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Joshua L Johnson from PEA RIDGE on 12/7/2021 9:25:29 PM:

I am planning on biking with the trail with my family in late March. My question is how busy will it be? Specifically, do we need to make reservations well in advance for lodging along the way?

Mapmedic from KCMO on 12/8/2021 12:33:50 PM:

Plenty of time to pick & choose. Not that busy in spring. AirBnB has many options including Vinchester Inn of Hermann. If you’re near a Drury Inn they have free breakfast and in evening they have free drinks and a light meal. If you’re on the Facebook join Fans of the Katy Trail.

Anonymous on 12/9/2021 9:07:20 AM:

That's a very broad question...How busy will it be? Kind of a shot in the dark. How busy will the highway be between PEA RIDGE and the Katy?

Weddings, civic events, ball games, etc. can impact lodging availability on any day.

Error to the side of caution and book ahead when you've refined your plans. Whether or not you have a place for your family to stay the night is not something that should be questioned on the trip. Do the fam a favor.

Doug from Bluffton on 12/10/2021 12:07:11 PM:

It's not so much how busy the trail is but if even one night of rooms for your plan is full it throws off your whole schedule. One or two strong riders could add 15-20 miles on to a day to make the next available stop. Could every member of your family do that?

Michael from London on 12/11/2021 6:36:56 AM:

Absolutely agree with Doug. Finding a couple of rooms was difficult two years ago and it sounds as if some of the B and B options are out of business since then. Unless you like living on the edge (of sleeping under a hedge, that is), book ahead and check bookings a couple of weeks before, and get good directions/coordinates to find places. And remember to add any extra miles getting to them off the trail. We booked one place and I only realised it was 10 miles off the trail too late, and the final mile was up a steep hill. I wasn't popular that evening, in particular as it offered one meal option - microwaved pizza.

Cathy from Pittsburgh on 12/12/2021 4:30:01 AM:

To be perfectly clear, yes you need to make reservations well in advance for lodging along the way. Technically, the Katy Trail opens I think May 1. Since your trip will be in late March, some B & Bs and similar types of places may not be fully open. So start calling now.

And Missouri has fickel weather in late March. So plan for riding in anywhere from 35 to 75 degree weather.

That said, you'll love the Katy. It's one of the best rail to trail bike trails in the country.

Michael from London on 12/13/2021 5:05:51 AM:

Wise words, Cathy; but we preferred the Allegheny Passage and the Cumberland/Ohio which seemed to go through more woods than the Katy! Still, we loved them both.

Cathy from Pittsburgh on 12/15/2021 1:06:07 AM:

Michael I really struggle with which I love more, the Katy or the GAP/C & O. Since I now live in SW PA I feel blessed to have a remarkable trail like the GAP/C & O to enjoy. But I rode the Katy for 12 years and really miss it. I will say that the Katy has more of a rural flavor to it. I love biking past farm fields, and seeing planting, then the growing season and finally harvesting the crops. But I also love seeing reminders of the industrial past along the GAP: coke ovens, Patch towns, reminders of the coal and steel industries.

I noticed on my newsfeed today that the State of Missouri has taken ownership of the Rock Island Trail, which is wonderful news. I hope the next time I get to bike in Missouri it will include time on the RIT.

Basically, it's all good.

Michael from mountains from London on 12/16/2021 4:05:26 AM:

Cathy; not sure if we conduct this discussion here but anyway...
We stay in SW PA (Brownsville area) when in the States so the GAP has been on our doorstep. It does remind me more of the UK - industrial heritage, paths through woods. And although we really enjoyed the Katy, in late September it was hot, and dry apart from the thunderstorms, and there were challenging diversions, whereas the GAP was much easier to follow. We managed to get lost just once, in Confluence of all places.
We look forward to cycling either again, or the RIT, when it's easier to travel. You are very lucky in the States to have such long rail trails, although you do have some interesting ownership issues. Michael

jJAS on 1/2/2022 10:58:26 PM:

The Katy trail is open all year, only the restrooms and water is turn off for the winter months. If weather is nice the restrooms and water is turned back on April 1st. Some B&B are open all years just check ahead for rooms.

Dan from Anchorage on 1/13/2022 11:04:01 PM:

First time bike touring. All the talk of b&b and hotels. Do folks camp on this trail? From Kansas City using RIT to St Louis how much of the time can I pitch a tent / what areas do I have to use a hotel? Thanks

John H from Pacific on 1/14/2022 6:27:08 AM:

You can't camp just anywhere along the trail. But there are plenty of campsites and public parks that allow camping along the way. This site provides great info about camping options. I have always camped and stayed in the Turner Shelter when I've ridden the Katy.

Kim Henderson - Kim's Cabins from Windsor on 1/14/2022 6:44:38 AM:

On the west end which I'm familiar with, you may camp at Pleasant Hill and Chilhowee on the Rock Island. You might visit with the Hometown Convenience Store in Chilhowee ahead of time. In Windsor there is camping and shower house both at Farrington Park and Katy-Rock Junction.

DS Douin from Outside of MO on 2/1/2022 1:16:07 PM:

I do not believe you can stealth camp along the KT. Just designated public and private camp locations. Then if unsure, contact local towns and law enforcement for park or shelter camping.

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