Advice for late October trip with kids

We'd like to take our 5-year-olds (almost 6) on an extended trip in late October.

We would like to spend 6-8 days riding.

We are trying to keep daily milage around 35 or less, preferably 25?. We averaged about 3-3.5 MPH earlier this summer including breaks with the kids half on their own, half connected to us parents (we have two kids and two FollowMe rigs). That trail was much more rugged than the Katy trail (NETT in Texas), they now have larger bikes with gears, and they are 3 months stronger, so I'm guessing we will do more like 4-4.5MPH, but pushing it past about 35 miles in a day seems risky.

We definitely want to stay in some cool hotels / BnBs along the way (wife has requested we stop in Boonville), but aren't averse to camping for a night either. Though minimal camping gear (tent, four sleeping bags, four pads) seems like a lot to lug for a whole week if we would only use it for 1-2 nights. Is there a lighter way to camp on this trail? Hammocks only and hope for no rain and suitable trees at a site? I'm really a newbie on bike packing, but have backpacked a lot.

Finally, we'd like to do a one-way trek with a return via the Missouri River Runner, so likely between Sedalia and Washington (West to East), perhaps adding the section from Sedalia to Windsor or Clinton. Going into St Louis would be possible, but take more than 8 days unless we started in Jefferson City, and we don't want to miss the western Booneville area.


Aggressive Option, but no camping gear required:
Start in Clinton
Day 1: Clinton to Sedalia (35.5 miles)
Day 2: Sedalia to Boonville (37)
Day 3: Boonville to Rocheport (13.5)
Day 4: Rocheport to Jefferson City (35)
Day 5: Jefferson City to Rhineland (38.5)
Day 6: Rhineland to Washington (30)
Day 7: Train to Sedalia
Day 8: Sedalia to Clinton (35.5)

Easier option, but camping gear required:
Start in Sedalia
Day 1: Sedalia to Pilot Grove (25.5)
Day 2: Pilot Grove to Boonville (12.5)
Day 3: Boonville to Easley (28.5) [Camp]
Day 4: Easley to Jefferson City (19)
Day 5: Jefferson City to Portland (27.5) [Camp]
Day 6: Portland to McKitrick (15)
Day 7: McKitrick to Washington (26)
Day 8: Train to Sedalia


Any advice from parents who took kids along near this age?

Amtrak may not allow the FollowMe rigs. You may want to make certain they are allowed on the train or not before putting that adventure into your plan.

Depending where you start and end, you can probably rent a van one way cheaper than Amtrak. Anonymous also makes a good point about Amtrak not allowing trailers. Also, Amtrak may cancel you the week before your trip for no reason. Ask me how I know. :)

I'm guessing you will be driving to MO. Another idea might be to get a place in Windsor, and ride out and back from there - Clinton, Sedalia, and Rock Island Trail. Maybe do the same at Easley and hit Rocheport and Jeff City. And if you are going to Boonville, Rocheport or Pilot Grove could be good rides. I know a through-ride is so much cooler than an out and back, though.

I know your kids are pretty tough if they did the NETT, but I don't want anyone to have a bad time. Multi-day trips with hotel reservations really put you in a tight spot as far as having to cover a certain distance every day, and if you have a day of rain or bad wind, folks might not be happy about having to be on the saddle for 6 hours.

Your backpacking instincts will serve you well if you do decide to bikepack. Go light, but be ready for rain, and make sure you don't run out of food or water.

If you did drive, parents could take turns driving the car and providing SAG. That might work out pretty great in case of bad weather. And, it avoids Amtrak.
For example:
Start in Clinton.
Dad drives to Windsor, parks the car, and rides toward Clinton.
Meets family, they all head to Windsor.
Lunch at Wagon Wheel.
Everybody but mom rides out for Sedalia.
Mom drives to Sedalia, checks into the hotel, rides out toward Windsor.
Mom rejoins fam, they all ride to Sedalia.
Repeat until you get to the end of the trip.
If a day is a total rainout, you just drive to the next accomodations and take a rest day.