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Machens to Kansas City
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AAM from Peoria on 3/16/2021 9:57:44 AM:
I'm looking to do a ride along the full length of the trail, from Machens to Kansas City this year. On this site, the Rock Island trail is listed as "future trail" but if I map the ride on Google, it shows the Katy Trail the entire way (minus a select few sections). I haven't been on this trail before but have wanted to ride it for many years. Can anyone tell me if this is possible? Thanks ahead of time for insight into this!
 
Mark from Lee's Summit on 3/16/2021 3:57:21 PM:
The Rock Island Spur runs from the Katy Trail (in Windsor) to Pleasant Hill (which is a town just southeast of Kansas City). There is a 10 mile gap that has not been built from Pleasant Hill to Lee's Summit (you have to ride on two lane county roads) in order to reach Lee's Summit, then the Rock Island Trail picks up again and you can ride it for 12 miles into Kansas City where it dead-ends right near the Royals and Chiefs stadiums. As far as the 10 mile gap goes between Pleasant Hill and Lee's Summit, you can go several different routes...I prefer about a 14 mile route that links several county roads to some of the sidewalk bike trails/shoulders that run through Lee's Summit. I am not a big fan of the busier 2 lane roads that don't have shoulders.
 
Mark from Lee's Summit on 3/16/2021 3:57:42 PM:
The Rock Island Spur runs from the Katy Trail (in Windsor) to Pleasant Hill (which is a town just southeast of Kansas City). There is a 10 mile gap that has not been built from Pleasant Hill to Lee's Summit (you have to ride on two lane county roads) in order to reach Lee's Summit, then the Rock Island Trail picks up again and you can ride it for 12 miles into Kansas City where it dead-ends right near the Royals and Chiefs stadiums. As far as the 10 mile gap goes between Pleasant Hill and Lee's Summit, you can go several different routes...I prefer about a 14 mile route that links several county roads to some of the sidewalk bike trails/shoulders that run through Lee's Summit. I am not a big fan of the busier 2 lane roads that don't have shoulders.
 
AAM from Peoria on 3/17/2021 10:44:57 AM:
Thanks, Mark! Your local knowledge is really helpful. I'm not a fan of riding on roads with no shoulders either. Are those two lane roads pretty busy?
 
MapMedic from KCMO on 3/18/2021 9:39:30 PM:
I’m also considering riding the Katy from St Louis to KC, however I want to ride from Illinois to Kansas....it’s not that much more. I’m thinking of riding Amtrak from KC to St Louis. Initially I looked into public transportation from there to Alton, but I think I will just ride my bike after stopping at the arch. This will be a warm up for the trek across the state. From Alton, across the Mississippi to Machens is about an hour ride and onto the Katy. I plan to make a right turn onto the Rock Island trail....which appears to be possible. I am still deciding how to get to kansas from Pleasant Hill. County roads west to 175th and State Line or possibly meandering up to Lee’s summit and picking up the Rock Island again. By the time my trip is going to happen I should be able to take it to Arrowhead stadium. From there possibly ride to The Plaza and into Westwood Kansas. Perhaps five full days of riding and 60+ miles/day at 10-12 mph to not over exert. I usually ride paved trails so probably need to get on gravel more. Still trying to figure out where to stay that’s not $150+ per night.
 
Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 3/19/2021 9:39:35 AM:
MapMedic: If you are planning to use the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, it's sometimes unexpectedly closed. You can use the McKinley Bridge which is closer to the Arch but will have to ride on some roads. Follow the MCT Confluence Trail. Also you will have to ride on Hwy 3 in Illinois north of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge as the levee is being rebuild in places and the bike path is on the levee. Hwy 3 has very wide shoulder so that part is OK; however, there's often a lot of broken glass and other debris on it.
 
Mark Winkelmann from Rhineland on 3/19/2021 11:30:18 AM:
For lodging consider white Wolf Inn apartment in Rhineland Mo.
I mile from katy trail. Weeknights = $75
 
k on 3/20/2021 8:07:12 PM:
Mapmedic, if you haven’t already done so, I recommend expanding your lodging search to airbnb.
 
MapMedic from KCMO on 3/20/2021 11:11:28 PM:
Thanks all
 
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