Katy Trail Spring Tour 2025
Katy Trail Spring Tour 2025
- 5 nights lodging (double occupancy) in historic inns and contemporary hotels
- Welcome Dinner on Day 1 and Celebration Dinner on Day 5.
- 2 picnic lunches on the trail.
- Continental Breakfast included each day with lodging.
- Sag vehicle with trailer for bikes, luggage and supplies/refreshments
- Two local F4A guides
Take a spin across Missouri on the famous Katy Trail- the longest rail-to-trail bike route in America! On this 6-day inn-to-inn tour, we’ll hit the highlights of the Katy Trail, including soaring river bluffs, quaint small towns, delicious food and spectacular scenery. We’ll also take in the rockin’ Pedaler’s Jamboree - a rollicking music, food and bike festival held in historic Boonville, MO. This CycleFest is fully supported - we take care of all the details while you enjoy the ride. You’ll see Missouri - and cycling trips - in a whole new way.
So what IS the 'Katy Trail'? Glad you asked! It's a 240-mile railroad-turned-bike-path that stretches across the state of Missouri. It's rated one of America's top 'rail-to-trail' bike networks by USA Today and Outside Magazine, and it's entirety is maintained by the MO State Parks Department. With its hard-packed gravel surface and gentle profile, the Katy Trail is suitable for all riding levels. We'll ride 5 days town-to-town through beautiful central Missouri, alongside the Missouri River, with stops in wine country and the state capital. We'll cover about 190 miles, averaging 38 miles/day (shorter ride options available). You can bring your own bike, or rent one through us (rental not included, see details below). It's a beautiful ride across America's heartland!
Trip Dates: May 23 - 28, 2025
Trip Price: $2,095 (per person, double occupancy)
Add $825 for Single Occupancy
Not Included: Flights to/from St. Louis, meals not mentioned above, bike rental ($200), Single Room Occupancy, tips for F4A guides, personal expenses (alcohol, souvenirs, etc.)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Ride 190 miles on the longest rail-to-trail network in the country
- Fully supported ride with two local F4A Guides
- Dedicated support vehicle carries luggage, refreshments and supplies along route
- Experience Pedaler’s Jamboree- a music, food and cycle festival in historic Boonville, MO
- Ride an average of 38 miles per day on wide, flat, crushed gravel trail (Shorter ride options available daily)
- Accommodations include historic inns and contemporary hotels along the route
- Spectacular views and scenic stops along the great Missouri River
- Pass through and stay in quaint small towns bursting with charm and character
FLIGHTS
You are responsible for purchasing your flights to/from St. Louis (airport code STL). On May 23, plan to arrive as close to 10:00 AM as possible. Once everyone has arrived and loaded up, we'll grab lunch on our way to Boonville. On May 28, please book a flight that departs no earlier than 3:30 PM (or plan to stay over in St. Louis- there is a lot to see and do in the surrounding area.)
DEPOSIT
A $200 deposit (per person) is due at the time of booking. This deposit is non-refundable.
PAYMENTS
Final payment will be due March 15, 2025. You will receive a reminder email when this payment is due. Once made, all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. (If registering after March 15, full payment is due at time of booking.)
CANCELLATIONS
By Client: If you need to cancel before the trip, the cancellation fee is your initial deposit plus any additional payments made. Any payments made are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your reservation will automatically cancel if final payment is not received by the due date. Travel Insurance is highly recommended (see below).
By Fit 4 Adventure: In the event that we must cancel a trip for commercial reasons beyond our control, including if the minimum number of trip participants is not met, you will be able to transfer any amount paid toward any F4A trip in the next 24 months. You may also opt for a full refund, minus a $50 processing fee.
By Force Majeure: In the event that a trip is cancelled due (but not limited) to natural disasters, pandemics, border restrictions, terrorism, or political instability, F4A will offer you a future trip credit valid for 24 months from the original trip date.
F4A is not responsible for any additional expenses you may incur as result of your booking, including (but not limited to) visas, vaccinations, clothing, equipment, testing, travel insurance, or non-refundable flights.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
The cancellation policy will be strictly adhered to. To avoid loss of payments due to unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance is highly recommended. Please consider booking through our partners Allianz Travel or World Nomads. Alternatively, travel insurance can often be purchased along with your flight.
If you have any questions about this trip, please feel free to reach out to Joe@Fit4Adventure.com
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrival in St. Louis, Drive to Boonville
Morning arrivals in St. Louis (airport code STL) will be met by the Fit 4 Adventure van. Once everyone is accounted for, we’ll start our 2-hour drive to Boonville, MO, an historic town in central Missouri. Our Welcome Dinner in Boonville (included in trip) will give you a chance to get to know your guides and fellow riders. Our first night will be in spacious rooms at the historic Hotel Frederick. Opened in 1905, the Hotel Frederick is the best example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now caters to Katy Trail visitors and cyclists alike.
Day 2 - Sedalia to Boonville, ending at the Pedaler's Jamboree (37 miles)
After breakfast in Boonville, we'll shuttle West to Sedalia- our 2-wheeled journey starts at the Katy Depot, an 1896 train depot now restored and serving as the Katy Trail State Park Welcome Center. The trail ahead is a well maintained crushed limestone surface, designated for pedestrians and cyclists only. It is mostly flat and mostly shaded. This first section meanders through woods and farmland, past ponds and prairies, winding through typical Midwest countryside before arriving back in Boonville.
Right off the trail, and in the heart of this quiet little town, we’ll come upon a scene you don’t expect and won’t forget: a crowded and rollicking live music, bike-camping and food-truck festival called Pedaler’s Jamboree. We’ll spend the evening enjoying the festivities (and the food trucks) before returning to the historic Hotel Frederick for the night.
Day 3 - Boonville to Jefferson City (51 miles)
Our longest day on-trail, but one filled with many things to see and do. This is the second day of Pedaler’s Jamboree- as we make our way towards the state capital, we’ll have opportunities to stop for some live music along the route. We’ll pass through a stone railroad tunnel built in 1892, visit a GIANT burr oak tree, pedal past BoatHenge and visit a laid-back pedaler/paddler riverbank “resort” called Cooper’s Landing. We’ll roll to a stop in Jefferson City by late afternoon and enjoy dinner near the state capital.
Day 4 - Jefferson City to Hermann (47 miles)
Leaving the capital behind, we’ll be rolling through hamlets and homesteads built by 19th Century German settlers, many of whom developed the local wine industry in the region. Today, vineyards are common throughout the hillsides. For lunch, we’ll enjoy a river-side picnic along the route. The town of Hermann, in the heart of wine country, is our overnight destination- it’s filled with charming restaurants, tasting rooms, antique shops and historic inns.
Day 5 - Hermann to Augusta (37 miles)
The ride out of Hermann will start with crossing back over the Missouri River and connecting back to the Katy Trail. A new bridge, featuring a protected bike lane, is just one example of how the state has worked to make the Katy Trail safer and more enjoyable for cyclists as the popularity of the route continues to grow. We’ll stop off along the way for a ‘Taco Tuesday’ lunch and continue on toward Augusta, our end-point for the day's ride.
Day 6 - Augusta to St. Charles (27 miles)
Watch the landscape morph from farmland to suburbia as we draw closer to the finish line. The home stretch brings us back into historic St. Charles, just a few miles from where we started our journey five days earlier, at the St. Louis airport. To celebrate the journey, we will treat ourselves to a leisurely lunch in St. Charles, raising a toast to our adventure before heading to the airport for afternoon departures.
Day 1 - Arrival in St. Louis, Drive to Boonville
Morning arrivals in St. Louis (airport code STL) will be met by the Fit 4 Adventure van. Once everyone is accounted for, we’ll start our 2-hour drive to Boonville, MO, an historic town in central Missouri. Our Welcome Dinner in Boonville (included in trip) will give you a chance to get to know your guides and fellow riders. Our first night will be in spacious rooms at the historic Hotel Frederick. Opened in 1905, the Hotel Frederick is the best example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now caters to Katy Trail visitors and cyclists alike.
Day 2 - Sedalia to Boonville, ending at the Pedaler's Jamboree (37 miles)
After breakfast in Boonville, we'll shuttle West to Sedalia- our 2-wheeled journey starts at the Katy Depot, an 1896 train depot now restored and serving as the Katy Trail State Park Welcome Center. The trail ahead is a well maintained crushed limestone surface, designated for pedestrians and cyclists only. It is mostly flat and mostly shaded. This first section meanders through woods and farmland, past ponds and prairies, winding through typical Midwest countryside before arriving back in Boonville.
Right off the trail, and in the heart of this quiet little town, we’ll come upon a scene you don’t expect and won’t forget: a crowded and rollicking live music, bike-camping and food-truck festival called Pedaler’s Jamboree. We’ll spend the evening enjoying the festivities (and the food trucks) before returning to the historic Hotel Frederick for the night.
Day 3 - Boonville to Jefferson City (51 miles)
Our longest day on-trail, but one filled with many things to see and do. This is the second day of Pedaler’s Jamboree- as we make our way towards the state capital, we’ll have opportunities to stop for some live music along the route. We’ll pass through a stone railroad tunnel built in 1892, visit a GIANT burr oak tree, pedal past BoatHenge and visit a laid-back pedaler/paddler riverbank “resort” called Cooper’s Landing. We’ll roll to a stop in Jefferson City by late afternoon and enjoy dinner near the state capital.
Day 4 - Jefferson City to Hermann (47 miles)
Leaving the capital behind, we’ll be rolling through hamlets and homesteads built by 19th Century German settlers, many of whom developed the local wine industry in the region. Today, vineyards are common throughout the hillsides. For lunch, we’ll enjoy a river-side picnic along the route. The town of Hermann, in the heart of wine country, is our overnight destination- it’s filled with charming restaurants, tasting rooms, antique shops and historic inns.
Day 5 - Hermann to Augusta (37 miles)
The ride out of Hermann will start with crossing back over the Missouri River and connecting back to the Katy Trail. A new bridge, featuring a protected bike lane, is just one example of how the state has worked to make the Katy Trail safer and more enjoyable for cyclists as the popularity of the route continues to grow. We’ll stop off along the way for a ‘Taco Tuesday’ lunch and continue on toward Augusta, our end-point for the day's ride.
Day 6 - Augusta to St. Charles (27 miles)
Watch the landscape morph from farmland to suburbia as we draw closer to the finish line. The home stretch brings us back into historic St. Charles, just a few miles from where we started our journey five days earlier, at the St. Louis airport. To celebrate the journey, we will treat ourselves to a leisurely lunch in St. Charles, raising a toast to our adventure before heading to the airport for afternoon departures.
We had a wonderful time on this trip. It was well organized and supported. Joe and Nick were excellent guides and fun to travel with. We highly recommend the Katy Trail bike tour and look forward to our next Fit 4 Adventure trip!
Joe and Brian were amazing guides. Brian kept us out of trouble on the trail while Joe made sure we were fed and comfortable. Our fellow travelers were a delight. The sights, food, music festival and beauty of the trail made this a never to forget adventure. Very doable for most fitness levels.
This was our 4th trip with F4A and as usual we had a casual, relaxing and fun adventure. The Katy trail is beautiful with picturesque farms, bluffs and small towns. The hotel accommodations were unique and comfortable. The restaurants were local and we explored regional favorites like fried pickles! The crew was helpful and resourceful. We are looking forward to trip #5 in the future.
While my wife an I expected an enjoyable ride on the Katy Trail, we did not expect the incredible "above and beyond" support we received. Joe and Brian surprised us at every turn. 1. Meals far exceeded our expectations. VERY nice restaurants. 2. Accommodations were excellent. We would never have found such gems on our own. 3. Snacks. At every rest stop, Joe always provided what we needed. When he learned each rider's preference, he would make special trips between rest stops to bring us our favorite snacks. 4. Companionship. Everyone bonded exceptionally well. At the end of each day we would all gather together and hang out wherever we were staying and just talk and laugh. 5. Knowledge and bike hacks. I've been a competitive cyclist for more than 40 years. I learned a lot of simple, useful hacks from Joe (ie, taping an extra chain link to one of the bike's cables to ensure based on 11/12 speed the link would be compatible). 6. Several city tours. We would all jump in the van and Joe would take us around town explaining history and sites. I've likely left out a lot, but for the sake of keeping it short, 100% of my expectations (which are quite high) were far exceeded. Thanks guys for a memorable week!
We'll plan the trip!