CurtM from Farmington AR on 6/25/2024 6:29:17 PM:
Would recommend starting in Clinton and going west and returning to Clinton via Sedalia. A few reasons: 1) the only real elevation change is from Pilot Grove to Boonville; west to east it's downhill. 2) During baseball season, room rates go up in St Charles, and are pretty high as far west as Chesterfield. 3) You can catch the Amtrak going back east from Washington, Hermann, or Jefferson City, so you can skip riding a lot of miles going back to Clinton. Just have to time your route. You will want to leave the train in Sedalia, and then ride back to Clinton, about 35 miles, but that is a nice ride east to west; you can always stop again in Windsor. Good accommodations (going west to east) in Clinton, Windsor, Sedalia, Pilot Grove, Boonville, Jeff City, Rocheport, McKittrick, Hermann, Washington,... well, lots more: this web site will answer most of your questions with some research. You can get car shuttles back to Clinton as well. Can't comment on camping, but there are some options. The Clinton Community Center offers parking and camping, and you can check in there and leave an itinerary. It's about 1/2 mile from the trail beginning (or end) via separate bike path. Would agree that a rigid schedule won't work too well, especially if using Amtrak. By the way, forget about weather forecasts; I've never done a trip where the weather was as predicted. You'll need raingear.