KATY TRAIL TO KANSAS CITY, MO

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JEFF WRIGHT from LANSING, MI on 12/4/2011 12:31:13 PM:

I AM LOOKING FOR THE SAFEST RIDE FROM THE KATY TRAIL TO KANSAS CITY. DOES ANYONE HAVE A GOOD ROUTE. I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN THAT I WENT FROM ST.LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY. I WOULD PREFER TO STAY OFF MAIN ROADS IF POSSIBLE.

jbbike from Columbia, MO on 12/5/2011 9:49:04 PM:

Similar questions have appeared here. I would like to suggest you view the MoDOT- Other transportation website map for the Kansas City region showing traffic volume on various Missouri highways. This map shows departure roads from the Clinton, Calhoun, and Windsor trail heads. The GREEN roads are usually safest. http://modot.org/othertransportation/bike_ped/Bike-PedProgram--RoadandRouteInfo.htm

Darrell from Jefferson City, MO. on 12/6/2011 10:04:41 PM:

You may find the information you need at mobikefed.org.

Skyguy9999 on 12/8/2011 2:37:48 AM:

A lot of this depends on how much of the Katy Trail you are looking to ride and where in Kansas City you want to end up.

kc from nj on 12/14/2011 9:54:24 AM:

You might try "google maps, directions." They have a biking option. I would use this as a general guideline. Local knowledge, of course, is best.

Billy from Mokane on 12/21/2011 12:23:52 AM:

Jeff,
I wouldn't ride my bike from Clinton in to KC with a police escort. Those roads are to scary for me and downright dangerous.

DEH from Wildwood on 3/7/2013 3:46:22 PM:

I agree with Billy. I rode the entire KATY trail and wanted to complete my trip across Missouri on bike. I tried going the last 40 miles on HWY 18 out of Clinton west to Kansas. It was very difficult and dangerous, no shoulder, high grass that stopped you cold and cars flying over the hills. I also tried some of the other back roads and was chased by some of the meanest dogs I ever saw.

Ray (webmaster) on 3/7/2013 6:14:19 PM:

DEH, I had a similar problem when my son & I did our cross-state ride. He wanted to ride ALL the way across the state - border to border, not just the Katy. My wife drove us to Clinton, and then up Hwy 7 to Garden City (~30 miles), and then due west from there to State Line Road, around 309th Street or so (another 30 miles). From there we hopped on our bikes and took that route back to Clinton. It's 20 miles longer than going directly west from Clinton, but worked out well. The back roads from State Line to Garden City were very quiet, and Hwy 7 had a nice wide shoulder, even if the traffic was a little unsettling. I'd recommend it for anyone who feels like they HAVE TO start at the Kansas state line.

Paul Toigo from Kansas City on 3/7/2013 10:57:50 PM:

Here's my stab at a route from KCI to Clinton.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=206447626207924780981.0004d755079cabc6cae6a
Forgive me, but this is my very first google map. Let me know if there are any problems with the mapping or the riding.

Disclaimers: I've only ridden the roads on this route between Barry Rd in Kansas City and Warrensburg. Some may be unnerved by the high-speed traffic passing by while riding on the shoulder of US-50. (I prefer it to rolling 2-lanes without shoulders and "low-speed" traffic.)

Skyguy9999 on 3/8/2013 1:10:14 AM:

2 comes out of Harrisonville and 58 out of Pleasant Hill (both I've ridden sometime in the past and would consider over 50). Then I'd consider working over to 7 (haven't been on that one). Bound to be better than 13, which couples the high speed traffic of 50 with little to non-existent shoulders.

Whatever you do, be safe, and good luck! (and how I wish Rock Island would be done, all these questions would become moot then)

Skyguy9999 on 3/8/2013 1:14:52 AM:

Also, F on the route is a real torture test even without equipment, and 58 from 50 to where it turns west gets hot traffic-wise, too. Just FYI.

Jharte from Kansas City on 3/8/2013 6:51:30 AM:

Jeff, as stated a few times, most routes from Clinton to Kansas City are narrow with high speed traffic. If you don't mind jumping off the Katy you can pick up 50 hywy W from Sedalia to Kansas City. Nice wide shoulder. This is the route I take from Kansas City to Sedalia to pick up the Katy when I don't want to drive to Clinton. I've ridden 50 hywy E many times to Sedalia, then on to St. Charles on the Katy. You do lose the stretch from Sedalia to Clinton.

Paul Toigo from Kansas City on 3/8/2013 11:13:10 PM:

I predict that if I was touring, I'd continue on US-50 to Sedalia. If that means going out-and-back from Sedalia to Clinton to avoid some of those shoulder-free roads, so be it.

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