Road Trip Through Missouri’s 7 National Parks

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Missouri map that shows the route for visiting the 7 National Parks
Here’s the nearly 900 mile route we traveled to experience the 7 National Parks in Missouri. Photo credit: Susan Stevie using Geovea Trip Planner

Expect curiosity and surprise on this Missouri road trip which includes all seven National Parks. While this was part solo road trip and part girlfriend getaway, it also makes for a great family journey. We drove clockwise, starting at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, in the southeastern corner of the state, and ending at Missouri’s newest National Park, Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park.

The map shows our route, and we’ve numbered each of our stops, including a few stops that aren’t part of the National Parks, but are photo- and fun-worthy bonus stops.

Plan 7-10 days as you ponder the past at points of historical significance, gaze on the present scenic beauty both human-made and natural, and learn about landscape and wildlife conservation for a brighter future.

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1. National Park: Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Sign post of the entry into the National Park Service Ozark National Scenic Riverways
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. Photo credit: Bruce Johnson of Flickr

The nationally protected Ozark National Scenic Riverways includes 134 miles of rivers and 350 miles of roads. Start at the Van Buren Visitor Center  Staff is friendly and the educational resources take less than an hour to view.

SheBuysTravel Tip:   The shoulder seasons (spring and fall) are the best times to visit Missouri to avoid crowds. Hotel prices are lower than you might expect. Keep in mind that weather and being short-staffed may cause businesses to close, so call ahead to confirm current hours.

Big Spring

Big Spring is at the end of State Route 103 and only four miles away. Big Spring is the largest spring in Missouri with a temperature between 55 and 58 degrees year round. On an average day 288 million gallons of water flow from the spring. Take a pleasant moment to relax while listening to the sounds of water and rustling leaves in this practically perfect place.

Alley Spring

Mill at Alley Spring in Missouri which was built in 1894 and featured on a quarter in 2017.

Alley Spring is about 40 miles west on Highway 106. The old one-room schoolhouse built in 1897 and mill built in 1894 is picturesque. The waterway and mill were featured on an “America the Beautiful” quarter minted in 2017.

2. Branson

Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, MO
Prefer a resort vacation? Big Cedar Lodge’s rustic and well-appointed resort might just be the place. Photo credit: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau

Branson is less than 4 hours from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park System. Make reservations ahead of time for one of Branson’s dinner shows or a spa treatment, then get some sleep in one of the great resorts before continuing on the Missouri National Parks road trip.

Read more about Branson

3. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Learn history lessons in Missouri National Park about the unique drama of the American Civil War.
Learn history lessons here about the unique drama of the American Civil War. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

In the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River, on August 10, 1861, Union forces lost to Confederates. A 4.9-mile loop indicates eight major points of  Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. This park has both biking and horseback riding trails.

The impressive Visitor Center and Museum displays an extensive collection of Civil War artifacts. Along with a research library, you will see numerous uniforms and munitions. If visitors can learn from the horrific and unsettling past, then a more promising future lies ahead.

4. George Washington Carver National Monument

Pictorial illustration of Carver used peanuts to help others learn about farming and soil conservation found in Missouri National Park.
Carver used peanuts to help others learn about farming and soil conservation. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

Who was George Washington Carver?

A quiet black youngster who was born into slavery earned the nickname “The Plant Doctor”. Against overwhelming odds, he found a way to respect God, be of service to humanity, and become a pioneer soil conservationist. His knowledge of plants, especially peanuts, impressed Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, President Franklin Roosevelt and countless others.

The Great Honor

Congress designated his monument in 1943, the first park to honor an African American scientist, educator, and humanitarian. The George Washington Carver National Monument does a fantastic job of covering his life. The one-mile Carver Trail loop highlights sculptures, ponds, an old house, and old graves. (Carver is buried at Tuskegee University in Alabama.)

Inside the Visitor Center are exhibits, books, murals, classrooms, and a museum. This was, by far, the most surprising and most educational part of the entire road trip.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Stay overnight in Joplin where you’ll find murals that celebrate the performing arts, Route 66, graffiti, geometric design and more.. Here’s a tour that celebrates this art form.

5. Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Victorian house circa 1867, Missouri, where Harry and Bess lived here from 1919.
Victorian house circa 1867. Harry and Bess lived here from 1919. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

The Harry S Truman National Historic Site includes a Visitor Center where you get the ticket to tour the home. This Victorian home has over 8,000 square feet. Park rangers do a terrific job of narrating the short free tour. They can answer any question about Truman: his presidency, his family, his home and all the furnishings.

The Truman Presidency

Just a few of the issues that Truman dealt with while in office: the end of World War II, the use of atomic bombs in Japan, the Korean Conflict, the recognition of Israel as Jewish homeland, and an attempted assassination.

Nearby is the huge Truman Presidential Library and Museum. It has a replica “Oval Office”, a gift shop, and one of the best museums. This is also the burial place of Harry and Bess Truman. Get all the patriotic feels here.

Bonus Stops For Photo Ops

While planning the driving route, most folks would probably go from Independence to St. Louis by way of Jefferson City since it is the capital. Instead, take Highway 36 which is called “The Way of American Genius”. This is a photographer’s dream come true!

6. Hamilton and 7. Chillicothe

 Bread mural in Chillicothe, Missouri is a step back in time that celebrates a famous invention.
Bread mural in Chillicothe, Missouri is a step back in time that celebrates a famous invention. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

Stop in Hamilton to photo murals that pay tribute to quilts, trains, and J.C. Penney. Next pause in Chillicothe to appreciate the murals. They just might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Of course, make your way to 709 Washington Street to see the Sliced Bread mural, which was a bucket list item for me.

8. Marceline

Train engine and car at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum
Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad train on display at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri. Photo credit: WaltDisneyMuseum.org on Flickr

Allow a couple of hours for the next stop. The Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline is filled with nostalgic memories of a certain famous mouse and other Disney items.  

9. Hannibal

Check out the Mark Twain Boyhood Home tells the story of the life of Samuel Clemens in Mark Twain's hometown.
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home tells the story of the life of Samuel Clemens. Photo credit: Marcia Frost

Hannibal is an excellent place to slow down and get some real food. One cannot live on road trip snacks for too long.  Not only does Hannibal have all of the Mark Twain sights imaginable, it also has a satisfying assortment of food. The two best choices are feasting on Irish fare at the Ole Wolfhound Pub and savoring Italian delights at The Brick Oven

Read more about Hannibal and Mark Twain: A Twain-Inspired Girls’ Getaway to Hannibal, Missouri

10. Gateway Arch National Park

Touch history at the Gateway Arch and see great views of St. Louis, Missouri.
Touch history at the Gateway Arch and see great views of St. Louis, Missouri. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

The Gateway Arch National Park  is an iconic American landmark that celebrates westward expansion and other possibilities of the American dream. The 91-acre park includes a movie, an underground museum, an old cathedral, an old courthouse, and a store.

The 630-foot tall arch is made of stainless steel and is as wide as it is tall. Looking east are great views of riverboats cruising the Mississippi River. And to the west are plenty of outdoor art, busy streets, skyscrapers, and greenways.

Many travelers are simply thrilled to touch this famous landmark and photograph it from various viewpoints. Some plan an entire day here, while others prefer a quick visit before their next destination.

SheBuysTravel Tip: At Gateway Arch National Park keep in mind that the tram ride to the top is not recommended for those in wheelchairs or with claustrophobia. Plan well ahead if planning to park near the Arch, or to avoid driving in the traffic, most local hotels offer a shuttle.

11. Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

 Pink dogwoods &  horse stables that Grant designed are just the start of all that visitors can discover in Missouri.
Pink dogwoods & horse stables that Grant designed are just the start of all that visitors can discover here. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

The first attention-grabber is a stunning large red horse stable surrounded by pretty pink flowering dogwoods. As a lady rooted in the Deep South, I had been conflicted about what could be found to appreciate at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site.  

The Many Sides of Grant

Here one can learn that Grant himself designed the stable that was large enough for 25 horses and now serves as a museum. He was an avid and respected horseman. He was deeply in love with his wife. Together they discussed conflicted feelings about slavery, as Grant had grown up being against it while his wife’s family enjoyed having slaves.

In 1865 General Grant sat down for a civil and gentlemanly conversation with General Robert E. Lee as they brought the Civil War to an end. At Lee’s urging, Grant agreed to allow Confederates to keep their own horses. Grant served as the 18th American president from 1869 to 1877.

White Haven

This historic site consisting of 9.65 acres includes a visitor center, museum, house, and three small out buildings. The outdoor walking tour includes exhibit panels and the grounds are exquisitely maintained. It is genuinely impressive and my opinion of Grant improved due to this visit. Ironically, the main house originally belonging to Grant’s father-in-law is called White Haven yet the exterior has always been kept painted Paris Green.

From here it is only about 30 miles to the quaint little town of Kimmswick, which is a lovely spot to enjoy lunch. Then another 30 miles to the final National Park.

12. Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park

Enjoy history and architecture at Missouri’s newest National Park in the lovely and walkable town of Ste. Genevieve.
Enjoy history and architecture at Missouri’s newest National Park in the lovely and walkable town of Ste. Genevieve. Photo credit: Angela L. Dowdy

History can be both beautiful and complicated. So can the process of a town becoming, in part or in whole, a National Park. For a deeper understanding of Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park (which is so new that it is not even listed on most sites) begin at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center and then the circa 1794 Jean-Baptiste Valle House and garden.

Waves of Residents

Ste. Genevieve was inhabited by various indigenous people off and on for over a thousand years before being settled by the French in 1735. It is one of the oldest French colonial settlements west of the Mississippi River. Examples of the unique French vertical log construction can still be seen in numerous homes that are open for tours, such as the Jean-Baptiste Valle home. The area has had waves of residents who were Spanish, Native American, Creole, African, English, and German.

Walkable Small Town

This is a welcoming and walkable small town with about 5,000 residents. It is quite picturesque, so bring both a phone and a good camera. Many historical buildings are currently managed by either the Department of Natural Resources, the Colonial Dames, or the National Park Service. A few buildings became part of the National Park in 2020, and more will become part of that. Some believe the entire town will eventually be a National Park.

Anyone with a love of architecture or history will be charmed by Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Events include golf tournaments, a summer music series, a fall scarecrow contest, and occasional historic reenactments.

Looking for Even More Missouri Inspired Travel? Read these:

Angela Dowdy finds fascinating food, folks, and fun in the Southeastern USA. Discover your next Southern destinations through her road trips from Louisiana to Virginia, and on her website EmbraceSouthernStates.com. She shares the fancy and the frugal, the quaint and the quirky with sweet Southern attitude and advice.
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One response


  1. I’m so glad I experienced most of this with you. It will always be on my list of “favorite things.”

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