientation meeting and dinner mixer in historic downtown St. Charles.
After dinner, take a stroll through Frontier Park and St. Charles Main Steet to visit some of the many shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and photo opportunities.
Fun Fact: St. Charles was the original state capital of Missouri from 1821 to 1826.
Monday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Clinton to Sedalia
38.1 Miles
Lodging:
Hotel BothwellMeals:
Breakfast: Country Inn & Suites
Lunch: Trailside Picnic
Dinner: Hotel Bothwell
Points of Interest:
Spirit of 76 Caboose
Trails End Monument and Tour
Missouri State Fairgrounds
Highlights: Monday morning at 7:00 am, we'll begin boarding the shuttle and travel to Clinton in air-conditioned vans. Once we reach our destination, we'll have a trailside catered lunch.
Along the bike route, 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 see the visitor center, great for photo opportunities. We'll also 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.
Tuesday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Sedalia to Boonville
36.5 Miles
Lodging:
Hotel FrederickMeals:
Breakfast: Hotel Bothwell
Lunch: Deon's
Dinner: Hotel Frederick
Points of Interest:
Rivers, Rails, & Trails Museum
Old Katy Trail Railroad Bridge
Historic Walking Tour
Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum
Isle of Capri Casino
Highlights: Tuesday, 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.
Wednesday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Boonville to Jefferson City
51.6 Miles
Lodging:
Courtyard by MarriottMeals:
Breakfast: Hotel Frederick
Lunch: Trailside Picnic
Dinner: Big Whiskey's
Points of Interest:
Mother of Santa Fe Trail Marker
New Franklin Katy Caboose
Rocheport Tunnel
Katy Trail Logo on the Bluffs
Diana Bend Conservation Area
Missouri State Capitol & Museum
Penitentiary Tour
Governor's Mansion
Central Dairy
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.
Wednesday’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 Courtyard by Marriott, one of Jefferson City’s nicest hotels.
Fun Fact: The Missouri State Penitentiary was home to notable inmates, such as Pretty Boy Floyd, James Earl Ray, and Sonny Liston.
Thursday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Jefferson City to Hermann
47.5 Miles
Lodging:
Hermann Crown SuitesMeals:
Breakfast: Courtyard by Marriott
Lunch: Holzhauzer's
Dinner: Hermann Crown Suites
Points of Interest:
Standing Rock in Mokane
Deutchheim Historical Site
Hermanhoff Winery
Fernweh Distilling Co
Tin Mill Brewing
Hermann Crown Suites
Highlights: Thursday, 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.
Right in the heart of downtown, well spent the night at the historic Hermann Crown, which boasts 34 themed master suites.
Fun Fact: German immigrants from Pennsylvania settled in Hermann in the mid-1800s, where the terrain reminded them of Rhineland.
Friday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Hermann to Washington
29.3 Miles
Lodging:
Best Western in WashingtonMeals:
Breakfast: Hermann Crown Suites
Lunch: Trailside Picnic
Dinner: Old Dutch Tavern
Points of Interest:
The Old Peers Store
Katy Caboose
Blumenhof Winery
Caboose at Washington Welcome Center
Highlights: Friday, we'll pass through the quaint town of Marthasville, Daniel Boone's original resting place, on our way to Augusta.
Enjoy a beverage at the trailhead before boarding the shuttle that takes us to our host hotel across the river, in Washington, or head over to Blumenhof Winery before hopping on the shuttle.
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.
Saturday
- Frontier Park
- Lewis Boat House
- Historic Main Street
- Lewis and Clark Monument
- St. Charles Trolley
Washington to St Charles
36.2 Miles
Lodging:
On Your OwnMeals:
Breakfast: Best Western
Lunch: Picnic at Frontier Park
Dinner: Explore on Your Own
Points of Interest:
Daniel Boone Judgement Tree Memorial
The Sunflower Murals
Lewis Boat House
First Missouri State Capitol Site and Tour
Old Mill Stream Inn
Frontier Park - Lewis & Clark Monument & Old Depot
Bike Stop Cafe
Joys Collective Market
Frenchtown Heritage Museum
Highlights: Saturday, 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.
Katy Trail Vacation Tour 2026 Prices
Early
- Single $2995
- Double $2295 per person
Regular Price
- Single $3195
- Double $2595 per person
It will either be a King bed or two Queen beds in the room. Hotel and room options are limited in some overnight locations so the bed type may vary depending on the hotel.
Yes, for 2025, you can click here to rent a bike for this event: https://padres-katy-rental-bikes.square.site/
If you choose, you can meet us in Clinton and park at the community center right here. After you place your order, you’ll click on the Complete Rider/Guest Info button and let us know that you’ll meet us in Clinton instead of St. Charles.
Yes. You can book another night after the event with the Country Inn & Suites.
You’ll see all types of bikes on the Katy Trail and we’ve even ridden road bikes with 25mm tires. However, since trail conditions can vary depending on the section and weather, we generally recommend having tires that are 32mm or wider.
The Katy Trail is a crushed limestone surface. There are a few sections that will be pavement.
Lambert St Louis airport is only 8 miles from the Comfort Suites in St Charles, which is typically a 10 to 15 minute drive.
Yes, let us know if you’re a vegetarian or have other food restrictions. After you place your order, you’ll click on the Complete Rider/Guest Info button and there will be a question you’ll answer about dietary needs.
Yes, we can support non-riders. Non-riders will still need to purchase a registration and will just be transported between towns in our passenger van. Please notify us when you Complete Rider/Guest Info if you are a non-rider.
We’ll have SAG available to pick you up from the nearest trailhead to transport you and your bike to the evenings lodging.
No, you’ll need to know when booking who you’ll be rooming with on the event.
We don’t currently have our system set up for deposits. In the future, we may support deposits. Feel free to email us if this is the only way you’ll be able to register so we can see if we can arrange an option.
Yes. There is a coin laundry in the hotel in Jefferson City.