Rock Island Trail Forum

Are bikes welcome in the rooms?

Hello All: We are planning to take the train from Kirkwood to Sedalia in early October. Is there anywhere to park a car near the train station in Kirkwood? Or should we park in St Charles and bike down to Kirkwood? Thanks for your help.

Not sure about long term parking at the Kirkwood station but I do know that it would be a long ride from St. Charles. Also, in my my opinion dangerous. Lots of busy roads and highways. I wouldn't want to do it but maybe there's a shuttle that would take you.

Thanks for your response. I have put another question out there about a shuttle.

We are going to drive to St. Charles from Indiana, park, then shuttle to Clinton and ride back to St. Charles. Is there a safe place to leave the car in St. Charles?

Like Geo from Bentonville, we also ordered lunch from Rachel. It was more food than I expected, and it was really nice to sit still at the trailhead and eat a balanced, healthy meal. Such a welcome break from trail mix and granola bars.

This was the best campground along the Katy Trail! For a mere $10/person we were able to camp (in a popup camper on our truck) near the "bath house" where there are 2 showers as well as FREE laundry facilities. It's situated in a beautiful open field, away from the road so it's really quiet. Liz & her daughter Kelly are super friendly and helpful. I highly recommend Lazy Liz!!!

My Scouts in Minneapolis decided to bike from Kansas City to St Louis, and we are just starting to plan this Trip for June of 2025.

I'm pretty sure we won't come close to making it the whole way, and part of the planning process will be figuring out where we start, where we stop, and where we camp in between.

I've read through a lot of the reviews about campgrounds, but very few mention any kind of group reference.

Can anyone suggest some campsites that might be good for 20-25 Scouts? We'll have a few shuttle vehicles as well.

Also if anyone has any suggestions for a Scout Troop doing this we'd love to hear it.

You could start by checking out some organized rides and see when they do their rides and where they camp. One that comes to mind is the bigbamride.com

The Department of Revenue had annual rides in June but they no longer do those.

One thing about riding in June - the daylight is longer but it can also be hotter.

Ted, we have enjoyed hosting Scout troops on many occasions at our campground at Katy-Rock Junction, LLC in Windsor, Mo. We offer a safe, clean, and enjoyable camping experience just a few feet from the Katy Trail with lots of amenities and a Scouts group rate, as well as ample vehicle parking and secure bike storage. We would be delighted if you would consider including a stay at Katy-Rock Junction in your 2025 Scouts cycling adventure. You can reach us at 660-233-1010. Happy Trails!

Windsor has an option.

The Katy Roundhouse in New Franklin comes to mind. Have camped there before when a scout group was there also. The Hermann city park and Klondike park may also be options.

The Trip Planner will let you see where camping is available. From there I would contact camp providers directly to discuss the reality of a group of your size using there facility. Reservations and/or info directly from them may prevent the disappointment of just trying to stop in.

Being a Scout myself, I'm a firm believer in the moto "Be Prepared."

In my opinion, you would want to plan for 50 to 60 mile days, so here is my recommendation: Pleasant Hill trailhead on the Rock Island Trail just southeast of Kansas City to Windsor (48 miles and absolutely stay at the Katy-Rock Junction); Windsor to New Franklin (61 miles of rolling hills and stay at the Katy Roundhouse campsite); New Franklin to Tebbetts (57 miles and stay inside at the Turner Shelter with all of their bunkbeds); Tebbetts to Marthasville (54 miles and camp at their Community Club Park); finally Marthasville to St. Charles (40 miles). If you want to ring the bell at the end of the trail in Machens, then that will be another 13 miles and you will then have to double back a few miles to get picked up and load your trailers.

This looked like a great spot but the bike parking structures are around the corner and out of sight. After dealing with a homeless guy with a very aggressive dog on the bridge I didn't want my bike out of sight while I ate. Maybe next time. They have large front windows. I wish the city would put bike locking structures out front.

So Sorry to hear that. And you missed a nice lunch. Perhaps if that happens to someone else, they could lock up over at the Frederick Hotel. It is across the street, so that might be too far. But I think you could see it from the front window - not positive about that though.
I get it though, sure don't want to lose your bike!!

Just saw a video on YouTube that I believe was yours Gregg. If so, well done.....thanks for taking us along on your journey.

We've eaten on the bench in front of the Main Street Diner. Phoned ahead with our order and they delivered to the bench. Have also locked our bikes together and to the bench which worked well for no longer than we were inside. There is also a light pole right on the corner in front of the restaurant. We've never had any complaints using the bench or the light pole.

Wishing that the city would put a bike locking structure out front begs the question, where else might you stop that you'd think the city should accommodate you?

Can we have the link to the YouTube video?

Search Katy Trail on YouTube Billy....there are very few that are recent.

Homestretch of Day 6. After the St. Charles stop for lunch, I headed to Machens to ring that terminus bell. It's about 12 miles from St. Charles. As this forum page suggests, there's not much there but I had to ride the Trail end to end for it to be official for me. The Trail meanders through tree-lined areas, farm fields, passes some residential areas but other than that, there's no place to stop. I think I remember a sports facility along the way. Black Walnut is a TH but has no amenities so I took my photo and moved on. As the previous poster on this forum mentioned, there is a chain across the road about .25 miles from the Machens TH to the north. I heard that road is not private property so I am not sure why the owner of the chain is allowed to keep riders from being picked up closer to the TH. Maybe it is private but either way, I rode out of the TH on a somewhat hidden human-made trail, turned left then right onto the road and onward to the chained barricade with a no trespassing sign posted. Katy Trail complete! 278 miles and 6 days.

October 14, 2024 - 6th and final day. Started in Washington, jumped on the Trail at the Dutzow TH. The journey was ~40 miles. From Washington, there were only a couple of bathroom breaks otherwise it was full speed (13.9 mph average) to St. Charles. I've been to St. Charles and specifically the Bike Stop Cafe because where else does a cyclist go for lunch (even when I am not on a trail ride). I had a tuna melt with vegan chili and a beer which was perfect for the chilly ride that day. I started out at around 46 degrees with no long pants (forgot to pack the right type). My feet never warmed up so that chili hit the spot plus the propane firepit I ate next to was much appreciated. It barely broke 60 degrees that day but I pressed on to Machens after a hearty lunch break. St. Charles is a very touristy town with lots of shops, overnight accommodations, wine bars, restaurants and history information about the Trail. This day it was decked out for Fall and Halloween.

October 13th - Day 5 of my Katy Trail Adventure. Washington is ~4 miles from the Dutzow TH. I opted to stay in Washington as I have many times for various events, BBQ and Blues and Winefest. The Hoefel House Bike Hostel/B&B was a real treat. The hosts, Kurt and Peggy were made for the hospitality business. Originally planning to stay in a hostel room, I changed my mind and rewarded myself with the Locomotive Suite. Did not disappoint and the service provided by the hosts was nothing short of and better than a 5-star resort. Highly recommend and worth the extra miles off the trail. I recommend the Augusta Bottom Road route suggestion be updated with the mention of the pavement ending and turning into a rough unmaintained gravel road. I opted for it based on the recommendation from this website thinking it was paved the whole way; however, I will take the highway next time. The shoulder is wide enough for me and the 15 mph winds and 30 mph gusts would have served me better on the highway route as tailwind. On the Augusta Bottom route, these winds were cross winds, mixed with dust from the passing cars and one vehicle driver who decided to add to my challenge by screaming around me, fishtailing and stirring up enough dust that I could chew it. Never again! In Washington, most businesses are closed up by 9p. It was a Sunday so many were not even open when I arrived. I had a salmon dinner at Marquart's Landing, a bar setting with decent food, beer and service. I didn't mind the quietness of the town. It was fitting for my Katy Trail journey. Peace and serenity. The evening was spent outside stargazing and exchanging stories with the hosts who were respectful of privacy but also available for socializing. The next morning was filled with a breakfast made for a Queen. I was fueled up and ready for my final day on the Katy Trail. Day 6.

Leaving this comment about the Hermann City Park on the McKittrick Trailhead forum as there is no forum link for Hermann. It was Octoberfest when I was riding the Trail from October 9th through the 14th. I wanted to visit the German town of Hermann during this month. Hermann is two miles south from the McKittrick TH. It was Day 4. The City Park is $15/night with a limited number of fire rings. There is a shower house which I needed badly since Hartsburg's shower option was unavailable. You basically pick a grassy spot for a tent and call it your site. There were no more fire rings available so I built my fire in the pedestal grill located on one side of the pavilion. The pavilion has power to charge electronics and a plethora of picnic tables. The City Park was full of RVs and other tent campers; however, I was completely alone between the pavilion and playground. Occasionally a few kids would play on the equipment but at nightfall it was fairly peaceful given the fact that the park is adjacent to Highway 19. I discovered Stone Hill Winery was .5 miles away and ready for a break after setting up camp so I rode the half mile, up a VERY steep hill to the winery where I bought a bottle of wine and sat at a picnic table on a hill overlooking the residential section of Hermann. Live music played in the background. They have a restaurant on site so since it was dinner time, I decided to eat there. You can bring your bottle of wine in the restaurant which I enjoyed with the best trout, fingerling potatoes and roasted Brussel sprouts. Afterwards, I rode to Casey's and bought a bundle of wood for my 'grill' fire. The next morning I enjoyed breakfast at Ainsley's. Get there early as it's popular. They take you in the order you arrived. It was delicious! Great start to Day 5's ride to Washington.

Day 4 was from Hartsburg to Hermann, the longest ride of the journey, ~60 miles. In my research, there aren't any food options between these two points. After reading some reviews of Happy Trails Katy-ring Service, I decided to give it a try. I called Rachel who answered right away. She informed me that this is not her 'business' rather it is out of kindness (my words) that she provides lunch to trail riders. If she is available, she'll deliver it to you in person, otherwise, it will be waiting in the refrigerator at the Turner Shelter. She was very accommodating to my vegetarian diet. I order a veggie sandwich, veggies, fruit and pretzels. Rachel texted me in the morning of Day 4 to say my lunch which I paid for via Venmo, would be in the refrigerator labeled with my name. When I arrived around 11a, I grabbed my lunch and headed to a shaded picnic table off the trail away from the Shelter. When I laid it out on the table, I was in awe at the size of the sandwich, literally a garden on hearty whole grain bread, carrots, an apple, banana and a bag of pretzels. It was like 'mom' packed me a special lunch when I was a kid. I was emotionally overwhelmed by the generosity of the service and lunch perhaps because the journey was showing me that kindness still exists in the world. I ate the whole damn sandwich and carrots. Saved the rest for breaks down the trail. Strapped the pretzels to my handlebar roll bag so I could nibble on them along the trail. Best $15 meal I had on the trail! Highly recommend this experience.

The Bell Tent and Lookout was Day 3 on the journey. Traveled from New Franklin with a stop in Rocheport for breakfast and a wine tasting. The Bell Tent is obscurely located at the top of a very steep trail climb. It was challenging but doable if you're game and/or fit. I liked the challenge of finding the secret entrance, locking my bike up on the rack and climbing the hill to the top of a ridge that overlooked a large farm/prairie valley. The sunset was amazing from this view! The property is owned by a farming family and a young college student with an entrepreneurial spirit developed the site. It is in the forest away from the trail and very private. Once I settled in, I road into town .5 miles to grab a couple of beers to go with my veggie wrap from the winery. The next morning, I heated my egg sandwich in my cooking kit. The site is reserved through AirBnB. The tent with a Queen-sized memory foam bed was a appreciated and a compromise from sleeping on the ground the first two nights. The outdoor shower was not functioning so I had to forgo a shower until the next day. The water from the pumping sink is not potable and there is no power so be sure your electronics are fully charged and you have a back up. There is a grill, tiki torches and a small fire pit. The host was very responsive to the minor issues I had upon arrival. All in all it was a great night! Very unique and adventurous camping option which I loved!

Met a fellow Katy Trail Adventurer from Springfield, Illinois at the Boonville TH on Day 2 enroute to Katy Roundhouse. He recommended Meriwether for a trailside dining spot. Needed to restock, so I decided that would be my breakfast stop on Day 3. Morning of Day 3 after a pleasant night's sleep and the bike wash escapade, I rode 10ish miles to Meriwethers for breakfast. It is literally trailside to the north. Sat on the patio and enjoyed a cup of coffee and a delicious egg sandwich on whole grain with fresh fruit. The sandwich was a generous size so I packed the other half in my Dakine as a back up in case I couldn't find food on my way to Hartsburg which I knew does not have many options. As I headed out after breakfast for the ~33 mile trek, I stopped at the Rocheport TH and talked with riders/SAG team that mentioned a winery down the trail where I could get food for the trail. It was closer than I expected but decided not to pass up the opportunity to replenish nutrition. Blufftop A-Frame Tasting Room was ~1 mile on the north side of the trail. There is a bike rack at the base of a trail that you hike up.3 miles to the top which was a lovely hike in the forest. Once at the top, go through the parking lot to get to the A-Frame Tasting Room. I am glad I didn't pass it up because the view of the Missouri River was amazing from their expansive decking. I wasn't hungry since I just ate breakfast, so I had a glass of wine and bought a to-go veggie wrap that I ate later in Hartsburg at my campsite. Day 3 was a success!

Day 2 night's stay. Reserved a tent spot online, confirmed with John via phone. Upon my arrival, John greeted me outside the check-in office. He familiarized me with the grounds, tent spots, shower house, and firewood location. The tent spots are primitive but there is power to charge your electronics while you shower. The stalls are deep and narrow, (which doubled as a bike wash the next morning. The trail was so dry and dusty the week I rode it due to the lack of rain for weeks that my bike looked like a ghost bike after each day. The drivetrain needed a rinse every day) so I wheeled it into the farthest stall and rinsed off the chain and cassette. Good to go for Day 3! In the evening, I enjoyed a campfire, the sounds of coyote howling to each other and the stars twinkling above. Another $10 bargain!!

Sedalia to New Franklin was Day 2 and a 40+ mile trek. Katarina's was to be my lunch stop. I learned from the cashier at Casey's that she is closed until her baby is older (may be reopening next year 2025). There isn't much in Pilot Grove except Katarina's and Deon's Bar and Grill which I was informed only offers lunch on select days. It's challenging for me since I do not eat meat which is what you'll find at a lot of these diners. Casey's saved the day! They have pizza by the slice and beer in the cooler. The kitchen manager made a fresh veggie pizza while I waited. I grabbed a few protein bars, packets of Cholula, napkins, a beer and headed back to the TH for a hearty carb-filled lunch at the picnic table. Happy rider! Takeaway lesson: You can do all the research but expect the unexpected and be prepared to improvise! It's part of the adventure. :)

Lazy Liz Horse & RV Campground was my first night's stay on my Katy Trail Adventure. It's a roadside Horse Ranch repurposed into a campground and located 2 miles west of the Sedalia TH. The barn has a large patio on the backside with tables/chairs and a variety of seating. There are grills for your use and a community fire spot. Amenities include an indoor shower/bathroom (nicer and cleaner than most public restrooms), an outhouse, laundry room (BYOSoap), full hook ups for RVs, an outdoor shower which I used. It was awesome experience to shower in the fresh air and watch the sun set. Beautiful property and the hosts are very responsive. Make a reservation, drop your money in the cash box and enjoy the landscape. No frills and hassle-free! Best $10 I ever spent!

The night I stayed there were several RVs on site. They were attending a retrievers competition at the fairgrounds. With all the dogs, I expected it be a sleepless night in my tent. Turns out these dogs (estimated no less than 30 and maybe more) were either wiped out or very obedient. When 9:00p rolled around you could have heard a pin drop. I mention this as a suggestion to check local events or ask the host if large groups are expected during your stay.

I rode The Katy from Clinton to Machens starting on October 9, 2024. Prior to my journey, I spent a year and a half on and off this website and others to research the trail, TH amenities, overnight options, and food availability along the trail. For my adventure, I rented a car in Bentonville and dropped it off at the Enterprise dealer located 1 mile from the Clinton trailhead. (I don't own a car so this was the perfect solution). Conversely, The Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles, Missouri, offers shuttles to/from anywhere along the trail according to my last communication with them which was September 2024. If you wanted to start in Clinton and ride east, which was recommended based on my research, you could leave your car in St Charles and shuttle to a desired trailhead. THANK YOU to the webmasters for all the valuable information on this site and riders who contributed to the forum. My journey of 278 miles in 6 days was flawless in large part due to the wealth of information on this site!

Great place to stay. Dry nice and clean. A lot of room and beautiful town.

according to Google map, Leeton General Store is permanently closed.

I had planned to ride this coming week Clinton to St. Charles M-F
The wind forecast has me a bit concerned. How sheltered or wide open is the trail generally?
Would southerly gusts be a significant problem?
I will be on a loaded to camp gravel bike. I really wanted to get the ride in before the time change and water shut offs 11/1.
Anyone ridden in Nov care to comment if I delay? Thank you.

From Clinton to Boonville a southerly wind will be more of a tailwind. If you look at the trail map you'll see why. From Boonville on it's pretty much a crosswind. The trail is sheltered for the most part but you will hit open sections. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Is parking at the Boonville trailhead safe for a couple nights? Thinking I might use the casino lot instead?

We've parked at the Booneville trailhead without issue.

If using the casino lot, I'd let their security know so they didn't think it was an abandoned vehicle.

Thanks Anonymous. Absolutely the trailhead lot was perfect and the folks working inside were first rate taking my info down and making me feel even better about parking there. NO issues and a great reminder that this trail, end to end, is just about the best thing in MO.

Our stay at the School House B&B was wonderful! The rooms are beautiful and the bed was very comfortable! Andy is a great host and cook! Delicious breakfast! If ever in Rocheport would stay again!
Sincerely,
Dianne

Definitely would recommend the schoolhouse property in Rocheport Missouri along the Katie Trail for your overnight stay. The schoolhouse B&B is clean, bedding sheets are top hotel grade. The outside patio and grounds are excellent for hanging out with your friends. Breakfast was superb! do you want me to answer for you Glen? I