Katy Trail Home  The Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail Rock Island Trail Home
Katy Trail Home Clinton Windsor Calhoun Green Ridge Sedalia Clifton City Boonville New Franklin Rocheport McBaine Hartsburg N Jefferson Tebbetts Mokane Portland Bluffton Rhineland McKittrick Treloar Marthasville Matson Defiance Weldon Spring St Charles Machens Easley Pilot Grove Hermann Huntsdale Columbia Jefferson City Dutzow Washington Augusta KT sticker Rock Island Spur Map Katy Trail Katy Trail Merchandise
switch to Rock Island map

Riding from Kansas City to Clinton, MO (trailhead)
Go to Forum
Jerry from Maine on 5/28/2014 10:04:28 AM:
Anyone have any suggestions re riding from Kansas City to Clinton MO? Looking for best route, lesser traffic/safer the better.
 
ArkyKenny on 5/28/2014 11:59:39 AM:
The general thought on this topic is to not do it: The roads are not real safe. That doesn't mean it can't be done, but.....

There is a spur off the Katy that will eventually make it to KC, but it is not complete, so that is not really an option. One day....

Since you are a Maine guy, I am guessing that you want to fly to KC, then ride to Clinton and ride the rest of the trail. If that is what you want to do (thus avoiding shuttles, etc. to Clinton), what most people have taken is an eastern route around KC to Sedalia from the KC airport (which is quite a bit north of KC), then done an out and back to Clinton from Sedalia. To me, that is a better alternative than playing "Dodge the cars and bullets" in KC and "Dodge the cars on roads with no shoulder" elsewhere.

You could also take a wide 2 day counter-clockwise "3/4 of a loop Tour around KC", ending up in Clinton. That might be a fun way to do it.
'
That said, IMO, there is not a good direct way to ride a bike from KC to Clinton.
 
Trek on 5/28/2014 1:02:10 PM:
You may be able to ride to from KCI to Union Station and take the Amrak to Sedalia from there. It would be best to contact Amtrak about putting a bike on in KC, beings there is a fee for doing so.

An alternative plan would be fly to St. Louis, have Locco House B&B in St. Charles pick you up and at the air port, spend the night at the B&B and start your ride the next moring from St. Charles.
 
Jerry from Maine on 5/28/2014 2:46:00 PM:

Anyone have any suggestions re riding from Kansas City to Clinton MO? Looking for best route, lesser traffic/safer the better. We will definitely be riding and do not want to shuttle or take the train. We are parking the car in KC (West 43 Street).
 
Trek on 5/28/2014 7:06:00 PM:
Have you searched this site? This topic comes up over and over again. I'm guessing that either you don't like the prior suggestions or you haven't read other prior threads. I haven't the need to ride from KC to Clinton and haven't, but it's been done before. If you can't find a route by searching here, try searching on crazyguyonabike.com. Lots of transam riders have ridden the Katy and may have past through KC.
 
ArkyKenny on 5/28/2014 9:35:36 PM:
The Trans-Am Trail is 20 miles north of Springfield--No where near KC.

I'm telling you, there is not a good direct route on bike from KC to Clinton. If I HAD to do it, I'd get on Google Earth and piece together a farm road route because the larger roads really don't have any shoulders in that area, and people fly down those curvy things at 75mph. NOT SAFE. Then there is also the whole KCMO situation too: I have never ridden with body armor, and don't want to try it.

Reconsider. Maybe start from Springfield. Ride the Frisco Highline Rail Trail to Bolivar, there is a good wide shouldered highway from Bolivar to Clinton, then have a great time on the Katy.
 
Trek on 5/29/2014 12:26:26 PM:
You are absolutely right Arky. Following the ACA maps, the TransAmerican Trail passes south of Kansas City and the Lewis and Clark Trail passes around Kansas City from the north to the east side and then eastward. It was foolish to think that anyone on a transam route of their own making, or on either of the ACA routes would have ever passed through Kansas City who had journals on crazyguy. When riding 2,000 miles, an extra 40 mile detour would probably be totally out of the question.
 
ArkyKenny on 5/29/2014 3:24:11 PM:
Trek, you are proving my point for me. Neither the Tran-am or Lewis and Clark trail go near KC. Why do you think that is?

Jerry wanted to know a good, safe, direct bike route from KC to Clinton.--all I'm saying is that some of those can be done, but I'm not so sure that all of them can be done at the same time based on what I know about the roads in that area.

1) I'd re- think that plan. That is part of what this website is about isn't it? 2) If he is going to do it anyway, the way I would do it is straddle the Kansas line on dirt or small farm roads south out of KC (a not-so-direct, but safer route), then once 30 or so miles out of town, I'd cobble together a route on farm roads to Clinton, staying off the larger (if that is what you want to call them) roads. I'd use google maps to find my route.

Or.........good luck. Do it your way.
 
Trek on 5/29/2014 5:48:46 PM:
Well......I wasn't trying to help you out Arky. You wasnt the one who asked for help in a route.

My point was simply that bike travelers very often get off the route to see attractions, visit family, etc. A few extra miles when riding across country is petty. Even though there is no published ACA route through KC, there are several crazyguyonabike journals with routes from KC to the Katy, and there are some on this site as well. The opinion of those who have put the rubber to the road could be of greater value than one's hypothetical Google route.

Seek the knowledge of those who have blazed the trail before you. Or....good luck. Do it your way.
 
Bike Rider from Kansas City on 5/30/2014 2:34:24 PM:
http://www.mapmyride.com/us/mission-hills-ks/kansas-city-to-clinton-mo-route-35228280

Jerry from Maine. Here is a link to a MapMyRide route that someone created in 2011. I'd take a look at it and see if it fits your purpose. I hope you do come to Misssouri and ride the Katy Trail, it will be wonderful to have you visit! Good Luck!
 
gina greene from ventura on 4/14/2019 7:28:48 PM:
Please let me know what my options are for a shuttle ride to trail head in clinton from kansas city
 
FEEDBACK! - Please let us know if you have suggestions, corrections, complaints, or ideas. Your input is valued and appreciated - thanks in advance!
More info: KT Home Katy Trail Map Trip Planner Travel Timeline Forum Towns & Services Mileage Chart Events Trail Merchandise Search Advertise Contact Us
 
By using this website, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.
how this website uses cookies
This information may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
© Copyright 2026 BikeKatyTrail. All rights reserved.
BikeKatyTrail and BikeKatyTrail.com are registered trademarks.