Suggested 3 Day Itinerary

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Megan O from Oklahoma City on 3/20/2020 10:49:34 PM:

Hi! I'm planning a trip over memorial day weekend. We will suffer Friday night to Clinton (or somewhere else if you suggest). We will have Saturday, Sunday and Monday as full booking days. What do you'll suggest as an itinerary? Can we do the whole trail in 3 days? We are in our 30s and pretty fit. If you suggest shortening it, what parts are best to skip? Finally, what towns are the best so that we are sure to budget time there!

Jerry Whittle from Belleville Illinois on 3/21/2020 7:38:43 AM:

Mondays can be a problem as many businesses around the trail are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The whole trail in 3 days is somewhat ambitious. It would be similar to doing back to back to back century rides on the road. I do it in 5 days. If I were to do it in 3 days, I'd start in Boonville to McKittrick/Hermann; then Jefferson City; lastly St. Charles. That's about 50 miles a day average. You could start in Sedalia; however, that first day would be rather long at 85 miles.

Are you planning on camping or staying at a hotel / B&B? Boonville doesn't have any camping options.

If you want to do the whole thing in 3 days from Clinton, I'd think Rocheport, McKittrick/Hermann, St. Charles would be the way to go. That's about 75 miles a day average.

Anonymous on 3/21/2020 12:39:15 PM:

Boonville to Jefferson City, then to McKittrick. Jerry had you backtracking there.

There is no camping in Boonville, but the Roundhouse in New Franklin is just a few miles from the river bridge in Boonville.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 3/23/2020 3:21:43 PM:

Jeff City is kind of a side trip, and isn't a must-see. If you can work out supplies without it, I'd bypass it.

Visit by car later if you are interested. Make sure to go to Central Dairy if you do drop by.

Jeff Brown from Newalla on 3/23/2020 4:42:01 PM:

The prettiest part of the trail is between Boonville and Jefferson City (IMO). But, there is a detour between Franklin and Rocheport. It is kinda scary, being on a single lane highway with little room for shoulders for about 2-3 miles.
Also, the smaller towns kind of roll up the carpet at 6:00 if they aren't closed on certain days. Just don't take things for granted that you can stop at the next town and get something to eat. That may not happen. I would suggest taking your time and spend more time on the trail, enjoying the beauty.
We like to stay at hotels in Sedalia, Booneville, and Jefferson City, depending on what our plans are. Going across the bridges in Booneville and Jeff City is safe because you have a designated bike lane for each bridge. I would be happy to give you more of my two cents worth if there were some way to contact you. I don't know if you are planning to backtrack or if you have a shuttle, etc.
Clinton to just short of Windsor is kinda boring partly because it is next to a highway for several miles, is flat and straight with little shade.

Flatspoke from Stonington, IL on 3/28/2020 8:19:51 PM:

for the most part I think it's very doable. What I did was park my car in ST Charles took bus and bike to ST L train station took train to Indepence, MS, rode to Pleasant Hill to the Rock Island trail to the Katy Trail total mi around 80ish , camped rode to Jefferson city , arounrd 100ish camped there and rode the rest to ST Charles to the car abound 100ish. Mostly flat, 700x 32 or wider tire might be safer on that trail

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