Missouri Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

A road trip through Missouri, no matter where it leads, pretty much guarantees a ton of fun and happy memories. From natural wonders and waterfalls to small towns and leaf peeping, there’s a road trip in Missouri for everyone. Next time wanderlust strikes, pack up and pile your whole family in the car, and hit the road. Here are just a few of the best road trips in Missouri to get you going.

1-Day Road Trip In Missouri

Flickr/Morgan Burke

• Route: Gateway Arch National Park > Main Street Cafe > Taum Sauk Mountain State Park >
• Distance: 99.6 miles
• Trip Time: 2 hours, 3 minutes driving time

A road trip through Missouri doesn’t have to take days; in fact, this one-day road trip in Missouri proves that you can pack a lot whole of fun and gorgeous scenery into a single day. Start your day watching the sun rise behind the Gateway Arch before heading to the top for some of the most sensational views of St. Louis. Next enjoy a delicious meal at Main Street Café in Crystal City, a hidden gem that dishes up all of the classics, including burgers and fries. Fuel up because your final stop of the day takes you to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park for a glorious sunset at the highest point in Missouri.

3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Missouri

Google/Tony Smith

• Route: Echo Bluff State Park > Meramec State Park > Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
• Distance: 227 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours, 42 minutes driving time

Appreciate Missouri’s scenic beauty by visiting three of its 92 state parks and historic sites on this three-day road trip through Missouri that’s perfect whether you road-trip during the week or on the weekend. Your adventure begins at Echo Bluff State Park. From hiking and mountain biking to kayaking and canoeing, you’ll find something to do at this state park that offers camping and a lodge. Day two takes you to Meramec State Park for more hiking and kayaking. Feel like you're on top of the world at our final stop, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Hike or drive to the highest point in Missouri, where sensational views await from a scenic overlook. A hike along Mina Sauk Falls Trail is a must, too. It leads to the tallest waterfall in Missouri.

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Missouri Ozarks Road Trip

Google/Kevin Roberts

• Route: Taum Sauk Mountain > Elephant Rocks State Park > Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park > Round Spring Cave > Alley Spring Mills > Viandel Vineyard > Beaver Creek
• Distance: 191 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours, 51 minutes driving time

Whether you're up for a one-day road trip or an overnighter, you'll find this journey through the Ozarks is absolutely perfect. Drive time is under four hours, not including stops, and showcases some of the best of the Missouri Ozarks, including Elephant Rocks State Park. The magnificent elephant rocks date back billions of years. If you're road-tripping during the summer, bring your swimming gear for a dip at Johnson's Shut-Ins, and prepare for gorgeous views atop Taum Sauk Mountain. This fun Missouri road trip also takes you to a popular winery and ends with a delicious meal at Beaver Creek Paylake & Fish Fry.

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Weston Road Trip

Facebook/Weston MO Chamber of Commerce

• Route: Green Dirt Farm > Fulk’s Tree Farm > O’Malley’s 1842 Pub > Downtown Weston

Discover why Weston has been named the coolest small town in Missouri with a one-day or a multiple-day road trip. The historic downtown is dotted with charming shops and restaurants; make sure you grab a bite to eat at Green Dirt Farm, and pamper yourself at one of the local spas. The oldest bar in Missouri, O'Malley's 1842 Pub is worth a stop, too, for a pint and a meal.

Best Missouri Road Trip For Spring

Facebook/Dogwood Canyon

• Route: Parkville Nature Sanctuary > Missouri Botanical Garden > Mina Sauk Falls > Rocky Falls > Dogwood Canyon > Grand Falls > Tryst Falls
• Distance: 890 miles
• Trip Time: 14 hours, 55 minutes driving time

Chase waterfalls this spring on a beautiful waterfall road trip that will take you to some of the most majestic waterfalls in Missouri. Bring a pair of hiking shoes; the tallest waterfall in Missouri, Mina Sauk Falls, sits along a three-mile hiking trail. Popular swimming holes in the summer, Grand Falls and Rocky Falls are perfect for dipping your feet in if it's warm enough. Be sure to carve out time to explore Missouri Botanical Garden and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.

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Best Summer Road Trip In Missouri

Facebook/Thousand Hills State Park

• Route: Echo Bluff State Park > St. Joe State Park > Wakonda State Park > Thousand Hills State Park > Long Branch Park
• Distance: 406 miles
• Trip Time: 7 hours, 31 minutes driving time

Summer's sweltering days mean only one thing: Finding ways to stay cool. This hidden beaches road trip in Missouri will help you soak up the sun's rays, relax, and stay cool. With a drive time of 7.5 hours, you might want to make this a multi-day trip. This epic summer road trip through Missouri includes stops at sandy beaches at several state parks, including Echo Bluff State Park, Thousand Hills State Park, and Long Branch State Park. Carve out plenty of time for your visit to Wakonda State Park, too, which boasts a 20,000-square-foot sandy beach, the largest beach in Missouri. Pack all of your swimming gear and beach towel then hit the road on one of the best Missouri road trips during the summer.

Best Missouri Road Trip For Fall

Flickr/Heath Cajundig

• Route: Castlewood State Park > Mingo National Wildlife Refuge > Ozark National Scenic Riverways > Ha Ha Tonka State Park > Mark Twain National Forest > Taum Sauk Mountain State Park > Elephant Rocks State Park
• Distance: 564 miles
• Trip Time: 10 hours, 35 minutes driving time

Leaf peeping season is the best time for a road trip through Missouri. Try to time your trip, which spans just over 10.5 hours of driving time, for near-peak or the peak of the fall foliage. Roll down the windows, breathe in that crisp autumn air, and marvel at the colorful leaves at such iconic stops as Castlewood State Park, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Ha Ha Tonka State Park, and Mark Twain National Forest. You definitely don't want to forget your camera for this one.

Best Winter Road Trip In Missouri

Facebook/Silver Dollar City

• Route: Crown Center > Jackson County Christmas In The Park > Festival of Lights > Latchford Christmas Lights > Tilles Park > Saint Louis Zoo > Santa’s Magical Kingdom > Enchanted Village of Lights > Bagwell Lights > Silver Dollar City
• Distance: 697 miles
• Trip Time: 11 hours, 41 minutes driving time

If you're looking for the merriest Missouri road trip itinerary, you've just found it. Slip on your Santa hat, turn on the Christmas carols, and set off on a magical Christmastime road trip that's sure to get you in the holiday spirit. During your visit, marvel at millions of lights at such beloved Missouri attractions as Jackson County Christmas in the Park and Winter Wonderland at Tillie's Park. The Christmastime road trip ends at Silver Dollar City, awash in more than six million lights. Spend the evening celebrating an Old Time Christmas with good eats and twinkling lights. Chances are pretty good that you'll run into Santa and Mrs. Claus a few times on your trip, too.

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Family Friendly Missouri Road Trip

Facebook/Wonders of Wildlife

Route: Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum > Uranus > Wonders of Wildlife > Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant > Worlds of Fun > Rockbridge Memorial State Park > Union Station

Distance: 661 miles

Trip Time: 10 hours, 40 minutes driving time

There's no better bonding experience than going on a family-friendly road trip through Missouri, and this one will take you to some incredibly fun and unique destinations. Snap photos with your favorite stars at Laclede's Landing Wax Museum; stop by the one-of-a-kind town of Uranus, and swim with the sharks at Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield. Think that sounds fun? Well, how about having your meal delivered to you by a miniature train at Fritz's Railroad Restaurant? The whole family will have a blast on this road trip in Missouri, which also includes stops at Worlds of Fun and Rockbridge Memorial State Park.

Road Trip to Missouri Landmarks & Natural Wonders

Google/Amy Bryan

• Route: Marvel Cave > Grand Gulf State Park > Rocky Falls > Big Spring > Mingo National Wildlife Refuge > Elephant Rocks State Park > Taum Sauk Mountain State Park > Johnson’s Shut-Ins > Clifty Creek Natural Bridge > Devil’s Icebox
• Distance: 619 miles
• Trip Time: 12 hours, 58 minutes driving time

A road trip to the best natural wonders in Missouri? Yes, please! This is another family-friendly road trip that will take you to some stunning Missouri natural wonders, starting with a tour through Marvel Cave in Branson, the perfect prelude to a visit to Grand Gulf State Park, the Grand Canyon of Missouri. If you're traveling during the warmer months, bring your swimming gear to cool off in the pool below Rocky Falls and in Johnson's Shut-Ins. You'll travel just over 600 miles and also visit such favorites as Elephant Rocks State Park, Clifty Creek Natural Bridge, and Devil's Icebox.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Missouri

Facebook/Visit Hermann

• Route: Parkville > Arrow Rock > Rocheport > Hermann > Washington > Augusta > Pacific > Kimmswick > Ste. Genevieve > Ironton
• Distance: 408 miles
• Trip Time: 7 hours, 37 minutes driving time

Missouri's small towns showcase so much of what makes our state so special. Get to know just a few of those small towns on this road trip that kicks off in Parkville, just outside of Kansas City, and perhaps best known for its nature preserve. Grab a bite to eat in Arrow Head, home to J. Huston Tavern, the oldest restaurant in Missouri, and enjoy a wine tasting at Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport. Carry on that theme with a journey aboard the Hermann wine trolley. From Washington to Ironton, this road trip takes you to some of the most charming small towns in Missouri.

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

Have these road trips through Missouri kicked up your wanderlust? What’s your favorite Missouri road trip itinerary? Let us know in the comments! If you’re up for more road-tripping, set off on this road trip to Missouri’s best caves and waterfalls.